June 2016 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: ‘Grow your Income’ appeals to farmers page 39

Farming

MONTHLY National

June 2016

Also in this issue...

Shows

| Show news including Great Yorkshire, Three Counties & Royal Welsh page 34

Black-grass Survey | Assessing grower success page 15

Kellogg’s enlists ‘Compost Chef’ Also inside this month..

| Soil expert working with British farmers to ensure health & sustainability of their crops page 14

Self sufficient CHP... p41

Nitrogen nightmares? p12

Shearing record attempt p33

PLUS: Buildings | Sheep | Shows |Arable| Machinery | Tyres | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS June 2016

FEATURES 12

33

14 Arable Largest UK wheat export to USA departs, Kellogg’s hires ‘compost chef’, Blackgrass Survey..

41

44 Buildings

54

52 Tyres

Bedfordshire farm delighted with its Poundfield concrete retaining wall

BKT reveals line-up for spreaders

16 Cereals Cereals 2016 show preview - who’s there and where

28 Livestock Livestock 2016 Event preview plus 2,000 farmers visit Dawn meats for beef best practice open day

REGULARS 06 News

33 Sheep Cornwall shearer attempts world record plus act now to avoid ‘mid-summer rise’

Appeal against BPS 2015 advice..

12 On Topic 2016 Soil Nitrogen Survey

45 Machinery Latest news

54 ATV ATV news...covered.

34 Shows Royal Three Counties, Royal Welsh, Great Yorkshire shows..

04 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

38 Energy edie Live, ADBA and more...

60 Motors Latest motors news

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

70

Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@farmingmonthly.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Advertising Director: Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Smith j.smith@farmingmonthly.com Phil Barry p.barry@farmingmonthly.com ACCOUNTING Accounts Payable Manager: Cheryl Arnold c.arnold@farmingmonthly.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION studio@farmingmonthly.com

From the Editor...

If there’s one thing in life that you can guarantee, apart from death and taxes, of course - it’s that everything changes.

Human beings don’t like change and we are programmed to establish routines and systems that rarely alter - there’s comfort in knowing what’s around the corner. But there is always a hidden struggle going on. Evolution is change.

We like to think that we can predict the weather with some degree of accuracy and often, this is the case. But there are times when nature just throws a curveball and whatever we were expecting is thrown out of the window.

When the ‘Brexit’ fiasco is all done and dusted, I’m sure that the expected outcome is that we will remain ‘IN’ and things will continue where we left off. But the very nature of a referendum means that the spotlight has been firmly focussed and for better or worse, change will come. No more so than if the ultimate outcome is that Britain is ‘OUT’! That would deliver a barrage of changes.

Change can come in all aspects of life and be for the better or worse (and by degrees). With

change comes fear & uncertainty - fear of the unknown and uncertainty about how we will deal with the outcomes.

But if life has taught us anything, it’s that everything is always alright in the end - as one door shuts another one opens (place your own saying here).

Change is nothing to fear - and as long as we choose to accept and even embrace it, then it will always be a positive thing.

To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often.

Winston Churchill

Andrew Poulton, Editor

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@farmingmonthly.com

Subscribe today!

ON THE COVER Black-Grass (courtesy Syngenta)...

Enjoy your 12 month print subscription direct to your door for just £20!

Call us on 02476 353537 or visit our secure website at www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Available in

PRINT. DIGITAL. APP.

Follow us For editorial, general enquiries or to advertise please call +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com Farming Monthly National is published monthly in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Printed in the UK No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or publication. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as required and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies.

Full copyright applies. All rights reserved.

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

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

Tax tribunal: Grazing NFU livestock chair agreement owners must speaks out over livestock farm for Business Relief worrying Landowners who let land on a grazing agreement must play an active role if they are to secure valuable tax reliefs, following the ruling of a Tax Tribunal in Northern Ireland. lthough case law has long indicated that landowners must physically manage the land to qualify for business tax relief, there is now a clear First Tier Tribunal decision on Capital Gains Tax. “This new decision adds further weight and clarification to the previous case law,” says Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser at the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). “Although the case revolves around a conacre (seasonal grazing) agreement in Northern Ireland, the ruling is extremely pertinent to landowners with grazing or cropping agreements across the UK.”

A

“This new decision adds further weight and clarification to the previous case law” Central to the Tribunal’s decision in Allen v HMRC were the actions of the landowner and the grazier, not just the terms of the agreement. In this case, the landowner, John Allen, let 10 acres of pasture to a neighbour for seasonal grazing and silage from March to November. However, he also used the land as lairage for animals sold in the market yearround and grazed it over the winter. Importantly, Mr Allen also supplied fertiliser for the tenant to apply when needed, and engaged a contractor to cut the weeds and

hedges.

“HMRC asserted that the grazier had sole occupation of the land, saying that if the grazier was in occupation the owner could not be,” says Mr Moody. “However, the Tribunal rejected that on the evidence before it. This case turned on its own facts: Had Mr Allen not shown that he both occupied and undertook responsibility for husbandry of the land he would not have won this relief.”

Although the case related to Business Asset Taper Relief from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – which was abolished in 2008 – the decision is relevant to current business reliefs from CGT such as Entrepreneurs’ Relief and Rollover Relief.

It is therefore relevant to any landowner with land let on a grazing or cropping agreement.

“Those who wish to be treated as farmers for tax purposes must meet the legal tests for that status,” says Mr Moody. “It is not the label on the agreement that matters but the actual terms agreed and what is done.”

In addition, the Tribunal rejected the claim that the activity was an investment. “Even though the land had some development potential it was being occupied for the purposes of husbandry and managed on a commercial - if modest - basis,” says Mr Moody.

“This latest decision shows what an owner of a grass let has to do to qualify for tax relief.”

06 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe is to tell farmers and members of the public that we must do more to prevent cases of livestock worrying, and calls upon police forces to investigate incidents and prosecute those that act irresponsibly. peaking at the Sheepwatch UK event in Loughborough recently, Charles Sercombe will give some key recommendations to the farming community how they can ensure reductions in incidences of livestock worrying.

Mr Sercombe said: “Livestock worrying has a devastating impact on animal welfare and the farm businesses. We need to continually reiterate to the public as part of our Love Your Countryside campaign there is the ever increasing need for vigilance and take responsibility for their dogs to prevent straying and to keep them under control when walking near livestock.

“What I will be saying to farmers is that we need to be very mindful of how difficult it is to pursue a criminal case when these incidents occur as gathering evidence is notoriously difficult. However, I would by no means say in some cases this isn’t necessary. All too often we hear about repeat cases of worrying where dog owners allow their pet to roam free around livestock – let’s be clear this is wholly unacceptable and these cases must be addressed by the authorities.

“We would urge farmers to speak to their local police force if

S

they are encountering problems and to find out what can be done to prevent cases of livestock worrying. Farmers should also explore with their local police how they gather evidence and only in the last resort should farmers considered shooting the dog.”

“We would urge farmers to speak to their local police force if they are encountering problems and to find out what can be done to prevent cases of livestock worrying” Given the amount of public interest and the increase in cases of livestock worrying that have occurred recently, the NFU has worked hard to raise the profile amongst farmers and promote responsible dog ownership in an attempt to reduce these incidents.

“This year has seen the launch of new dog signs to remind the public to keep their dogs on a lead and there is a business guide which details to farmers what options they have when an incident occurs. We hope these, along with the other initiatives, like the event this week will decrease this growing problem on livestock farms.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Farmers advised to appeal against BPS 2015 Farmers who were either underpaid or are still waiting for their full 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment are being advised to check their claim statements carefully and to instigate an appeal as soon as possible if they feel there has been an error on the part of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

temming from issues with the new online system introduced in 2015 and embarrassing last minute U-turn back to paper form applications, the RPA could be facing a barrage of appeals from angry farmers chasing payments.

The blame has been squared on processing delays with the paper RLE1 forms however Ben Compton from the rural team at Bruton Knowles is saying it’s all well and good finger pointing where the issues lie but brings little comfort to beleaguered famers struggling to make ends meet.

With the 2016 May deadline now passed, Compton is advocating farmers look into an appeal not only to place a complaint but to speed things up.

Ben said: “The web-based system was created by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as part of CAP reform, and was set up to allow applicants to submit annual claims, map land, alter personal and business details and transfer entitlements.

“It was however beset by a host

S

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

of issues including a lack of broadband in many rural areas resulting in a lot of farmers not being able to gain access.

“As a result many farmers are still waiting for their full 2015 payment and there are some that have received penalties that have been incorrectly applied, resulting in payments well below what they were expecting. This has serious implications for some and could be the difference between survival or going out of business.

“We’re also advising that applicants double check that any entitlement transfers are correct, again stemming from issues with the online system and the last minute switch to paper forms last year.

“We’re now on hand to help any farmers sort through what is needed so that they get what for many are vital payments.”

For further information on the new Basic Payment System and to receive regular updates please contact Ben Compton at Bruton Knowles on 01452 880 000 or Ben Compton Ben.Compton@brutonknowles.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Sainsbury’s awards South Caernarfon Creameries major cheese supply contract South Caernarfon Creameries has announced that it has been awarded the contract to supply Sainsbury’s with their Basics Cheese range. The contract includes 13 products across Sainsbury’s Basics range and will launch into store later this year. lan Jones, Managing Director at South Caernarfon Creameries said “We are extremely pleased to have been awarded the Basics cheese supply contract by Sainsbury’s. This contract will result in us supplying both entry level cheese as well as top tier products nationally to Sainsbury’s”.

“With our new cheese production facility soon to be fully operational, this contract will result in the new facility being at full production from the outset. It will

A

also mean that we shall be investing significantly in our cheese packing operations and creating around 15 more jobs when the contract starts which is great news for our local economy.”

“Securing an important contract such as this will give all of our stakeholders great confidence for the future of our business”.

“This award is testament to our relationship with Sainsbury’s and our journey together during the last few years’. We thank them for their continued support and look forward to working with them on both this project and others as we enter a really exciting period for

08 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

our business.”

James Connaughton, Cheese Buyer at Sainsbury’s said: “Having worked with South Caernarfon Creameries on recent projects, we have been continually impressed by the quality of their products and consistency of supply. The flexibility and capability in production and the knowledge

and professionalism of their team will enable us to adapt and create new products in the future and we are pleased to be working with a business in which provenance is integral.”

South Caernarfon Creameries is owned by its 130 farmer member suppliers who are located in North and Mid Wales.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Peace of mind for you and your livelihood Secure Response Services (SRS) from the East of England Co-op are looking to share expertise and facilities with other businesses in the fight against theft and crime across the country; providing peace-of-mind that their property and assets are protected and their workforce feel safe and supported. lthough the past year saw a lower level of rural crime across the country, the East of England region remains the most affected. In a study by NFU Mutual*, it’s believed that rural crime, which ranges from vehicle and fuel theft to trespassing, cost the UK over £30million in 2014 alone.

A range of businesses are already benefitting from SRS’s 24/7 services, from solar farms and churches to open sites.”

William Notcutt, Director of William Notcutt Estates approached SRS to discuss options for protecting his substantial solar farm in rural Suffolk. He said: “The company (SRS) has a similar ethos to us.

They strive to make the communities in which they operate better and work closely with local businesses to achieve that end. I felt confident that they would be able to tailor the ideal solution for our very specific set of requirements.”

A

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

2014 saw the opening of a state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in Ipswich, Suffolk allowing the SRS team to remotely monitor over 4,500 CCTV cameras and intruder alarms.

For secluded rural sites, simply having CCTV in place is not always enough to deter criminals but thanks to the ARC, the incident management team at SRS is alerted to any event and able to mobilise the appropriate response rapidly when required – maximising the chances of bringing potential thieves or vandals to task.

“Initially, I was both impressed and a little intrigued by the solution that SRS could offer,” said William.

“Having decided to take their instruction I have to say that the service to date has been absolutely excellent. In my view SRS represent tremendous value of money and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to others who might have a need for this kind of CCTV monitoring.”

The East of England Co-op’s Secure Response Services is built

on years of experience reducing crime across its own estate of over 200 outlets, many of which are in rural towns and villages across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Lee Hammond, Head of SRS explained: “We’ve retained the cooperative ethos and which we like to think that makes us more than just a security company. We know first-hand that any crime on any

scale can have a devastating impact. By working in partnership with local communities, police forces and councils we hope to make towns and villages safe and thriving places to live and work.” *www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/i nitative/rural-crime

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 09

| News

Oxford Farming Conference Directors sought The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is seeking three new directors to join the ten-strong team from January 2017 for a three-year term to deliver the conferences from 2018-20. he Council is voluntary and is made of a group of people who are committed and active within the agricultural industry. The Directors’ role is to work with the rest of the team to deliver the Conference programme, speakers and the extended activities now linked to the OFC such as the Arable Conference at the Cereals Event.

The team is supported by a professional secretariat and a marketing consultant.

“The Oxford Farming Conference is a charity that has a mission to inform, challenge and inspire people the agricultural sector," says Martin Davies, Chairman of the 2017 conference. “The conference is regarded as the leading event for networking and debate in British farming, which is enhanced by our related activities, including an active scholars’ programme and organising the annual Arable Conference at the Cereals Event.

“I’m now in my final year, and I have found the role both stimulating and rewarding,” he says. “The conference itself prompts often heated debates, as well as posing some challenging concepts and speakers – it is a unique experience for anyone who has a progressive view of the future of our sector.”

The OFC Director positions are wholly honorary but reasonable expenses are reimbursed and attendance at the Conference

T

10 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

is offered free of charge for the three years in office. Our selection process is based on trying to get a balanced team and we often suggest that applicants apply in another year if their particular skills are already represented on the council.

Leaving the Council in 2017 will be Martin Davies (Westchester Group Investment Management), Charlotte Smith (BBC Radio 4 and Countryfile presenter) and Alan Laidlaw (The Crown Estate).

“By joining the Council you are making a commitment to delivering the conference and it is important that prospective applicants appreciate the time commitment being made” Mr Davies adds."

The Oxford Farming Conference takes place early in January every year where it sets the agenda for the year ahead for an entire industry. "The Conference has significantly extended its reach to include online streaming of the conference, the annual OFC research, the OFC/RASE Practice with Science and Innovation Award and its partnership with Haymarket to deliver the Cereals Event Summer Conference. All of these activities extend the OFC brand and help to meet its charitable objectives of education and encouraging the next generation."

The OFC is particularly interested in individuals who are passionate about the future of farming

and can demonstrate one or more of the following skill areas: • A track record of successful innovation in agriculture or horticulture • Experience of developing agricultural policies and strategy • Highly effective communication, networking and PR skills • Broad and effective networks of contacts across the public, private and academic sectors, with particular interest in building overseas contacts • Creative ideas and concepts for the future development of the OFC Those selected as members will be invited to attend two Council meetings in November and December 2016, prior to formal appointment, and will then be expected to attend 6-8 Council meetings per year and the Oxford Farming Conference itself for their three-year term.

Current directors are: Martin Davies, Dr John Gilliland OBE, Alan Laidlaw, Robert Lasseter, Caroline Millar, Julie Robinson, Charlotte Smith, Tom Allen-Stevens and Will Surman. The treasurer is David Turner, the secretary is Ann Newbold and the marketing is undertaken by Jane Craigie.

Anyone interested in applying can download an application form from the OFC website www.ofc.org.uk. Applications close on the 17 June 2016.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Chinese clothing manufacturers are turning to South Australia to help fuel its booming alpaca industry The Chinese alpaca population has risen significantly over the past decade from almost zero to more than 3000. xports of Australian alpaca fleeces have been strong in recent years and now Chinese demand for live animals to boost their own herds is on the rise.

Australian alpacas were used as seed animals to build a local industry in China with recent shipments of 525 and 600 head having made their way to the Far East in the past two years.

Alpaca fleece has become a coveted premium material that is used in many luxury winter clothes and bedding around the world.

E

“It is difficult for manufacturers of this product to source the material anywhere else in the world” It is a multi-million dollar business and the cost of a single animal can range between AUD $350 and $60,000 depending on the colour of its coat, its fleece quality and its breeding history.

Very fine (<16 microns) alpaca fleece prices range from $45-70/kg with fleeces graded in levels between 16 – 18 microns achieving between $6-$45/kg.

Ambersun Alpacas is a breeding farm about 55 km south of Adelaide, South Australia’s capital. It has one of the largest herds outside of South America.

Owners Adrienne Clarke and her husband Chris Williams were recently invited by theLocal Government Association of South Australia to showcase their business in China.

The couple also presented at seminars on the trip to promote the Australian industry.

Clarke said her herd’s fleeces were considered to be among the best quality in the world.

“The quality of alpacas in Australia is quite high because we have a long history of breeding animals that produce fibre,” she said.

“China has looked to Australia for alpacas both because of quality and the strict health standards that our Government has.

“We have a strong focus on the production of the fibre and if the interest is primarily to develop herds of alpacas then we can satisfy the market there.”

Clarke and her husband have been involved with exporting fleece to China in the past but are looking to export whole animals in the near future.

China has strict bio-security concerns much like Australia, which makes Ambersun a more attractive source of alpacas than many South American operations.

Alpaca fleece is similar to cashmere in its texture and softness but is a more durable fibre.

Peru is home to more than 3.5 million alpacas, which makes up about 80 per cent of the global herd.

There are now more than 170,000 alpacas in

Australia.

Clarke said Ambersun had previously exported alpacas to Europe where the fibre was not only used to manufacture clothing but also used in hospitals to help treat injuries.

“Last year we exported some of our premium range fleece to Norway and they are being used in medical supplies to make elasticised bandaging that goes underneath casts,” she said.

“It is difficult for manufacturers of this product to source the material anywhere else in the world.”

Alpacas are also known for their high protein meat that is strong in iron and low in fat.

The meat is mild in flavour but is highly regarded as a healthy alternative to other meat products.

South Australian President of the Australian Alpaca Association Perry Wheeler said he expected to see a restructuring of Australian alpaca farms to cater to the booming Chinese market.

“People love to make coats, sweaters, and quilts. The fibre is wonderful for that,” he said.

“The best part is you can use an alpaca for eight or nine years and then they can be transferred to the meat market with no loss of quality at all.

“Now that we are starting to get a large number in Australia, we’re moving away from a very niche industry to a more agricultural one.”

New CEO for Wool Board The British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) have appointed a new Chief Executive Officer. Joe Farren, 44, from Cawood in North Yorkshire officially took over the reins at the Board on Wednesday 1st June following the retirement of Ian Hartley who’s been leading the organisation for the last 22 years. graduate of Balliol College, Oxford in Modern Languages and English, Joe is also a qualified barrister. He spent the first part of his career in the City advising on company mergers and acquisitions. In 2004 Joe joined SIG Plc, the FTSE 250 Yorkshire headquartered multinational distributor of building and home improvement products, where he was Head of UK and Ireland Business Development. From 2013, he was a director with LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Bank. He is part of a farming family and Joe and his wife have farms in Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire.

Ian Buchanan, Chairman, BWMB said, “We welcome Joe to the BWMB in this high profile and important position at a crucial time not only in agriculture but also in the wool sector. We

A

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

look forward to working with Joe, ensuring we continue to serve the best interests of our producers and in maximising the value of their wool. On behalf of UK wool producers I also thank Ian Hartley for his hard work, commitment and contribution to the BWMB and the wool industry and wish him well for a long and happy retirement”.

Joe Farren commented, "I am delighted to have joined the BWMB. I am determined the Board will continue its good service to wool producers. The Board will also seek to continuously improve the efficiency with which it handles their wool, to manage the auction process effectively so as to maximise prices for producers and to promote wool strongly on the global stage as the pre-eminent fibre, being aesthetically attractive, high performance and environmentally friendly."

Joe Farren

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

Allison Grundy

Taking an N-Min sample in the field

12 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| On Topic

N

itrogen ightmares?

2016 Soil Nitrogen Survey highlights the need for regular N testing. his, the company emphasises, highlights the importance of testing soils for Nitrogen content every spring to ensure that only the exact amount of additional N needed to achieve optimum yield, quality and economic return is applied.

"Most farms still rely on the standard Soil Nitrogen Supply index system in the Defra Fertiliser Manual (RB209), but these figures are simply averages and cannot account for individual field and/or crop variations," states CF Fertilisers agronomist Allison Grundy.

"Growers who rely on them will therefore only ever get their Nitrogen application right around 30 per cent of the time. To ensure that they apply the optimum level they will almost certainly need to tailor these to their own conditions and take account of seasonal variations.

"Without effective testing it is impossible to know for certain how much Nitrogen is present in the soil and available to the crop. This becomes particularly important following extremes of weather, such as the record rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures recorded in many parts of the country this winter, which could have moved Nitrogen and other nutrients further down the soil profile and, critically, out of the rooting zone.

"At the start of the year it seemed that everyone was suggesting that soil Nitrogen levels would be low this spring and it would have been easy to assume, based on rainfall, that your farm had moved into a different category in terms of the RB209-index system.

“In fact, our data shows that 2016 and 2015 were actually very similar and that more samples measured lower for soil Nitrogen in 2014 than in 2015 or 2016. However, it was quite comforting to see that the general profile of the distribution graphs for soil Nitrogen (see below) were quite similar, despite substantial differences in seasonal weather patterns."

The figures highlight the importance of annual soil testing but the amount of N already taken up by the crop must not be forgotten, as this contributes to the overall SNS calculation, Allison Grundy emphasises.

"Fertiliser represents the largest single arable crop input, but also offers the greatest return on investment. However, our experience

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

shows that most farming businesses are 20kg to 30kg/ha out in terms of the Nitrogen that they apply, either above or below the optimum level, while those that have never checked their soil Nitrogen could be out by up to 50kg/ha.

“Either they are applying too much Nitrogen, thereby risking the local environment and wasting money, or using too little and missing out on additional crop performance, either of which will make a big difference to profitability.

"At a time when margins are under extreme pressure because of low crops prices the key is to fertilise for what the soil is actually capable of producing, not what you think it can produce. To do that you have to know how much N is in the soil, how much N will become available to the crop during the growing period and how much has already been taken up by the crop.

“To calculate that we need to know plant populations and tiller numbers, together with the farm's yield and quality aspirations. We then use CF Fertilisers' N-Calc system to calculate the optimum level of Nitrogen to apply to cereal and oilseed rape crops.

"The key to optimising crop performance is never to over-estimate Nitrogen supply, so you have to be certain that the fields which are sampled are representative of the farm as a whole. Typically, on a 1000acre farm you would take four samples and block fields that represent the whole area.

The best time to take N-Min soil samples is in the spring before the first fertiliser application and at least six weeks after the last manure has been applied, Allison Grundy says.

"N-Min testing is even more important where nitrogen-containing products such livestock manures, sewage sludge, digestate from AD plants and paper crumb, are applied. Although these are a potentially valuable source of Nitrogen, their contribution varies significantly, especially as most will be applied in the autumn and lose Nitrogen over the winter. Poultry manure, for example, is high in Nitrogen which is very available, but prone to losses.

"Applying products such as these results in greater variation in soil N, and without testing it is impossible to know how much additional Nitrogen will be required. This season, for example, the majority of manures were applied in the autumn, so over the mild, wet winter it is inevitable that some of the Nitrogen they contained was mineralised and either lost to the environment or taken up by the crop. N-Min® enables you to identify precisely what the N contribution from these sources will be.

"All this supports what industrial businesses have been saying for years, namely that 'if you don't measure you can't manage'. Certainly, the results of our tests show that to be true when it comes to assessing how much Nitrogen to apply.

“Every season is different, so the key is not to assume that your farm will be in the same SNS category each year, especially if organic manures have been applied or if it has rained heavily over the winter, due to likely leaching loss of soil Nitrogen. Instead, the nutrient status of your soils should be tested by taking representative samples during the spring so that any shortfall in recommended levels can be made up through spring application of N, P, K and S."

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Largest UK wheat export to the USA departs The largest export of wheat to the USA for more than two decades departed from Bristol recently. The Sbi Lambada, carrying 63,000 tonnes of grain, was loaded by Openfield at the Portbury Grain Terminal and brings the total volume of grain exported by the co-op through the port this marketing year to more than 750,000 tonnes. he sale of wheat to the USA is a rare occurrence given that the US is itself one of the largest exporters, but over the past few years it has imported a several cargoes of feed wheat

T

when the market conditions allow and to support the need to manage internal logistics.

“When the market circumstances are suitable for the USA to import feed wheat then the UK is a suitable market for the USA to consider. It values the

traceability and reliability within the UK supply chain, and the ability to source grain for specific cargoes from members’ farms and stores across the south west is a supporting factor in US importers’ purchasing decisions,” says David Doyle, Openfield head of trading.

So far this marketing year Openfield has exported more than 1.5 million tonnes of grain from ports around the UK with the main destinations being in Europe, but also to customers in North Africa & the Middle East.

Kellogg’s enlists ‘Compost Chef’ Kellogg’s has enlisted a ‘compost chef’ as it begins working towards its landmark sustainability commitment to more than halve its greenhouse emissions. enowned soils expert Anna Becvar is working with Kellogg’s British farmers to ensure the health and sustainability of their crops.

Ms Becvar is advising farms in the Kellogg’s Origins Programme – the Manchester-based cereal giant’s attempt give the grains in its foods the best start – on harnessing organic materials to improve their soils.

Nicknamed the ‘compost chef’ at Kellogg’s for working magic on the soils, Ms Becvar is actually advising on two very different processes that recycle food and green waste by diverting it from landfill.

1 – Composting: Producing compost from green waste in open windrows, or from green and food

R

waste within ‘in-vessels’ (such as containers or silos) through mixing, aeration and selfgenerated heating. The compost produced is a stable, sanitised soil improver.

2 – Anaerobic digestion: Taking food wastes and breaking them down in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas and digestate ‘Biofertiliser’. The Biofertiliser is rich in nitrogen and a range of plant nutrients, saves on the need for fertilisers derived from fossil fuels and can cut the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.

Using waste that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill helps reduce methane gas emissions.* The move is part of Kellogg’s promise to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions by 65

14 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

per cent by 2050, and those of its suppliers by 50 per cent in the same timeframe.

Ann Noble, Kellogg’s sustainability manager, said: “Kellogg’s is always on the lookout for ways to be more sustainable.

Why have food going to landfill, or use fossil fuel fertilisers, when you can use waste to create a rich soil that will help us grow future harvests?

“Working with our Compost Chef is one of the novel approaches we’re using to encourage more sustainable farming.”

Anna Becvar, director of Earthcare Technical, said: “I found Kellogg’s Origins growers to be really engaged on improving their soils. Effectively managed soils can not only generate more yield, but they can be less costly to

work, reducing fuel use and potentially reducing impact on the wider environment.

“We’ve been focusing on the potential of improving soils with organic manures, such as quality compost and Biofertiliser made from recycled green waste and food waste. In the short term both compost and Biofertiliser can provide nutrients and reduce reliance on fertilisers. In the longer term we can build soil organic matter levels for better, more resilient soils and improved soil health.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Black-grass Survey to assess growers success A new survey is seeking to evaluate growers’ perceptions of where they are in the Battle Against Black-grass – and identify how they perceive the success of the agronomy tools that are now being implemented to tackle issues. he online survey is an integral part of the Syngenta Black-grass Focus Week, in the run up to Cereals ‘16.

The battle with Black-grass has dominated arable agronomy for the past decade. And for most of that time, the yield-robbing weed has been getting progressively worse on most farms, according to Syngenta Communications Specialist, Cat Gray.

“But we are increasingly receiving reports that many growers are getting to grips with the problem and, using a full combination of cultural and chemical controls, there is some optimism that they can both control and successfully reduce weed populations going forward,” she reported.

The survey aims to establish the actual extent of problem Blackgrass on farms. It will then look at the various agronomy options that can be employed, and rate the effectiveness that growers consider they provide.

It will also address what herbicide timings growers use, and again how effective they consider the various options.

Finally, it will look at the cost implication of the various measures employed, and seek to put a whole farm cost on Blackgrass control, which includes the effects of cultural and chemical control measures across the whole rotation.

“We have tested the survey with a group of growers, and included their positive comments to ensure it will provide useful and thought provoking data that can help on farm with their future agronomy

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

UPCOMING EVENTS | Dates for your diary

Cereals 2016 15th-16th June 2016 The technical event for the arable industry, join over 25,000 farmers, agronomists and industry professionals at Crishall Grange, Cambridgeshire. www.cerealsevent.co.uk

AD & Biogas 2016 6th-7th July 2016

decisions,” added Cat. Hertfordshire farmer, John Haynes, reported Black-grass undoubtedly has an extremely serious effect on the whole farm profitability and productivity. “But with the package of agronomy we’ve employed over the past three years it is getting better and the measures appear to be working.

“Completing the survey has already stimulated the thought process in my head to assess all the aspects of what we do, and to help prioritise on the bits that we see working most effectively for our farm and system,” he advised.

“We use herbicides at all the key timings, with the pre-crop stubble and pre-emergence applications seen as the most effective options,” added John.

“We are looking to maintain our rotation using as many tools as possible, before going down the spring cropping route.”

The quick and easy to complete Black-grass Survey will run prior to Cereals 2016, through to the end of June, added Cat Gray. “We will have some provisional data for growers at Cereals, but a much better full analysis post the event and in time for this autumn’s Black-grass Action Plan.”

The Syngenta Black-grass Focus Week 2016 seeks to share the secrets of the success of some of the growers who have got the problem in check. It also looks at some of the latest science and agronomy that is bringing new control techniques to the fore.

Black-grass Focus Week highlights include: • Seeing is believing - join us at our black-grass trials sites • Independent trial days showing new research into integrated black-grass management, including HYVIDO® • Farm walks with ‘Black-grass Beaters’ • Videos and online support from our application experts • Test your expertise in our online Black-grass Knowledge Zone • Learn about the future of weed control - innovation in the making • Join the discussion on Twitter using #BGTips Growers can take part in the Black-grass survey now through the Syngenta website.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 15

Building on its extraordinary success to date, UK AD & Biogas is now expanding the tradeshow to cover not just the exceptional opportunities in the UK AD market, but also around the world as the global AD industry starts to take off. Showcasing the very best AD technology for sewage treatment, food waste, farm and small-scale plants as well as community and micro-scale AD plants, alongside the latest innovations, gas upgrading and biomethane vehicle technology. adbioresources.org/uk-ad-biogas-2016

G.Yorkshire Show 12th-14th July 2016 The Great Yorkshire Show features the best of British farming and is England’s premier agricultural show. Held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate it gives first-hand experience of agriculture and rural life. www.greatyorkshireshow.org

Royal Welsh 2016 18th-21st July 2016 The role of the modern Royal Welsh Show is a rounded one. As well as its principal function of showcasing the cream of Welsh livestock and the high quality food and drink produced in Wales, it encompasses the wider spectrum of farming and rural life and successfully bridges the gap between town and country.

It provides something to interest everyone through its kaleidoscopic range of activities including forestry, horticulture, crafts, countryside sports, Sports Village and a 12 hour programme of exciting entertainment that continues throughout each of the four days of the event. www.rwas.wales/royal-welsh-show/

| Cereals

Cereals Arable Conference SMART430 – Compact, entry level ISOBUS terminal tackles key issues This year, Cereals 2016’s Arable Conference, delivered by the Oxford Farming Conference in conjunction with Cereals Event, will see some of the industry’s most challenging topics debated by its most influential opinion leaders. aking place over two days, 15th to 16th June, the three key Panel Sessions explore the complex future of the industry and will be headlined by leading farmers, scientists, policy makers and environmentalists, with the audience taking an active role.

With the impending EU Referendum just days away, the Brexit Debate will, following the official welcome by NFU President Meurig Raymond, start the conference with contributions from AHDB Chair Sir Peter Kendall, Cereals host farmer Robert Law, Brexit supporter MP Owen Paterson and Bremain opponent Sir Jim Paice, former Minister for Agriculture and Food.

“Cereals, as an event, is where the arable industry comes together, and vigorous debates occur at all levels,” says Jon Day, Event Director. “The Arable Conference is a formalisation of that spirit and a chance to hear from an exceptional line-up of panellists, including speakers from around the world.”

Is profit possible?

Following on naturally from the Brexit debate, farmers and experts will discuss the difficulty of remaining profitable in the face of taxing global events and fluctuating commodity prices: “Is profit possible in a bear market?”

The loss of crop protection active ingredients will be discussed on Cereals Day 2, followed later in the afternoon by a technical seminar – ‘Protecting new chemistry’ - given by Dr Fiona Burnett, Chair of the Fungicide Action Group who will be encouraging the industry to act together to steward the fungicides needed to protect cereal crops and maintain yields by using resistance management best practice.

Pollinators to pulses Technical Seminar topics include black-grass control, the profit potential of pulses, the value of pollinators, preserving the structure of soil and no-till establishment, the later given by farmer John Cherry.

“As ever, the line- up for these debates and for our technical seminars is outstanding,” says Jon Day. “The technical seminars provide valuable practical advice

The latest terminal from Müller-Elektronik is the small and compact SMART430.

T

on the everyday issues that are challenging farmers today. The new format that we introduced for technical seminars in 2015 – a 20 minutes presentation from a leading expert followed by a 10 minute Q&A - has proved very popular and ensures that speakers provide concise, powerful presentations that are rich in content. It will be back again this year.”

All panel sessions and technical seminars will take place in the Arable Conference Marquee on Stand 628 with free, first-comefirst-served entrance to Cereals visitors. The programme for the Panel Sessions is as follows: Wednesday 15th June 10.30am The Brexit Debate Speakers: Sir Peter Kendall, Chair AHDB Robert Law, Cereals host farmer MP Owen Paterson Sir Jim Paice, former Minister for Agriculture and Food 12.30pm Is profit possible in a bear market?

Speakers: Robert Johansen, Chief Economist (USDA) Ian Ashbridge, Farm Management Consultant, Bidwells Conor Colgan, farmer, advocate of ‘lean thinking’ Sebastien Mallet, Senior Consultant, ODA Thursday 15th June 11.30am Loss of actives, how will we fair?

Speakers: Paul Leonard, Chairman, European Risk Forum Paul Whaley, research consultant, Lancaster University Andrew Watts, Farmer and Forage Aid founder.

Paul Miller, Consultant and Director, Silsoe Spray Applications Unit Ltd Tickets for the 2016 Cereals Event, to be held at Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire are on sale now. For full details of the Technical Seminars visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk/arableconference-and-technicalseminars

16 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

he terminal has a 4.3” colour display and comes with the ISOBUS-UT app as standard making it ideal to control simple ISOBUS implements. Layout is similar to other terminals in the MüllerElektronik range with operation by 4 soft keys on the left and right respectively as well as the menu buttons above and below the display. The rugged design of the SMART430 meets the requirements of IP69 making it

T

suitable for use on implements outside the tractor cab.

On the back of the terminal are two plugs for connecting the CAN Bus and a serial interface for recording the working speed and working position etc.

Visit David King Electronics, the UK Distributor for Müller-Elektronik products, on stand 111 in the sprayer area at Cereals 2016 to see this terminal and others in the range, or call 01789731365 to find more details. Information can also be found at dkelectronics.co.uk or mueller-elektronik.de/en/

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

Low pH will compromise yield and quality – plan your liming now!

The British Survey of Fertiliser Practice for crop year 2015 demonstrates the continuation of the low levels of liming in both arable and grassland rotations, as shown in Table 1:

Table 1: BSFP survey data showing average national lime use by rotation.

he 5 year averages show just 3.4% liming in grassland and 8.5% liming in arable rotations This is equivalent to liming grassland on a 30 year cycle and arable land on a 12 year cycle!

– does this feel sustainable?

Furthermore, data collected via the PAAG 2015 survey from 173000 soil samples showed 56% of grassland and 19% of arable land tested at or below pH 6.0.

These levels will impact significantly on the utilisation of costly N, P and K and other nutrients!

Routine pH testing is required to ensure consequential loss of yield

T

and quality is avoided by maintaining soil pH at an appropriate level.

Ignoring soil pH and available calcium can prove to be a very costly mistake even in the short to medium term.

LimeX offers very fast acting, but lasting pH correction in arable and grassland rotations, and can be used in organic farming systems. Furthermore, the integral nutrient package within LimeX contributes to maintaining soil fertility and increases available calcium. A ‘maintenance’ application of LimeX70 at 5/t ha will supply a minimum of: 50kg P2O5 35kg MgO 30kg SO3

Table 2: The impact of low pH on macro-nutrient efficiency.

typically worth at least £50 per hectare.

LimeX is available to order now for summer 2016, or for backloading during the sugar beet

processing season!

For more information on LimeX please contact 0870 2402314, or visit: limex.co.uk

BASIS supports biggest ever Knowledge Trail at Cereals 2016 Members of the BASIS Professional Register will benefit from the biggest ever Knowledge Trail at this year’s Cereals Event. Over 20 companies will participate in the 2016 Knowledge Trail, compared to 14 companies in 2015. rofessional Register members can earn up to a maximum of six BASIS points per day, made up of two CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points for attending either day of Cereals 2016 and up to an additional four CPD points by completing Knowledge Trail activities at participating exhibitor stands.

To register for CPD points for attending the event, members should have their Professional Register membership card scanned, or input their details at the BASIS stand, no 353a.

Exhibitors on the Knowledge Trail will scan member’s cards after they have completed the required task; BASIS will attribute the Knowledge Trail points to the member after the event.

P

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Stephen Jacob, BASIS Chief Executive, says: “We are delighted that the Cereals Event Knowledge Trail continues to go from strength to strength, offering Professional Register members an excellent opportunity to earn CPD points. Events such as Cereals always present diverse learning and knowledge transfer opportunities and it is right that our members can gain recognition for this.

“With 5,839 Professional Register members and growing, the industry shows no lack of appetite for maintaining professional standards, which is excellent news for the future.”

In 2015, BASIS registered CPD points for 1,581 Professional Register members who attended the Cereals Event, and over 600 of those members took part in the Knowledge Trail.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Arable

Contact your nearest dealer: Central Cropsprayers Limited Unit J Sandford Industrial Park Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 2AN 01948 840187 www.centralcropsprayers.co.uk

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

18 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

Sprayer Spares Ltd Unit 2-3 Moorlands Trading Estate Moor Lane Metheringham Lincoln LN4 3HX 01526 323521 www.sprayerspares-ltd.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

Water UK welcome metazachlor stewardship to stand Water UK is pleased to announce that Metazachlor Matters will be featured on their stand at Cereals for the first time this year. They will be joined by the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group and representatives from seven of England’s water companies, as in previous years. esticide stewardship is the main focus of the stand, promoting the role farmers can play in reducing instances of crop protection treatments reaching water. It’s in line with a trend that’s seeing water companies working increasingly closely with the agricultural sector, for the mutual benefit of protecting surface water and the availability of pesticides.

Metazachlor Matters is one of

P

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

the more recent stewardship initiatives to be launched. With metazachlor containing products applied to two-thirds of winter oilseed rape crops in the UK, it highlights the importance of taking proactive measures to protect the herbicide armoury.

As well as getting the latest updates on the slug pellet stewardship front from the MSG (Metaldehyde Stewardship Group), a visit to the Water UK stand is a chance to speak direct to the water companies. They will

be on hand to explain the specific issues they are facing, and how they are engaging with farmers in their specific water catchments.

Another reason to come onto the stand is the opportunity to gain a BASIS point and/or two NRoSO points by following this year’s ‘Slug Trail’ which will be running between the Water UK, Certis and De Sangosse stands, situated near the central thoroughfare, on Environment, Education and Research aisle. The trail requires participants to answer questions to

update their knowledge of slug pellet stewardship practices.

Also on display are new informative graphs to illustrate when pesticides typically become a problem in watercourses; and there will be a high precision pelleter with GPS technology that is highlighting the impending regulations, requiring all pesticide application equipment – including spreaders – to be tested.

Water UK can be found at stand 338 at Cereals on June 15 and 16.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Cereals

New varieties take performance to the next level KWS is to unveil four new varieties spanning three crop types with each offering class-leading grain quality attributes at Cereals 2016. he new varieties, include milling and feed wheat, malting barley and oats, and combine higher yields with strong all-round disease packages meaning they offer something for every grower.

All four candidates are in Recommended List trials and will potentially be added to the 2017-18 AHDB Recommended List later this year.

KWS Zyatt is a potential Group 1 milling wheat with a yield of 105% of controls, 8% ahead of the current Group 1 control, Crusoe, and on a par with high-yielding feed wheat KWS Santiago. Unusually for a Group 1, KWS Zyatt manages to maintain its yield without sacrificing protein which, at 12.1%, is on a par with established milling variety Gallant.

“KWS Zyatt shows great promise. Over three years of private testing KWS Zyatt has shown itself to be a typical Group 1 with grain and flour characteristics similar to that of other varieties in this group and consistent bread-making performance,” says KWS wheat breeder Mark Dodds.

T

“In has performed similarly well in official testing with comments noting its ‘good baking quality similar to that of Gallant’,” he adds.

A yield on-par with feed wheats will further underline its appeal to growers as it means they can grow for the heap without suffering a yield penalty while retaining the opportunity to pursue price premiums for quality.

“KWS Zyatt is the ultimate in flexible wheats. It combines excellent yields and grain quality and strong disease resistance to the principal foliar diseases and pch 1 eyespot resistance, meaning it will find a place on every farm,” says Mark Dodds.

KWS Kerrin is a feed wheat with outstanding yield. “It has been remarkably consistent across contrasting seasons proving to be the highest yielding winter wheat in National List trials over the past two years where it out-performed KWS Santiago in 24 of sites,” says Mark Dodds.

“KWS Kerrin is a KWS Santiago cross, but with better yield performance and disease resistance. It has a good yellow rust score, OWBM resistance and is a medium height variety with strong

20 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

straw and maturity similar to other Group 4s.

“It has a similar HFN to its parent and will appeal to those in the East where it is a natural successor to KWS Santiago,” adds Mark Dodds.

KWS Funky is a six-row winter barley with excellent all-round disease resistance, especially to Rhynchosporium and brown rust. A yield of 105% of controls places it just 1% behind the leading hybrid, Volume and 2% ahead of the leading conventional, KWS Meridian. It is the same maturity to Volume and is a day earlier than KWS Meridian and features the highest specific weight of any sixrow winter barley at 69.3 kg/hl.

“Funky has strong farmer appeal. It’s the highest yielding non-hybrid six-row in NL trials in 2015 and the third-highest six-row overall. It is the equal stiffest strawed variety since KWS Meridian with no recorded lodging in treated or untreated trials. It is also 10cm shorter than Volume which will speed combining at harvest,” says KWS barley and oat breeder David Harrap.

“Rhynchosporium is the principal disease concern of barley and Funky has shown strong resistance

to this and net blotch in trials. Add its high specific weight and it is an enticing feed barley proposition,” adds David Harrap.

WPB Elyann is a spring oat that is receiving strong interest from millers for its excellent grain qualities.

A yield of 8.44t/ha (103% of controls) and exceptional kernel content – it is the only variety on the AHDB Recommended List trials with a score above 80% – high specific weight and low screenings make Elyann the stand-out spring oat candidate for harvest 2016.

“Elyann has received considerable interest and large batches have been requested from this harvest for evaluation. It is the most exciting spring oat to come through the system in recent years and with increasing domestic demand from millers, we expect Elyann to be a significant beneficiary,” says David Harrap.

“It will fit well on farm being two days earlier to mature both Firth and Canyon and similar resistance to the principal diseases, mildew and crown rust,” adds David Harrap.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

Sukup Europe Ltd will be introducing their new Heavy-Duty Perforated Drying Floor at Cereals This will be fitted as the standard drying floor in Sukup silos supplied in Europe. he heavy-duty perforated planks have been designed for those situations where perforated floors are preferred, but greater grain depths are desired.

The new floor plank has a weight bearing support every 89mm so that they are able to withstand higher load bearing from deeper grain depths. The 89mm sections are crimped together to form 178mm planks making them quick and easy to install.

The heavy duty floors will be used in conjunction with a combination of floor supports to give maximum support whilst also allowing excellent airflow under the drying floor.

Sukup Europe’s, UK Sales Manager John Statt comments that, “The introduction of the new heavy duty floor as standard fitment on our European drying silos is just another innovative feature that we have added to our

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

comprehensive range of equipment and that continues to keep Sukup Europe at the forefront of silo drying and storage

technology.

We are continuously developing and improving our products for our specific European conditions

as we strive to find efficient, effective and economical solutions to our customer’s grain drying and storage needs”.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Cereals

Krone new Big X and Big Pack HDP II at Cereals â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 Cereals 2016 will see Krone exhibit its BiG X 630 forage harvester and the BiG Pack HDP II. ne of nine models in the forage harvester range, the BiG X 630 is the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest powered option with the narrow body and powered by an MTU 6R 1500 15.6 l six cylinder engine.

O

The PowerSplit feature matches power to crop yield and has two operating modes Eco-Power 460hp and X-Power 596 hp. There are new 710 / 70 R 42 front tyres and a choice of rear tyres fitted to the wishbone suspended axle. The cab features a large touch screen terminal and Krone joystick for

22 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

easy and comfortable operation.

A new MaxFlow chopping drum with a choice of 20, 28 or 36 knives provides a chop length ranging from 3mm to 31mm. The drum has twice the crop carrying capacity giving it a significant efficiency boost. VariQuick allows the corn conditioner to be engaged and disengaged in a matter of minutes.

BiG Pack HDP II is a new generation high-capacity square baler that delivers up to 50% more bales than the 1290 HDP baler while bale density has been increased by up to 10% without compromising forward speed. Its higher performance requires design upgrades, from the pick-up all the way down to the eight double knotters.

The flywheel now weighs 608kg and is backed up by an intermediate gearbox that increases its speed to 1,180rpm.

The main gearbox is able to handle a power flow of up to 1,230KW (1,680hp). The new Big Pack also features the Active Pickup, the crop press roller and the mechanical feed roller as standard specification. The pick-up also handles extremely wide swaths and short and brittle crops.

Rotor cutter diameter has been increased by 30% to 720mm.

Operators can select 26 or 13 knives quickly and without the need of tools. The cutting system is driven by a Powerband and the rotor cutter shuts off automatically if either the belt slip is excessive or the packer is blocked. At baler start, a slight delay in the pick-up avoids load peaks.

The three packer arms on the Variable Filling System (VFS) has been reinforced, and its feeder

arm now receives larger cam rolls, increasing the capacity of the feed chamber. Updated packer elements on the Big Pack HDP II improve the crop flow and optimizes the baler's stability.

Six pressure rams operate the HDP II chamber doors, the top door being operated by two 140mm rams and each of the two side doors by two 110mm rams.

The unique double eight knotter uses 20% less space than existing knotters and can tie bales of up to 10% higher density without requiring the baler to travel at lower speeds.

A high-capacity mechanical knotter fan backs up the established pneumatic system by directing a continuous flow of air to the knotters to continuously remove any debris.

BiG Pack HDP II is a new generation high-capacity square baler that delivers up to 50% more bales than the 1290 HDP baler The eight double knotters are supplied with 54 balls of twine, with an option for two further compartments, each storing six balls.

A bale weighing system is integrated in the bale ramp with an accuracy of down to 2%. Overload protection is provided by clutches rather than shear bolts. The entire driveline as well as the chassis has been upgraded to match the machine's huge capacities and loads.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

McConnel unveils new range of rollers at Cereals McConnel will showcase its new Consolidator range of premium arable rollers at Cereals Show (Stand 1032). he company has enhanced its product portfolio after its recent merger with Twose of Tiverton, and can now offer a comprehensive choice of three, five and seven-gang rollers with working widths from 6.4m and 18.4m The robust rollers are among the heaviest in the industry – delivering even ground pressure across the width of the roller and feature a unique castellated ring profile that ensures constant soil pressure for greater moisture retention and a weather-proof finish.

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Each section centre-pivots independently for a smooth and even reaction to undulating ground conditions, ensuring close contourfollowing and outstanding seed to soil contact.

Strength and durability are boosted by an exceptionally robust design, triple sealed bearings, and 65mm steel shafts, while the heavy duty frame design allows for excellent contour following when the hydraulic system is in the float position.

Four different roller configurations are available with a choice of 22” and 24” Cambridge rings and 22” and 24” Cambridge

rings with Cambridge breakers available.

The rollers come with a wide range of options including spring-mounted levelling boards to break down clods and plough ridges leveling the ground to deliver smooth and even consolidation.

Two rows of 8mm spring tines are also available. When working in crop stubble the tines help to evenly distribute straw and surface residue – distributing slug eggs and encouraging a flush of volunteers to germinate.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Cereals

Getting Generation Y inspired by Agri-Tech at Cereals Agri-Tech East’s Young Innovators' Forum bridges lab and land. ould keeping wheat foliage green until the end of harvest boost yields? This is just one of the research projects to be discussed at a special event for young farmers and early career scientists at Cereals 2016.

To bridge the gap between lab and land and stimulate mutually beneficial discussions, AgriTech East is focusing on ‘Generation Y’ (those born in the 80s and 90s) and has developed the Young Innovators' Forum (YIF) with a special event happening at Cereals 2016.

C

“There are some interesting views about knowledge exchange and I think Agri-Tech East is definitely on the right path by helping to facilitate those discussions” Dr Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East, explains: “Young people at the start of their careers are digital natives – they are socially connected, used to getting their information visually and trust their peers. They look at the world in a different way and this gives the industry access to fresh ideas and inspiration.

“For too long there has been a disconnect between the world of the scientist and the reality of the farm, by getting this younger generation to mix socially and have the opportunity to talk about the challenges they face, we can start to create real change in the industry.”

After talking to regional Young Farmers groups and PhD students at the research

24 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

organisations Agri-Tech East coordinated some ‘get to know you’ sessions, which have taken place in labs, on farms and in specialist facilities such as the botanic garden.

“These events have proved very successful with a formula that works, so we are delighted that The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF) has agreed to sponsor the YIF initiative which will allow us to take it further,” says Belinda.

Agri-Tech East is hosting a YIF event at Cereals on the BBSRC stand (702). Young farmers are being invited to meet young scientists from the John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Research and Aberystwyth University’s IBERS over cake and ale.

A wide variety of research interests will be on display to stimulate discussion and create a two-way discussion of where research is going and how industry can respond and provide direction.

Posters include: how the Raspberry Pi, an easy to programme low cost computer that is being used by Tim Peake for experiments in space, can be used to understand seed vigour in oil seed rape crops; if keeping wheat foliage greener for longer will sustain photosynthesis and improve yield; and a new foliage treatment for grasses that will increase protein concentration without additional nitrogen application.

John Wallace, TMAF Chairman, comments: “I most certainly think that agri-tech is making the agri-food industry a better career option for young people. It's really whizzy and attractive and it creates a competitive environment in which young people can do really well.

“There are some interesting views about knowledge exchange and I think Agri-Tech East

John Wallace, TMAF Chairman (courtesy TMAF)

is definitely on the right path by helping to facilitate those discussions.”

Previous YIF events have seen young farmers and scientists exchange views about yellow rust on barley, seen laboratory robots in action, watched “real time insect pollination of crop plants”, marvelled at huge pipes of living algae and watched real-time gene sequencing.

Outside they have had first-hand experience of a dairy farm, and will be getting together to talk tomatoes at Cornerways Nursery and seed breeding of cereals and oil seed rape at KWS. Young Innovators' Forum will be on stand 702 at Cereals from 15:30-17:00 on 15 June 2016, with an evening reception afterwards that will include wine and canapes. To participate in the Cereals event you need to register; more details are available at www.agritecheast.co.uk/events/cereals-2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

New addition to Storthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive product portfolio Storth continually strive to meet the needs of our clients and market trends, and with the knowledge Storth have gained over the many years in slurry management we recognised a need for a versatile lightweight and robust mobile tanker in our product portfolio. e are pleased to announce our agreed new partnership with Polyglas in Germany, a company synonymous for it quality German Engineering, a family owned business established in 1890 by the grandfather of the current 4th generation owner, who began manufacturing wooden tankers for the agricultural industry, gaining year on year manufacturing experiences and using the most up to date technics to ensure quality products are produced.

W

All the tankers are handmade using a unique layering process of the fabric and the resin to give it its strength, resulting in a robust, no flexing quality product In the 1960, Polyglas commenced manufacturing with

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

fiberglass, their experience in tank building and the knowledge of the requirements of the industry grew, leading to the development and launch in 1970s of a 3,000lte lightweight tanker, which at the time was seen as the largest in the market. All the tankers are handmade using a unique layering process of the fabric and the resin to give it its strength, resulting in a robust, no flexing quality product.

The interior of the tankers include baffle mounting and a honeycomb structure both of which are used within the aerospace industry, providing a light and stiff finish, with a smooth high UV-Resistance easy to clean outer surface. Over the years Polyglas has developed in knowledge and experience producing quality tankers up to 28,000lte.

The Storth lightweight tanks will be manufactured and assembled at our premises in the UK. Our research & development team are currently designing and building a bespoke 4 wheel chassis system with hydraulic brakes including front hinge, to house the various

sizes of tankers available from Storth, a great quality engineering partnership in the making. Storth Ltd will have the ability to supply tankers, in various sizes ranging from 6,000 to 28,000lte as standard at competitive prices.

Bespoke/tailor-made tankers will also be available from Storth to meet customers exacting

requirements.

Hot of the press is an image taster of the Storth/Polyglas tanker prototype at the development stage released by our research & development team. And as the old saying goes â&#x20AC;&#x153;watch this spaceâ&#x20AC;? for further developments and launch date.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Cereals

Tong showcases latest equipment at Cereals 2016 Leading vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, Tong Engineering, is once again looking forward to exhibiting at the UK's largest arable event, Cereals, to present its latest equipment range for 2016. xhibiting at this year’s event on stand 258, Tong will have the latest model of its Storemaker hopper cleaner machine on stand, alongside the company’s marquee where light refreshments will be offered to visitors to the event.

“Following on from the success of the latest models of Tong’s market-leading Caretaker mobile grader, the Storemaker on show at the event has been built with all the latest technologies and features that have proved very popular on our Caretaker grader,” said Nick Woodcock, Sales Manager at Tong Engineering.

Like new models of the Caretaker, the new Storemaker offers the very best energy efficiency, with Tong’s all electric Blue Inverter Technology drive, as well as featuring the company’s new generation EasyClean separator, with inverter direct drive motors on every shaft, ensuring minimal maintenance and refined control.

Another feature on the new Storemaker includes the option of Tong’s new and advanced Pro-Series control interface, which is offered as part of its Auto-Touch HMI touch screen control. With added benefits including a new, larger display with easy to use graphical controls, the Auto –Touch HMI Pro-Series not only provides total touch-screen control of machine speed and settings, it also offers

E

26 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

advanced diagnostics including a machine health status report, plus precise fault detection and location of any machine faults or E-stop alerts, significantly reducing downtime and maintenance. Complementing the latest `EasyClean separator and Auto-Touch HMI advancements are a number of additional features on new Storemakers, including a heavy duty folding-side hopper design as standard for easy transport, as well as an upgraded drawbar and tailgate system for added strength and durability. Trailer reversing sensors for quick and easy loading into the hopper are also an option on new Storemakers, making the whole loading process even more efficient.

“As well as displaying the new Storemaker at this year’s Cereals, we are also looking forward to discussing the other new product developments that Tong has introduced to the market this year, to offer even more efficiencies to the crop handling process,” added Nick.

“We are very proud to be bringing a unique and exceptionally advanced optical sorting machine to the UK vegetable handling industry in the form of the Swiss-manufactured Visar Sortop, which is gaining much interest for its capability to offer fully automatic optical grading of crop without the need for manual sorting. This really is giving vegetable growers and packers a new and advanced way of sorting their crop in a much more productive way,” explained Nick.

“We are also set to introduce a new Cleaner Loader crop trailer for farmers and growers, which offers an in-field crop cleaning and loading solution that saves time, and makes crop loading in the field much more efficient.

The Tong Cleaner Loader trailer allows crop to be cleaned in the field, meaning soil is removed and kept in the field the crop was harvested from. This not only means that clean crop can then be loaded straight into bulkers at the field side, but it also significantly reduces unnecessary logistics and transport costs, whilst keeping roads cleaner and safer by keeping the excess soil in the fields and not on the roads,” added Nick.

“We look forward to discussing these latest equipment developments with farmers and growers from all over the UK at this year’s Cereals event, and welcome customers old and new to visit us on stand 258.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Cereals

Warwick Trailers expand to new site as they push the business forward Warwick Trailers are in our 60th year of trading, the total organisation now has nearly 50 staff. This year is very exciting for Warwicks because for the first time in our history we are moving to a new site. arwicks existing site has now not only been outgrown by the volume being produced, but also the sheer size of modern trailers.

The existing factory was built when a large trailer had a 10ton capacity, we now produce trailers

W

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

of 20ton plus!

The new site consists of one 50,000 square foot building so raw material will come in one end, and the finished product will go out the other, there is no need to go outside the new building. Three new huge paint ovens are being installed so the paint can be baked on.

With 31 acres to play with, Warwicks are going to host an open day every year where potential customers can see trailers being put through their paces.

The new facilities show a huge investment by Warwicks who are constantly looking to the future.

Warwicks customer base

remains solid with customers staying with Warwicks since the very early days.

Chris.J.Jones, Warwicks M.D says â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the loyalty of both customers and agents which has helped us to move forwardâ&#x20AC;?.

Visit the Warwick Trailers stand at Cereals 2016.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Livestock

Livestock Event: Forage Field, making more from forage All visitors to Livestock Event will be able to find out how to make more from forage, the cheapest form of feed, at the sector’s largest business to business event staged on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July at The NEC, Birmingham. Entry is free to all visitors. orage Field will be among the key hands-on demonstrations, organised in conjunction with the British Grassland Society and will be split in to two areas.

Forage Field main sponsor, Germinal will be demonstrating the difference between a modern productive grassland sward and a worn-out ley, comparing dry matter yield and quality and the implications for milk and meat production. Also featured in live plots, alongside the latest Aber High Sugar Grass varieties, will be alternative forage crops, including modern options such as red clover and forage brassicas.

Silage Solution’s Dr Dave Davies will bring silage under the spotlight with the help of grass ensiled in four mini demo clamps.

He will be discussing how to reduce dry matter percentage losses between field and feed

F

face, and explain the importance of good consolidation in order to achieve best clamp density and in turn minimise further losses.

“The drive towards making best use of home grown forages is fast gaining momentum not only amongst dairy producers, but also beef and sheep farmers as they turn towards make essential cost savings on bought in feed in an attempt to achieve sustainable businesses,” explains event director, Matt Knight. “That’s why Forage Field is all about sharing information, ideas and no nonsense practical advice to take home and implement next day on farm.”

Livestock Event 2016 will be FREE to all visitors. Persistently low prices across the livestock sector, have led event organiser, RABDF to agree to the free offer, as a gesture on behalf of the charity. Pre-register at www.livestockevent.co.uk

28 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

New: Livestock Learning airy, beef and sheep producers will be able to have their say on some of today’s big topics and issues at Livestock Learning, Livestock Event’s exciting new knowledge sharing forum.

Livestock Learning will feature panel debates and presentations from leading industry specialists together with award winning farmers themselves.

Herd health will come under the microscope with specialists focusing on mobility scoring, early lameness treatment, digital dermatitis, plus a BVDFree England panel debate followed practical steps advice.

Livestock Learning will also provide the opportunity for visitors to hear from and question some of

D

the UK’s leading farmers.

Livestock Event organiser has organised the first ever panel of former RABDF NRM Gold Cup winners together with slots for the current holders of Farmers Weekly Dairy and Beef Farmers of the Year.

“We are thrilled to develop a brand new feature for 2016,” says event director, Matt Knight.

“Livestock Learning will be offering essential knowledge towards effective decision making for all producers seeking a sustainable business. Whilst we have agreed a schedule, if there are any topics which visitors would like to discuss, then we would like to hear from them by tweeting @LivestockEvent, adding #livestocklearning and introducing the topic, or emailing us at office@livestockevent.com”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Bauer to showcase slurry management expertise at Livestock Event 2016 Slurry equipment specialist Bauer will showcase its classleading equipment for slurry management and the production of ‘green bedding’ for cow cubicles at the Livestock Event. auer’s range of submersible, shaft and pto-driven slurry pumps and mixers have deserved reputation for durability and reliability, especially amongst contractors racking up long hours on slurry and digestate field application.

Recent additions to the range include the Turbomix MTXH tractor pto-driven slurry mixer, which is designed for use in slurry lagoons and below-floor slurry tanks to homogenise solids and liquids in readiness for field application by tanker or umbilical system.

“Although a slurry mixer is a pretty simple device, a lot of thought has gone into making this new Bauer model one of the most effective and efficient on the market,” says Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland sales manager.

B

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

“The special design of the blades, together with the unusual protection ring, makes a real difference to its performance.”

Bauer slurry spreaders have some unique features, not least a tank hand-made from polyesterreinforced resin that is impervious to corrosion and a lot lighter than steel without sacrificing strength and durability.

The 26cu m spreader, for example, is as much as 3 tonnes lighter than a steel tanker of equivalent size and specification, which together with large flotation tyres keeps the machine’s impact on the soil to a minimum.

This material is also now being used for a new tank to fit the Claas Xerion 4000 Saddle Trac forward control tractor, turning it into a selfpropelled slurry and digestate applicator. The tank weighs 1800kg less than the steel unit available previously, yet with a

capacity of 16cu m (16,000 litres), it holds an extra 2cu m (2000 litres) of liquid.

With more ‘green bedding’ installations on farm than any other supplier, Bauer is the undisputed leader when it comes to experience and expertise in the production of cost-effective cubicle bedding from slurry.

“The screw de-watering machines developed by Bauer subsidiary FAN Separator are purpose built for the job, not merely modified versions of standard screw separators,” emphasises Adrian Tindall. “For example, the FAN Green Bedding separator has a larger diameter screw tube so the flights are

shallower to exert increased pressure, there are sharp-edged grooves to cut long lengths of straw and silage, and the auger floats within the heavy-duty screen to protect the bearings.”

“It’s one thing to achieve the 3638% dry matter required over a short period but quite another to do so consistently at acceptable outputs, and to get an economical service life from the separator,” says Mr Tindall.

Farmers using the separated fibres as bedding report increased cow lying times and fewer ailments such as hock abrasions thanks to the soft, comfortable characteristics of the material.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Livestock

Reaseheath College can help you be a leader in your field!

Are you passionate about agriculture and food production? Could you help feed a growing population while combatting climate change? Are you keen to gain the technical knowledge, qualifications and practical skills that employers want? hether it’s managing a farm, carrying out research and development or working in the commercial side of the industry, Reaseheath College in Cheshire can give you a great career pathway. We offer degrees, diplomas and apprenticeships, and we’ll make sure YOU get the best education and training possible.

You should choose Reaseheath because: • We work closely with industry to make sure all our courses give you the high level skills and knowledge you’ll need to land a great job • 90% of graduates who completed their qualification last year were in related employment within six months • We’ve invested £50 million on specialist educational facilities to

W

ensure that you enjoy the best possible resources, and we’ve plans for a further £30 million spend on campus • These include a £6million project in advanced agricultural technology and engineering in partnership with major agricultural companies such as Case IH, New Holland, CLAAS, JCB and A-Plant • Our modern farm has an elite dairy herd and award winning commercial sheep and pig units and we’ve areas dedicated to arable crop production to give you more hands-on experience using precision machinery • We’re one of the few colleges to offer a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture which includes a full year’s work placement • You’ll enjoy study tours at home and abroad Don’t miss out! Visit www.reaseheath.ac.uk/agriculture

30 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Slurry revolution

Rumen function priority

Tramspread, the digestate and slurry handling specialists will be displaying a cross section of their range on stand number M594 at this year’s Livestock Event, including the Reck slatted floor mixer which revolutionises the management of slurry in under floor stores and channels.

Faced with continuing low milk prices, dairy producers looking to boost margins by maximising milk from forage, reducing feed costs and minimising the post-turnout drop in milk quality are being urged to make rumen function a top priority this spring and summer.

he folding impeller is simply lowered by a winch on the frame to fit through a floor slat and is then able to homogenise the slurry below without the need to lift out a concrete section. The mixing action can be further improved by specifying the optional ‘swing device’ which allows the frame to tilt the impeller to either side, enlarging the area to be mixed and so reducing the amount of times the mixer needs to be moved to cover an area.

For an almost dry crust the water supply option is recommended as water runs through the mixer sword directly to the folding propeller and creates a free-flowing slurry. These mixers are available for cow sheds and pig sheds in either electric or hydraulic options, and in various sizes to suit any under floor store.

For information on the extensive range of Reck mixers, and

ptimising the efficiency with which forage is converted into milk has a massive impact on dairy unit profitability, and it starts with good rumen function,” states Dr Derek McIlmolye, AB Vista’s Technical Director for GB and Ireland.

“The challenge following turnout is the poor fibre content in spring grass significantly increases the risk of low rumen pH, which compromises fermentation efficiency. Up to 16 litres of oxygen can also be mixed in with the feed consumed each day, which introduces aerobic conditions that are less than ideal.”

Any time rumen content drops below pH 5.8, or oxygen is introduced, the activity and numbers of the fibre-digesting microbes in the rumen are reduced. Optimising rumen

T

O

Sees us at Livestock Event 2016 Stand No: LE538

anything else in the TRAMSPREAD range from slurry test kits up to 7000m3 slurry stores, call in to their stand and speak to their knowledgeable and experienced personnel.

conditions to best support these microbes is therefore critical to efficient forage fermentation.

“Correctly formulated buffer feeds are essential to reduce the risk of SARA at turnout, including the addition of a live yeast like Vistacell,” Dr McIlmoyle continues.

“These metabolically active yeasts not only limit production of the lactic acid responsible for lowering rumen pH, but they also help maintain anaerobic conditions by absorbing oxygen in the rumen.

“Typical daily yield response can be as high as 2 litres/cow if the rumen is under severe pressure, such as following spring turnout, coupled with an improvement in butterfats due to improved fibre digestion. That’s a significant gain in feed efficiency and milk from forage that will typically provide a return on investment of between 3:1 and 6:1 based on either a one or two litres increase in daily milk yield.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Livestock

2,000 Farmers visit Dawn Meats farm open day on Beef Farming Best Practice The cow type delivers carcase specifications which meet market requirements. ver 2,000 farmers gathered on Wednesday at the Dawn Meats Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm in County Galway for a Farm Open Day showcasing the

O

achievements and learnings of the farm’s first full year of operations.

The 56 hectare farm was established by Dawn Meats in 2015 with support from McDonald’s, The Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority and The Irish Farmers Journal to

32 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

demonstrate best practice in sustainable suckler beef production.

The Newford Farm has ambitious targets to improve profitability of the herd of 100 cattle over a 5 year plan.

The farm’s breeding policy is successfully producing calves which gain weight rapidly and will deliver carcass sizes that meet customer and market requirements.

The cow type at Newford differs from the norm, comprising mainly first-cross Aberdeen Angus cows, bred from the dairy herd for their excellent milk yield potential off grass, thereby minimizing the need for use of bought in concentrates. This year’s crop of 90 calves is on track to reach 50% of their mother’s weight within 6 months, with performance helped by the recent improved weather and a surge in grass growth at the farm.

The Open Day offered guided walking tours of the farm every half hour from 2pm to 7pm giving visitors the chance to see the production system in action and learn how it dealt with the impact of a difficult Spring. Key areas for discussion included cow type, grassland management, herd health, breeding approach and planning & data gathering.

Isla Roebuck, Operations Director, Dawn Meats (UK) said: “The idea to establish the

Newford Herd was all about sharing best practice and developing practical examples to improve the profitability and sustainability of beef farming. We are delighted with today’s high turnout. The number of visitors proves that farmers have a real appetite to learn more about adapting their farm systems to produce the lighter type of animals which meet modern customer requirements.”

Farm Manager Matthew Murphy said: “The Newford system is all about driving efficiency and reducing reliance on factors farmers cannot control, like the price of bought-in feed. Everyone visiting the farm today has been impressed by how well the calves are looking and their rapid weight gain. We are encouraging farmers to focus on the profitability and efficiency of their farm system rather than showcasing what might be a very good looking animal, but one that isn’t what the market is looking for and cannot be reproduced consistently. What farmers may lose in carcass size they will more than make up for through the lower cost of production.”

For more information and regular updates on progress at the farm please visit at www.newfordsucklerbeef.ie

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Sheep

Cornwall shearer attempts first World Record in UK This summer sees Champion sheep shearer Matt Smith attempt to break the current world record, the Nine Hour Full Wool Ewe World Shearing Record.

It's the first time an attempt of this kind has ever been made in the UK, or indeed anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. The current World record stands at 721 ewes in nine hours, and was made in 2007 by Rod Sutton of Porangahau, New Zealand. To beat this Matt will need to shear each sheep in less than 45 seconds. ith the support of the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB), this hugely demanding challenge will take place on 26th July, at Trefranck Farm, St Clether, Launceston, in Cornwall - Matt’s home farm.

Bedwyr Jones, Chairman, BWMB Field Services committee says “This will be a unique occasion, the first time anyone in the UK has attempted this world record and we are behind Matt all the way as he takes on the challenge.

Shearing is vital to the sheep industry, and a hugely popular activity. Matt is helping showcase British wool to a wider audience helping move the whole industry forward. On behalf of the British Wool Marketing Board I wish him the very best of luck in what is, without a doubt, a phenomenal task.”

Matt’s entire working life has been involved in the sheep shearing industry and he already has his name in the record books. In 2010, at the age of 25 he set a world record for the Eight Hour Strong Wool Record in New Zealand shearing 578 sheep and beating the record by 18.

Matt has shorn in 7 countries across the world including New Zealand, UK, USA and many parts of Europe. He has won several shearing titles, and has had his sights set on the Nine Hour Ewe World Shearing Record ever since he learnt of its existence. Born and raised in New Zealand, Matt left school aged 14 and has been shearing ever since. He first came to the UK to shear when he was 17 years old, shearing with Gavin Mutch, a former World

W

Shearing Champion. The following year, he returned to the UK and sheared across the South West, where he is still actively involved working with Nick Jasper’s shearing gang.

It was while he was shearing in Cornwall that Matt met his wife Pippa. The two are now settled in Cornwall, with their son Dusty, where they farm in partnership on Pippa’s family farm.

Together they started their sheep farming enterprise with 360 ewes - today they run a flock of 1,385 breeding ewes, primarily Romney’s with some crossed with the Lleyn.

The Nine Hour Ewe World Shearing Record, world record attempt is no mean feat and is equivalent to running three marathons back to back - it's therefore absolutely imperative that Matt's in peak condition. Since the New Year he has been following a very strict diet and fitness regime, which will now dovetail with his shearing schedule across the South West, in preparation for the record itself in July.

Matt says, “I am eager to take on this huge challenge. I am proud to have learned from some fantastic shearers throughout my career, and I genuinely look up to all the other shearers who have inspired me over the years, starting with my own father.”

In addition to supporting Matt’s own ambition, this competition is also supporting Children’s Hospice, Little Harbour, and proceeds from the event will be donated to the Saint Austell based Charity.

Matt is keen to encourage the next generation and hopes that his mission to secure a World record will be successful. He has this message for up and coming young

shearers: “Never stop learning and listen to advice. Every day is a challenge. You have to have a goal to aspire to. Maintain your determination, and never give up.”

He acknowledges that the shearing training provided by the BWMB is vital to encourage, and provide opportunities to the next generation. The BWMB’s shearing trainers are passionate and highly motivated, which is essential in encouraging young people to take up shearing – and Matt is also seen as a great role model for a new generation of shearers.

“I’d like to thank the British Wool Marketing Board for their invaluable support in this world record attempt,” adds Matt. “The shearing training they offer is an unmissable opportunity to any young shearer, or for anyone who wants to brush up on their skills.”

As Matt begins his preparation, the BWMB’s own shearing courses begin across the UK and take place between May and July.

Bedwyr Jones continues: “Shearing is currently enjoying a revival amongst the younger generation, so Matt’s world record attempt is without a doubt an excellent way to both raise the profile of this important industry skill, and to encourage even more young people take up competitive sheep shearing.”

Act now on ‘mid-summer rise’ in sheep and the threat of lungworm in cattle The latest NADIS Parasite Forecast sponsored by Merial Animal Health highlights the importance of taking an integrated approach to parasite control in lambs to reduce the risk of disease now and later in the season; the importance of including rams in the overall parasite control strategy; and the risk of lungworm in cattle. iven the high risk of nematodirosis in many regions of the UK this year, lambs grazing contaminated pastures will almost certainly have been treated, often with a Group 1 anthelmintic,” says Sioned Timothy, Veterinary Adviser for Merial Animal Health. “However, Group 1 products may not be as effective against other nematode species and additional treatments may be necessary to prevent disease, reduce the impact of worm burdens on growth, and minimise the number of eggs shed onto pasture.

“The need for such treatments will depend on a number of factors including ewe

G

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

anthelmintic treatment at lambing time, grazing conditions, stocking density and weather conditions over the coming weeks. It’s also important to remember to include rams in your overall parasite control programme because they are also susceptible to PGE.” Any lambs grazing ‘safe pastures’ should not require anthelmintic treatment until they are three to four months old. Safe grazing includes pasture not grazed by sheep last year, reseeded leys, and any ground not grazed by sheep until mid-summer such as aftermath, where parasite contamination from last year will have died off.

Sioned says: “Safe pastures are an important component of your farm’s

sustainable parasite control and should be used to best effect to reduce the parasite challenge posed to at-risk lambs, reducing reliance on wormers.

“Taking an informed approach to treatment decisions will optimise parasite control whilst minimising selection for resistance, and potentially save money through fewer treatments. The use of faecal worm egg counts to assess whether groups of lambs require worming is one proven approach. Targeted treatment of individual lambs which are not achieving expected growth rates is also increasingly carried out to maximise the benefits seen after treatment, and reduce unnecessary treatments.”

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Three Counties Show

HRH Princess Royal to open Royal Three Counties HRH Princess Royal, patron of the Royal Three Counties Show, will open this year’s momentous event on Friday 17 June. HRH Princess Royal will be in attendance to inaugurate the opening ceremony of the show featuring the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. She will also be presenting the Three Counties Agricultural Society Long Service Awards. en Nottage, CEO of the Three Counties, said: “We are thrilled to welcome HRH Princess Royal to the showground once again. It is an immense privilege to have her continued support of the Royal Three Counties Show. Her involvement has greatly contributed to the show’s position as one of the country’s premier livestock events, alongside elevating the show to its Royal status, a title of which we are extremely proud. This is the first year for many years that HRH Princess Royal has been able to join us due to the fortunate timings of the Trooping of the Colour and we’re delighted. This year is to be a spectacular year for the Royal

K

Three Counties Show and we cannot wait to share what is shaping up to be our best show yet.”

HRH Princess Royal will begin proceedings for the Royal Three Counties Show by launching the opening ceremony. The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will be a pinnacle moment of the ceremony as they dominate the Main Arena with their worldfamous musical drive.

Offering the only opportunity to be seen outside of London in 2016, the King’s Troop will perform each day in the Main Arena of the landmark agricultural show. In the month of the Queen’s Official 90th Birthday, The Band of the Queen’s Division will also provide live musical accompaniment to the magnificent displays.

Within her role as President of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, HRH Princess Royal will also present the Three Counties Agricultural Society Long Service Awards. The annual awards acknowledge employees of members of the society who have completed 30 years or more of continuous service to agriculture and horticulture. The awards are an integral part of the societies long standing heritage.

The Royal Three Counties Show will take place from Friday 17 June until Sunday 19 June 2016. Tickets are now on sale. Advanced adult tickets are priced from £18 and from £16 for Three Counties members. Family and childrens tickets are also available and tickets can be purchased on the gate.

For information on ticket prices and further information on the show, please visit www.threecounties.co.uk/threecou nties or call 01684 584900.

The iconic King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will mark the 2016 Royal Three Counties Show Offering the only opportunity to be seen outside of London, the King’s Troop will perform their world renowned musical drive each day in the Main Arena of the landmark agricultural show. In the month of the Queen’s Official 90th Birthday, The Queen’s Band will also provide live musical accompaniment to the magnificent displays. en Nottage, Chief Executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said: “It is an enormous honour for the Royal Three Counties Show to welcome the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

We are so privileged to host the troop at what is to be a momentous year for the show.

We are deeply proud of our longstanding heritage, something we share with the Kings Troop and we hope visitors will thoroughly enjoy the incredible displays. This year we will celebrate the very best of British agriculture with the King’s Troop providing exceptional highlight to our 2016 event.”

K

The Troop will be performing our iconic Musical Drive at the Royal Three Counties Show, which is the routine we will perform later in the month for the Queen’s Official Birthday The traditional ceremony of the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery will dominate the Main Arena twice daily throughout the three-day show. This awe-inspiring spectacle sees teams of six horses each pulling First World War-era field guns. Each gun weighs one and half tonnes and is used to fire an earth shattering salute, most often seen at state occasion. The

34 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

famous salute is choreographed to live musical accompaniment and promises to be a breathtaking display of synchronisation and unity.

Captain Nick Watson of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery said: “We are so excited to be making a welcome return to the Royal Three Counties Show. 2016 is a very special year for the show and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery too as we celebrate our 300th anniversary. The Troop will be performing our iconic Musical Drive at the Royal Three Counties Show, which is the routine we will perform later in the month for the Queen’s Official Birthday when the eyes of the nation will be on us. The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery has always thoroughly enjoyed the Royal Three Counties Show and is very much looking forward to coming back.”

Primarily a ceremonial unit, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery was established in 1947. A decision by George VI declared that horse drawn artillery should take part in ceremonies of state. The Troop form part of the Household Troops and, when on parade, takes precedence over all other regiments in the regular forces of the British Army.

Duties of the King’s Troop’s include the firing of Royal Salutes in Hyde Park and Green Park on state occasions, remembrance Sunday, Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Parade and royal anniversaries. The troop also provides a gun carriage and team of black horses for state and military funerals.

Not to be missed!

Royal Three Counties Show 17th June -19th June www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Royal Welsh Show

Royal Welsh Show Plans for the pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show, are well underway. The four-day spectacle will be held on 18- 21 July at the showground in Llanelwedd. he livestock classes last year attracted over 7,000 entries from far and wide and an equally high number are expected again this year, promising a popular and exciting four-dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of competitions.

T

Visitors to the show will once again be able to make full use of the Royal Welsh Show App which will include a full timetable of events, competitions, results, information on local traffic and weather In addition to the fantastic livestock, the great shopping and the free parking, the show provides something to interest everyone through its wide range of activities including forestry, horticulture, crafts, countryside sports, food and drink and a 12-

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

hour programme each day of exciting entertainment, attractions and displays.

The big attractions in the main ring this year will be the remarkable Ukrainian Cossacks, the noisy and exciting Big Pete and the Grim Reaper Monster Trucks, the spectacular Black Mountains Falconry, the everpopular RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane and Spitfire Flypast, Tristar Carriage Driving, Merion Owen and the Quack Pack, Inter Hunt Relay, trotting competitions and much more.

Visitors to the show will once again be able to make full use of the Royal Welsh Show App which will include a full timetable of events, competitions, results, information on local traffic and weather. The App will be available to download free from the iTunes Store and Google Play in July.

Reduced price e-tickets for the Royal Welsh Show are available online now. For more information visit www.rwas.wales

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Yorkshire Show

Farming to the fore at Great Yorkshire Show First class farming is synonymous with the Great Yorkshire Show and next month’s event will be no exception with thousands of animals, the latest in high tech agricultural machinery and rurally related seminars to interest and inform.

And there are discounted rates for farmers if tickets are booked in advance.* ates for England’s premier agricultural event are Tuesday 12 – Thursday 14 July when over 130,000 visitors are expected to come through the gates of the showground on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate. For one person in particular it will be a particularly special three days; for Charles Mills it will be his first as Show Director. A farmer from near York, Charles is no stranger to the event having been joint chief cattle steward for a number of years and as a member of several committees for the event organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Said Charles: “Agriculture is firmly at the heart of the Great Yorkshire Show, and we are delighted to showcase the best of British farming, both for livestock and arable farmers.

We are a shop window across the industry and this year we are providing even more to interest our core farming visitors. Each year thousands attend, to show their animals, browse the many stands assessing cutting edge equipment, gathering the latest information on precision agriculture and to meet up with fellow farmers and friends.”

For the first time a live Lely Robotic Milking Demonstration will take place at the event – the first to feature at a British agricultural show. The demonstrations will be a significant feature with a purpose built dairy unit constructed close to the cattle lines. An important part is being played by Yorkshire farmers, brother and sister, Edward and Victoria Goodall who are bringing

D

36 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

40 Holstein cows from their farm near Leeds to be milked at the event.

The Lely Astronaut robotic milking system recognises each cow giving them access to the robot 24/7 so they are milked when they choose. Over 200 pieces of data are taken each time with important data recorded on the T4C (time for cows) management programme which is then presented in a dashboard format enabling the farmer to supply each cow with all her needs for optimal health, milk production and well-being. Over the three show days presentations will be given by Lely staff.

More than 8,000 animals will be competing for the top awards, including around 1,000 cattle, more than 2,000 sheep and some 400 pigs. In the cattle section the Blythewood awards for beef and dairy animals are one of the event’s highlights, particularly as the Grand Parade of Cattle in the Main Ring is the stunning backdrop to the judging. In addition, this year the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is holding its Summer National Show at Harrogate.

Precision Agriculture is the overarching theme of an extensive range of seminars held each day which showcase agriculture and innovation. Talks range from the experiences of a Nuffield scholar to looking at the future of farming without pesticides to the issues and latest developments regarding anaerobic digestion. Places for the seminars are limited and should be booked in advance.

Innovation in farming will be particularly recognised through the Society’s White Rose

What’s Next Award. This will be given to the product, implement, device or service that is judged to bring a significant improvement to the Yorkshire rural community or Yorkshire farmers.

Linking farmers with their customers is an important element of the Great Yorkshire Show which provides a platform for the two to engage. This will be particularly evident in the showground’s new £11.5m exhibition hall which opens this month (June). At the Great Yorkshire Show the hall will become an amazing food emporium featuring the popular Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show, a Food Theatre, an extensive range of stands and the Journey of Food exhibition.

“Agriculture is firmly at the heart of the Great Yorkshire Show, and we are delighted to showcase the best of British farming, both for livestock and arable farmers” Elsewhere around the showground there will be much to see and do including demonstrations of rural skills such as sheep shearing and drystone walling, a busy Country Pursuits Area, the latest in forestry techniques and equipment in the Forestry Area and much much more.

For the latest information including booking tickets see www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Yorkshire Show

C&G at Yorkshire Show Calders and Grandidge will be displaying on stand 279 at the Great Yorkshire Show a selection of their products in both green and creosote - their staff will welcome you to discuss your requirements or any questions you may have about their products. alders and Grandidge have for many years supplied high quality pressure treated fencing in both Creosote and Celcure treatments to the UK and European markets with particular emphasis on supplying quality fencing which is treated correctly and seasoned to allow for maximum penetration of treatment, these products can be supplied in part packs, full packs or by the job as required and they do not require full load volumes to make a delivery. Due to the high percentage some end users are experiencing early failures in green treated posts, Calders and Grandidge are finding creosote is proving to be the long term alternative and seeing a huge increase in demand especially as it is long lasting treatment giving long term piece of mind to the customer.

Correctly treated fencing needs virtually zero maintenance

C

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

providing the initial treatment and erection is carried out correctly, properly erected creosote fencing will give a long life span of many decades giving peace of mind to owners and erecters alike. Our creosote is impregnated to 115kg/m3 which is significantly higher than many imported creosoted products on the market currently.

A full range of softwood and hardwood field gates is also available in either treatment of green Celcure or Creosote; these are supplied with or without ironwork as required and can be ordered in single gate volumes or multiples.

C&G offer a reliable and professional service and are very happy to come and discuss your requirements at your premises nationwide.

Please contact the sales office for more information on 01205 358866 or email enquiries@caldersandgrandige.com

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Energy

UK Ad & Biogas 2016 The benefits of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) to the environment and farming are many; to the farm business perhaps the most important is a steady revenue stream.

D, a natural process which recycles farm materials and food waste into energy and biofertiliser, plays a key role in supporting climate-smart farming and food production. It has been recognised by the Committee on Climate Change as a vital technology for cutting carbon emissions in farming.

To find out more, we invite you to join our annual Farmers’ Breakfast Briefing at the industry’s biggest annual event, UK AD & Biogas 2016, at 8.30 am on 6th July. This free event, featuring arable and livestock farmers and experienced advisers, is for both those looking to learn more about how AD can benefit their farm, as well as existing operators. The briefing will provide an opportunity for you to hear the latest news in the market, and engage with the challenges, issues and benefits of

A

the AD process. With first-hand case studies on the best feedstock to use, maximising gas yields, capturing heat and developing business plans, this informal Breakfast Briefing will offer an opportunity to learn best practice from experienced operators, and find out whether AD still stacks up for farmers.

Overall the UK AD industry’s future prospects are under serious threat from ill-considered policies which challenge the continued commercial viability of new AD sites. According to proposals in a government consultation, set out last week by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Feed-in Tariffs for larger 500kWe anaerobic digestion sites will fall to zero, and tariffs for small and medium plants cut by a further 27%. The impact of this will be discussed, alongside the future opportunities for policy support.

UK AD & Biogas 2016 will present an opportunity to attend

seminars focused specifically on farming issues, including case studies and how this has the potential to open up a whole new market for developers, what obstacles currently stand in the way and what are the best markets for this technology? You can also hear insights from current operators on accessing the grid and selling your energy through AD and updates on government policy around land use, digestate and feedstocks.

The programme also includes discussion of a recent International Energy Agency Task 37 report into small scale farm digesters which stated that AD could potentially provide a viable solution to slurry management. In the show’s Research and Innovation Hub delegates will be able to participate in a session looking at the viability and sustainability of farm AD, considering emissions, green energy, fiscal incentives and conflicting policy signals.

Whatever role AD plays for you, we hope that you will join us in Birmingham. Register for FREE today http://adbioresources.org/uk-adbiogas-2016/ If you’d like a free initial assessment, contact one of ADBA’s consultants

Visit UK AD & Biogas 6th - 7th July 2016 at the NEC Birmingham register at: http://adbioresources.org/uk-ad-biogas-2016

38 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Tailor-made anaerobic digestion solutions AD4Energy, a British firm that specialises in the design, build and commissioning of small to medium-scale anaerobic digestion plants will be exhibiting for the first time at the UK AD & Biogas 2016 on 6th and 7th July at the NEC, Birmingham. ith restricted grid connections and change in tariff rates, the company is focusing on ‘Tailormade AD Solutions’.

Their AD plants are designed to closely match the client’s energy requirements and available feedstocks. This means the maximum amount of heat and

W

electricity can be used on-site, making it more cost effective and efficient; as well as conforming to the available grid capacity.

The AD technology is either in the form of a partially buried, rectangular, semi-plug flow digester or as an above ground, circular, CSTR digester. The plants range typically from 100kWe to 250kWe, with scope for special projects.

The company also offers a full suite of services in addition to the anaerobic digestion plants. Precontract services include free economic assessments, alongside planning and permitting; whilst the after care services have the aim of aiding in the maintenance and optimum operation of the plants.

Key members of their team will be available to discuss and answer any AD queries their stand, F505.

Income and diversification appeals to northern UK farmers

AD4Energy are also delighted to be supporting Old Court Farm with their shortlisting for the Best On-Farm AD Plant award at the UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards. The winners will be announced on 6th July at the awards ceremony.

Visit their website www.ad4energy.com or call them on +44 (0)1584 817224 for more information.

Neil Watkins

When Iggesund Paperboard’s Workington Mill in Cumbria, UK, took the decision to invest in a bio mass boiler in order to switch its energy sourcing from fossil fuels to biomass, they immediately started to plan for the future needs of fuel. One project, Grow Your Income, was to engage and interest local farmers to start growing willow to be delivered as biomass to the mill. The programme has been well received and is growing. ome of the benefits for local farmers in Cumbria & the borders include a secure, long term regular income, increased farm biodiversity and provides land protection, e.g. soil erosion and management of environmental pollution such as excess run-off.

SRC willow crop can even give bees a good source of pollen early on in the season. SRC willow crop can help farmers realise diversification by providing an additional good and reliable source of income on part of their land, thereby improving profitability and enabling sustainable supply of food when world market affects food income.

Working with farmers and land owners is the task of Neil Watkins, Alternative Fuels Manager at Iggesund Paperboard’s mill in Workington, England. The mill produces Incada, a high quality folding box board, FBB. “We have to appreciate that this takes time and involves major decisions,” he explains, summing up the four years he has worked with the project so far. “Investing in energy crops is a twenty-year commitment so of course people want to feel they are doing the right thing. Interest is growing and farmers planting new SRC Willow crops is increasing each year, especially since SRC Willow

S

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

energy crops offer the farmer a way to diversify without taking on much risk.”

So far the mill received over 26 000 Tonnes of Willow chip added in to the fuel mix, which is much more willow than was expected early on in the project. It also has a growing list of farmers and landowners who are planning to plant willow within the Grow Your Income programme this year and in 2017.

“And that only involves a small fraction of the planted areas we’ve helped to create, because it takes three years to reach the first harvest,” says Managing Director Ulf Löfgren, who helped to initiate the whole project. “From 2016 onwards we’re expecting more volumes but we’ve already received more biomass from energy crops than we expected.”

The project was launched due to a dramatic shift in the energy supply of Iggesund’s paperboard mill in Workington. The company invested 108 million pounds to build a new biomass-fuelled CHP plant, which went online March 2013. Overnight the mill’s fossil carbon emissions were reduced to zero. At the same time the mill’s need for pure biomass went up by 500,000 tonnes a year.

The mill had already secured a sufficient biomass supply for the next several years but wanted to plan for the long term. Iggesund saw the opportunity to develop a

Steven Clarke

new source of biomass in SRC energy crops. In its structure plan for Cumbria the UK environment department, DEFRA, has singled out parts of the county as being highly suitable for growing such crops. “The willow plants that we recommend are also very suitable to wetter unproductive ground, so they do not compete with food production,” Neil Watkins says.

Previous energy crop projects in Cumbria have failed due to their unpredictable harvesting costs.

Biomass prices have been good but the costs of harvesting and transporting the crop to the customer have more or less erased farmers’ profits.

This was where Iggesund Workington saw new possibilities.

The company already has its own forestry harvesting service plus an extensive timber transport network throughout northern England and southern Scotland. Iggesund is also part of the Holmen Group, one of Sweden’s biggest forest owners. So both the knowledge and resources for the harvesting of forest raw materials were readily available.

On this basis the company developed an offer to farmers.

Iggesund takes responsibility both for the harvesting costs and for transporting the crop, while also

guaranteeing farmers a return on their investment, which is index linked during the contract period, currently 22 years.

“We provide advice, financial support for the change-over, and a harvesting and transport service – all based on long-term contracts,” Watkins explains. “Our offer – which we’ve named ‘Grow Your Income’ – is a particularly attractive solution for older farmers interested in less work-intensive crops.”

Iggesund Paperboard has been one of Workington’s biggest employers since the end of the 1980s. Since the turn of the millennium the company has invested almost 200 million pounds to develop its paperboard manufacturing process. Three years ago Iggesund made one of its smaller investments over the years – it planted an energy crop on the ten hectares of land surrounding the mill. The crop will be harvested for the first time in the winter of 2016.

“We’re keen to show people that we believe in growing energy crops and we also want a demonstration facility so we can show visitors exactly how it’s done,” Watkins concludes. “And we’re counting on making a profit from it, too.”

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Energy

40 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Edina biogas CHP helps vegetable grower to become energy self sufficient Gilfresh Produce based in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, has made energy and efficiency cost savings by installing a biogas CHP (combined heat and power) plant. he family run business grows field vegetables and salads on over 1,000 hectares of land and the company previously sent its vegetable waste to neighbouring farmers to be used for cattle feed.

By using this waste as feedstock to power the site’s newly installed Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant, Gilfresh produce their own on-site electricity, generating enough to power its production process and export the surplus back to the grid at a profit.

Gilfresh appointed Edina Group due to its flexibility and extensive service and maintenance coverage of 30 engineers across Ireland, with the contract to install a biogas CHP (combined heat and power) unit.

Sole distributor for MWM manufactured gas engines in the UK and Ireland, Edina Group, supplied, installed and now maintains the biogas CHP MWM TCG 2016 V12 500kWe engine over a long term Service, Operation and Maintenance contract.

With offices in Manchester and Dublin, the MWM engine was containerised at Edina’s manufacturing facility based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland less than 40 miles from the clients site and delivered ahead of schedule.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a natural process which takes organic matter and breaks it down, producing a gas which is turned into electricity. The biogas produced can be burnt in a boiler to produce heat, however, the

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

most efficient use of biogas is to utilise an engine to produce CHP. The biogas CHP plant was commissioned in November 2015 and it is expected that the power generated, through the biogas CHP, equates to approximately 80% of their energy usage, with the remainder sold to the grid as a revenue stream. Further plans are underway to recover the process heat generated for use in their office buildings and production processes increasing the energy efficiencies even further.

Thomas Gilpin, founder of Gilfresh Produce, said “The biogas plant will enable us to pursue our growth course on the one hand, and our ecological goals on the other hand”.

Edina’s Sales Manager, Colin McKibbin, concluded “Being a local company, we were delighted that Gilfresh Produce selected Edina as supplier of the CHP unit for their new Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant. The CHP is the most critical component of an AD project so it is important to select not only the right product, but also the best supplier with the required resource and after sales support.

The client quickly identified that we offered a market leading product, with also having the largest service team in Ireland based at our service depot and manufacturing plant in Lisburn less than 40 miles from the Gilfresh site.”

Edina is a recognised supplier, installer and maintenance provider for natural gas and biogas CHP (combined heat and power) plants across a number of industry sectors including food processing, agricultural, healthcare, education

and the public and private sectors.

Offering full turnkey contracts and customised container options manufactured in-house, Edina work closely with customers to meet their requirements from initial

proposal to long term maintenance support.

For more information, please visit www.edina.eu

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Energy

Major tankers providing handling solutions to AD plants

Growing popularity in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants in the UK, developing clean energy sources has meant considerable opportunity for some businesses, whilst at the same time proving a major benefit for the environment.

pecialist contractors such as OJ & DJ Nelmes, based near Warmwell, Dorchester, Dorset have expanded their business around the liquid waste management demands of their AD plant and dairy industry customers and have invested for the long term to provide a highly efficient handling resource.

Owyn Nelmes commented, “In order to provide a highly reliable and efficient service to our customers, we researched the bulk tanker market to establish which machines would best suit a high output capability.” The Nelmes’ decided to invest in three, 3500 gallon Major tankers on twin axles with a steerable rear-axle, hydraulic and air brakes and a high performance 13000 litre per minute vacuum pump.

In the past 12 months, Owyn and Dean Nelmes’ team have hauled 26,500 cu metres of liquid waste from the AD plant to a giant tanker and dribble-bar applicator that injects and spreads the liquid

S

waste mainly onto arable stubble fields, ready for cultivation. “Each Major 3500 tanker holds around sixteen cubic metres and only takes around four minutes to load,” stated Owyn, “and so we are normally moving around twenty to twenty five loads or more a day to the field sites.

42 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

The safe management of waste deposits is an integral part of the AD plant operation. Every load is weighed, with a print-out and records of application rates and field nutrient application rates recorded for close management control.

“Because we need to provide

the best service to our customers, day-in, day-out, we’ll only iuse the most reliable of equipment,” said Owyn. “These Major tankers are far superior to anything else on the market and that reflects our business philosophy of doing the job right every time and on-time.” he concluded.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Standing room only at edie Live 2016 In May, thousands of sustainability professionals from an array of industry sectors – ranging from retail to water management, fashion to engineering – flocked to edie Live at the NEC to access the most innovative products on the market and to find inspiration from leading speakers. he show was colocated with Utility Week Live and attracted 6,019 visitors across both shows*.

Ticket holders were queuing out of the door, and it was standing room only in seminar and conference theatres. Angela Himus, edie Portfolio Director, Faversham House, said: “The buzz has been fantastic. edie Live is the only exhibition in the UK that covers sustainability in business in its entirety and there was something here for everyone.”

Exhibitors agreed. David Williams, Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric, said: “edie Live has been really busy, and we have had great engagement with potential new customers.”

More than 130 companies showcased their innovations, products and services, including solar PV, standards certification, carbon management, energy efficient lighting, water efficiency and wind power.

120 expert speakers hosted

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

sessions across four theatres.

These included practical seminar programmes dedicated to energy efficiency, on site solutions and resource efficiency, plus half-day conferences on strategic issues for sustainability leaders. The show was packed with exciting new features including technology showcases and advice clinics, as well as the popular innovation zone where new products compete for investment.

Seminar Chair Peter Jones OBE described edie Live as integral to the development of the sustainability industry and debate: “What I like about edie Live is that it’s a one-stop shop for heat, electricity and water, as well as physical resources. Those industry sectors which were formerly segmented are now being brought together and, inevitably, you get the big hitters here.”

The show had something for everyone across the spectrum of sustainability and energy management, whether it was WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and Nimber

discussing new business models, or the Carbon Trust and Costa Coffee analysing energy reduction initiatives at the Energy Efficiency theatre.

Mark Collinson, WRAP Sector Specialist said: “I find that edie has got a more holistic view to sustainability. It’s not just about energy or waste; it’s not just about business; it’s about how people can look at the bigger picture, what sustainability means to

business and what sustainability means moving forward.”

With the exhibition floor plan filling up fast for 2017, edie Live is set for another successful year. As conference Chair David Symonds of Aldersgate Group said: “edie Live just has a reputation for being the event for the sustainability professional to come along to.” *2,462 edie Live visitors

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Buildings

Bedfordshire farm delighted with its Poundfield concrete retaining wall In 2012 Andrew and Sam Phillips, the father and son owners of Northwood End Farm in Haynes near Bedford, replaced some old wooden retaining walls with 14 2.4m high reinforced concrete Alfablocs supplied by Poundfield Products of Ipswich in Suffolk. reviously, the metal braces holding the wooden sections in place had obstructed the use of machinery when removing grain from storage, resulting in a great deal of laborious hand work.

However, once the freestanding Alfablocs had been installed, not only could machines easily work right up to the walling but overall grain capacity was also usefully increased.

Northwood End is a largely arable farm covering some 980 acres and, because the owners were so impressed with the versatility and ease of installation of the Alfablocs - having had a further batch of 15 in 2015 - they had no hesitation in recently contacting Poundfield yet again to order a total of 28 pre-stressed, interlocking concrete panels.

These have been used, mainly two high, to protect some brick walls in the grain storage sheds that were showing signs of movement.

P

44 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

Poundfield has manufactured the panels to the precise lengths requested by Messrs. Phillips, ranging from 4 m to 5.8 m, each being 1 m high and 150 mm thick with cast-in fixing points for ease of handling. Once on site, these panels have either been lowered into metal channels bolted to the framework of the sheds or held in place using purpose-made metal brackets.

Commenting on the choice of Poundfield, Mr. Phillips senior said: "We have been very happy with the help and support provided by the team at Poundfield and their ability to supply us with our exact requirements, including some special pieces to enable us to link the new vertical panel walls to the existing sloping faces of the Alfablocs. We have also appreciated the ease with which everything has gone together, with only a minimal amount of fettling required to achieve a perfect end result."

See us at Cereals on stand 544

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Machinery

Charles H Hill Ltd Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire T: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk

Mawsley Machinery Brixworth, Northamptonshire T: 01604 880621 mawsley.stihl-dealer.co.uk

DM Chainsaws Arundel, West Sussex T: 01243 554065 www.dmchainsaws.co.uk

Ermin Plant (Hire & Services) Ltd Gloucester, Gloucestershire T: 01452 526616 www.erminplant.co.uk

World of Power Buxton, Derbyshire T: 01298 213101 www.worldofpower.co.uk

46 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Tree friendly ARION Due to the wide range of work that they do, tractors in the 90 to 140hp power bracket need to be multi-purpose, being not only used in all aspects of agriculture, and not only offer plenty of power, but be compact and low enough to get into older livestock buildings, and it is this aspect that attracted the ARION 400 to the National Trust’s forestry team on the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire. pread across 2,000ha of the Chilterns, the Ashridge Estate includes around 800ha of woodland, plus six commons, and is popular with a diverse range of visitors from several large towns that are close to the estate, including walkers, runners and bike or horse riders.

“The estate includes a complete mix of forestry from ancient woodland to hardwood plantings and post-war regenerated softwood which we are gradually replacing,” explains Assistant Forester Caleb Newton. “Unlike commercial forestry, as a conservation organisation we are looking to preserve the woodland, so it is important that we use machinery that can work within the trees without damaging them.”

“We initially looked last spring at what was on the market and narrowed it down to the ARION and one other make that we already use,” adds Park Forester Ben Byfield. “Because the ARION had only just been launched, Paul (Green) at Olivers then arranged for us to see the tractor at Saxham and then when their demonstrator arrived we had both tractors to try out at the same time in June.”

“The biggest selling point of the ARION 400 for us was that it was the more modern tractor and offered the combination of a high

S

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

power output, but with the lowest cab of any tractor that size on the market, making it more compact and adaptable than our current tractors. The visibility from the cab is also far better and the loader not only has a higher capacity, but can also lift higher. Ease of use is also important as there is a team of eight here and all of them will use the tractor on a regular basis.”

Having ordered a new ARION 420CIS, which has a maximum power output of 100hp, and FL120 loader, the fabrication team at CLAAS dealer Olivers were then set the challenge of designing and building forestry guarding for it.

With no ‘off-the-shelf’ guarding available, they initially had a look at what was fitted to the National Trust’s current forestry tractor and used that as a basis for the new guarding.

“The end result is a great improvement on what is fitted to their other tractor,” says Paul Green. “For instance, on the ARION all the guarding is made from tubing instead of square section. This has the benefit that it can be bent to shape but still retain its strength, and means there are no sharp edges to damage branches. The belly plate also wraps up around the bottom of the fuel tank and exhaust, but incorporates hatches to access service points under the tractor.”

Being the most powerful of the forestry team’s tractors, the ARION

420 is used for a wide variety of jobs. From the end of August through to late February the ARION is kept busy in the woodland. In addition to moving timber using a log grab on the 2.2 tonne capacity loader, it’s also used to drive a Bandit woodchipper with a 1.0m diameter flywheel or fitted with a forestry winch, which is mainly used when felling trees near buildings or close to veteran trees. During the summer months the ARION is then used for amenity mowing on the commons and for bracken control.

“The ARION’s low centre of gravity, weight and wide tyres makes it good for winching, especially when pulling at an angle

or on slopes where potentially there is a risk of pulling a tractor over. And when mowing you can also be far more confident when working on hills,” states Ben. “Also our old tractor had a manual PTO clutch that you had to feather in when using the chipper otherwise it would stall the tractor, but the engagement on the ARION is far better and it just looks after itself so it cannot stall.”

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Machinery

Join Kubota at Cereals 2016 Kubota’s much anticipated M7001 Series tractors have been arriving at dealerships and on farms across the UK since the turn of the year, and the company’s three newest models will be on show, at Cereals 2016. ailed as a key new addition to the 135-175 HP tractor category, the M7001 Series models will take centrestage at the arable industry’s leading technical event, which is set to welcome an estimated 25,000 farmers, agronomists and industry professionals.

Available in three options, Standard, Premium and Premium KVT, the M7001 Series is designed for carrying out a wide range of jobs on both mixed and arable farms and comes with a host of features to maximise performance, reliability and operator comfort and control.

Powered by Kubota’s world-

H

renowned engine technology, the M7001 is fitted with a powerful V6108 engine with full Stage IV compliance, including DPF and SCR technology to clean up emissions, resulting in a cleaner, more environmentally friendly tractor.

The Standard and Premium models feature a powershift transmission whereas the Premium KVT is a CVT. The Premium models in the M7001 Series range feature an interactive touch-screen K-Monitor that manages all functionality intuitively, including headland management, ISO-BUS implement control, GPS-controlled autoguidance and a camera function.

Rob Edwards, Kubota UK’s Business Development Manager

48 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

for Agriculture comments: “Cereals is one of the premier events in agricultural calendar and one that still draws huge numbers of visitors each year. At last year’s show our new M7001 Series tractors were unveiled to the market, but we’re delighted this year to have the opportunity to speak to an audience of new and prospective customers, some of whom have already put the new

machines through their paces as part of dealer ride and drive days.

“We’re looking forward to talking to visitors about the new models and the many benefits they offer to existing Kubota customers and to those who have never used Kubota before.”

At Cereals 2016 Kubota will also be showcasing its MGX-II series (100HP to 135HP), its

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Featured Dealers: Farmstar Limited Marr, Doncaster DN5 7AU T: 01302 786786

Market Weighton,York YO43 3GA T: 01430 875900 Brigg, North Lincs DN2 8NF T: 01652 654944 www.farmstar.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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

B & B Tractors (Warsop) Mansfield, Notts NG20 0EP T: 01623 847171

R & D Machinery Ltd Totnes, Devon TQ9 6DP T: 01803 863400 www.rdmachinery.co.uk

Tutbury, Staffs DE13 9HS T: 01283 521522 www.bandbtractors.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 49

| Machinery

The New Holland T6 all-purpose tractor series Introduces new styling and delivers ultimate power and efficiency, unmatched comfort and manoeuvrability. ew Holland Agriculture launches the new T6 all-purpose tractor series that combines ultimate power with advanced technology to deliver unmatched comfort, visibility and manoeuvrability together with more power and performance. The new range also introduces New Holland’s sleek new tractor family styling.

Powerful, yet highly efficient performance with Tier 4B ECOBlue™ Hi-eSCR after treatment solution and advanced engine technology The new T6 complies with Tier 4B emissions standards with New Holland’s ECOBlue™ Hi-eSCR (High-Efficiency Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology. With this after-treatment system the engine breathes clean air, optimising combustion, torque rise and fuel efficiency.

N

The new T6 is fully loader ready from the factory, and a choice of New Holland loaders are available The new T6 engines achieve better performance by maximising power output from each cylinder.

The new engine control unit brings the engine to maximum torque faster and holds through to the lower rpm longer, outperforming the previous generation’s engine.

The Engine Power Management develops more power and torque according to the load on the transmission, hydraulics and PTO. On the T6.165 it can deliver up to 33 extra horsepower when it is needed to maintain performance.

Engine Speed Management ensures the engine speed is maintained under changing loads, for applications that require a constant PTO speed or to maintain a fixed forward speed in difficult terrain. All these features result in a powerful, responsive and efficient performance that is achieved with the same fluid consumption (diesel fuel and DEF) as the previous generation, and with longer refuelling intervals.

The T6.175 AutoCommand model at the top of the range, featuring a 175 hp (129 kW) 4cylinder engine, meets the requirements of the most demanding customers looking for a premium tractor with excellent power-to-weight ratio and CVT transmission. It is also available in Blue Power exclusive version, featuring New Holland’s most advanced and productive

technologies.

Unmatched operator comfort and all-round visibility create the conditions for ultimate productivity The Horizon™ cab provides the operator with the ultimate working environment: from the dual-zone air conditioning to the enhanced instrument panel; from the further reduced noise levels at 69 decibels to the Sidewinder™ II armrest that puts all the controls at the operator’s fingertips in the Auto Command models. In addition to the base seat three new seats choice are available: Comfort, Dynamic Comfort and Auto Comfort. The Comfort seat utilises a low frequency suspension design.

The Dynamic Comfort seat features an enhanced low frequency suspension and a variety of comfort enhancing features, such as the automatic shock absorber adjustment, pneumatic lumbar support and two-stage heater. Both seats feature an innovative swivelling backrest designed to provide upper back support while enabling the operator to turn and look back. The Auto Comfort active seat with incorporated climate control reduces whole body vibration by up to 40% compared to a low frequency seat, while extraction fans within the seat remove moisture, lowering surface humidity and temperature. It all adds up to unmatched comfort.

The cab also provides exceptional visibility in all directions with the single-piece windscreen, 5.85 square metre of glass and, for loader work, the high-visibility roof panel. In addition, all T6 models feature standard LED work lights that provide exceptional illumination for after-daylight operation. The base 8 LED lights deliver 10,000 lumens, 60% brighter than the work lights on the previous generation. For those wanting to turn night into day the top specification work light package offers the new LED work lights that produce 31,200 lumens, more than five times as bright as their predecessors.

Designed to provide a smooth ride, high traction and unrivalled manoeuvrability The wheel base of all models is now similar to the previous 6 cylinder range at 2642mm and retains a tight turning radius of 4300mm. In addition, the SuperSteer™ front axle offers an unrivalled manoeuvrability that makes all the difference when turning at the headland or working in confined spaces.

The longer wheelbase delivers better traction and an exceptionally smooth ride during field operation and transport. For maximum comfort at high transport speeds,

50 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

the Terraglide™ suspended front axle cushions the operator from shocks when travelling over uneven surfaces. In the field, it maintains contact between the tyre and the ground, improving traction.

Upgraded armrest in the T6 Electro Command together with a host of features to maximize productivity and ease of operation The new T6 bristles with features that boost productivity and make it easy to work efficiently. It can be ordered from the factory IntelliSteer™ ready or with the complete IntelliSteer™ package installed and ready to use. The ISOBUS Class II option makes it easy to monitor and control all implements using the tractor’s monitor. Auto Command models are able to interact with the implements further with ISOBUS Class III. In addition, the new T6 is fully loader ready from the factory, and a choice of New Holland loaders are available. Together the upgraded armrest and electronic midmounts valve makes the T6 a key player in modern mixed farming.

Tailored to match every customer’s farming operation with a wide choice of transmissions and packages The new T6 Series offers a wide choice, with five four cylinder models ranging from 125 to 175hp.

The six cylinder T6.180 tops the range with a maximum torque of 740Nm – the only six cylinder tractor in this category on the market. The T6 can be specified to match the exact requirements of every farming operation. The proven Electro Command™ semi-

powershift offers clutch less gear changes to reduce operator fatigue.

The optional Auto Modes take care of gear shifting: Auto Transport simplifies gear changing and reduces operator input during road work; Auto Field manages both the engine speed and transmission to optimize performance and economy in PTO and draft applications. The Electro Command™ transmission can be specified with an additional direct drive 17th gear that allows either a 50kph transport speed or a 40kph at reduced engine speed for lower fuel consumption. The standard IntelliShift™ technology automatically selects the right gear for the job, improving the quality of the gear shift.

The T6.145, T6.155, T6.165 and T6.175 models are also available with the advanced Auto Command™ continuously variable transmission. This transmission benefits from multiple direct drive points with 100% mechanical efficiency which have been precision engineered to ensure that they perfectly match the most frequently used speeds during cultivation, especially of high value vegetable crops, and transport. It now features tailored transmission settings: the ‘soft’ setting is suitable for gentle direction changes, perfect during high speed transport or when working on slippery surfaces; the standard setting is for normal field activities; and the super-fast aggressive setting is ideal when near instantaneous direction changes are required.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

New wide area mowers from JD John Deere’s 1500 Series II Comfort front rotary mowers are now available in the UK & Ireland, after being sold in a number of other European countries. hey are suitable for wide area mowing in the commercial, golf and amenity turf markets where operator comfort, high output mowing performance and uptime are key requirements.

Featuring a powerful Yanmar 49hp four-cylinder engine, hydrostatic four-wheel drive and difflock, a standard air suspension seat and a spacious operator platform with CommandArm armrest controls, the new 1505 and 1515 mowers are designed to provide a comfortable ride for all mowing jobs.

Maximum road speed is 15mph, for users who prefer to drive their machines from site to site rather than use a trailer. Front deck suspension activates automatically during road use, for a smoother ride. The optional premium cab features heating, air conditioning and excellent all-round visibility.

These professional front rotary mowers can be equipped with a choice of hydraulic side or

T

rear-discharge decks with working widths up to 3m (10ft), which are designed to cope with long, dense grass and uneven terrain. A CrossCut function allows the operator to lift the deck just off the ground when turning, and a ‘smart’ weight transfer system shifts the weight from the mowing deck to the drive wheels for extra traction on rough ground.

There is a choice of four decks for the 1505 model, including the 180cm (71in) 7-Iron II side-discharge and 183cm (72in) Fastback reardischarge units, a 223m (88in) rear-discharge deck and the 300cm (118in) Fastback Commercial deck. The 1515 comes with a 180cm (71in) rear-discharge and a 120cm (47in) side-wing rear-discharge deck, giving an overall cutting width of 285cm (112in).

Cutting heights range from 13 to 105mm (0.5 to 4.1in) or 25 to 152mm (1 to 6in) depending on the deck, and optional mulching kits are also available.

Contact your local dealer AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY GROUNDCARE MACHINERY Ripon Farm Services (Keighley) West Yorkshire Telephone 01535 632661, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

A J & R Scambler & Sons Ltd Cambridgeshire Telephone 01954 718484, Visit www.compactmachinery.com

Ripon Farm Services (Ripon) North Yorkshire Telephone 01765 692255, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys Kent Telephone 01732 741177, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Stockton) County Durham Telephone 01740 630254, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys East Sussex Telephone 01323 846866, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Tadcaster) North Yorkshire Telephone 01937 835454, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys Berkshire Telephone 0118 402 6870, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Darrington) Pontefract Telephone 01977 795241, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Ripon Farm Services (Ottringham) Hull Telephone 01964 622351, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Tyres

BKT lineup for spreaders BKT, the tire manufacturer and global player in the Off-Highway tire market, provides an extensive lineup of tires designed for farming applications and spreaders in particular. This selection includes a variety of specific BKT flotation patterns as well as AGRIMAX RT 600. his selection includes a variety of specific BKT flotation patterns as well as AGRIMAX RT 600.

The BKT Flotation lineup FL 630 ULTRA, FL 630 SUPER, FL 630, FL 630 PLUS, FL 639, RIDEMAX FL 690, and RIDEMAX FL 693 M â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these are BKTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flotation patterns, which perfectly meet the requirements of spreading applications.

T

AGRIMAX RT 600 Another pattern suitable for spreaders within the BKT product portfolio is AGRIMAX RT 600, part of the well-tried and renowned Agrimax range including specific radial tires for tractors.

This product features a characteristic tread design. The minor tread depth, the number of

lugs, and their disposition in addition to the particular rounded shoulder design ensure utmost care for the most delicate terrains. It is a very versatile product with a large contact surface offering best flotation performance in addition to high load capacity.

Each tire model being part of the Flotation range shows specific features making it suitable for special applications such as spreading Designed for combined on-the-road and onthe-field use, the tires of the BKT Flotation lineup feature excellent flotation resulting in a minor impact on the land. The resistant structure provides excellent traction and perfect grip even in bends and when maneuvering. The particular tread design ensures great grip on any kind of terrain in addition to excellent selfcleaning features.

Each tire model being part of the Flotation range shows specific features making it suitable for special applications such as spreading. The FL 630, FL 630 PLUS and FL 639 tires have been mainly designed for land applications (70% field and 30% road), likewise FL 630 ULTRA with its changed design featuring more lugs.

The FL 630 SUPER and RIDEMAX FL 693 M tires feature instead a unique tread design for multi-purpose use on any terrain and on the road. They have been engineered for trailers, tank trucks as well as sprayer and spreader applications. Besides, the large footprint area provides a perfect load distribution on the land, limiting soil compaction and enabling major load capacity. Finally, the RIDEMAX FL 690 tire has a multiply steel-belted casing providing excellent resistance and a long product lifecycle. In addition to excellent self-cleaning features, the tire is particularly suitable for longer road transports.

52 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tyres

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 53

| ATV

Polaris

say hello to the GENERAL

Choosing the Royal Highland Show for the UK public launch, Polaris has introduced the Polaris GENERAL - described as ‘the most versatile side-by-side ever built’. tarting with a 100 horsepower ProStar® 1000 engine delivering the most power and torque in its class, you can accelerate from 0-40 mph in 3.6 seconds, thanks to its power-toweight ratio.

When it’s time for work, the Polaris GENERAL offers you the biggest payload of 1100 lbs (498 kg) and a class-best 600 lb. (272 kg) dump box to get the job done.

Factory-installed half doors with armrests offer extra protection from debris, and easy in-and-out, workfriendly cab access. There are also

S

dual bolstered bucket seats, adjustable for the driver, providing a secure feel and ample leg room, while the thin-film technology under the seat cover provides a dry ride in wet conditions. Space-optimized foot rests for both the driver and passenger make for a secure ride.

Ground clearance is best-in-class with 12 inches (30.48cm) unloaded and the dual A-arm front suspension has a class-best 12.25 inches (31.12cm) of suspension travel and 13.2 inches (33.53cm) rear travel.

To meet the variety of recreational needs and do battle with the workload, the Polaris GENERAL is available in two different models:

54 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

Polaris GENERAL Velocity Blue & Polaris GENERAL Deluxe Orange Burst.

Both models include automotivestyle paint; Sport Low Profile Front Bumper and Polaris HD 4500 lb.

(2041 kg) winch; and 14-inch (35.56 cm) Matte Black cast aluminum wheels paired with eight-ply, 27-inch (68.58 cm) GBC Dirt Commander Tyres providing better side traction, stiffer sidewalls, better tracking through corners and increased durability in tough work environments.

In addition, the Polaris GENERAL Deluxe Orange Burst has premium adjustable Fox Podium X 2.0 QS3

Shocks, a Polaris GENERAL Pro-Fit Lock & Ride Sport Roof, rear-view mirror and MTX® Premium sound system with Bluetooth connectivity.

With more than 30 brand new Polaris Engineered Accessories and 90-plus common fit items available to customize or for utility use, it’s time to say goodbye to the old and say hello to the new Polaris GENERAL. Prices start from £15,832.50 + VAT and machines are now available to order from your local authorised Polaris dealer. www.polaris-britain.com Tel: 0800 915 6720

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Polaris Outlaw

to support Scottish Charity Perth based Stratton ATV is running a raffle in support of the Scottish Cot Death Trust at both the Royal Highland Show in June and Scottish Game Fair at Scone in July. The authorised Polaris dealer, winner of the 2015 Polaris Britain ‘Best Newcomer’ award, is offering a Polaris Outlaw 50 as the prize with all proceeds going to the charity. Tickets for the prize draw will be sold from the Polaris stands at the shows.

baby dies every nine days of cot death in Scotland and the majority of families will never know why their healthy baby has died, for no apparent reason. The Scottish Cot Death Trust is the only cot death charity in Scotland trying to find the answers through funding

A

research. “This is a charity close to me and my family as back in 2012 we lost our son Dexter to cot death when he was just thirteen weeks old,” says Iain Stratton, “the trust was very helpful to us and I would like to give something back.”

The Polaris Outlaw 50 is an exciting off-road quad suitable for age 6 and over, while under adult supervision. It features a 4-stroke

engine with electric start and comes with a youth helmet, daytime running lights and a safety whip flag as standard equipment.

The winner of the raffle will be announced after the Scottish Game Fair and Stratton ATV, in conjunction with Polaris, will present either a pink Outlaw 50 if the winner is a girl or a blue one if it’s a boy.

“We’re pleased to be able to support Stratton ATV in raising funds for the charity,” say Polaris, “come along to the Polaris stands at the shows and look out for the ‘Outlaw Wanted’ posters to get your raffle tickets for the prize draw.”

shoots, situated in the heart of the stunning Vale of Belvoir. We’d like to thank Belvoir Estate for supporting RES Tractors by purchasing four Polaris Ranger Diesel 1000s, we feel honoured to have our machines at such an excellent sporting venue.”

These all-new models feature Active Descent Control, Electronic Power Steering and three seats as standard together with a 1028cc Kohler 3 cylinder overhead cam liquid cooled engine. Designed to

accept the revolutionary Pro-Fit Cab System, the new Diesel also benefits from a 110 amp alternator to power electrical needs and class-leading towing and payload. On Demand True All-Wheel Drive joins smooth and robust suspension, high ground clearance and all-day riding comfort to make the Rangers the ideal vehicle for the estate’s normal uses as well as managing the movement of people around the clay pigeon shoot on the charity day.

Four Rangers for Belvoir Estate The end of April saw a charity clay pigeon shoot held in the grounds of Belvoir Castle, to raise money for the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust. he event was sponsored by RES Tractors of Melton Mowbray who, as authorised Polaris dealers, had also supplied four Polaris Ranger Diesel 1000s to the estate earlier in the month, and subsequently agreed to become sponsors.

Hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, the charity is focused on getting young people active and

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

enjoying the countryside. For many of the 2,581 children who took part in the Trust’s activities from 2015 to date it was their first introduction to the sport of clay pigeon shooting.

The Polaris Rangers were primarily supplied to the estate for use by the Gamekeepers and for this occasion pressed into service throughout the event.

RES Tractor’s Bob Skinner says: “We are proud to be associated with one of the country’s leading game

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 55

| ATV

Suzuki GB in partnership with BASC

Suzuki GB is pleased to announce its new exclusive partnership with BASC – the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. As a result of the partnership, BASC members can exclusively benefit from 10% discount on selected Suzuki ATVs when purchased through an Authorised Suzuki ATV Dealer. ost shoots can benefit from the use of an ATV as powerful and comfortable transport, which allows the rider to fit through small pathways and passageways that a 4x4 vehicle could not. Suzuki’s range of ATVs can also carry heavy loads of equipment on the front and rear racks, as well as tow what you need.

Suzuki’s independent

M

suspension makes riding comfortable and stable, and the selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive options make the already fuel efficient ATVs even better.

Nick Glazebrook, BASC’s head of business development, said: “This is a fantastic extension to our long-running partnership with Suzuki. ATVs are infinitely useful and this scheme should prove to be yet another popular benefit with BASC members.”

In addition, BASC are also able

56 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

to offer other benefits including discounted off-road ATV driver training through their AA Drivetech packaging, and comprehensive ATV insurance provided by Aim Risk Services.

Head of ATV, GB, George Cheeseman commented: “We are incredibly proud of this new partnership and the 10% discount is just the start of the support that we hope to provide going forward.

We understand that BASC

members are passionate about their way of life, and we are looking forward to supporting them at their Game events and fairs in the future. So look out for some exciting competitions with great prizes coming soon!”

To find out more visit http://basc.org.uk/membersoffers/ For more information, and to find your local Suzuki ATV Dealer, visit suzuki-atv.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Honda & NFYFC join forces for ATV safety

An important event for many of the UK’s Young Farmers’ Club members is the National Federation’s annual conference. eld this year between 6th and 8th May in Blackpool, the annual gettogether is an opportunity to debate issues important to youth involved in the rural community. For most, its timing marks the start of the summer agricultural show season which will involve many of its members.

ATV market leader Honda entered a partnership with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) in July

H

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

2015. Designed to boost its farm safety initiative, the sponsorship helps promote ATV safety to the Federation’s 25,000 members, many of them using ATVs regularly in their work.

Vehicle safety on farms is a huge concern for the NFYFC as, according to the Health and Safety Executive, accidents involving moving vehicles account for the greatest number of deaths in agriculture; almost a fifth, over the past five years. The initiative aims to increase awareness of farm safety and reduce casualties, by encouraging a change of attitude

by YFC members.

Part of Honda’s role is to connect its approved main dealers with their local Young Farmers’ Clubs, across England and Wales.

Encouraging safe ATV use has been a priority for Honda for many years and staff from every main dealer attend approved operator courses with recognised training providers. This experience helps them provide practical advice for users.

Free ‘European ATV Safety Institute’ (EASI) operator training is included with every new Honda ATV, and dealers can help new and existing users by putting them in touch with training centres in their area. Making sure Young Farmers’ Club members know their local dealer means they will also know where to find advice on safe operation.

Honda’s ATV line-up includes utility models from 250–680cc, so there are machines suitable for all

applications from ‘field walking’ and equestrian use to heavy arable tasks and forestry. The brand will be represented by local dealers at most county shows while, at many larger and national events, Honda UK will be in attendance with a display of machines and accessories from leading manufacturers, usually assisted by dealers from the area.

Whether you are a current user or considering the purchase of your first ATV, a visit to the Honda dealer’s stand at your local show will be an ideal opportunity to find out about the machines, and accessories for your application, or to seek advice on safe operation and training.

Honda will be attending the following shows over the summer; The Royal High Land Show 23rd26th June, The Royal Welsh Show 18th-21st July and The Game Fair 29th-31st July.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 57

| ATV

Kawasaki

58 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

New MULE SX range shows its PRO credentials

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Most compact in terms of their engine capacity and physical size, the 2017 model year MULE SX range join their Kawasaki Utility Vehicle stablemates with PRO series inspired updates for the new season. ffered in two-wheel and fourwheel drive versions, the MULE SX machines pack a considerable punch in terms of carrying and towing capacity while enjoying diminutive dimensions that mean they can be transported in the back of many flat-bed vehicles and fullsize pick-up trucks.

Just 1335mm wide and with an overall length of 2710mm, these sturdy work partners enjoy a 181kg cargo capacity in their tipping load beds while a generous 500kg towing capacity is available for those that need to move mountains in rugged, durable style.

In terms of looks, the 2017 model year machines have large volume bodywork inspired by the successful PRO series MULE Utility Vehicles, a new LED headlamp design and operator features such as a PRO style dashboard design and steering wheel configuration which now also includes a handy tilt function.

For operator and passenger alike, the convenience of cup holders and a glove box plus a standard fit DC socket are complemented by capacious under-seat storage and a massive 60 litre front storage area that is easy to access.

Proving easy to control yet torquey thrust, the dependable, air-cooled 410cc four-stroke OHV power plant is tried, trusted and respected in the Utility Vehicle community being both compact and lightweight. Fed by cool air supplied via a snorkel intake routed through the overhead protection frame for strong

O

performance and maximum air filter life.

Both MULE SX variants offer minimum ground impact and disturbance via load spreading tyres and lockable rear differentials.

Chassis-wise a simple and effective ladder type frame combines rigidity and ride comfort allied to new front and rear suspension settings increasing stability and off-road bump absorption. The increased pre-load of the front suspension results in an improved front/rear balance while softer rear settings deliver increased ride comfort.

While the bigger picture reveals updated machines with a strong automotive and family feel, the MULE SX detail touches are just as important in terms of everyday usability. Good examples are the new seat material which is resistant to cold and maintains its suppleness at extreme temperatures and the special textured black paint in the cargo bed that offers a degree of “grip” to stop cargo items moving in transit. Allied to an extensive Genuine Accessory range, there is a specification available to suit all users and uses.

Together with the MULE PRO-DXT and PRODX the two MULE SX machines available in the European market comprise a four machine Utility Vehicle line up for Kawasaki in 2017 covering a diverse range of needs and budgets while maintaining Kawasaki’s position as an innovator and major player in the working vehicle market.

It is expected the new machines will be available in the UK in September. Guide pricing for the MULE SX 2WD is £6049 + VAT and the 4×4 version is expected to be £6749 + VAT.

For more information, or to view the whole www.kawasaki.co.uk utility range from Kawasaki, visit:

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Motors

Customers won’t buy a car if their phone doesn’t sync Just how much our smartphones rule our lives has been revealed for the first time. Car buyers admit they can like everything about a new model – the styling, price, fuel economy and how it drives – yet will still walk out of the showroom because it won’t connect properly with their beloved mobile phone.

A

study*, used by Nissan to understand the importance of developing state-of-the-art infotainment systems in crossovers such as the Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail,

reveals: • 28% of new car buyers prioritise car connectivity over other features, such as fuel efficiency • 13% would not buy a car that’s not connected to the internet • 20% would switch to another car brand for better connectivity • That rises to 41% for drivers who spend more than 20 hours a week in their car “My job is to make sure anyone who walks into a Nissan showroom anywhere in Europe doesn’t walk out again because a car they want to buy won’t pair with their phone”

The research has led to significant investment by Nissan to make sure phones integrate seamlessly – vital as demand for data and downloads expands. Leading the European team is Patrick Keenan… known within Nissan as ‘the man with 40 phones’.

Patrick explained: “Today’s new cars have a lifecycle of five or six years before a new version is launched, but a mobile phone will only be on the market for less than two years before it’s replaced. Keeping cars and phones talking to each other is the crux of my job.”

Patrick’s priority is to ensure that, when it comes to consumer tech, Nissan is always one step ahead of the game. His team uses a network of industry contacts to predict future trends, as well as ensuring that the latest Nissan dashboard hardware and software works with the vast majority of existing and older handsets.

Based at Nissan’s European Technical Centre in Cranfield, UK, Patrick’s desk drawers are packed with dozens of phones, which he uses to develop and fine-tune connectivity. He makes and receives hundreds of test calls a

day as he works on future Nissan vehicles.

“My job is to make sure anyone who walks into a Nissan showroom anywhere in Europe doesn’t walk out again because a car they want to buy won’t pair with their phone,” said Patrick.

Part of the future automotive landscape is Autonomous Drive. Nissan is already establishing itself as a global leader in the emerging technology, and ‘ProPilot 1.0’ (singlelane autonomous highway driving) will debut in Europe on the Nissan Qashqai during 2017.

Outstanding connectivity and data integration are vital pieces of the jigsaw, and Patrick is part of a global team of Nissan engineers which is working on developing connected vehicle architectures that have safety and security as their top priority. * McKinsey and Company, Connected Car: Automotive Value Chain Unbound

MTC Subaru

Perkins

Cambridgeshire 01733 822 943 www.mtc-subaru.co.uk

Essex 01371 483 379 www.perkins-subaru.co.uk

Cambridge Subaru

Pinkstones Subaru

Maple Garage Ltd

Cambridgeshire Tel. 01223 841 616 www.cambridge-subaru.co.uk

Staffordshire 01782 484 959 www.pinkstones-subaru.co.uk

East Riding of Yorkshire 01964 782 295 www.maplegarage-subaru.co.uk

60 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Motors

Levante ‘the Masarati of SUVs’ makes its UK debut Maserati GB officially unveiled the hotly anticipated Levante SUV to a star-studded crowd at the renowned Royal Horticultural Halls in London recently. he event was hosted by TV and radio presenter Lisa Snowdon alongside Giulio Pastore, Maserati Europe’s General Manager and was attended by a host of celebrities and VIPs, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alex James, Olivia Grant and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Celebrations began with the unveiling of the Levante to the audience with the party continuing afterwards with music from celebrity DJ duo, Amber Le Bon and Becky Tong. Guests were also enthralled by the talented

T

reportage artist Anna-Louise Felstead who painted a real-time canvas depicting the Maserati Levante with a London skyline backdrop in her signature style.

The Levante is the brand’s first luxury SUV, encompassing the design, performance and exclusivity central to all Maserati vehicles since the Italian marque’s inception in 1914.

The new Levante is the ideal complement to the existing Maserati range. Combined with the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the range now covers the entirety of the global luxury automotive market.

Giulio Pastore commented:

“The launch of Levante tonight marks a truly significant moment for Maserati in the UK. With strong demand for luxury SUVs, we are now able to appeal to an even wider audience.

“The best thing about Levante is that it’s a true and pure Maserati that has perfect on-road and offroad capabilities, offering owners the ultimate in terms of elegance, practicality and comfort of a luxury SUV yet retaining the marque’s performance DNA.” Featuring active air suspension as standard, which offers five varying ride heights, the Levante boasts the lowest centre of gravity in its class, a 3.0 litre V6 Turbo

Diesel engine, and a luxury ride comfort synonymous with the Italian brand.

In the UK, the Levante Diesel will start at £54,335 OTR and can be upgraded to include either a Luxury or Sport pack at £60,285 OTR. The Levante can also be equipped with the Luxury Pack Zegna Edition at £61,185 OTR, featuring bespoke Zegna Mulberry Silk.

The car will be on sale in the UK from this month, with first customer deliveries expected in the autumn, more information is available on www.maserati.co.uk

Farmers.Landowners.Estate Managers.Agricultural Professionals.

Motoring.Covered.

To advertise contact Julie Smith on 024 76 353537

62 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Garland Great Wall Hampshire Tel: 01252 367373

Winchester Motor Co. Hampshire Tel: 01962 866331

Olds Motor Group Somerset Tel: 01935 429700

MTC Great Wall Cambridgeshire Tel: 01733 309782

Great Wall Bath Somerset Tel: 01225 473014

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

www.oldsgreatwall.co.uk

www.mtcars.co.uk

www.bathhonda.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 63

64 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Guy Salmon Maidstone

Kentdale Kendal

01622 795666, www.guysalmon.maidstone.landrover.co.uk

01539 814444, www.kentdale.kendal.landrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Duckworth Land Rover, Boston

01233 506070, www.barretts.ashford.landrover.co.uk

01205 449758, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen

01227 475475, www.barretts.canterbury.landrover.co.uk

01673 799393, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Rybrook Huddersfield Land Rover

Conwy Land Rover

01484 516016, www.rybrook.huddersfield.landrover.co.uk

01492 580000, www.conwy.landrover.co.uk

Rybrook Copley Land Rover

Stafford Land Rover

01422 363340, www.rybrook.halifax.landrover.co.uk

01785 214140, www.stafford.landrover.co.uk

Hunters Norwich

Likes Land Rover

01603 944836, www.hunters.norwich.landrover.co.uk

01497 842100, likes.hayonwye.landrover.co.uk

Lloyds Kelso

Cambrian Aberystwyth

01573 224345, www.lloyd.kelso.landrover.co.uk

01970 624841, www.cambrian.aberystwyth.landrover.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 65

| Motors

ARCHIE MOSS Leicestershire 01530 553 785 www.archiemoss-isuzu.co.uk

GARLAND MOTORS Hampshire 01252 884 026 www.garland-isuzu.co.uk

HOLDCROFT ISUZU Staffordshire 01782 484 954 www.holdcroft-isuzu.co.uk

BOB GERARD LTD Leicestershire 01162 149 052 www.bobgerard-isuzu.co.uk

JEFFRIES OF BACTON Suffolk 01449 424 758 www.jeffriesofbacton-isuzu.co.uk

CORDWALLIS GROUP Oxford Tel. 01628 622264 www.cordwallis.com

BURRELLS MOTOR GROUP South Yorkshire 01302 515 763 www.burrellsmotorgroup-isuzu.co.uk

NORTHGATE ISUZU Kent Tel. 01227 829930 www.northgate-isuzu.co.uk

DAVID TAYLOR GARGES LTD Gwent 01873 810304 www.davidtaylorgarages-isuzu.co.uk

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (North) 01673 799 393 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

YORK VAN CENTRE North Yorkshire 01904 275 211 www.yorkvancentre-isuzu.co.uk

MAPLE GARAGE East Riding of Yorkshire Tel. 01964 782292 www.maplegarage-isuzu.co.uk

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (South) 01205 449 758 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

MARK WEATHERHEAD LTD Cambridgeshire 01954 574 562 www.markweatherhead-isuzu.co.uk

66 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Volkswagen Amarok: On the move in a premium pick-up Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has revealed the first images of its new Amarok on the move. ew features include an attractive cockpit, with a colour multifunction display for the Aventura launch model and state-of-the-art radio/navigation systems. For the driver and front-seat passenger, the Amarok also provides 14-way adjustable ergoComfort seats, which have already won awards for their back-friendliness.

At home both on and off the road, the Amarok, with its new 3.0litre V6 TDI engine achieves 550 Newton metres of torque and 165 kW / 224 PS at his highest power output level. It can reach a top speed of 193 kilometres per hour (120 mph) and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9 seconds.

The pick-up is an attractive alternative thanks to its high seat position, good all-round visibility and high-quality interior, making for a comfortable ride both on- and off-road. And, despite its impressive size, getting into the Amarok is easy, with doors that swing open wide and – depending on the design variant – grab handles on the A and B-pillars to help you climb into the cab.

N

New Amarok sales in the UK will begin before the end of the year. There are currently no plans to sell the launch Aventura model in the UK. Full pricing and specification details will be released closer to launch.

One of the highlights of the new Amarok’s interior are the new electrically adjustable ergoComfort seats for the driver and front-seat passenger, which provide plenty of head and legroom. This is, above all, thanks to the height-adjustable front seats, which can also be moved a long way back. They feature sporty contoured side bolsters that have been optimised to provide maximum comfort and top ergonomic characteristics. The optional electric 14-way driver and front passenger seats can be individually adjusted to suit

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

personal body size. The seat height and longitudinal position can be adjusted at the push of a button, the degree and width of lumbar support can be changed and the backrest and seat cushion angle set. The seat depth can also be adjusted manually. The ergoComfort seats for the driver and front-seat passenger in the Amarok have been awarded the ‘AGR’seal of approval by the Healthy Back Campaign (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.). With nappa leather seat covers, contrasting Ceramique stitching and additional seat heating, the Amarok caters for discerning customers.

The redesigned instrument panel also immediately catches the eye: striking features of the design of the new instrument panel architecture include the emphasis on horizontal lines, the clear division of the surfaces and the precision of the folds and edges. Doing away with round contours and concentrating on horizontal and vertical lines makes the interior appear more striking and pronounced. Numerous storage compartments make life easier for the passengers.

The multifunction steering wheel also makes it easier for the driver to operate the radio, telephone or multifunction display. The Aventura launch model comes with a colour 3D display between the classic round instruments. The driver can use the new, optional paddle switches on the steering wheel (standard in the Aventura) to control the 8-speed automatic transmission, while the frameless rear-view mirror, in combination with the optional Light and Sight package, heightens the upmarket look and sporting character of the new Amarok’s interior.

At the very top of the centre console, and thus directly in the driver’s field of vision, is the infotainment system, allowing well thought-out, ergonomic operation.

Equipped with features such as App Connect, Guide & Inform or Car-Net, it is possible, for example, to integrate smartphone apps via a USB interface in order to be able to access them via the infotainment system’s touchscreen. Guide & Inform extends the navigation system by adding online-based, up-to-the-

minute information services such as online traffic information. The ‘Discover Media’navigation system also comes with DAB+ digital radio as standard.

Both the ‘Composition Media’and ‘Discover Media’infotainment systems come with digital voice enhancement.

This electric voice amplification makes communicating during the journey easier. The hands-free microphone amplifies the voice signals so that the driver no longer, for instance, has to turn to face the back-seat passengers or raise their voice. Passengers on the back seat hear the person’s voice amplified by the rear loudspeakers.

The ‘Park Pilot’ parking assistance system, assisted by the ‘Rear View’ reversing camera, also makes life easier. Stainless steel pedals (exclusive to the Aventura) and black trim, divided from door to door by a bar in contrasting colour, round of the appearance of the Amarok’s interior. Air-

conditioning system, Bluetooth connection and up to four 12-volt power supply sockets are also included.

Prices for the new Amarok in Germany start at €25,720 net for the rear-wheel drive Trendline version with double cab, the V6 TDI and 120 kW (EU6, available from the second quarter of 2017), making them just €940 more expensive than the previous entrylevel model with a with double cab and 103 kW TDI four-cylinder engine. The top-of-the-range Amarok Aventura with the V6 TDI and 165 kW engine, 4Motion allwheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission comes to €46,525 net and will be launched at the end of September 2016.

New Amarok sales in the UK will begin before the end of the year.

There are currently no plans to sell the launch Aventura model in the UK. Full pricing and specification details will be released closer to launch.

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 67

| Motors

68 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 69

| Motors

SsangYong launches Tivoli XLV - like a Tivoli but loads more space

SsangYong has announced the new Tivoli XLV, an extended body model of its already popular Tivoli compact SUV.

ollowing rapid growth in the compact SUV market, SsangYong responded in 2015 by launching Tivoli, its first small SUV, and already the company’s most successful new car. Some 64,000 cars were manufactured and sold around the world last year,” said Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK. “Tivoli has been praised universally for meeting a number of customer requirements, not least its ability to carry five adults in comfort and with one of the largest boot capacities, while many other cars in the sector are regarded as being a ‘down-size’ too far.

“Now SsangYong has gone a step further by launching an extended car to provide even more carrying capacity and practicality.

This was shown as the XLV Air concept at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt last year, and from the extremely favourable feedback received, took the decision to put the car into production.

“Following its international debut at Geneva, the Tivoli XLV is now being launched in Europe, and arrives in the UK this summer. Annual sales from the Tivoli platform including XLV are forecast to exceed 100,000 cars this year,” he added.

Sharing the same platform and 2,600mm wheelbase as the Tivoli, the XLV features a lengthened body from behind the C pillar, an increase of 238mm over the standard car, expanding the load capacity to a huge 720 cubic litres of space.

Designed to offer a multi-role, multi-function solution to a wide range of customers, Tivoli XLV provides just the versatility needed to meet individual lifestyles: family car for lugging baby buggies and cots for small children, bikes and golf clubs for the sports-minded, and materials or business equipment during the working week.

Passenger safety has been a top priority for this car, and comes with seven airbags including front, side and curtain airbags plus a driver’s knee airbag, multi-function ESP (Electronic Stability Program), Active Rollover Protection, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal), a tyre pressure monitoring system and a warning reminder on all five seat belt positions.

Tivoli XLV is offered with a Euro 6 compliant 1.6 litre diesel engine, and matched with the option of a 6speed manual transmission or 6speed Aisin automatic, two-wheel drive or 4x4.

F

The newly developed 1.6 litre eXDi160 Euro 6 diesel engine produces 115ps/3,400-4,000rpm max power with 300Nm/1,5002,500rpm, and delivers a smooth, progressive and powerful driving experience. It also features a fifth generation E-VGT turbocharger which maximises performance especially in the mid-low speed range so it is fun and responsive to drive. With manual transmission there’s also ISG (stop/start) to meet the demand for low CO2 emission levels.

The 1.6 litre diesel engine achieves a CO2 emission level of just 117g/km (two-wheel drive, manual transmission with Stop/Start), and economy of up to 62.8mpg on the Combined cycle.

Intelligent four-wheel drive The SsangYong DNA is all about 4x4, and the Tivoli XLV draws on this by offering the option of an intelligent 4-wheel drive system.

The electronically controlled ondemand system distributes power to front and rear drive shafts, and automatically adjusts to the road surface and driving conditions to optimise performance.

In normal driving, the drive system distributes all power to the front wheels to enhance fuel efficiency, and automatically adapts to 4-wheel drive in snow or wet slippery conditions, by diverting power to the rear wheels as well to ensure driving stability. For increased stability and reassurance, particularly when driving on a hill or slope, the 4wheel drive operates with Hill Start Assist which helps by delivering power to any wheels that are spinning. And for optimised braking performance, ESP and ABS also control the 4x4 system for greater safety.

With a 167mm ground clearance, approach angle of 20.0 degrees, 20.8 degree departure angle, and 17.0 degree ramp angle, a highly competent off-road capability is assured.

70 | Farming Monthly | June 2016

Seat Ateca first edition Following the huge success of its latest UK marketing initiative to tap into the British psyche and discover the perfect recipe for a compact SUV, SEAT is now able to confirm pricing and specification for its new Ateca First Edition. reated purely as a one-off launch trim level, exclusivity for the extremely well-specified and striking First Edition is assured, with just 200 examples destined for UK retail buyers.

SEAT has taken its time with its first-ever SUV, to create what it believes is the best car of its ilk to live with everyday. So, in an effort to match Ateca to the needs of British buyers as closely as possible, it ran an online ‘lifestyle configurator’ on its website, to seek crowdsourced information upon which to base an ideal specification.

Smashing its internal forecasts and no doubt testament to the growing buzz surrounding Ateca, over the course of six weeks close to 13,000 Brits took part in the competition, which included a top prize of an all-expenses paid family trip to Barcelona, SEAT’s home city.

Responding to a series of seven questions about their lifestyles and character, with 192 possible outcomes, the online system then generated an Ateca version to suit their specific needs. The most popular proved to be ‘Horizon Chaser’.

C

Translating it into a UK production car has led to the following items of standard equipment being included: 18inch bi-colour alloy wheels, satellite-navigation system with an eight-inch touchscreen, Keyless entry (KESSY), electric tailgate with virtual pedal, rear parking sensors with rear view camera, dark-tinted rear windows, black roof rails and window surrounds.

Slotting into the Ateca range above SE and below the flagship XCELLENCE, the high-spec new First Edition offers more than £3,500 of additional equipment over the former, saving customers over £1,100.

The First Edition is available in two engines,1.0 TSI 115PS and 1.6 TDI 115 PS, and is competitively priced at £21,995 and £24,305 respectively. It comes in a choice of three colours, Nevada White, Rodium Grey and Samoa Orange.

Priced from £17,990, the eagerly-awaited Ateca range will be available to pre-order from 1st June 2016, ahead of official showroom launch on 9th September. Full First Edition details are available at http://www.seat.co.uk/newcars/new-ateca/first-edition.html

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

June 2016 | Farming Monthly | 71