Farming
MONTHLY National
March 2015
Inside this issue...
Renewables | Small scale AD
Irrigation
A fair share of water for agriculture |
On Topic Meet the Red Hot Chilli Farmers |
News
Virgin Trains moo-ving to local fresh milk supply |
Feature
| Ewe nutrition in late pregancy and early lactation
Muck & Slurry | Safety, storage, NVZ compliance Also Inside: Arable | Groundcare | Tyres | Rural Security | Precision | News | ATV | Motors
Contents
42
56
March 2015
17 30
FMN
Features
FMN
Regulars
10 14 20 29 32 35 40 46
Animal Health
06 12 22 48 55 61
News
Disease control
Irrigation A fair share of water for agriculture
Grassland Don’t compromise yield - invest in your grassland
Muck & Slurry Safety, storage and more
Fertilisers Advice for success
Precision Should you get into precision farming?
Buildings
Catch up on the news that matters
On Topic Red Tractor...chillies?
Renewables A focus on solar & small scale AD
Machinery Latest new machinery news
ATV Polaris UTE 570 review and more
Motors New Passat Alltrack, Subaru Forester updgrade and more
NEXT MONTH
Concrete for stores
Precision & UAV
Security Sheep theft & security bands.. We welcome feedback and encourage readers to air their views. Have an opinion on a story or something you want to get off your chest? Write to us at the address below or email letters@farmingmonthly.com Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as necessary and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies. Full copyright applies. All rights reserved 2015.
Andrew Poulton EDITOR
Connect with us: Published in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Editor Andrew Poulton Editorial Assistant editorial@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Director Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Jessica Hopper j.hopper@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Laura Green l.green@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Wendy Cooper w.cooper@farmingmonthly.com Accounts Manager Cheryl Arnold c.arnold@farmingmonthly.com Production studio@farmingmonthly.com Subscriptions subscriptions@farmingmonthly.com For editorial and general enquiries or to advertise please call Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com
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| News
Supermarkets praised for backing British pork A new survey has found the majority of shoppers want supermarkets to sell pork from British farms, despite a glut of cheap foreign pork caused by turmoil in Ukraine. ver 80 percent say supermarkets should continue to stock high levels of British meat to maintain consumer confidence following the 2013 Horsegate scandal, according to YouGov research released today by the National Pig Association. Since August, when Russia imposed an embargo on European Union meat in retaliation for sanctions over Ukraine, there has been a glut of pork on the continent. But British shoppers are keen for supermarkets to stick to their post-Horsegate commitments to stop importing not-so-easily-traced foreign pork, and to major on pork from British pig farms, says NPA. The YouGov research found: • 81 percent of shoppers who buy meat want supermarkets to continue stocking a high level of British meat to maintain consumer confidence. • 65 percent believe importing more European pork not produced under food assurance schemes like Red Tractor could increase risk of another Horsegate style scandal. • Only 19 percent want more cheaper European pork imports to keep down prices. “Consumers have always been loyal to British pig farmers, particularly after Horsegate, but even we have been surprised by this significant vote of confidence in the quality of
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our pork, bacon, sausages and ham,” said NPA chairman Richard Longthorp, who farms in East Yorkshire. “This research suggests supermarkets are delighting shoppers by sticking to their Horsegate promises to sell more British meat, despite the current provocation of a mountain of cheap meat piling up in continental cold stores.” NPA chief executive Dr Zoe Davies said, “The quality and taste of domestic pork and pork products is underpinned by the high welfare methods of British pig farms. Nearly half our pigs spend some of their lives outdoors, over 90 percent are covered by the independentlyaudited Red Tractor quality assurance scheme
and almost a third are also inspected by RSPCA for its Freedom Food animal welfare label. “This YouGov research shows shoppers are in no doubt that supermarket commitments following Horsegate to source more British meat have played an important role in restoring confidence in the meat on supermarket shelves.” NPA has particular praise for the British pork “hundred-percenters” as identified by the industry's most recent Porkwatch survey, namely Waitrose, M&S, Budgens, the Co-op, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and hard discounters Aldi and Lidl.
Tractor speed limit increase The CLA welcomes new law to increase the speed limit of agricultural vehicles from 20mph to 25mph, which took effect from 1st of this month.
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he organisation, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has also welcomed the Minister’s confirmation that the Government will consider
increasing the speed limit and weight restrictions even further in time for harvest 2016. CLA President Henry Robinson said: “Tractors are safer and faster than they were when these speed limits were imposed 27 years ago. These changes will make our rural roads safer by reducing the amount of overtaking that takes place. “We will press for Ministers to consider further changes, especially related to the weight limit for heavier trailers. It is time to make sure the law reflects the major advance in technology that has taken place.”
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| News
Virgin Trains moo-ving to local fresh milk supply Virgin Trains invests in local dairy farmers, with UK-wide farms providing over half a million pints of fresh milk a year to trains on the West Coast Mainline. irgin Trains is to stock regionally sourced fresh milk on all of their trains in a move to support local British dairy farmers. In a deal struck with Enterprise Foods, the fresh milk will be supplied from dairies as close as 7 miles from the West Coast Mainline and will be delivered to
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We’ve been buying local produce for some time now and the benefits we see to businesses and passengers alike is always positive the nearest Virgin Trains depot for distribution along the route. The move will increase the business cost of fresh milk by 8%. Over the course of a year, more than 300,000 litres of fresh milk (528,000 pints) will be used across the 300 Virgin Trains services that run each day to be enjoyed by passengers in their teas and coffee.
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The fresh milk is sourced from dairies that run closely along the West Coast Mainline, such as Mortons in Liverpool and Yester Farm in Edinburgh, a family run farm which strives to keep food miles low by completing the entire production process on site, from milking through to pasteurisation. The Yester farm also prides itself on giving the cows the freedom to graze on lush pasture in summer as well as having specially designed sheds to house them in the winter. Simon McCreery, Managing Director of Yester Farm said: “Partnering with a large organisation like Virgin Trains to deliver regional produce to customers is really exciting. We know that supplying on such a scale whilst remaining environmentally friendly is difficult and it’s testament to Virgin Trains’ ethos that they’ve made this move to support local farmers.” Amanda Smit, Head of Catering, from Virgin Trains said: “Virgin Trains is a company that prides itself on going the extra mile to make its customers happy and this also extends to the people we
do business with. We’ve been buying local produce for some time now and the benefits we see to businesses and passengers alike is always positive – Thistly Cross Tilting Cider is a another great example, brewed in Scotland especially for Virgin Trains. By buying fresh local milk we know we can support local farmers in their business whilst also providing quality produce for passengers on our trains who want to relax with a
cup of tea whilst we whisk them to their destination.” Dairy Suppliers: Pensworth Dairy in Cheshunt, Mortons Dairies in Liverpool, Yester Farm in Haddington, Tomlinsons Dairies in Wrexham.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 07
| News
Farm income fall Figures released recently by the Welsh Government predicting dramatic falls in farm incomes this financial year highlight the need for a greater emphasis on improving farm incomes under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Plan. orecasts of Farm Incomes in Wales 2014-15” published today (February 26) by the Welsh Government’s statistics and research division predicts a 24% drop in farm business income for all Welsh farms, down from £29,300 in 2013-14 to £22,200 in 2014-15. Average farm business income on hill livestock farms is forecast to decrease by 22 per cent from £19,200 in 2013-14 to £15,000 in 2014-15, while the equivalent figures for lowland livestock and dairy farms is expected to be -19% and -23% respectively. The report attributes the falls in incomes to reductions in what farmers receive for their produce and reductions in the value of the Single Farm Payment. FUW President Emyr Jones said: “The combined impact of reduced farmgate prices, the Welsh Government’s 15% Pillar Transfer, a reduced CAP budget and a Single Payment exchange rate of £0.7773/€1 has had a catastrophic impact on farm incomes. “The fact that sterling is continuing to strengthen against the Euro means there is ongoing pressure on prices, with the
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situation in relation to Greece not helping.” Mr Jones said that the Union’s vociferous objection to the reduction of direct farm payments by 15% (the ‘15% pillar transfer’) was well publicised, but the decision could not now be overturned. “We cannot control the exchange rate, and despite our fierce lobbying against it, the decision to transfer 15% has been made. The only area where there is flexibility to act is in terms of ensuring Rural Development funds are directed at bringing farm incomes back up, and not squandered.” Mr Jones said that further changes to direct payment rates which would be decided upon over the coming months would also add to uncertainty and disruption for the industry, and would inevitably put further downwards pressure on many farm incomes. “The figures announced today should come as a wake-up call to all those within Welsh Government who have not yet recognised the need for an RDP which is totally focussed on boosting the efficiency and profitability of farms.”
08 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
Insurance too high? Brett Hannon, Managing Director, Belmont Regency (Insurance Services) Ltd, Farm insurance specialists. ith many farm incomes falling, now may be the time to assess input costs such as your farm and motor insurances. These can often be an expensive necessity where in many cases, you may have simply left them with a main farmer’s insurer and not looked around to see what is available from other specialist farm insurers. If you can obtain similar cover and at the same time make considerable savings on your premiums , it must be an avenue worth exploring Using a broker specialising in agricultural insurance is well worth considering as they will have access to insurance schemes run through a variety of insurance companies and can look around to find the most competitive options tailored to your own needs. Most farming newspapers have details of insurance brokers who specialise in this market. Specialisation is a must as you are not likely to have as much confidence in someone who has little experience in this market to
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be able to provide initial and ongoing advice on your insurance requirements . Many of these brokers have staff from agricultural backgrounds as well as ex-NFU staff and agents who have a wealth of experience in the farm insurance field. There are a number of specialist insurers operating within the farm market and many of these schemes operate only through It may be the time to assess input costs such as your farm and motor insurances brokers active in this market.Again, when dealing with brokers,do not hesitate to ask what experience they have in this market and how many of their clients are farmers ,as you need to be assured that they have the relevant experience to both save you money and to provide you with an ongoing relationship for future needs and claims.
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| News
Learn from the past to stop unintended consequences of environmental stewardship schemes The single-focus nature of environmental stewardship schemes means the traditional role of tenanted farms in upland areas is gradually being dismantled and the future for young sheep farmers jeopardised, says the National Sheep Association (NSA) and Tenant Farmers Association (TFA). lthough not a new situation, the two organisations have detected an increasing momentum in the worrying trend of farmers approaching the end of short-term Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) who are being told they will not be renewed. Instead landlords are putting eligible ground into environmental stewardship schemes, which often exclude grazing livestock, especially sheep, with the remaining areas being offered on annual grazing agreements and houses and buildings let separately. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “While this type of asset stripping exercise might be a sound business move for landowners, it leaves tenants approaching the end of their agreement with an uncertain future. Displaced tenants, faced with little option, are forced to disperse their flocks. Land that has been a single, often highly-regarded farm unit for many years is no more and the infrastructure of upland farming becomes gradually dismantled. Our industry is crying out for young people, but it is very difficult to encourage them in when faced with this permanent breakup of so many productive
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livestock units.” TFA and NSA would like to see lessons learnt from the pressure environmental stewardship has put on the tenanted sector in recent years. George Dunn, TFA Chief Executive, says: “The Government needs to make a decision about whether it wants to support productive farms in the hands of hard-working tenant farmers, delivering both for food security and environmental management, or whether it wants to line the pockets of private land owners who are interested only in commercial gain and deliver little in return for the stewardship payments and generous tax breaks they receive. Both TFA and NSA believe that only truly active farmers should have access to payments to assist with producing environmental benefits on farmland.” NSA and TFA would also like to see a move away from the single focus of stewardship schemes of the recent past and greater acknowledgement of the importance of grazing by livestock to support diversity of wildlife and plant species. In the future a better option would be multi-functional land management schemes that also consider social, structural and productivity elements, while discouraging
NFU Farming Charter Crosse & Blackwell Best of British has become the first FMCG brand to sign up to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Back British Farming Charter. he charter, which is at the centre of the NFU’s Back British Farming campaign, is calling for the Government and food industry to back British farming by promoting, selling and serving home-grown produce. According to the NFU, a decline in self-sufficiency means that the UK now produces just 60 per cent of its own food. It’s a trend the organisation and its 55,000 members want to reverse, ensuring that farmers can produce enough food for the needs of generations to come. NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “The Back British Farming Charter enables signatories to pledge their support of the production and producers of food in this country. It details expectations to be met, by all areas of the supply chain, so that farmers are given crucial backing as consumer demand increases. “It asks that food manufacturers source more British ingredients and ensure good supplier relationships, so we are delighted that Crosse & Blackwell is leading the way for FMCG brands by becoming this first
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to sign up to the charter. In addition, they have answered the charter’s call by producing a range of quality soups made with British-grown ingredients. “I would urge others within the food chain follow Crosse & Blackwell’s lead. Supporting the charter will ensure positive steps are made towards decreasing the volatility within the market and reversing the negative trend in selfsufficiency. Achieving this will ultimately benefit all stages of the supply chain.” Chris Wright, Marketing Director at Crosse & Blackwell, said: “British farmers deliver fantastic quality produce which we’re proud to include in our range. All of our Best of British soups, like our new Winter Vegetable Soup, are made with ingredients sourced from all across Britain, and we’ve invested almost £3m in TV and in-store marketing campaigns - which feature real British farmers - to promote them to shoppers.” Retailers such as The Cooperative, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Waitrose have also pledged their support to the campaign.
landowners from prioritising direct access to the payments over good working relationships with tenants. “The Government needs to make a decision about whether it wants to support productive farms in the hands of hard working tenant farmers Mr Stocker continues: “We acknowledge that the impact of environmental stewardship on the tenanted sector is an unintended consequence, but this is only acceptable if we learn from the dramatic affect they are having at a local level and create better schemes for the future. Environmental stewardship only measures environmental outcomes; we need a more holistic approach that considers the vital role of sheep farms in our rural landscape and local communities, as well as the ability of these businesses to produce food at the same time as encouraging wild plants and animals.” Mr Dunn echoes this: “An understanding of the consequences of past actions, whether intended or otherwise, must be considered when formulating future schemes.”
NFU: “A+B=dismay” The NFU says some First Milk members will be rightly shocked at the forecast milk price set for April under their new A and B pricing model. he co-operative announced today that that the April A price will be set at 20.87ppl for the manufacturing pool and 20.5ppl for the balancing pool. The range for the B price is 16ppl to 18ppl which will be fixed after the month-end. This B price will be paid on at least 20 per cent of a member’s total volume. NFU dairy board chairman Rob Harrison said: “Late last month, First Milk announced they were bringing in their new A and B pricing model from April and today we’ve seen what this delivers. Their members will be feeling continued frustration with First Milk with this announcement of shockingly low prices for both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ volumes. Put simply, this is a price cut masquerading as a new pricing model. We have seen positive signals recently and this needs to feedback onto farm urgently. “The B price forecast of 1618ppl is extremely cautious –
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sitting at around the EU powder intervention price this is not manageable for farmers to deal with. If I was a First Milk member I’d be asking them how exactly the ‘B’ price will be substantiated at the end of the month. This model desperately needs more transparency in the calculations, as a cooperative, First Milk members need to understand why they are facing yet another price cut. “With other milk buyers also looking to implement these pricing models from April we would urge them to be honest and transparent with their suppliers as to how the A and B milk price is calculated. Today’s positive GDT auction result comes at the back of five consecutive positive outcomes, and we’ve seen two upward price changes from Dutch co-operative Friesland Campina. The signals are there that the market is starting to stabilise and we want to see this confirmed in UK farmgate milk prices.”
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 09
| Animal Health
Research shows SARA is a risk throughout grazing season Milk producers are being urged to monitor cows closely for signs of acidosis throughout the grazing season, with research showing that one in ten animals could be suffering from sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA). study in Ireland investigating the rumen pH of grazing cows supplemented with less than 2kg/day of concentrate showed that 11% of cows were suffering from SARA, 42% were at high risk
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and only 47% had a rumen pH within the normal range (pH>5.8). A study of 100 grazing herds in Australia produced similar results. “It appears that modern ryegrass swards pose a significant acidosis risk whenever cows are grazing, not just in the
spring” states Dr Nicola Walker, AB Vista’s Ruminant Product Development Manager. “Even a small meal of starchy concentrates can then push cows over the limit.” Dr Walker is advising milk producers to be on the lookout for any unexpected reduction in feed intakes, milk yields or butterfat level, as well as undigested feed or mucin tags in the manure. Where levels of supplementary concentrate are higher than in the studies, the incidence and risk of SARA will potentially be even greater, she warns. “Any time the rumen drops
below pH5.8, its ability to function will be impaired, and under pH5.5 cows are considered to be suffering from SARA. With significant negative effects on milk output and cow health issues like laminitis, it’s important to avoid SARA whenever possible. “Limit in-parlour feeding to 2kg/cow/day, switch to a compound high in digestible fibre and consider feeding an efficient rumen conditioner like Acid Buf or Vistacell live yeast to help stabilise pH,” she adds. “With a typically yield increase of up to 2 litres/cow/day, even before signs of SARA are evident, the returns will far outweigh additional cost.”
Farmers warned it’s time to get serious about disease control UK cattle farmers must take firmer control of cattle disease if they are to remain competitive and secure future markets, domestically and overseas, for produce and breeding stock. his is the stark warning from Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS), the body set up by the industry in 1999 to regulate UK cattle health certification schemes. It says that unless more decisive, joined up action is taken, producers could see reduced marketing and export opportunities within a few years. CHeCS executive director Tim Brigstocke explains that although steady progress has been made standardising schemes and improving effectiveness of how individual initiatives operate, only 15% of cattle in the British Isles are currently covered by one CHeCSendorsed scheme or another. Furthermore, diseases such as Johne’s and BVD remain largely
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unmanaged. “The UK is seen as the ‘dirty man of cattle disease control’ both within Europe and globally, a reputation we have failed to shake off since the days of the BSE crisis,” says Mr Brigstocke. “The industry must come together and work on reducing endemic infection in UK dairy and beef herds if we want to be competitive and project a positive image, both here for our domestic market and when selling overseas. Other countries have simply overtaken us and this will soon start to affect our markets. For example, disease-free countries only want to import from other disease-free countries; the UK simply cannot claim to be that.” There are eight CHeCS-accredited schemes already in place in the UK, covering the four most important
A problem with lice? An all year round problem solved in an effective yet environmentally friendly way. hese small wingless insects are present all year round and especially noticeable amongst housed animals and infestations spread more rapidly when animals are in close contact. The female lice attach their eggs (nits) to the hair fibres and take about ten days to hatch into nymphs and a further two to three weeks before they develop into adults. It is just possible to see adult lice with the naked eye. By carefully parting the hair, movement can normally be seen at the base of the hair. They are grey/brownish in colour and the size of a pinhead.
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Biting lice are by far the most common, they feed on debris on the surface of the skin and their scavenging produces intense irritation causing crusty scurfy areas that the animal will bite and scratch in an effort to alleviate their discomfort. Sucking Lice can cause severe anaemia and infested animals can rapidly lose weight and become prone to other illnesses. Lice can only survive for a few days off their host but it is very important to treat all bedding, housing at the same time that you treat your animals, to prevent re-infestation. Barrier Animal Healthcare’s Livestock Louse Powder (HSE Licence No. 8712) is very effective, affordable and the most
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non-statutory diseases: Johne’s Disease, IBR, BVD and Leptospirosis, with more in the process of being added. One of the most pressing requirements, says Mr Brigstocke, is that the UK industry is proactive in bringing all remaining existing schemes together. “The good news is we don’t need to reinvent to wheel. We already have CHeCS as a central, industry-run body which can expand to accommodate and co-ordinate more schemes and diseases, in much the same way as Animal Health Ireland has successfully done. If we get the industry behind us there are very tangible benefits ahead; for example, the UK could be BVD-free in two years if we all work together.” Many breed societies have already benefited from taking a tighter rein on disease, such as The
Beef Shorthorn Society whose sales only accept animals from farms participating in a CHeCS-accredited scheme. Frank Milnes, secretary of the Society, says: “It is important for all cattle owners to be aware of the impact disease can have on the profitability of their business, and even more important that breeders of pedigree cattle should only offer for sale animals of a known high health status. This can only be achieved through membership of an accredited health scheme which ensures consistency of testing, monitoring and reporting of disease status.” The recently redeveloped CHeCS website www.checs.co.uk is a good starting point for farmers looking at introducing a herd health scheme on-farm..
environmentally friendly product of its kind on the market for the animal and the user. This unique formulation of Livestock Louse Powder is entirely non-toxic and contains a safe-carrier that does not cause carcinogenic effects. Totally safe and designed to be applied directly to all animals it is suitable for use in organic farming systems, as it falls into the exempt category of products which use only plant oils as active ingredients, as listed in Annexe IIB (Pesticides) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (as amended). It successfully rids animals, including Cattle, Horses and Poultry of both Sucking and Biting Lice; which are normally dealt with separately, and will help to prevent reduced growth rates, which can result from Lice infestation. Barrier Animal Healthcare does not recommend the use of Livestock Louse Powder on Sheep due to the density of the fleece – refer to ‘Blowfly Repel’ and ‘Barrier D
Sheep Dip Formula’. This strong formulation contains concentrated plant derivatives that act as a slow release to give up to six weeks protection with one application. Barrier Animal Healthcare is the only company to include sterilizable maize powder as the base carrier for the louse powder and unlike other carriers it will not be metabolised via any cuts and so will not form granulomas. After identifying that lice is the problem, thoroughly cover the animal with the product, paying particular attention to the neck, under the elbows, legs, along the back and at the base of the tail. Use a soft brush to ensure that the product is thoroughly worked into the coat and down to the base of the hair. Where heavy infestations exist, repeat application within 5 days and as necessary until you are on top of the problem. Visit www.footrot.co.uk or www.flyrepel.com
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| Animal Health
RVC and DairyCo unite to help producers support calf health Working in partnership, the Royal Veterinary College, University of London (RVC) and DairyCo have produced a series of online films looking at aspects of dairy calf management and health. revious research at the RVC has shown that the average mortality rates of liveborn dairy heifers in their first month of life on GB farms ranged from 012%. Some farms achieve mortality rates as low as zero per cent suggesting losses can be avoided when good management practices are in place. Further work by the College, sponsored by DairyCo, reviewed the scientific evidence to identify best practice in colostrum management and promoting health of young dairy calves. It is this work which has culminated in the development of a series of six films for farmers and their staff working together with their veterinary surgeons and advisors to help implement procedures to minimise calf mortality. Filmed on the farm and presented in a clear and practical way to help farmers implement best practice in calf rearing, the six films and associated resources cover: colostrum management, colostrum hygiene, tube feeding colostrum, testing colostrum, monitoring growth and hygiene in the calf shed. Dr Jenny Gibbons, R&D Manager at DairyCo said: " Dairy calves are the future of the dairy herd and deserve to have the
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best management. Back in 2013, as part of the DairyCo Research Partnership an industry wide workshop brought together key individuals and organisations involved in calf health, welfare and management to discuss areas for improvement. These films are the output of this workshop and incorporate the latest research and management advice to ensure farmers keep up to date on calf management best practice." Professor Claire Wathes, Professor of Veterinary Reproduction at the RVC, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to produce such useful information for dairy farmers and their staff in a format which they should find easy to access and apply to their work. Some simple changes in management practices in the first few days of life can lead to marked improvements in calf health. We hope that these guidelines will be widely adopted by the industry and so help to promote optimum welfare of the calves reared on UK farms." The films will be available to view at www.dairyco.org.uk/calves from Friday 27th February 2015. This project is part of the DairyCo Research Partnership on the 'Health, Welfare and Nutrition of Dairy Cattle'.
New milk kart a perfect feeding solution JFC have launched their new 170L Milk Kart into the UK market, once again showing their commitment to innovative solutions for the farmer. he JFC Milk Karts come with various options including a mains powered 230v motorized single speed mixer eliminating the need to hand mix and with the Kart capacity of 170L allows a full bag of milk replacer to be used and between 60 – 80 calves to be fed in one trip. The pumped dispenser is powered by a rechargeable battery which has the ability to empty the 170L tank ten times in one charge (with a recharge time of 8-12 hours), the flow meter on the nozzle allows you to visually measure the amount of milk dispensed to each calf. The kart has a twist-on lid which minimises spillages and contamination. The castor swivel wheels allow for smooth manoeuvrability and the 4-ply wheels make for easy movement on rough terrain. With the rear
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wheels fitted with brakes for safety. With prices starting at ÂŁ334 + vat for the basic model this is an ideal cost effective option for transporting milk or milk replacer around the farm yard. There is also a smaller 125L option available. The kart has a twist-on lid which minimises spillages and contamination The kart has received international CE approval for conformity with EU regulations. For more information on JFC products see the website www.jfcagri.com/uk or contact the office on info@jfcuk.com
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 11
| On Topic
On Topic
Meet the Red Hot Chilli Farmers
Chillies have been grown in South America for thousands of years but it’s only recently they’ve become part of our everyday diet in the west.
ancashire might not seem the obvious location but it’s were most of the UK’s best chillies are grown and it’s all thanks to the Johnson family from Red Tractor Assured Westshore Chilies, based in the salad belt at Banks near Southport. Their glasshouses cover approximately two hectares and produce four tonnes of chillies each week, supplying Sainsbury’s and Booths directly and most major stores such as Waitrose, indirectly. Husband and wife team Debbie, with their daughter Ashleigh and nephew Robert are the force behind Westshore Chillies and Red Tractor.
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About Red Tractor Red Tractor, run by not-forprofit organisation Red Tractor Assurance, is recognised as the UK’s leading quality food assurance mark. Put simply, Red Tractor means Quality Food You Can Trust!
“Red Tractor is the sign that I look for and I’ll chose those products above all other” Growing chillies came as a bit of a surprise to Debbie and Joe Johnson. For 11 years, they were very content growing their flat lettuce, however, the UK suddenly became awash with iceberg lettuce from Europe which meant the family had to adapt quickly and took the very bold step of growing chillies. At that
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time, there were very few growers in the UK, but the family soon grasped the hang of it and started their operation just at the right time. Today, they remain one of the most successful chilli growers in the UK. Says Debbie , “dealing with the main supermarkets means adhering to the highest standards, so being part of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme ensures the retailer our chillies are grown to exacting standards of food safety and hygiene. Having Red Tractor status give ensures our customers trust us. “Lots of people offer accreditation, but Red Tractor is the sign that I look for and I’ll chose those products above all other”. “We’ve grown just about every kind of chilli but things like the very hot scotch bonnets really need the consistently hot weather conditions, which we can’t guarantee, so we grow Serenade and Fresno which are in the medium range of the heat spectrum. “When we started growing them, the older generation wouldn’t even think of trying chillies but these days, there’s chilli in just about everything and countless recipes include them”. Growing chillies is seven day a week job with sowing starting in January, planting at the end of April and harvesting from May onwards.
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| On Topic
On Topic BASF's Jonathan Ball
Background to Red Tractor Red Tractor is backed by farmers and growers, food producers, processors and packers. They are independently inspected to ensure they are meeting responsible standards of production relating to food safety and traceability, animal health & welfare and environmental protection. • Major FMCG brands that use the logo include: Silverspoon sugar, Country Life butter, Shredded Wheat, Cathedral City cheddar, Carling larger, Worthington ale, Greene King ale, Youngs beer, Ambrosia custard, McCain’s oven chips, Allinson’s flour and Hovis bread • £12 billion worth of food carries the Red Tractor logo on pack every year and it is available in supermarkets, restaurants, cafes as well as schools, hospitals and defense sites across the UK • 14 years of driving good standards in farming and food • 88, 000 farm enterprises are part of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme
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• Over 650 processors and packers are licensed to use the logo on pack •High profile support comes from the government, leading supermarket chains and many of Britain’s food brands and restaurants •Retailers include: Co-operative and Aldi amongst others •Food service companies include: major contract caterers – Sodexo, Compass, Aramark, Arena Leisure, Baxterstorey, CH&Co and Elior •Restaurants that use the logo include: Nando’s, KFC and Orchid pub Group •Wholesalers include: Brakes, Reynolds, 3663, Kent Frozen Foods, ISS World, UK Food Hall, Nigel Fredericks, Russell Hume
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 13
| Irrigation
A fair share of water for agriculture Irrigated agriculture is an essential part of the rural economy across central, eastern, and southern England. More than 1,000 agribusinesses, both large and small, depend on water to supply high quality produce to the nation’s supermarkets providing over 30% of potatoes and 25% of all fruit and vegetables. rrigated production does not receive any European subsidy support yet it provides substantial benefits. In East Anglia alone, it is estimated that the agri-food industry employs over 50,000 people along the value chain and contributes some £3 billion annually to the region’s economy. Water is at the heart of this industry – without it many farmers would simply not be able to meet the exacting standards of quality and continuity of supply demanded by supermarkets and consumers – arguably one of the most sophisticated markets in the world.
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Some 75% of all water volumes licenced for irrigation are in catchments which are under severe levels of water stress. Agriculture only accounts for 2% of all water abstracted nationally, but most of this is consumed in the eastern drier parts of the country. Some 75% of all water volumes licenced for irrigation are in catchments which are under severe levels of water stress. Eastern and southern England has had a quiet time this last year – plenty of winter and
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summer rainfall and full reservoirs has meant that irrigators can turn their minds to things other than having enough water. But drought is never far away and concerns are that during dry spells water for domestic use, industry, and the environment generally take precedence over agriculture. Recent droughts in 2011-12 and the longer term threat of climate change heighten concerns about the reliability of future supplies for irrigated agriculture. The proposed changes taking place in the way water is licenced and allocated in the future and the potential impacts of the EU-Water Framework Directive on abstraction also add to the uncertainties about how to secure long-term water supplies and investment in irrigation for the future. So what can be done to improve on-farm water security? Many farmers are taking their own steps by building reservoirs to store winter water and improving the way in which they manage their existing supplies. They do this by investing in new application technologies, such as boom irrigators and drip systems, and in scientifically based scheduling methods which help farmers to make those important decisions about when to irrigate and how much water to apply. The main driver for this has been energy efficiency because of the high cost of applying water. The benefit has been more efficient
Melvyn Kay, UK Irrigation Association www.ukia.org
water use as well. But there are some steps that individuals alone cannot take because of the complex nature of water resources management. From a farmer perspective there is a need for more collective action and forming water abstractor groups is a way of focusing attention on water for agriculture and protecting water rights. From a regulator perspective the Environment Agency has set up a National Water Resources Group which meets regularly on all water matters and aims to integrate all aspects of water resources management and to prepare everyone for that next drought!
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| Irrigation
Ellis Irrigation will never Cost effective irrigation leave you high & dry! pump sets standard A family run business with over 45 years experience in all types of irrigation. roviding a specialist service designed to exactly fit your needs, Ellis Irrigation will give you a tailored system specific to your requirements. The company uses a range of manufacturers’ equipment as well as manufacturing their own, which should ensure that you are getting the best quality product at the best possible price. Ellis are also the sole UK importer of the Idrofoglia Rainmaker irrigator formally known as Touraine 2 and supplied by Wright Rain in addition to being the sole importer of all spare parts, holding almost everything you would need..and available on a next day delivery basis. “We do not believe in over complicating irrigation systems and aim to provide you with the most efficient and reliable system which is easy to operate and requires the minimum amount of
Greencrop Irrigation can now offer an economy diesel engine irrigation pump set that will drive a single hose reel irrigator fitted with either a rain gun or boom.
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maintenance and running costs.” “We provide the complete service to our customers from designing their scheme through to successful installation, final commissioning and providing ongoing support throughout the year.” Ellis are also the sole UK importer of the Idrofoglia Rainmaker irrigator formally known as Touraine 2 Ellis hold an extensive range of spare parts in stock and also manufacture specialist fabrications and fittings to order and offer nationwide next day delivery on all parts.
anufactured at their assembly plant near Ely in Cambridgeshire using the highest quality materials and attention to detail, the new Greencrop GCEP125W Pump Set provides built-in reliability and a long-lasting finish. The unit is powered by a water cooled Perkins 422PT 2.2 litre 63hp 4 cylinder silent pack unit. Sound levels for the 422PT power pack are: 1000 rpm 55dBa and 2800 rpm 73dBa, both at seven metres, directly coupled to a Caprari MEC-MR 65-2/4A 1 centrifugal multiple-stage pump with horizontal shaft (Q: 64.67 m³/h H: 109 m). The unit comes mounted on an 80 gallon (364 litre) fully bunded fuel tank chassis with jack and
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tractor draw bar as standard. It has 10/75/15.3 6 stud wheels with mudguards, hand primer and our modified 450 waterproof protection control panel for water temperature and pressure, no flow protection and high and low oil pressure. The unit comes mounted on an 80 gallon (364 litre) fully bunded fuel tank chassis The above pump unit can also be supplied mounted on their fuel bowser tandem axle galvanised chassis with mudguards and road lights. For further information please contact Howard Chantry on 07881 787997.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 15
| Irrigation
Javelin - for everything ‘irrigation’ As one of the leading suppliers of irrigation equipment to the agricultural industry, Javelin continues to improve the product range in its extensive catalogue, thus providing almost all of your requirements in one place. ontinuing the momentum in the UK market, the Javelin product range for 2015 introduces new machinery with increased structural dimensions, allowing a broader range of hose diameter size and length options to give a larger choice for various applications. These machines have the high-specification Irridoseur 5 or Program Rain 10/12 computers which gives the user full control over water application rates. Along with fully hydraulic operation on the larger reels as standard and the optional advantage of GSM control, irrigation no longer has to be the time consuming task it once was. The diesel pump range continues to evolve also, with the
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heat exchanger engine cooling design replacing the need for a fan; the JCB diesel engine pump units are becoming increasingly popular with the energy cost savings becoming apparent over a long season’s irrigation requirements. These pumps are now supplied with an automatic
electric priming pump as standard and GSM facility as an option, allowing the user to direct their endeavours elsewhere while the pump takes care of itself. For further details please call (01507) 607175 or visit our website www.javelinirrigation.co.uk
The diesel pump range continues to evolve also, with the heat exchanger engine cooling design replacing the need for a fan
ProRain irrigator made by Bauer for lighter duty irrigation role Growers wanting an efficient and durable reel irrigator but who do not need the ultimate in strength and reel-in power are catered for in the Bauer range by the ProRain. t complements the high-end Rainstar reel irrigators, which are designed with a very strong steel structure to take heavy loads and booms for highest retraction forces. The ProRain comes in two sizes covering many of the popular hose configurations preferred by UK growers and can be quickly adapted to cover a wide range of water flow rates and rain gun sizes. Key features include a selfloading rain gun trolley for rapid moves; hydraulic stabiliser leg operation; optional hydraulic turntable rotation; and a fully galvanized finish for components needing corrosion protection. “The ProRain is built to the high
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quality standards of Bauer, with all major steel components galvanized to give the machine a long service life,” notes Adrian Tindall, UK and Ireland sales manager. “Growers rightly regard purchasing a reel irrigator as a long-term investment and as with other Bauer equipment the ProRain will stay the course.” The design of the ProRain is based on retraction forces that are a little lower than those of the Rainstar but still higher than competitor machines. Also, the drive unit, which consists of a water turbine/gearbox combination, is an efficient unit providing enough power to cover the standard performance range for different application rates. Field experience suggests the ProRain’s turbine maintains efficiency over a wide range of
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| Irrigation
Reliable, German built irrigation equipment The Grimme range of irrigation equipment is distributed through Grimme retail outlets at Swineshead, Shrewsbury, York, Fife and through Grimme Ireland Machinery. hese German built hose reels range from 300m up to 850m and split into the Primus and larger Monsun range; the Primus (up to 650m) is a single axle machine fitted with full hydraulic and a four speed gearbox and includes a few features which are unique to
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flow rates. But Bauer has, nonetheless, made it as easy as possible to change injection cones to cater for a wide range of water flows. “On some irrigators, this is a two-man job because it involves unbolting heavy hoses at the same time as supporting them, but on the ProRain this can be done by one man in a matter of minutes,” explains Adrian Tindall. “Two single-lever Bauer couplings release the water feed flexible hose and rigid pipe; then, undoing just four bolts enables a flange to be removed to gain access to the cone inlet to the turbine.” The ProRain irrigator’s reel is constructed with a closed inner drum to ensure that the first layer of hose sits correctly without distortion or overlapping. That way, subsequent layers will build up evenly. “The Bauer PE hose, which is made in our own factory and is recognised for its quality and
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Grimme, including a storage winder for the layflat hose and an automatic levelling kit for the rain gun. Full hydraulics are standard and this machine has a wide wheel base and long drawbar to increase stability both in the field and on the road. The larger Monsun range (600m up to 125-850m) takes its drive
from a front mounted gearbox with chains driving onto the rim of the drum and is substantially stronger than anything else on the market. All Grimme Irrigation reels come with a two year warranty and backed up by a superb after-sales team. Irrigation pumps use Iveco 4 cylinder engines fitted with a choice of Caprari pumps and
come mounted inside a large acoustic cabinet and on top of a 1750L fuel tank. The company supply a full range of layflat and irrigation fittings along with a layflat storage winder with removable drums to store longer lengths of hose.
durability, is used for the ProRain,” adds Adrian Tindall. “That’s an important consideration when a replacement hose can cost half the original price of the machine.” In work, the ProRain is operated using Bauer’s Ecostar 4000S controller powered by a 12v battery with solar panel charging. In addition to irrigation stop/start, the Ecostar is used to set the hose retraction speed, which is displayed on a read-out. The display also shows the time remaining until the end of the run and the length of pipe deployed – a measurement calculated using sensors on the drive gearbox rather than the pipe to avoid errors caused by soil and other debris. Key features include a self loading rain gun trolley for rapid moves Individual water-testing of every ProRain irrigator that leaves the Bauer factory is another measure of the Austrian manufacturer’s attention to detail. It means that once a dealer has assembled the gun trolley and put the wheels on, the irrigator is ready to go. “Dealers have no concerns that customers will be held up while they spend time tackling leaks because it will be right first time in the field,” says Adrian Tindall.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 17
| Irrigation
Thought about securing your own water supply? Reducing your reliance on the major utilities can prove both practical and lucrative in the long run. You may have already installed an alternative renewable energy system, but it may well prove a good financial move to secure your own water supply too. HY NOT HAVE YOUR OWN WATER SUPPLY ? With water costs continually escalating and the Environment Agency calling for a water meter in every home and or farm, there has never been a better time to consider having your own private water supply especially in the farming industry. WHAT DOES A BOREHOLE COST ? The cost of a borehole is dependent on the geological sequence, the nature of the water bearing stratum or aquifer and the depth to standing water in the borehole. It is also dependent on the yield required and the access
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to the borehole location. Some boreholes require a well screen and a gravel pack to restrict the amount of fine materials pumped through the borehole. It is recommended that you approach drilling contractors that are members of the WDA (Well Drillers Association) initially for a guide price and to discuss particular requirements that you have and then request a written estimate. Remember to include the cost of the pump, rising main, electrics and discharge in any estimate. WHAT YOU SHOULD GET ? The illustration below shows the detail of a typical water well construction complete with installed submersible pump. The
Typical water well construction GROUND LEVEL
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illustration does not show the completed headworks, this is to be discussed with the contractor. DO YOU NEED A LICENCE ? In England and Wales, under the Water Act 2003 any borehole or well yielding less than 20 cu. metres per day (4,400 gallons per day) does not currently require a consent to drill and test pump or to extract water up to that limit. For intended yields in excess of 20 cu. metres per day then a Clause 32 Consent is required from the local Environment Agency to drill and test pump any borehole and an extraction licence is required to pump the borehole after the test pumping is completed. At this stage it is worth noting that you may also require planning permission from your local council, please make sure that you or your drilling contractor ask the question from the relevant council, this should not incur any costs. IS THE QUANTITY OR QUALITY OF THE WATER GUARANTEED ? The key element to minimize the risk is to obtain as much information as possible prior to committing to a drilling
programme, hence the recommendation that a borehole prognosis be obtained. Whilst this is not a guarantee of success, it can highlight risk at an early stage. There will always be an element of risk that no water will be found, and this needs to be fully understood by all parties. Water costs are continually escalating - consider a private water supply A hydrogeological report can be obtained by your drilling contractor or by contacting the BGS direct, (British Geological Survey) who are based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire and can be reached by phoning 01491692299 or 01491-692394. Current cost of a report is about £350.00. FURTHER INFORMATION Please contact direct the Secretary of the WDA – Mr. David Duke on 07736364259, alternatively visit the WDA web site – www.welldrillers.org or e-mail David on david.s.duke@gmail.com
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| Feature
Ewe nutrition in late pregnancy and during early lactation Appropriate nutrition is vital in late pregnancy and after lambing to provide the correct nutrients to the ewe and the lambs and to maintain the ewe’s body condition. esearch has shown that ewes with low body condition score at lambing will produce lambs with a lower weaning weight. It has also been found that lambs with a poorer growth rate to weaning continue to grow at a lower rate and this will have a direct impact of profitability. EBLEX sheep scientist Liz Genever said: “Seventy per cent of lamb growth occurs in the last six weeks of pregnancy and this is also the time when the udder develops. So feed will not only affect the growth of the lamb and the udder, but also the quality and yield potential of the ewe’s milk. “The ewe will require more energy and protein within the diet before lambing, but her appetite will decrease by about 30 per cent. Therefore understanding the nutrient value of the ration is very important.” For example, a 70kg dry ewe requires only 8 megajoules of metabolisable energy (MJ ME) per day, seven weeks prior to lambing this rises to 11.4MJ ME for a ewe carrying twins and one week before she gives birth she needs 18.3MJ ME. After lambing, the same ewe will need more than 32MJ ME of energy in order to produce 3kg milk per day and maintain her condition. It is challenging for ewes to meet this requirement so body condition loss will be used to support milk production – as long as she has condition to lose. Feed imbalance will also increase the risk of metabolic diseases such as pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia (calcium deficiency).
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What does the ewe need? The ewe needs a balanced diet with energy and protein being the most important nutrients. Consideration needs to be given to appropriate supplementation with trace elements and vitamins, this should be adjusted based on history of the farm and the feed used. A ewe derives her protein from two sources, Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP) and Digestible Undegradable Protein (DUP). RDP meets the daily protein requirement most of the time but in late pregnancy this is insufficient for udder development and milk. Feeding high quality DUP can fill this gap. “A compound feed can be fed alongside the preserved forage or grazing, but the ingredients will determine the percentage of protein. For example, 10 per cent soya in an 18 per cent protein compound is a higher quality feed than a 20 per cent protein feed with urea as the main ingredient,” said Liz. Often soya is fed to ewes which can be costly for the producer. Research funded by EBLEX, HCC, ADAS and Reaseheath College found no effect on animal performance when alternative forms of protein with a similar crude protein level were fed to the ewe. The dietary requirements of the ewe can be met by grazing alone if the grass is well managed and sufficient. Resting pasture for three months or more before ewes graze it is advised. Monitoring sward heights or pasture cover is important to ensure grass availability is appropriate. When lambing indoors, the focus should be to try and maximise intake of high quality forage and supplement with small quantity of high quality concentrates. Where to start Liz said the place to start is with forage analysis. “The information about your forage will ensure you know the quality of different cuts and fields. Then you can target feed towards appropriate classes of stock. Good quality forage can ensure significant savings in terms of concentrate requirements. ”
If a forage analysis has not been carried out, look at the list of soil testing companies compiled by EBLEX, they offer a forage analysis service and soil tests too. Once the forage analyses are known, supplementation can be planned. A compound feed should complement the analysed forage in the diet. “Don’t just stick with the same compound year after year because the requirements will differ according to the quality of the silage or hay. The compound feed should have a higher energy density than the forage it will be fed with. As a rule of thumb it should be 12.5MJ/kg dry matter (DM) or more,” said Liz. “The ewe will require more energy and protein within the diet before lambing, but her appetite will decrease by about 30 per cent” Ewes reach peak milk yield at three to four weeks after lambing. If grass is longer than 4cm (1,500kg DM per hectare) and mainly leaf, concentrate feeding in early lactation may not be cost-effective as it will just substitute grass. However, if grass is below this target, additional supplements will be needed to support ewes in early lactation. There is a positive relationship between BCS loss during lactation and lamb weaning weight, with heavier lambs coming from ewes that mobilise their own fat reserves. However, ewes need to be at target BCS at lambing to be able to achieve some condition loss during lactation. EBLEX’s sheep key performance indicator (KPI) project clearly shows that lamb weights at eight weeks of age are a very important indicator of how well the system is performing, therefore recording this data will be useful for farmers to benchmark against other farmers and year on year.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 19
| Grassland
Don’t compromise yield - invest in your grassland! Reliable evidence from the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice illustrates the decline in grassland liming. This trend has remained unchanged in the past 12 months he data emphasises the past decade’s significant reduction in lime use for ‘all grass’ - with only 3 in 100 acres currently receiving pH correction – is this sustainable? Data collected via the comprehensive PAAG 2014 survey shows the pH trends for grassland and arable land (197K soil pH samples). In summary, 21% of grassland was found to be below pH 5.5, and this will significantly impact on the efficient utilisation of N, P and K. Indications are that our grasslands are becoming more acidic, and this reduction in pH is likely to adversely affect sward composition, and therefore grassland yield and quality will decline. Furthermore, nitrogen applications increase the natural rate of soil acidification, and cut herbage (i.e. silage) removes significantly larger quantities of calcium when compared to other crops. Therefore, regular pH testing and corrective liming are required to ensure consequential loss of yield and reduced forage quality are
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LimeX is the ideal product for fast acting, but lasting pH correction on grassland, and can be used in organic farming systems. avoided by maintaining soil pH at an appropriate level, such that other macro and micro nutrients are available to the growing crop. LimeX is the ideal product for fast acting, but lasting pH correction on grassland, and can be used in organic farming systems. Furthermore, the integral nutrient package within LimeX contributes to maintaining soil fertility by supplying valuable quantities of P2O5, MgO and SO3. For example, a ‘maintenance’ application of LimeX70 at 5/t ha will supply a minimum of: • 50kg P2O5 • 35kg MgO • 30kg SO3 These nutrients are typically worth £50-60 per hectare. LimeX is available to order now for this spring and early summer. For more information contact 0870 2402314, or visit: limex.co.uk
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| Grassland
Right choice for grassland Guaranteed success with ‘Einböck’ grassland care. errington Machinery Ltd has successfully been importing and supplying the ‘Einböck’ range of grassland machinery into the UK for over 23 years. Competence in ‘Einböck’ grassland care has already been demonstrated with the Grass-Manager and Pneumaticstar. Now, the range has been extended with the Pneumaticstar Pro and the ‘New for 2015’ Pneumaticstar P-Box Speed ‘Speedtronic’ Seeder. Whether ‘Einböcks’ machines are for grassland care, aftersowing, undersowing or total re-seeding, the large range of ‘Einböck machinery makes them stand out as a specialist in grassland maintenance, offering all possibilities for a successful grassland renovation and rejuvenation. The right choice and the correct use of machines are necessary as you provide a basis for more green and economical advances with an Einböck machine for grassland renovation and rejuvenation. Grass-Manager 1.5m to 12.0m For harrowing grassland to remove dead grass weeds, thatch
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and to aerate the ground. Pneumaticstar 3.0m, 5.0m, 6.0m, 9.0 & 12.0m For total reseeding or patching and stitching standing grassland without the need to plough. Electric, PTO or Hydraulic Fans available. Pneumaticstar-Pro 3.0m, 6.0m & 12.0m For contractors, large scale farmers and for rough meadows with many molehills. Complete with PTO Fans, 10mm Tines, Variable Seed Rate Adjustor, Levelling Boards, Hydraulic Levelling Adjustment per section etc. P-Box Speed ‘Speedtronic’ Seeder (new for 2015) 6.0M Giving the possibility of maintaining a constant seed rate without altering the forward speed. The required speed information can be provided by the 7 pin info socket of the tractor, a wheel sensor, GPS or Radar Sensor. Twin Electric Fans as standard. PTO or Hydraulic Fans available as an optional extra. Please contact David or Brian for more details or your nearest dealer on Tel: 01553-828083, Mobile: 07966417720 (David) or 07889112163 (Brian)
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 21
| Renewables
Solar loses out...again Solar gets little in Government’s new auction system. he Government recently announced which technologies and companies have won low carbon energy contracts in the new ‘Contracts for Difference’ auction for renewable energy. Contracts for Difference are the new support mechanism for nuclear, CCS and renewable energy introduced by the Coalition Government to replace the main support for large-scale renewables, the Renewables Obligation. The auction, held earlier this year, required ‘established’ renewables to compete with each other directly for a share of £50m for the next year (and an additional £15m for later projects). The results are disappointing for solar but not surprising and come as more and more analyses shows that, as long as it is given stable support, solar could very soon be competitive with fossil fuels without subsidy. However, the UK utility solar industry is very young in the UK and it is almost - but not quite - ready to compete with technologies that have been established for over a decade. Solar has only won 5 contracts with only two to be built the coming financial year and 3 in the next. Onshore wind has won 15 contracts. Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association commented: “Unfortunately this result is as disappointing as we predicted. The soon to be cheapest and most popular renewable – solar power has lost out in a complex auction scheme that favours big players and genuinely established technologies. Is a policy that trips up the UK’s emerging solar industry really a successful policy? We don’t think so. It is essential that changes are made to the next round of auctions in October to ensure that smaller UK solar companies can have the confidence to enter. ” “It is likely that very few solar companies even submitted a bid for a contract. The problem is that it was just far too much of a risk for a small or medium sized solar company to even put in a bid for a Contract for Difference. The system was a bit like asking first time buyers to put down on deposit on a house, without knowing whether they were going to be able to buy the house at the end of the process – and with the risk of losing their deposit.” Solar, onshore wind, landfill gas and hydro were competing for contracts within the £50m (+£15m) budget available for ‘established’ technologies. Technologies categorized as ‘less mature’, like offshore wind, competed in a separate auction. Alex Fornal, Head of Project Development at Solar company Juwi, who made 3 competitive bids said; “For us the results speak for themselves. Wind has apparently taken all or most of what was an
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already a miniscule CfD budget. If there were any successful solar farms they have taken up whatever “crumbs” were left over after wind projects were granted CfDs. We are very disappointed but we will now look to the next government to apply a more sensible budget to the next allocation round this coming October - a budget that is fit for purpose and that provides the support for solar that it deserves. If properly supported solar will become the first renewable to compete with conventional generation and reach grid parity by the end of this decade.” Solar market contraction for 2015/16 The CfD results means that contracts enabling just 32MW of solar, enough to power 7,000 homes, will be built in the next financial year– even including sub 5MW solar, this represents a huge drop in the market compared to the current financial year when 2-3GW of large-scale solar is estimated to be built. Solar farms above 5MW (about 30 acres) are particularly exposed as the Government will close the current Renewables Obligation system to these solar projects alone – but leave it open to all other technologies until 2017. Solar power deprived of resources: Despite CfDs being the Government’s ‘flagship’ energy program, just £50m was made available for this first round of CfD auctions for ‘established’ technologies per year (£65m for later years). This compares to £3.1bn of budget for the Renewables Obligation for 2014/15 – indeed this year’s CfD budget is less than 2% of the RO. The Renewables Obligation remains open until 2017 to all other technologies except large-scale solar power yet opinion polls show that solar farms are the most popular local energy development. At the same time Government has allocated nearly 60% of the entire 2020 Levy Control Framework to just 8 projects, most of which are more expensive than solar power, undermining value for money claims. The Solar Trade Association is concerned about where the UK’s popular and successful solar industry is meant to go. The largescale solar roof market still suffers from major barriers in the UK. Paul Barwell continued: “Much more care needs to be taken by Government about where its energy policies are leaving solar power overall. This extraordinary technology has been the success story of the Coalition Government but it is in danger of falling through the gaps in a policy framework too often designed for really big players deploying big technologies. Internationally Governments are recognising and supporting solar’s vast global potential. Having come from nowhere on solar at the start of this Parliament the UK cannot afford to fall behind.”
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Lightsource helps businesses take control of electricity bills Rural businesses now have the chance to take control of their electricity costs and reduce ever mounting overheads. 2015 solar electricity tariff launched by Lightsource Renewable Energy promises to slash utility bills and improve a company’s carbon footprint. Rural businesses can benefit from a fixed, RPI index-linked electricity price starting from just 5p per kilowatt-hour by opting to have solar panels installed for free on their rooftop. The new ‘green’ solar electricity tariff is available to any business with a roof space of 400sq m upwards. With every 100sq m of roof space generating a saving of at least £35,4002 over 25 years when compared to a current competitive commercial tariff of 10p, rural firms could see huge savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Vital revenue that can be put to much better use. Unlike schemes from other providers – where businesses have to commit to buying a significant percentage of the electricity generated regardless of how much they might actually need – the Lightsource tariff is offered with no purchase obligations. You only pay for what you need. Nick Boyle, CEO for Lightsource, said: “Running a rural business is tough. Constant financial pressure, erratic weather and fluctuating global prices mean it is becoming more and more difficult to save money and make a profit. “The small to medium-sized energy intensive businesses are hit even harder. With no protection against rising electricity bills, overheads will increase and create added uncertainty. “However, demonstrating our commitment toward the local rural economy, we are offering businesses an opportunity to future proof electricity bills, guaranteeing peace of mind and allowing firms to capitalise on savings and boost their green credentials. We can turn unused roof space into a real asset.” Mr Boyle continued: “Crucially, a business is only charged for the electricity used. Not one kilowatt-
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Nick Boyle
hour more – simple and fair.” Businesses will enter into a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Lightsource who will supply daytime electricity to the premises from the solar installation for a standard term of 25 years. There will be no disruption to the building’s electricity supply as the solar PPA will work in harmony with the regular electricity supplier, prioritising daytime electricity usage to be supplied from the solar installation. The new ‘green’ solar electricity tariff is available to any business with a roof space of 400sq m upwards. Mr Boyle added: “There is no installation cost to the customer and our expert engineers will work with your business to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum. Panels can be installed over just a few days, and around your business requirements. Lightsource will design, build, operate and maintain the whole scheme – while also ensuring the rooftop is fully insured. It’s hassle free. ” Lightsource Renewable Energy is an active member of the NFU and the CLA, maintaining and operating the largest fleet of commercial solar power projects in the UK. Its dedicated team of more than 55 in-house roofing experts, part of a 350 strong total staff, have installed hundreds of rooftop solar projects across the country and can demonstrate an established track record in working closely with rural businesses to develop the most suitable and highest performing solar PV solution.
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| LAMMA
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 23
| Renewables
Developments within small scale ad As a constantly developing industry, AD technology is adapting to the point where you can buy virtually any plant size – from the large plants with over several megawatts capacity to small scale 15kW plants and even below. ealistically the current minimum possible commercial scale would be about 50kW. The capital costs at this scale compare well to other renewable energy options, and meet electricity and heat demands around the clock while providing a more environmentally friendly solution for farm wastes. In addition, new technology is emerging for small farm AD systems to further improve digester performance and reduce operational problems. Significant progress has also been made towards improving the operations and economics of small-scale biogas upgrading technology for vehicle fuel, which could enable farmers to make and store their own vehicle fuel at a cost proportionate to the scale of production.
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At a time when the agricultural sector is coming under increasing pressure to increase outputs from the same area of land whilst reducing its carbon footprint, AD has a significant role to play in supporting climate-smart farming and food production. Some farmers are also exploring different mixes of feedstocks, either by growing additional material to digest or importing waste from other sources such as neighbouring farms. Every situation will be different, so it is important to look at what will be best for your farm – and that means considering not just how much waste or other feedstock is likely to be available, but also what opportunities exist to use the gas, electricity and heat you will generate, and how you will use the digestate. Raising the finance needed to develop small scale on-farm AD plants can be a challenge as the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) degresses – but options are available. ADBA works in partnership with independent, expert advisors through our Farmers’ Consultancy Service,
which offers free introductory support to design a business model tailored to your farm. According to one of the Service’s members, Laurence Gould, the estimated capital costs for a 150kW AD plant operating at about 95 per cent efficiency would be about £750,000 with an expected payback period of between 10-15 years. Ever more farmers are taking advantage of the technology: the number of agricultural AD plants has nearly doubled to about 120 in just two years. A limited awareness of the benefits arising from the incorporation of AD into farming business models, however, means that the renewable technology remains underused compared to its potential. By means of illustrating this point, over the past year ADBA has contributed to Forum for the Future’s Farm Power coalition research which has found that 10GW of renewable on-farm energy – sufficient to power an estimated 1.3 million homes – is currently going untapped. Despite the uncertainty of a general election, there is still rare political consensus on the benefits of shifting away from a centralised model towards local energy grids. By 2030 there could be thousands of small scale AD plants (less than 100kW) across the UK as demand management and decentralising renewable energy generation emerges as the market’s answer to greater energy security and lower fuel bills. While we cannot be sure yet what this transition could mean for individual renewable technologies, demand management and decentralising renewable energy generation is emerging as the market’s answer to greater energy security and lower fuel bills. What is clear, however, at a time when the agricultural sector is coming under increasing pressure to increase outputs from the same area of land whilst reducing its carbon footprint, AD has a significant role to play in supporting climate-smart farming and food production.
Charlotte Morton
Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association
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| Renewables
Fre-energy AD plant spearheads renewable energy at new dairy farm On-farm Anaerobic Digestion specialist, Fre-energy, is in the final stages of commissioning of a new 150kW plant at East Knockbrex Farm in Scotland. he farm, which is located in Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway, is a brand new complex and home to 600 head of dairy cattle. The AD plant will convert the 12,800 tonnes of cow slurry produced each year, together with a small amount of grass silage, poultry manure and arable by-produce, into an electrical output of 150kWe and a heat output of 130kWth. Over the course of a full year the plant is expected to deliver around 470,000kW. The energy, some of which will be used directly by the farm, qualifies for the Government payments in the form of Feed-In-Tariffs (FiTs) and Renewable Heat Incentives (RHIs). Unlike Fre-energy’s other on-farm installations, which have been added to a preexisting farm infrastructure, this AD plant has been designed as an integral component of a brand new, 21st century, self-sufficient dairy farm. Consequently, the ability to optimise the efficiency of the plant has surpassed absolute cost as the single most important factor in the project. Without the physical and operational constraints normally associated with the
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incorporation of an AD facility within an existing farm structure, it has been possible here to apply, and even further enhance, industry best practice. Every aspect of the AD operation has been taken into consideration, from the ability of the digester to process all of the farm’s organic waste streams and the efficiency of their collection, storage and loading in a continuous process, to the quality and intrinsic value of the digestate as a fertiliser. This joined-up thinking and attention to detail, along with a rejection of cost saving measures which would bring only second best solutions, have underpinned the project from start to finish. Farm owner, Iain Service, speaks highly of the project: “For a modern-day dairy unit we felt an AD plant should be included when we were designing our new set-up.”
Whilst the FiT and RHI payments provide a significant source of income, which is of particular importance to a dairy farmer as milk prices continue to spiral downwards, the farm’s ability to use the heat produced by the AD plant, with which to supply hot water to the dairy parlour and for underfloor heating in the calf shed, is equally beneficial. Even the farm’s choice cattle has been considered in the context of their milk producing capacity. The project has an expected payback period of just seven and a half years, even when taking into account all planned operational and maintenance costs. At East Knockbrex Farm, Iain sees the full value in AD: “If you want to be in the dairy business in a serious way, I think it is short-sighted not to look at them [i.e. on-farm AD plants].”
Agricultural renewable energy event sees record numbers of farmers through the doors More farmers and landowners than ever came through the doors at this year’s Energy Now Expo. s the importance of renewable energy grows on our country’s farms, farmers and landowners from all over the country, are turning to the expo, as the only event entirely dedicated to the agricultural sector. The most notable difference this year, according to event director, David Jacobmeyer, was that farmers were more informed about renewable energy. “Whether it’s wind, biomass, biogas, hydropower, solar or energy crops, farmers understand the sectors, and are coming to the show with a lot of knowledge they want answers to technical questions and the most suitable systems, which is very encouraging.” New to the event and well received this year was the grid connection workshop. Steven Gough, innovation and low carbon network engineer, Western Power Distribution, one of the speakers, was encouraged by the feedback from farmers. “Farmers understood the grid, asked well informed questions, and even came to thank me at the end for making their grid connection opportunities clearer.” Opening the event on the second day, Meurig Raymond, NFU president, voiced his support of renewable energy in farming. “I’m delighted to see the renewable sector growing.
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We need tools to manage the volatility of farming, and the fall in milk prices is an example of where renewables can act as a financial buffer when the price paid to the producer is unstable.” “RHI is growing at a pace, and the NFU estimates that half the solar, half the AD output, half the renewable heat and two thirds of wind turbines in the UK renewables sector are sourced from our farms.” This message was underlined by Dr. Nina Skorupska, the chief executive of the REA, the first Keynote speaker, who said UK farmers have come a long way, in terms of renewables, but there’s still work to do. “A third of people still believe that ‘man made’ reasons are behind climate change. This perception needs to change.” Dr. Skorupska presented 6 key priorities, which include ‘Supporting the Climate Change Act to keep us on course to meet our carbon commitments and back global efforts to tackle climate change.’ She urged farmers to act now. “We are progressing, in 2013 the figures show 13.9 % of electricity, 2.8 % of heating and cooling and 4.4 % of transport energy came from renewable sources. “5.2 % of our overall final energy consumption came from renewables in 2013, we have seen a boom on solar and the RHI is making very fast progress.
“Despite this, looking at the average annual growth rates required to achieve our 2020 target, we are still in the ‘relegation zone.’” The message for farmers is that they are key to meeting 2020 targets, and are therefore instrumental in tackling climate change. Dr. Skorupska asked farmers to act now. “Renewable energy is a massive opportunity, not a burden on the UK. By the end of 2013, £12.7 billion was invested in renewable energy and £1.4 billion in renewable heat. In excess of 100,000 jobs have been created and in 2020 it will be up to 400,000.” Do not miss Energy Now Expo 2016, 10th – 11th February, for up to date information and guidance on renewable energy for farmers and landowners.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 25
| Renewables | LAMMA
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for biogas combined heat and power plants Non Domestic RHI for commercial biomass and for biomethane injection into the grid has been available for several years. However financial support for heat use from a biogas CHP plant (referred to as biogas combustion) above 200kW thermal output has only been available since December 2013. Sadly anaerobic digestion plants commissioned before this date are ineligible. he RHI for biogas CHP is supported in three band rates depending on the total heat recovered from the CHP installation. Below 200kW thermal the rate is 7.5p/kWh, between 200kW and 600kW the
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rate is 5.9p/kWh, and above 600kW the rate is 2.2p/kWh. It has prompted the serious consideration and implementation of schemes which give more thought to capturing heat and using it. It has made possible greater advances in the research and development of drying
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digestate, (following the anaerobic digestion process) which then lends itself to further uses such as animal bedding, or fuel itself as pellet form, as well as reducing volume for land spreading. Another useful application is steam generation for use in maltings, or food processing industries. Also, drying wood and grain is viable and is under final development stages on several sites currently. As the first few projects receive accreditation it is apparent that misleading information on the requirements of the scheme is commonplace and can have serious financial implications for those investing their time and money. One such example is the confusion regarding the heat meters. It is clear that a heat meter must measure the amount of heat that is used to attract the RHI payment. What was not in the Guidelines but is in the Act of Parliament is that a separate meter or system is required to measure “non-eligible” heat use. Without these two readings the payment will not be made. One of the first projects with a CHP system from Edina to achieve RHI accreditation is Strathendrick Biogas. This site was developed by Strathendrick’s Director, Robert Kennedy to be as near to “closed loop” as possible. Robert had previously acted as a renewable energy consultant for the farming industry in particular. The plant has feedstock for the AD process on the doorstep from dairy farm cow slurry, distiller’s draff and pot ale syrup from local whisky distilleries and some grass silage. This produces enough biogas to fuel an engine from Edina which has an output of 500 kWe and 500kWth. The electricity powers
the farm and plant with surplus exported to the grid, attracting the FIT. The heat from the engine is sufficient to heat the water for the dryer and to warm the tank enabling a more efficient AD process. The dryer is a NEWtainer from NEWeco-tec GmbH and is multipurpose, potentially drying grain, wood or other materials but Strathendrick Biogas use it purely for drying digestate. Using all the waste from the farm as feedstock, a proportion of the dry digestate is stored for 6 months following the AD process which means little odour is emitted when it is used as fertiliser. The remainder of the digestate is dried for over 2 hours at temperatures exceeding 70˚C which destroys pathogens. So far it has received a very favourable response from the farmer trialling it as a bedding material, who finds that it is absorbent, minimises odour and is more economic than purchasing and transporting straw. The RHI is paid on this aspect of the operation only. The equipment was a sizeable investment and proceeding with the digestate drying would have been barely viable at this juncture without the RHI. Users are confident however that once the technology is more widely applied and demonstrably successful, the system will pay regardless of subsidy and over a shorter period of time. For further information about CHP and related equipment please get in touch by sending your query to info@edina.eu or by our web-site www.edina.eu. Latest policy updates on the RHI are available from the ADBA and the REA.
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| LAMMA
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 27
Using the right amount of slurry, at the right time of year, can result in huge savings for farmers
| Renewables
Using heat wisely in farm AD plants By Matt Hale, International Sales Manager, HRS Heat Exchangers. f you are planning or operating an on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas plant, it makes sense to maximise the efficiency of the process at all stages. However, not utilising the heat naturally generated as part of the process could be costing you thousands of pounds a year, particularly if you are adding heat elsewhere. Optimal AD plant performance can be achieved by fine-tuning the feedstock mixture and retention times to maximise biogas production, as well as regularly servicing the CHP engine to maintain electricity generation. But some aspects are overlooked, such as the waste heat from the engine. Some farm plants use it for digester heating, while others don’t use it at all. This is potentially wasting a resource worth thousands of pounds each year. If you are generating heat separately for a different part of the process, such as drying or concentrating digestate (the organic biofertiliser output from the AD process), then you are also paying for heat which you may be able to get for free. With biogas combustion heat tariffs under the Non-Domestic RHI between 2.2 and 7.5 p/kWth and heat from an LPG-fuelled boiler currently costing somewhere around 6.6 p/kWth, the price of heat is self-evident. With a typical gas engine producing half its output as usable heat, the heat produced by a 300 kWe engine could be worth as much as £124,000 a year under the RHI before tariff degression is considered. Under-utilised heat streams One solution is to capture and transfer this wasted heat with a heat exchanger. These are an established way of capturing the heat generated in
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one part of a process, and transferring it for use in another. However, despite their widespread use in industries such as food manufacturing and the chemical sector, they are under-utilised in the AD industry. There are four main areas of the farm AD process where heat, which is available and may otherwise be wasted, can be utilised: feedstock pre-heating, digester heating, pasteurisation and evaporation. Which ones are most suitable or useful will depend on your exact situation, but even if it isn’t feasible to use the heat as part of your AD process, surplus heat can still be used for other purposes such as drying crops, heating offices or workshops, or hot water for washing down parlours or packhouses. Using surplus heat in this way is also free, without the need to buy additional fuel, and all of these applications can be fulfilled using a suitable heat exchanger, often with benefits over other technologies such as the tank heating systems often used for pasteurisation. A well designed system could recover and utilise 40% of the heat produced by the plant. Heat exchangers resolve efficiency challenges Using heat exchangers in the pasteurisation system is more efficient than using tanks with heating jackets as they have a much lower heat requirement; up to half of that of some systems. This is because tank systems have lower heat transfer efficiency and usually dump the hot water after use, rather than reclaiming it. If you are in a situation where you are pasteurising digestate to comply with PAS 110, heat exchangers make the process possible using surplus heat rather than the installation of an additional heat source such as biomass boiler which could add hundreds of
thousands of pounds to your project. Using a welldesigned heat exchanger system can provide you with a continuous pasteurisation process which uses less energy than alternative systems, while allowing additional thermal regeneration, or recovery, levels of up to 60 per cent. This saved heat can then be used elsewhere in the process, such as an evaporation plant, helping you to maximise your RHI eligibility. Heat can also be used to separate water from the digestate by evaporation, making the solid fraction easier to spread with up to 20% dry solids (often a fourfold improvement derived by the use of a heat exchanger). This technique can reduce the overall quantity of digestate by as much as 80%, greatly reducing transport and storage costs. A well designed system will include measures to retain the valuable nutrients in the digestate while the evaporated water can be condensed and reused. For example, the captured water can be added back to the feedstock as it enters the digester, making the entire process almost selfsufficient in terms of water use and eliminating liquid discharges from the plant. Tariff digression, increasing competition and environmental concerns mean that efficiency is directly linked to the operational sustainability of a plant. Incorporating cost-effective heat exchanger systems into the process from the beginning, or retrofitting them to an existing plant, is one of the easiest ways to ensure future financial feasibility and save hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.
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| Muck/Slurry
Spreading the word about new Tramspread website Tramspread are pleased to announce the launch of their redesigned website – www.tramspread.co.uk - giving an excellent overview of the three divisions that make up the group; the parent company Tramspread, Tramspread Contracting Limited and Tramspread Slurry Storage Limited he company proudly continues to provide and manufacture their own wide range of slurry and digestate handling equipment with excellent build quality. The range includes umbilical and tanker applicators and hose reels and pump units, with Tramspread also offering competitive pricing on pumps, drag hose, flow meters and remote control units. All equipment is developed and thoroughly tested by Tramspread Contracting Limited before reaching the market.
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Tramspread Contracting Limited specialise in umbilical slurry and digestate spreading and typically apply over 600,000m³ each year throughout East Anglia and beyond. Using our own 24m dribble bar, seventy five percent being applied is now being used as an organic fertiliser top dressing to growing crops. Tramspread Slurry Storage Limited provides a bespoke service for solutions for slurry and digestate storage as well as all mixing, separation and covering requirements. In addition to sales, the company now offer equipment for
hire which includes umbilical system components, pumps,
slurry stirrers and a 14,000L Joskin tanker with jumbo filling arm.
Stop! Think! Slurry Gas Do not underestimate the dangers, look out for yourselves and others. hat is slurry gas? Slurry gas is a mixture of gases including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. The gases are produced by bacteria during the decomposition of slurry. Hydrogen sulphide gas is formed within the slurry in the tank. Some gas may bubble to the surface but most remains dissolved in the liquid in a similar way to gas held within a bottle of fizzy drink. When the slurry is mixed, the gas is released very quickly. The addition of other materials such as silage effluent may increase the quantity of gas produced. Slurry gas can kill There have been a number of high pro le incidents recently where slurry gas has resulted in death of people and animals. Hydrogen sulphide, the most deadly slurry gas, is odourless in high concentrations . It also causes difficulty in breathing, then disorientation. Collapse and death can occur after only a few breaths. Drowning has also occurred where people have fallen through openings into tanks. Slurry gas is dangerous because it displaces air from your lungs and also affects the nervous system. Slurry gases are also highly flammable. Slurry gases releases are unpredictable. • The levels normally rise as soon as mixing starts with the first 30 minutes being the most dangerous. The level will generally fall as the mixing continues. • Every time the pump is repositioned to mix another part of the tank, the levels will rise again. Leave for at least 30 minutes
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again. (longer may be required for larger tanks) • Don’t rely on meters they can lead to a false sense of security. They need to be maintained and may need calibrating, they may also warn you too late. • Face masks don’t work. Only full breathing apparatus is effective. Making agriculture safer 1 If possible, mix on a windy day. 2 Keep children away from the area at all times when working with slurry. 3 Take all animals out of the building before starting to mix slurry. 4 Open all doors and windows. 5 Use outside mixing points first. 6 If slats are removed, cover exposed areas of the tank beside the pump/mixer to stop anything falling in. 7 Start the pump/mixer and then stay out of the building for as long as possible – at least 30 minutes or longer depending on the size of the tank. 8 If you have to go into the building make sure that an other adult who knows what you are doing, stays outside the building and can get help if needed. 9 If you have to re-enter the house to move the pump, or change the direction of the pump, then you need to leave the building as soon as this is done. Do not go back in for as long as possible – at least another 30 minutes or longer depending on the size of the tank. 10 Avoid naked flames, as slurry gas mixture is flammable. 11 Do not stand close to the pump/ exhaust of a vacuum tanker when it is being filled.
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| Muck/Slurry
Slurry storage: Each farm is different Richard Davies, DairyCo extension team leader North, looks at the do’s and don’ts around slurry storage. hich building material to use for the storage, concrete, steel or earth wall, is the main decision. Its then down to what is most suitable and cost effective, according to Richard. “Each farm will be different, the existing store may well be useable, or an extension
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or, separate store to increase capacity might be applicable. But whatever you make sure to follow the planning and environmental rules and regulations.” To calculate the required storage capacity, it’s important to know how much: slurry, parlour washings, yard run off, roof rainwater and the surface area of the store itself and freeboard there
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is on the farm. “DairyCo’s video ‘Slurry Storage’, available on www.youtube.com/user/DairyCoA HDB, explains how to calculate the minimum requirements. The figures for the calculations can be found in the Dairy Wizard, which is designed to help dairy farmers consider upgrading or replace the slurry storage.” Pros and cons of the different
Richard Davies
storage types Concrete is very adaptable and can be used below or above ground, as an off the shelf circular but more often it is cast on site. “It can be incorporated under a slatted shed, which may be an option for some people, building a ramp allows a loader to enter the store. Steel is an effective store to
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| Muck/Slurry
Stay NVZ compliant with BlackBox Accurate records mean less work when it comes to reporting. eeping accurate records, the BlackBox Advance or Evolution enables compliance with NVZ regulations with little effort helping operators to simply record where and when a job was done and with Patchwork’s WebTrack, it is able to store job records, including coverage area and dates - all matched to field boundaries, names and farms. Patchwork Technology Technical Director, Nick Walters said: “Customers using the BlackBox to control spraying and spreading have testified that it makes the job so much easier, because of the confidence in its accuracy they’re able to focus on the screen rather than the field or where the material is going, which means they can spread wider and drive faster covering the same area in less time and less passes. This results in massive savings of 1015% on fuel, inputs and labour. Also, by using Patchworks WebTrack for record keeping, they’re able to call up any fertiliser or spraying information required for Farm Assurance inspectors – be it date, time or chemicals used. If also confirms the true acreage of each field contractors are paid the correct amount for the area worked.” “With custom fitting kits and built-in switching technology the BlackBox range of products genuinely marks the transition
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which can be added, if the correct strength of rings are part of the initial build. It requires very little maintenance however, it is not suitable for sand bedded systems as the sand soon fills the tank and wears out the pumps. Cost wise, there is little difference between concrete and steel, it depends on what is best for your farm.” An earth bank, with a clay lining or with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic lined lagoon is very cost effective, even more so when the clay is on site. Richard continues, “When calculating the size of a lagoon, the method of emptying needs to be taken into
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account. If an umbilical system is used, sucking from the top of the bund, the pump needs to be able to deal with the depth of the lagoon. Consider having a ramp into the lagoon to lower the pump to the slurry. Slurry separation may also be a possibility. This takes away the solid fraction and reduces the volume by about 20%, depending on your current bedding material. This allows the solids to be used on land for ploughing and the liquid on the grassland.” For more information and to the request the Dairy Wizard visit www.dairyco.org.uk
from guidance and steering through to full implement control which is where the major cost savings can be made for farmers and contractors.” Underpinning the range is Terrain Compensation which is included in all the BlackBox models (excludes the BlackBox Eco); this is a crucial feature on the GPS systems for agriculture and is fundamental to accuracy. GPS effectively sees the world as level ground, so any slope distorts the position of the tractor and implements at ground level. The steeper the gradient, the higher the inaccuracy. The BlackBox will correct your position on any slope and undulating land to improve guidance accuracy (a slope of just 5 degrees can offset your GPS by 21cm.) “Customers using the BlackBox to control spraying and spreading have testified that it makes the job so much easier” In January 2015 Patchwork launched the BlackBox Eco+ to its range of Standalone products, low cost simple to use guidance systems for farmers and contractors.
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| Fertilisers
Britain’s climate requires a suitable fertiliser The Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS) was launched in 2006 in response to growing concerns over the security of fertilisers, particularly ammonium nitrate. For farmers, the Scheme has helped ensure the continued availability of a fertiliser that offers nitrogen in a form suited to Britain’s climate. IAS is operated by the Agricultural Industries Confederation, the trade association representing manufacturers and merchants that supply farmers with fertiliser, livestock, feed and seeds, crop protection products; and trade combinable crops.
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“Everyone has to play their part in keeping fertiliser secure, and ultimately ensuring their continued availability as a vital crop nutrient” “As concerns over the potential misuse of ammonium nitrate for terrorist purposes grew, the fertiliser industry was facing two potential options. A heavy-handed regulatory system, or even worse a ban on the use of ammonium nitrate – as had already happened in Northern Ireland,” explains Jo Gilbertson, AIC’s head of fertiliser. AIC brought forward another option – an
industry code of practice. FIAS has been welcomed widely by the whole fertiliser industry with all major manufacturers and distributors signing up to the codes. As a result, every batch of fertiliser can be traced from point of manufacture or port of import right through to the farm gate delivery. As well as a detailed trail of transactions, FIAS codes ensure good practice in how fertiliser is manufactured, stored and transported. “The UK took the lead on this issue,” says Mr Gilbertson. “Since FIAS’ inception, many other European countries have taken a strong interest and it is likely that elements of FIAS will be taken into European legislation.” FIAS feeds into and supports the ‘Secure your Fertilisers’ campaign which addresses the security of fertilisers once delivered to farm. The campaign is endorsed by Defra, AIC, farming unions, the Health and Safety Executive, the Red Tractor assurance scheme and police forces, “Everyone has to play their part in keeping fertiliser secure, and ultimately ensuring their
continued availability as a vital crop nutrient,” concludes Mr Gilbertson.
Spring Nitrogen advice from ADAS Early spring nitrogen (N) applications should now be underway. Spring nitrogen advice, issued last month by ADAS with support and approval from Defra, outlines the basic information farmers need to make the correct decisions regarding N applications. pring soil nitrogen supply (SNS) levels largely dependant on soil mineral N levels in the autumn, autumn crop N uptake and the over-winter nitrate leaching losses. Excess winter rainfall data (EWR) indicates that the majority of the UK has experience average rainfall so far this winter (Figure 1) therefore nitrate leaching losses are also likely to be average. Most of the UK has experienced good growing conditions so far, with a mild autumn and early winter. Where well established crops have taken up significant quantities of soil nitrogen, SNS levels are likely to be higher than average. Higher than average soil N levels can also occur on individual fields where: • Regular or high application rates of organic materials have been used. • The previous crop failed or gave poor yields. • Grass has recently been ploughed out. • Where leafy high N crop residues have been incorporated (e.g. sugar beet tops, brassica residues etc.)
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To determining crop N requirement, SNS should be assessed using either the Field Assessment Method (FAM) described in the Fertiliser Manual (RB209) or by soil and crop sampling and analysis. Early spring nitrogen Field inspection should be carried out to determine the need for early spring N. Apply up to 40 kg/ha N on cereals and up to 100 kg/ha N on oilseed rape to thin or backward crops between mid/late February to early March when soil conditions allow. Do not apply N fertiliser if the soil is waterlogged or frozen as this can increase the risk of nitrate losses to water and is not allowed in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). Delay N fertiliser applications to: • Cereal crops with lush canopies (i.e. shoot numbers over 1200/m2 by spring). • Oilseed rape with a Green Area Index (GAI) over 2 (i.e. >75% ground cover). • Where high readily available N organic materials have recently been applied. Spreading organic manures accurately and evening Lizzie Sagoo, Soil Scientist at
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ADAS adds further advice regarding organic manures. Organic manures contain valuable plant available nutrients including nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur. In order to make best use of the nutrients contained in manures, farmers need to know how much manure they are applying, what the nutrient content of the manure is, and they need to take care to spread the material accurately and evenly – in exactly the same way as they would for bagged fertiliser. It is important that farmers take the time to calculate the amount of manure applied to their fields. For slurries this should be relatively easy where the spreader is of a known volume or there may be a flow meter. For solid manures the best way is to weigh a spreader full and empty and to record the number of loads into a field. If you don’t know how much manure you have applied, you can’t accurately estimate the nutrient supply from the manure or the amount of fertiliser needed to ‘top up’ to meet crop requirements. When spreading manures care should be taken to match the bout widths to achieve an even application. Unevenness in application can show up in the
crop causing uneven crop growth and quality. Typical figures for the nutrient content of different organic manures are available in Defra’s “Fertiliser Manual” (RB209), however, where possible farmers should get a laboratory analysis of the manure they use on their farm. A typical 40 m3/ha of pig slurry in the spring will supply 75 kg/ha crop available N, 72 kg/ha total phosphate and 96 kg/ha total potash, and is worth around £150/ha in saved fertiliser costs. Organic manures contain valuable plant available nutrients including nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur. Farmers can use the free MANNER-NPK software to estimate the crop available nutrient supply from their manure applications (available from www.planet4farmers.co.uk) An updated nitrogen advice document will be released later this month taking into account the most recent EWR data. Once published, this document will be available for download from www.adas.uk/news
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| Fertilisers
Contact your nearest dealer: Central Cropsprayers Limited Unit J Sandford Industrial Park Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 2AN 01948 840187 www.centralcropsprayers.co.uk
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Agrikel Unit 1B Rookery Business Park Silver Street, Attleborough Norfolk NR17 2LD 01953 450279 www.agrikel.com
Agratech NW Ltd Unit 8 Dale Mill Burnley Road East Lancashire BB4 9HU 01706 211399 www.agratech.co.uk
Flow Gro Burton Turn Farm Barton Under Needwood Burton on Trent Staffordshire DE13 8ED 01283 716 204 www.flowgro.co.uk
APM Supplies Winchester Road Little Somborne, Stockbridge Hampshire SO20 6QT 01794 388622 www.apm-supplies.co.uk
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| Fertilisers
New Raycam Twin Disc Fertilizer Spreaders from JC machinery delivers precision The new Raycam Twin Disc Fertilizer spreaders from JC Machinery tick all the right boxes for a good quality, good value for money and great performing machine. ccuracy of spread is achieved with the twin disc spreaders delivering an economic use of materials with precise applications. The distribution unit (disc and gearbox) is made from stainless steel for added strength and handles granulated fertilizer and seed. This tough and practical spreader has hoppers made from pressed polyester for durability and resistance to weather conditions. All the exposed metal and frames are submitted to an antioxidant treatment with pulverised paint, to minimise wear and tear.
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The two models both have a 24m spread width. The smaller model has a hopper capacity of 1100litres and a maximum load weight of 1500kg, running on a 540 PTO 50hp tractor. The larger model has a hopper capacity of 2500 litres, maximum weight load of 3095kg and is suitable for tractors 100hp and over. John Campey Product Specialist for JC Machinery is in no doubt that this is going to be a popular choice for farmers looking for an efficient, straight forward spreader which will deliver on performance, be easy to maintain and economic to run. John adds “It’s an exciting development for us and will complement the other agricultural
products we market.” JC machinery supplies the Raycam spreader with a hopper agitator, a hydraulic aperture controller, a light kit and inner screen.
Key to fertiliser success Correct set-up and calibration of spreaders can make a significant difference to the effectiveness of fertiliser applications and hence their value to grassland, farmers are being reminded as spring approaches. well calibrated spreader can ensure a uniform application to grassland and maximum benefit from the application. “Good general maintenance is the basic ‘must have’, such as replacing any worn parts and keeping it properly lubricated,” says Rob Foxall, manager of spreader testing company SCS. “Now’s the time to start thinking about servicing the spreader and doing a tray test to check the spread pattern. “But calibration isn’t just about getting the machine in good working order, it is also matching the set-up to the type of fertiliser being used,” he continues. Differences in size, weight and shape of the fertiliser will affect how it travels through the air. Strength is also important, as weak granules break up and don’t have the velocity to make it to the full width of the spread. “Different types of fertiliser spread in different ways, so consistency is very important if you are to get the same spread in all your fields. Quality brands such as Nitram are manufactured to precise tolerances, giving very predictable behaviour in the spreader,” notes Mr Foxall. “The other thing to remember is
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Prices start from only £3400 for the 1100litre and £5650 for the 2500litre version. For more information on the products from JC Machinery go to www.jcmachinery.co.uk
that blends of two or more nutrients don't always give even distribution of each nutrient across the spread pattern. “This is because the product with N may have different physical properties to that containing the P and K so each nutrient spreads in a different way. The best way to minimise the risk of this happening is to use compound fertilisers where each granule contains a bit of each nutrient" In recent years, many grassland farmers have started using GPS and bigger spreaders, often delivering up to 24m of width. At this distance, product quality becomes even more important. “When spreading to 24m, the physical impact on the fertiliser is quite high,” explains GrowHow agronomist Allison Grundy, “so you need a tough product that won’t be damaged by the spreader. “However, irrespective of the size of your spreader, there is an advantage in using products with reliable characteristics. This means you can be confident in the spreader’s consistent set-up. Nitram and all GrowHow products are manufactured to be consistent within and between batches, which promises consistent performance every time.”
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| Precision
Where do I start with Precision Farming? The potential to make financial savings through the use of precision farming equipment can be significant. However, if you're considering trying out new techniques, there are some rough estimates that should be made beforehand that relate directly to your own farm, before going ahead with any major investment. an Beecher-Jones, an independent precision farming advisor, admits that although precision farming isn't for everyone, he has worked with farmers who were initially sceptical, but would not go back to the way they were working before. Age and lack of technological know-how needn't be barriers, as if the technology can potentially improve performance, profit and day-to-day work routine on your farm, then the only barrier should be whether or not precision farming can pay for itself and what benefit can be made from using it.
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In a case study as part of the HGCA Be Precise campaign, Tony Reynolds of Leicestershire had his whole farm mapped using GPS equipment, taking on sample per hectare As an example, taking a field measuring 12.6ha, a medium level accuracy system could reduce costs by as much as £64, compared with conventional methods. Most savings come from reduced overlapping and making better use of inputs such as seed, fertiliser and fuel,
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particularly when variable rate application techniques are adopted. Farms where a high level accuracy systems is adopted could potentially make savings of £150 or more, and when these figures are transferred to a calculation based on a 500ha farm, a medium level accuracy could save almost £5,500 a year, and more than £9,500 for a high level system. In a case study as part of the HGCA Be Precise campaign, Tony Reynolds of Leicestershire had his whole farm mapped using GPS equipment, taking on sample per hectare, which showed the levels of phosphate, potash, magnesium and pH of each field varied considerably. This information was transferred to a Calibrator Uniq Controller on a Bogballe M2W variable-rate spreader, and a switch to notill cultivations helps maintain structure and reduces run off by keeping applied nutrients and crop residue near the surface. The environmental impact of the farm's activities has been reduced because only enough fertiliser is applied to satisfy crop need, and the farm benefits from massive savings of applied fertiliser, amounting to 15-20 tonnes each year. In the first few years, the savings made from fertiliser equalled the costs of implementing the precision-farming system, meaning a total saving of £4,750 per year. Tony says, “Consider a comprehensive soil
test of a small area to establish or demonstrate the need for variable-rate application. If this yields results then precision farming is a nobrainer, on both economic and environmental grounds.” For more information on precision farming go to www.hgca.com/beprecise
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| Precision
Tri-partite project to commercialise variable fertiliser rates secures funding award Experts from the fields of applied research, academia and farming have secured a ÂŁ1.4 million funding award to commercialise innovative precision farming technology. he team, comprising Dr Chantel Davies and Gavin Milson from Stockbridge Technology Centre Ltd, Dr Abdul Mouazen and Dr Lorenzo Menichetti from Cranfield University, and Andrew Manfield from Manterra Ltd, will spend three years researching unique fertiliser placement technology that will revolutionize the way that farmers apply fertilizer to a range of field vegetables and combinable crops. The Tru-Nject project combines engineering and sensor solutions with satellite image data and unique fertiliser placement technology and has been co-funded by the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board), with contributions from industry partners Stockbridge Technology Centre Ltd and Manterra Ltd.
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"The funding award from Innovate UK will enable us to combine a range of novel engineering solutions in a very practical way� Tru-Nject uses a variety of tools including soil data, satellite data, RTK-GPS auto steering and
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revolutionary new proximal soil sensors to apply fertiliser below ground that create a resource efficient way to apply nutrients whilst reducing the levels of nitrous oxide gas released from nitrogen fertilisers. STC's Dr Chantel Davies is the project lead and said: "The funding award from Innovate UK will enable us to combine a range of novel engineering solutions in a very practical way. Cranfield University has a firmly-established reputation for high-level research in soil science and precision agriculture; Manterra Ltd possesses cutting-edge and highly innovative farming equipment. By bringing together these key elements we are able to conduct largescale field trials across a range of soil types and demonstrate the efficacy of the system." Dr Mouazen is the inventor of a new on-line soil sensor based on visible and near infrared spectroscopy, which will be used in the TruNject project to analyse a broad range of abiotic soil properties. This sensor was already used for optimising above ground N applications, with a cost benefit analysis showing a ÂŁ50 per ha net margin to the farmer. Andrew Manfield, from Manterra Ltd, is the applied farming research partner who supplies precision farm technology and agronomic expertise to the project. "This is a very exciting
project. We have the potential to vary the nutrients on crops metre by metre and bed by bed, with an accuracy that is previously unheard of on a commercial level of practice." Philip Effingham of Greentech Consultancy Ltd is also a subcontractor providing agronomic advice on the field vegetables. Last month, the Tru-Nject team was invited to address delegates at the Bishop Burton and Humber LEP hosted Agri-Food event that explored the skills needed for new technology.
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| Precision
GPS Guidance and Precision Farming from Müller-Elektronik TRACK-Guide III GPS parallel guidance system is the latest addition to the Müller-Elektronik product range. he system includes the TOUCH800 terminal that is based on the same hardware as the 12” ISOBUS terminal TOUCH1200 using a capacitive touch screen protected beneath glass making this ideal for rough use in agricultural engineering applications.
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Another feature of Müller Elektronik’s TRACK-Guide III GPS guidance terminal is the ability to upgrade to a full ISOBUS compatible terminal The TOUCH800 has an 8 "TFT colour display with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels: the display is
divided into a main window and another called Header window, similar to the displays shown in the BASIC and COMFORT-Terminal. The TRACK-Guide III is versatile and expandable using the concept of APP & GO® to unlock optional functions including the automatic steering system "TRACK-Leader Auto®". There are three versions and Auto-steer available. TRACKLeader AUTO® Pro is the hydraulic version of the automatic steering. TRACK-Leader AUTO ® Iso is the upgrade version for tractors and machines that are auto steer ready and only need to be equipped with a steering computer. The last variant is TRACK-Leader AUTO® eSteer. This is an electric wheel motor, which can be installed on any machine quickly and easily. With these products Müller-Elektronik are able to offer to almost any type
of machine a corresponding steering option with highly accurate results and good value for money. The A101 GPS receiver using EGNOS or WAAS correction signal comes as standard with the TRACK-Guide III kit. It is possible to supply the kit with other types of receiver or RTK depending on the level of accuracy required and user’s budget available. Another feature of MüllerElektronik’s TRACK-Guide III GPS guidance terminal is the ability to upgrade to a full ISOBUS compatible terminal by purchasing the ISOBUS-UT “app” activation code. With this “app” activated the
terminal complies with the ISOBUS standard. This enable the user to utilise his TRACK-Guide III as both a guidance terminal and as a universal display which can be used to control ISOBUS compliant equipment: for example fertiliser spreaders, sprayers and seed drills. The benefit of this is that only one terminal is required in the tractor cab to control all of the equipment giving the customer a cost saving. For further information about Müller-Elektronik products contact their UK distributor David King Electronics Ltd on 01789731365, visit www.dkelectronics.co.uk or www.mueller-elektronik.de/en/
What’s new for Patchwork in 2015? New and improved products - that’s what! ot only has Patchwork Technology introduced the new BlackBox Eco+ at LAMMA 2015 but has greatly improved the features on the rest of the BlackBox Upgradable products to include; new water and dust proof casing, ensured that all are GLONASS and GPS enabled and have built in Terrain Compensation. The new BlackBox Eco+ features all the capabilities of the BlackBox Eco with the addition of water and dust proof casing, GLONASS and GPS enabled as well as having Terrain Compensation. Terrain Compensation is a crucial feature on GPS systems for agriculture which is fundamental to accuracy, BlackBox Eco+ will correct your position on any slope and undulating land to improve guidance accuracy
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Patchwork has greatly improved the features on the rest of the BlackBox Upgradable products (a slope of just 5 degrees can offset your GPS by 21cm.). Patchwork has also introduced Contractor Billing, a module of WebTrack (Patchwork’s data and field mapping technology) at LAMMA 2015, an Invoicing system for quotes, invoicing and statements that works seamlessly with the BlackBox and gives the user the ability to sync remotely or in the office to speed up the invoicing process, decrease paperwork and help Improve cash flow. All of Patchwork Technology’s products are designed and made in Britain at no additional cost – award winning products just got better!
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 37
| Arable
Fine-tune your investment in N N trials show need for in-season monitoring
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itrogen trial results issued by Yara UK have shown the average optimum N rate for wheat between 2006 and 2013 was 225kgN/ha, giving a £3-4 return on investment for every
£1 spent. “This long term average rate, however, masks great variation from season to season and site to site,” says Yara Agronomist Ian Matts, “with some optimal rates being around 100kgN/ha whilst others were over 300kgN/ha.” “The results also highlighted the importance of in-season monitoring,” continues Mr Matts, “as the two variables that had a major impact on response to nitrogen were mineralisation and nitrogen use efficiency - neither of which are easily measured directly.” The nitrogen response trials conducted in 2014 were well spread geographically, covering a range of soil types with treatments of up to 340kgN/ha. The spread ranged from just 88kgN/ha on a medium soil in Yorkshire to 250kgN/ha on a similar soil type in Aberdeenshire. The overall average optimum for the year was just 157kgN/ha over the five sites. “The results showed that 2014 was, as many of the seasons before it, an atypical year. The mild, or absent winter appears to have had a substantial impact on the amount of mineralisation on some soil types that contained reasonable levels of organic matter, resulting in some lower than expected optimum N rates.” Factors affecting N recommendations The results also promote an issue that Yara has long been highlighting: that in cereals fertiliser N requirement – unlike total N requirement - isn’t linked to yield. “The Aberdeen site, receiving 250kgN/ha was by far the lowest yielding at just 8.7 t/ha,” notes Mr Matts, “whilst a site in Nottinghamshire yielded just under 14t/ha from little more than 100kgN/ha. Total requirement by the crop is, of course, related to yield, but there are important calculations and
HGCA Strategy outlined HGCA has set out clear priorities for investing the cereals and oilseeds levy in research and knowledge exchange activities over the next five years. round 1000 individuals and organisations responded to the 2014 research consultation and provided their views on the challenges facing arable businesses. Dr Vicky Foster, HGCA Research Team Leader, said: “From the outset, we knew the challenges would be diverse and the industry feedback has confirmed the complex nature of our farming systems and businesses.” Following extensive analysis, the responses from the consultation were used to construct the new HGCA Investing in Innovation: Research &
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uncertainties when determining fertiliser need.” Two main factors impacting on N recommendations are soil nitrogen supply and the efficiency of its use, but neither can be accurately measured directly, admits Mr Matts. “The sites which gave a low response to N last season all had a higher than usual supply from the soil,” continues Mr Matts, “however, soil nitrogen cores taken earlier in the year didn’t indicate this to the extent evident at harvest.” “Mineralisation is the big unknown at the time of measuring soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) as it occurs later in the season.” Efficiency of use is a big variable that can be affected by many factors including rooting, root size, architecture and health, he added. In season analysis "Unfortunately there is very little that can be done to easily or quickly measure rooting in fields, so the only feasible method for measuring this, as well as the impact of mineralisation, is in-season analysis of the crop itself.” This can be carried out using laboratory analysis or by using tools such as the Yara NSensor and N-Tester for cereals and ImageIT for oilseed crops. Last season the N-Tester gave some high readings on the trial plots, even where no nitrogen had been applied, on the sites where mineralisation was significantly above what would normally be expected. “N-Tester readings are well correlated to the chlorophyll content of leaves, a variable that relates to the amount of nitrogen taken up by a crop,” explains Mr Matts. “These high readings, therefore, suggested that there was a greater supply of soil nitrogen than would normally be expected at the site, giving valuable information with which to amend nitrogen recommendations during the season.” Oilseed For oilseed crops Mr Matts says last year’s N trial results supported Yara’s recommendation that inputs should be correlated to the level of N taken up by the crop in early spring. Knowledge Exchange Strategy 2015–2020. The top five business challenges cited in the strategy revolve around dealing with cost/price pressures, pesticide availability, weed management, weather volatility and legislative impacts. HGCA levy funds will now be invested to tackle three key strategic aims: 1. To inform on-farm decisions to increase productivity 2. To improve business opportunities through understanding product quality and making the most of market potential 3. To prepare the industry by assessing future challenges and conducting activity in response to these challenges. Dr Foster continued: “In some respects, the publication of the strategy is the easy step – the real challenge is conducting new activity to meet the challenges outlined. “Over the next five years, HGCA will develop a series of targeted calls. For each call, our research team will drill down into the business challenge and look for the most efficient way to address it.” Knowledge exchange Central to the success of the new strategy is the renewed importance placed on ‘knowledge
Ian Matts
“The recommendation provided by the ImageIT app from the trial site in Scotland taken at the start of the season last year was within 12kgN/ha of the measured optimum. This recommendation was based on the analysis of images from the trial plots measuring N uptake at the time of the assessment.” The nitrogen response trials conducted in 2014 were well spread geographically, covering a range of soil types with treatments of up to 340kgN/ha “As we saw last season, the mild weather at the end of 2014 allowed good establishment for many early drilled crops, creating large, forward oilseed canopies that will contain a large amount of N picked up before winter.” “Where this is the case, these crops will require lower rates this spring than crops that suffered knock back over winter or smaller crops resulting from later drilling or slower emergence.” Mr Matts believes there is good scope for improving N on-farm recommendations. “Nitrogen recommendations should be planned it advance, however, they will always need tailoring during the season to account for the impact of weather, of establishment and therefore rooting. Tools that can help to monitor nitrogen uptake in order to fine-tune nitrogen application rates to meet crop demand, are an important part of this process.” exchange’ (KE). Dr Foster said: “KE is a two-way process and requires effective dialogue between those who conduct research and those who benefit from it. “In essence, KE can maximise the chances of a successful outcome from a project by involving the industry in the concept, the project and the tailoring of the project outcomes. “We anticipate this process will not always reveal research activity is necessary – the answer may already be out there, we just need to find it, understand it and package it in a way that can be applied on farm.” Value for money Under the previous strategy, HGCA invested a total of £16.1m cereals and oilseeds levy across 102 diverse research projects and attracted £22.5m of co-funding. In addition, a recent cost-benefit analysis of seven HGCA-funded research projects estimated an average 10-fold return for every pound of levy invested. Under the new strategy, HGCA will continue to work with other AHDB divisions, government departments, research councils, commercial companies and other stakeholders in to order to leverage co-funding and add value to the levy.
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| Arable
Potato growers urged to switch to the better metaldehyde pellets for effective slug control Potato growers fearful that slug control may be compromised following the loss of methiocarb baits should switch to metaldehyde pellets of a similar quality, says an industry expert. ethiocarb baits were well respected among potato growers partly because of the processes involved in their manufacture. These ensured they were highly palatable, but also robust. Fortunately, there are several metaldehyde-based pellets of similar, if not, higher quality available to growers,” says Dr Andy Evans at Scotland’s Rural College. As leader of the Applied Practice Team and pest management specialist he is regularly called on to pass advice on matters relating to crop protection, with slug control a topic that is once again at the forefront of growers’ minds. “One reason why methiocarb proved so popular among potato growers was its allround performance. It had the size and mass to spread well, was robust enough to endure moist conditions and was appetising to slugs, but there are credible alternatives. It was
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widely believed that methiocarb was more effective under cooler, wetter conditions, but in practice the results were inconsistent,” he says. When looking for an alternative pellet, Andy Evans’ advice is clear: “Growers need to stipulate a wet-process pellet, such as TDS, that uses durum wheat flour to create a highly palatable bait. Pellet size is important as smaller pellets will not demonstrate a consistent ballistic property, additionally a smaller pellet will present a higher volume: surface ratio potentially leading to increased degradation,” he adds. Advice on application practice remains unchanged and, is in most cases, is the overriding factor determining success. “If you suspect you are likely to face a slug burden then suitable seed bed preparation is an obvious first step, but pellet application at two critical periods is often advisable. “Unless numbers are high and populations
active, the first application should be made between 50-75% canopy complete. Trials have shown that one application at this timing is better than repeated low dose applications. A follow-up application can be made four to six weeks later at the early stages of tuber bulking, if necessary,” he says. Growers are not limited by the number of applications they can make, but are restricted by the amount of the metaldehyde active substance that can be applied in a 12-month period. While some experts prefer the ‘little and often’ approach, Andy Evans prefers to make planned applications based on when the crop is under most pressure. “Baiting points are not a concern as evidence suggests 30 pellets per square metre are sufficient to give effective control, rather the issue is one of appropriate use of plant protection products,” he says.
Know your plant density to control pollen beetle Knowing your oilseed rape plant population density is crucial for making pollen beetle control decisions, according to the HGCA. s pollen beetles tend to start migrating to winter oilseed rape crops during March, HGCA is reminding growers of the current spray thresholds which play a crucial part in pyrethroid resistance management. In 2013, HGCA published the evidencebased thresholds based on the maximum number of buds each beetle can destroy and the number of excess flowers produced. Plants in low plant population crops produce more branches and flowers and can tolerate a higher number of pollen beetles. The current thresholds are as follows: • If there are less than 30 plants/m2, the threshold is 25 pollen beetles/plant • If there are 30-50 plants/m2, the threshold is 18 pollen beetles/plant • If there are 50-70 plants/m2, the threshold is 11 pollen beetles/plant • If there are more than 70 plants/m2, the threshold is 7 pollen beetles/plant • Plants/m2 can be estimated by counting the number within a square foot and multiplying by 11. Caroline Nicholls, HGCA Research and Knowledge Transfer Manager, said: “Based on experience in recent years, pollen beetles have rarely been numerous enough to warrant treatment. “By using thresholds to prevent ‘insurance’ sprays and following resistance management advice, such as not spraying after flowering starts, we should be in a good position to get on top of the resistance threat, which is now widespread throughout the UK, without compromising control.”
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Forecasting pollen beetle migration HGCA is also reminding growers of the online forecasts of pollen beetle migration which can be used to help to focus monitoring efforts so risk can be assessed. Miss Nicholls said: “The forecasts use local meteorological data to generate a series of maps indicating whether migration has started, the risk of migration continuing over the next three days and the predicted completion of migration. “Although the current advice that crops should be monitored when they are most at risk (green-yellow bud stage and temperature >15°C) remains valid, our validation work of the forecast tool shows that it can considerably reduce the number of in-field monitoring days required.” Threshold confidence HGCA is continuing to invest in pest thresholds research to make sure thresholds are based on the latest knowledge of agronomy and pest biology. In relation to pollen beetle, HGCA is funding work to refine understanding of the management of this pest. Conducted by ADAS and Rothamsted Research, the work includes simulating concentrated crop damage caused by pollen beetles and pigeons, as well as refining monitoring methods – such as trapping techniques and online migration forecasts. Based on a simulated single-event attack by pigeons (by mowing the crop) or a concentrated attack to the main stem by pollen beetles (by pruning), early trial results suggest that crops damaged in this way are no less able to tolerate pollen beetle attacks and the current thresholds remain valid.
“By using thresholds to prevent ‘insurance’ sprays and following resistance management advice, such as not spraying after flowering starts, we should be in a good position to get on top of the resistance threat”
In relation to further validation of the online migration forecasts, growers with easy access to an oilseed rape crop are being asked to help out. Interested growers, able to check a trap about three times a week, are asked to contact sam.cook@rothamsted.ac.uk (all materials provided). Further information on pollen beetle management can be found at www.hgca.com/pests
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 39
| Buildings
What makes concrete panels perfect for grain stores? There are many factors to consider when storing grain, and now with the CE mark regulations in place it is more important than ever to make sure you’re choosing the best quality materials for your grain storage. oncrete panels have long been hailed as the most efficient way to store grain, but why? Firstly they are easy to clean, making them extremely hygienic. They are also quick and easy to install, without any need for foundations as they just slot in between steel support. Not forgetting the all-important durability test; concrete panels are a cost effective solution to grain storage as they are guaranteed to last a long time. The CE mark regulations mean that as of 1st July 2013, any manufacturers of construction products conform to a European Standard and CE mark their products. From this date, it became mandatory for manufacturers to provide a Declaration of Performance (DoP)
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for construction products and for those products to carry the CE mark to demonstrate conformity with the declaration. Owner of Concrete Panel Systems, Graham Heath said: “We have been manufacturing prestressed concrete panels and concrete lego blocks for over 6 years. In this time we have become one of the largest producers in the UK, priding ourselves on quality, value and durability of our concrete walling products. As a family run business and farmers by trade, our understanding of what is expected and required from agricultural, equestrian and industrial building is at the heart of our core values.” If you’re thinking about upgrading your grain stores and would like to speak to an expert, call 01270 258076 or visit www.concretepanelsystems.co.uk
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| Buildings
Cemsix goes with the grain Cemsix corrugated sheeting from Cembrit is a durable and waterproof building material which is perfectly suited for grain store buildings. emsix has the advantage of being slightly porous, which means that high levels of water vapour or humidity within agricultural buildings can be absorbed by the sheets and gradually released into the atmosphere. This contrasts with steel, where moisture condenses on the underside of the roof and drops back onto the contents inside. The material is ideal for crop storage thanks to its robust, practical qualities as it needs no maintenance to preserve its strength. Cemsix is not affected by rust, destructive fungi, vermin or
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insects, so will not rot or decay. Incorporating the latest technological advances, Cemsix allows designers to clad agricultural or industrial buildings in a Class 0 fire rated, rust and rotproof material that will last for decades. Manufactured using Portland cement, together with a formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres and reinforced with strengthening strips and available with superior colouration systems, Cemsix is produced to the highest European standard. Available in natural grey, matt black or matt green and ten attractive coated colour options, Cemsix is offered in a standard
imperial 6 inch profile strengthened with strategically placed polypropylene reinforcement strips. These are incorporated within the fibrecement sheet to comply with BS and H&S requirements for site safety and fragility. Rainthorpe Farm, one of the largest grain store buildings in the UK, is just one example of many recent agricultural projects that use Cemsix to provide a robust and weatherproof roofing solution. Rainthorpe Farm is located in the small village of Stainton by Langworth, which lies seven miles from Lincoln. The farm is purely an arable farm, and the new 5,000 tonne building with 2250m² of floor
space, is used to store grain. It was important that the building met the unique demands of grain storage, including; keeping the contents clean and dry, maintaining temperature whilst ensuring regular aeration and keeping birds and rodents out. The building also needed to be durable, and robust enough to withstand the rigours of farming life. In charge of constructing the new building was KW Timmins & Sons, an engineering company based nearby in Lincoln. The company specified Cemsix in natural grey, due to its high quality material that is durable and longlasting.
SMP continue advances With their latest product the “sand kerb”, SMP are making their mark in the agricultural precast market. MP Concrete Products Ltd have come a long way in the Agri Precast Industry since establishing in 2001 with their unique portable cubicle bed system, whereby the entire cubicle steelwork, either for the portable cubicle or adjustable cubicle system, can be easily installed and also removed from the concrete bed with minimal effort, which now holds UK, Irish and European patents.
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Sand kerb: designed to create a cubicle ‘heelstone‘ behind which sand can be placed to bed the cow Over the past number of years the product range has increased to include cattle slats, slurry channels, feed troughs, and blocks, double-sided feed troughs and also cattle drinkers – ranging in size from 20 Gallon, right through to 400 Gallon, all rapid empty with rubber / silicone bungs.
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SMP Concrete Products Ltd continue to make further advances in the agricultural precast market with the launch of their latest product, the sand kerb, which is designed to create a cubicle ‘heelstone‘ behind which sand can be placed to bed the cow. The kerb is uniquely shaped to reduce the risk of the animal pushing forward whilst lying in the bed, while also maintaining minimum sand spillage from the bed. The kerb is easily fitted to an existing concrete floor or foundation by simply bedding it with sand or mortar and bolting down through the recessed holes in the kerb. For more information on all our products please call 02837549595, or visit our website at www.smpconcrete.co.uk
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 41
| Buildings
Farmlite sheds new light on Ryalls Farm A 236m2 Farmlite GRP rooflight system from Brett Martin Daylight Systems has been installed on a new dairy farm building at Ryalls Farm in Stalbridge, Dorset, to ensure long term light transmission and durable rooflights that will stand the test of time. mongst 205 acres of farmland, the new 700m2 building, used to house 150 cows on Ryalls Farm, was in need of a high performance rooflight system – with Brett Martin’s Farmlite GRP rooflights providing the optimum solution for both the roofing contractor and client. “Rooflight sheets which had been installed at the farm previously had become cloudy over time and had therefore led to a decrease in light transmission,” commented roofing contractor Peter Gillett. “Advertised as staying clear for approximately 20 years, the Brett Martin Farmlite rooflight offered the best long term solution.” Supplied by Briarwood Products, the Farmlite GRP was installed as 52 rooflights in
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four lines of 13 across the entire roof length. With the Farmlite installed alternately between each row of GRP roof sheets, this has allowed as much natural light into the building as possible to provide a healthy internal space for both animals and farm workers. “I have been very pleased with how light the building has been,” commented Ryalls Farm Owner, Andy Gould. “I’ve also been very impressed with how well the rooflights performed in last winter’s storms, despite being very exposed on the top of a hill – they stood up to a fair battering from the elements.” Utilising Brett Martin’s 50 years of experience in the design and manufacture of GRP rooflights, each Farmlite GRP rooflight comes with dual action UV surface protection and specially formulated UV resistant resins as
standard, so the long term effects of weathering are greatly reduced and as a result the rooflights stay stronger and clearer for longer. With the entire floor area and the building’s 150 cows set to benefit from a wealth of high quality natural light for many years to come, Brett Martin has helped another farmer to improve daylighting levels in their building whilst adhering to the UK and Ireland’s strict environmental regulations.
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| Buildings
The grain game: grain marketing and storage at Leamington Monitor Farm At the third meeting of HGCA’s Leamington Monitor Farm, on 30 January 2015, arable farmers from Warwickshire and further afield discussed grain marketing strategies, and how they could minimise their risk. ack Watts, AHDB/HGCA Lead Analyst said: “There’s no onesize fits all approach to grain marketing – it depends on the individual business. Growers can look at managing their risk by familiarising themselves with the strategic tools and information available.” “My current marketing strategy is very high risk,” confessed HGCA’s Leamington monitor farmer Robert Fox, who is manager of Squab Hall Farm. “During the last four years we have had two of our best and worst years, so we have been nervous about selling forward. However with our benchmarking activity and use of HGCA’s CropBench+ programme, we now have a good idea of our costs of production at least.” Robert added: “We know we need to try and lower our risk, as it is either sold forward very late, or at harvest or beyond. I need to start looking at the markets earlier and then perhaps forward selling some of the crop.” During the meeting, Jack Watts launched the Monitor Farm’s Grain Challenge. In this virtual competition groups of growers are tasked with marketing the grain in Robert’s store with each group aiming to make the most profit. The challenge will continue over the next 12 months, giving growers a chance to respond to
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changes in the market price and to test marketing strategies they may not have used before. “The Monitor Farm project has expanded our benchmarking group and given me access to a larger set of figures within that group. It’s always really interesting to see how other people are operating differently or more efficiently than yourself, with the aim of helping us reduce our costs of production,” said Robert. The current situation at Squab Hall Farm represents his usual marketing strategy, with malting barley sold at harvest and OSR moved to store, but feed wheat and barley still to be sold. Robert is in the process of extending the farm’s grain store so that more can be stored on-farm, rather than making him a forced seller due to space requirements. Growers present at the meeting shared their opinions on three options for the flooring of a new 12x24m storage unit: – Lay the floor as the rest of the grain store, including vents and new fans – DIY concrete drying floor – Wooden drying floor Robert said: “The general consensus is, especially with wheat prices where they are at the moment, that a lower-spend option would
be a better idea than the higher-spend allsinging, all dancing system. The store would not be large enough to make any but the first option cost effective.” “My current marketing strategy is very high risk,” confessed HGCA’s Leamington monitor farmer Robert Fox, who is manager of Squab Hall Farm This was followed by discussion on third party storage and co-ops, led by Jock Wilmott from Strutt and Parker. Robert added: “The Monitor Farm project appealed to me, to open up the business and the business decisions that we make. It’s a fantastic way of sharing knowledge with likeminded farmers, and it goes beyond a discussion group. It’ll be really helpful going forward to help me reduce the costs of production at Squab Hall.” The next meeting is on 26 March 2015 and will focus on inputs and the strategy for addressing the weed burden. For more information go to hgca.com/leamingtonspa or contact HGCA’s Regional Manager Richard Meredith, on 07717 493015 or west@hgca.ahdb.org.uk.
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| Buildings
Woldgrain Storage initiate Optimising cattle health phase 3 of Project Valiant through good building design Woldgrain Storage based at Hemswell Airfield, Lincolnshire was established in 1980 to store grain on behalf of its founding members. he original scheme had 20,000 tonne storage and one dryer accompanied by 60tph handling equipment. The main products that Woldgrain handle are oilseed rape, barley, wheat and oats. Their expected throughput each year is between 85,000 tonnes and 100,000 tonnes. With the success and an increase in membership in recent years the capacity has been increased in stages to 57,000 tonnes of ventilated storage with a total of 2 driers and 2 off 250tph intake systems. Further increases in membership required extra facilities hence Project Valiant Phase 3 has taken place. Project Valiant Phase 3 comprised of a further 26,000 tonnes of silo storage, carefully arranged with varying size silo’s to fill in several unused plots on the limited size site. By initiating Project Valiant this represents a further important step along the road to achieving Woldgrain’s ultimate goal of a fully developed store of 85,000 tonnes. Over a number of years Perry have installed several machines at Woldgrain, including conveyors that were used for filling the original silos in 2012. This year more new Perry machines were installed. These included a 250tph horizontal chain & flight conveyor intake, a 100tph and a 250tph horizontal chain & flight conveyor, a 100tph curved combination chain & flight conveyor, a 100tph and a 250tph belt & bucket elevator, screw dischargers & screw conveyors and an M618 80tph grain drier with PLC control panel.
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Woldgrain is now able to intake up to 750tph and boasts 1 Perry drier, 7 Perry screw conveyors / bin dischargers, 34 Perry industrial specification conveyors, 2 curve combination industrial specification conveyors and 4 industrial specification elevators. All of Perry’s conveyors are made from durable, heavy duty galvanised steel and are available from 3 different ranges. The agricultural range is capable of capacities of up to 60tph, the heavy duty agricultural range is capable of up to 120tph and the industrial range will comfortably cope with up to 600tph. With the 3 ranges available this enables Perry to tailor each machine to suit the customer’s needs, this has included the machines installed for Woldgrain. The new 80tph drier installed at Woldgrain is controlled using Perry’s drier PLC panel is a 12” touch screen control panel that is simple to use and easy to follow. It has been designed & programmed in house and each panel is customised to each drier that is sold. There are over 70 alarms and messages allowing you to understand quickly and easily what is happening in your drier. When the panel is connected to the internet text messages and emails can be sent to set numbers and addresses to give regular status reports on the drying process. John Burnett, MD of Woldgrain, said: “Perry supplied conveyors for filling the original silos in 2012 uprating from 60tph to 100tph. These have performed very well, they are a quality product at a competitive price and the service and technical back up has been very good when required.”
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Pneumonia costs the UK livestock industry an estimated £50 million per year. It is the most common reason for deaths and poor performance in young cattle from weaning to ten months of age, but well-designed housing can help reduce the incidence of pneumonia and other diseases, according to EBLEX livestock scientist Dr Mary Vickers.
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attle succumb to pneumonia when the disease pressure overcomes their immune system,”
she says. “Strategies to reduce pneumonia should therefore target improving cattle immunity and reducing cattle stress, as well as treating any concurrent disease present. “In terms of what this means for cattle housing, the keys areas producers should think about are air speed, moisture and fresh air. “It’s important to understand the needs of the cattle inside the building, as the requirements of young calves will be very different to those of adult cattle, particularly in terms of temperature and wind chill.” Air speed within a building is critically linked to animal health and welfare. Air movement is essential to bring fresh air into the building and remove moisture, heat, and gases, but too much movement is counter-productive, Dr Vickers advises. “Excessive air speed at animal height causes wind chill and should be avoided particularly for young animals,” she says. “This is because the speed of the air around an animal reduces the insulation properties of its hair coat, increasing the rate of heat loss from the body. If sustained or excessive, there will be a direct negative impact on productivity and immune competence.” Air speed has a direct impact on the temperature at which an animal has to burn additional energy to keep warm. This point is referred to as the Lower Critical Temperature (LCT). The LCT for healthy calves between zero and two weeks old is in the range of 10 to 15°C. LCT is affected by a number of factors including coat length and whether the coat is wet or dry. As cattle grow and become heavier, their LCT reduces, enabling them to withstand lower temperatures without becoming stressed. Similarly as growth rates increase, LCTs tend to reduce. Moisture, which is produced by
all livestock in their breath, urine, faeces and sweat, is another important factor when considering animal health. “Excess moisture increases the risk of bacteria and virus survival, as well as the risk of dirty water transmitting infection,” says Dr Vickers. “It also increases the requirement for bedding and reduces the ambient temperature, although in hot weather dampness can be used beneficially to cool down livestock and buildings. “Good building design should aim to prevent any build-up of moisture by ensuring competent drainage and manure management and effective ventilation that works in all weather conditions.” Finally, fresh air is a primary requirement for maximising health and productivity, according to Dr Vickers. “Fresh air facilitates the removal of heat, moisture, dusts, gases and micro-organisms from the building. “It is also very effective at killing pathogens, killing many bacteria and viruses 10 to 20 times faster than a mix of half fresh and half stale air. A crucial aim for existing and new buildings is to deliver clean, fresh air to as many parts of a livestock building as possible, but to do so without exposing stock to excessive wind speed.” With ventilation a crucial part of managing the moisture content of a building and the fresh air circulation, a roof outlet is vital to enable warm, moist, foul air to escape. “Outlets work well at ridge height, but can be spread across the roof area as in the case of a slotted roof,” says Dr Vickers. “The most effective ridge outlets are open ridges, which can be covered if rain entry is going to be a problem. The rule of thumb is that the outlet area needs to be 0.04m2 per calf and 0.1m2 per growing or adult animal.” More information can be found in the EBLEX BRP+ document on Better Cattle Housing Design, which can be downloaded from www.eblex.org.uk/returns
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| Buildings
The importance of good ventilation in poultry houses The more comfortable your chickens - the more productive, especially in terms of minimising disease and losses and in turn, maximising returns. entilation in a poultry house supplies fresh air that is essential to sustain life, and also helps reduce the extremes of temperature, humidity and air contamination to tolerable limits for confined chickens. Improved ventilation systems have also made possible the high density populations of livestock and poultry in confinement, thus reducing the building cost per unit housed, which is economically important since it reduces production and labour costs. Ventilation systems remove excess heat, moisture, dust and odours from the building and, at the same time, dilutes airborne disease organisms. Providing proper ventilation to poultry is an art but it can be mastered by any determined and willing poultry grower.
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The basic requirements of a natural air flow system are that there must be an adequate supply of air to the building and an adequate air distribution system inside the building. Ventilation systems are generally divided into two types – natural air flow system and mechanical air movement. Due to varying ventilation requirements, the two distinctly
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different systems are sometimes combined in an attempt to provide comfort to the chickens during varying climatic conditions at minimum cost. The basic requirements of a natural air flow system are that there must be an adequate supply of air to the building and an adequate air distribution system inside the building. The prevailing wind direction, building orientation and site features control air availability. Heat is also exchanged from the air when air is used to evaporate water. Water's heat of vaporisation is approximately 1,000BTU per pound (or pint) of water evaporated. You can make use of vaporisation in ventilation cooling in the summer to improve the comfort of the poultry. In selecting fans for a specific ventilation system, the wide range of climatic conditions must be considered as well as the ventilation system under which they will be used. Rugged, top-quality equipment must be used when operating under adverse conditions. Generally speaking, it is better to select oversized rather than undersized fans to supply the required ventilation., and you can save money in both initial installation and operating costs by using correctly sized fans. Looking at summer ventilation, a natural air system is used for warm weather conditions in houses with side curtains. This system uses temperature differences and natural air movement to remove excess heat and moisture, and to supply oxygen. Changing
environmental conditions within a short period of time reduces the effectiveness of this system in modern poultry production. To maintain a constant temperature to promote maximum comfort for the livestock, some degree of mechanical air movement must be provided in conjunction with the natural air system.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 45
| Security
Carmarthenshire farmer urges vigilance following sheep theft Farmers’ Union of Wales member Alan Price who farms at Dafadfa Isaf, Gwynfe, Llangadog, in partnership with his wife Ellen, has urged farmers throughout the county to be vigilant after the recent theft of several in-lamb ewes on the farm. r Price said farmers should take note of anything suspicious they may see happening in the countryside and report it to their local community support officer immediately. His warning follows the theft of 50 in-lamb Welsh mountain ewes from rented land at Derwydd near Llandybie between January 24 and 31.
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“I would further like to highlight the importance of enrolling for the local Farm Watch scheme as it is only by uniting and co-operating that the whole farming community can combat such farm thefts.” The family farm approximately 700 sheep and have a small sucker herd, which they keep on 150 acres of owned land at Dafadfa Isaf and rent approximately 100 acres. “There is evidence that the sheep handling facilities within the field were used to gather the flock and take the sheep. We have reported the
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theft to the police but unfortunately there are no leads to date,” said Mr Price. “The in-lamb ewes were mainly three to four years of age and we were due to start lambing at the end of the month and are devastated by this loss, which of course has substantial financial implications for us.” Mr Price stressed that all farmers should enrol in the Farm Watch Scheme and the OWL system under which any reports of suspicious vehicles or persons can be reported and forwarded to other members of Farm Watch. FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters said: “Alan has taken a very pro-active approach to further highlight the theft and produced a leaflet detailing the tag numbers and information required about the theft which he is going to place in local marts. If anyone has any information regarding the incident I would urge them to contact their local police station. “I would further like to highlight the importance of enrolling for the local Farm Watch scheme as it is only by uniting and cooperating that the whole farming community can combat such farm thefts.”
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| Security
The Intelligent band team, from left, managing director James Anstis-Smith, operations manager Chris Owen, and sales director Vincent Harrhy
007-style technology gives farmers a licence to crack crime Farmers are fighting back against the growing menace of rural crime with the help of a new hi-tech security innovation.
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ntelligent Band uses a sophisticated computerised code to personalise a vehicle to its owner, preventing thieves from ‘hot-wiring’ tractors, quad bikes, and other agricultural
vehicles. It means that vehicles protected by the system can only be operated by the holder of a wristband which matches its unique code. The product is the brainchild of James Anstis-Smith, whose company is based near Shrewsbury. He said: “Millions of pounds of agricultural equipment is stolen every year, and the figure is on the rise. NFU Mutual’s latest rural crime survey revealed that rural theft now costs the UK over £44 million a year. “The figure has been driven up by the theft of high-value tractors worth up to £80,000, while quad bike thefts also rose 14 per cent during the period. “Intelligent Band is a powerful deterrent to these opportunist thieves, stopping them in
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their tracks. The principle is very similar to signature guns used by James Bond in films such Skyfall and Licence To Kill. “Unless the machine’s code matches your unique band, you won’t be able to start the engine. And any attempt at tampering or hotwiring will be useless.” The Intelligent Band system can be fitted to any vehicle, regardless of age, make or model. It integrates with the wiring and starting system, and works with 12/24v petrol or diesel engines. “One single Intelligent Band can hold the access code to a whole fleet of vehicles, removing the need for large sets of keys, or codes,” said Mr Anstis-Smith. “Each band is serialised, so a farmer can give some workers access to more vehicles than others – this is particularly useful if some people are either not qualified, or too young to operate certain machines.” Edward Owen, who farms at Llansantffraid on the west Shropshire border, is among the first to have tested the system. “Intelligent Band has been a welcome
Edward Owen, who farms at Llansantffraid on the west Shropshire border
addition to our business,” he said. “It has given us heightened security without being too intrusive on our daily routine. “The technology is easy to use for all ages – from our 17-year-old workman to my 72-yearold dad, and we have the added advantage of knowing that all vehicles are secure at all times. He adds: “The installation was quick and has not changed the vehicles in any way, cosmetically. The major advantage is that one key fob has replaced all keys needed for each vehicle, making life much easier. “All our vehicles are now safe during the day while standing on the yard, and at night when most thefts occur. The Intelligent Band team have been helpful, and easy to work with at all times.” The Intelligent Band – available as a wristband or a fob - requires no batteries, ensuring year-round protection. It is completely waterproof and comes with a one-year warranty.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 47
| Arable
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| Machinery
T6 drives off for round of seed drilling at Golf Course Perched 200 feet up on the cliffs of the south Wales coast, overlooking some of the UK’s most beautiful shoreline, Pennard Golf Club describes itself perfectly as the “links in the sky”. he sport has been enjoyed at Pennard, on the Gower peninsula, since 1896. Over the years it has become such a gem that American golf writer James W. Finegan was moved to describe its surface as worth crossing an ocean to play on. It’s a big responsibility for Head Greenkeeper Dean Thomas, for whom finding the right machinery is a key ingredient to keeping the grass in perfect condition for its members – and the occasional American from across the Atlantic. One of the most important tasks at the end of the summer season is replenishing the fairways’ grass with a seed drill in October; a job for which speed is the essence to
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minimise disruption to players but without risking damage to the carefully manicured surface. The solution came in the form of a T6.140 tractor – the perfect utility workhorse balancing power with sure-footedness. Fitted with extra wide tyres for minimal ground pressure, the T6.140 had the power to pull the heavy seeder and drill the fairways with 80 bags of seed – all in just one pass. The task was done in a week. Dean explained: “It was a challenge because our fairways are some of the most undulating in Wales. Basically we needed something that could take the fairway seeder which is twice the weight of the greens seeder. We needed a big tractor. “The T6.140 was brilliant. It was
so simple to use one of my kids could have driven it – it was that easy. It followed the inclines very well and it never felt dodgy; it was very stable and it did not struggle at all.
New CLAAS infinitely variable transmission for ARION CLAAS has extended the ARION 600 and 500 range with the introduction of a new CMATIC version, driven by a CLAAS designed and built infinitely variable transmission. he new CMATIC transmission option will be available on all ARION 600 and 500 models. This means that CLAAS will now be able to offer an infinitely variable transmission option on all its tractors from the 145hp ARION 530 through to the 530hp XERION 5000, which is the most powerful infinitely variable tractor on the market and gives CLAAS the broadest range of infinitely variable transmission tractors on the market. The new ARION CMATIC models are all fitted with the new EQ200 transmission, which has been designed and built by CLAAS Industrietechnik based in Paderborn. As part of the development programme, CLAAS Power Systems (CPS) assessed the
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“To anyone else considering the T6 I would definitely go for this tractor just for its suitability, the fact that it did a good job and because there was not a lot of disruption for members.”
suitability of various infinitely variable transmissions and how they performed, but found none that provided the high performance characteristics that CPS demanded. The decision was therefore made for CLAAS Industrietechnik to develop a new infinitely variable transmission specifically for the ARION range that would provide the performance characteristics required. The new EQ 200 transmission is the result of a €40 million investment by CLAAS and demonstrates the company’s commitment to the future development of the CLAAS tractor range. The transmission has involved over 80,000 hours of development work, with over 17,000 hours of testing on a newly developed test rig and a further 15,000 hours of validation on the road and in the field.
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| Machinery
Featured Dealers:
Farmstar Limited Marr, Doncaster DN5 7AU T: 01302 786786 Market Weighton, York YO43 3GA T: 01430 875900
John Seale Ltd Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 1BZ T: 01730 827416 www.johnsealeltd.co.uk
Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 5EH T: 01455 209300 www.manitou.co.uk
Drews of Dinton Ltd Dinton, Salisbury Wiltshire SP3 5EH Tel 01722 716377 www.drewsofdinton.co.uk
Brigg, North Lincs DN2 8NF T: 01652 654944 www.farmstar.co.uk
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| Groundcare
Kubota’s cash back mower offer reintroduced in time for spring Groundcare professionals wanting to purchase Kubota’s market leading and high performance mowers will be given an extra incentive this season with the re-introduction of the machinery specialists spring time cash back offer. vailable until 30th June 2015, buyers of the GR2120 can claim back £300, whilst £200 is being offered to purchasers of the T1880 and GR1600-II ride on mowers. All of the Kubota machines eligible for the offer are designed to meet the extensive requirements of groundcare professionals. The GR2120-II
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incorporates a Glide Steer system for greater flexibility, whilst hydraulic power steering, a mower lift and 4WD drive allows users to access difficult areas with ease. The GR1600-II mower offers a better performing alternative to the petrol equivalents and yet is reliable and requires very little routine maintenance. Offering tough durability and excellent fuel efficiency, the mower comprises of Kubota’s ETVCS diesel engine,
HST transmission and a Glide Cut direct collection system with an easy-dump grass collector. The Kubota T1880 ride-on mower comes equipped with an 18hp OHV air-cooled petrol engine to provide combined functionality with extra comfort, the option of cruise control, as well as a grass collector and infinity deck. All ride on mowers in the Kubota range are available nationwide from Kubota stockists.
All of the Kubota machines eligible for the offer are designed to meet the extensive requirements of groundcare professionals.
To find details of your nearest dealer, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.
Startin Tractors Limited Twycross CV9 3PW Telephone : 01827 880088 Website with photographs: www.startintractors.co.uk email: sales@startintractors.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 51
| Groundcare
On the verge? Anyone considering which verge mower to choose could well have the decision made for them with the new range from Wessex International.
Boost grass even on wet ground With spring approaching, landowners must plan ahead to get the most from their grassland, especially if they want to benefit from a valuable ‘early bite’, and maximise their grazing potential throughout Spring.
here’s something here to suit everyone with tractors of 100hp plus and 50hp down to 20hp. At the top end for grounds maintenance and agriculture the Wessex ZHE-2500 verge mower is designed for demanding applications where high productivity and reliability are paramount. It has a working width of 2.5m and will operate between 60 and + 90 degrees of horizontal, while other features include replaceable skid shoes, a double skin deck and heavy shock absorbing springs. A floating Aframe allows the machine to follow ground contours which makes it perfect for uneven areas. If you’re looking for versatile mowers in 1.6m, 1.8m and 2.0m working widths the Wesssex ZMTE and ZLE verge mowers are offset to the right hand side of the tractor. For working on the public highway a left hand version, the ZMTE-2000, is available. These popular flails are designed to suit
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tractors from 50hp and can operate between -60 and +90 degrees of horizontal both in-line or offset outside the tractor wheelings. The ZMTE is a general purpose machine featuring a hydraulic breakaway system, while the ZLE is a heavy duty range with mechanical breakaway and a double skin deck. Designed specifically for use with smaller tractors from 20hp, the ZME-125 and ZME-155 are offset verge and bank mowers ideal for working in larger gardens, private estates and smallholdings. They are highly manoeuvrable and can be used as an in-line flail behind the tractor or fully offset to the right. With a cutting angle between -50 and +90 of horizontal you need only a single machine to maintain verges, banks, ditches or even the side of a low hedge. Probably the best way to decide what suits your needs is to ask Wessex to arrange a demonstration. Wessex International 01264 345870 www.wessexintl.com
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ost agricultural soils contain too little, naturally occurring plantavailable nitrogen to meet the needs of field grass throughout the growing season. Rather than leave the grass to fend for itself, take action now. UK manufacturer Quad-X, design and manufacture a host of ATV equipment to help with your grassland which is essential when ground conditions make access with a tractor impossible or unwelcome due to the ground compaction and damage it would cause. The only way to carry out early sowing on many areas of pasture will be using an ATV,
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given the incessant rainfall over the winter months. Urea is an excellent source of Nitrogen that can be applied now, even while soils are damp, wet and cool. The Quad-X plastic coated sower has the lowest fill height of any ATV fertiliser spreader and saves those back-breaking stretches to reach the hopper with 50kg bags balancing on your shoulder. An average man can fill the Quad-X 7 bag sower with the bag lifted to between waist and chest height. With 350kg capacity and optional extension sides to carry 500kg or 600kg the Quad-X sower is ideal for using with large half ton or 600kg bags of fertiliser.
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| Security
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| Tyres
Peter Baur appointed President Europe at Alliance Tire Group (ATG) World leader in Off Highway Tyres (OHT) further strengthens its Europe team with appointment of new president. eter Baur has taken office as President Europe of ATG (Alliance Tire Group), a world leader in design and manufacture of Off Highway Tyres (OHT), starting from 9th February 2015. Thus this year’s SIMA in Paris does not only provide the stage for a firework of innovative ATG tyre solutions but also marks a new era for ATG’s presence on the European market.
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“We are more than happy to welcome Peter Baur at ATG Europe. With the broad experience of 29 successful years as Executive Member of the Board of Directors & CEO of EDE International AG, Zurich, as COO, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing (Germany and Luxemburg) at Rexel Deutschland GmbH, as Member of the Management Board at Hilti Deutschland GmbH and other responsible positions, Peter Baur will take over responsibility and further develop our strong distributor network and client base as well
as the strong relationships with our OE partners”, says Yogesh Mahansaria, Founder and CEO of Alliance Tire Group. Peter Baur graduated in Business Administration and did post graduation studies in Business Law at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He has also completed an Executive Programme at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and Electrical Engineering at the University of Applied Science in Baden, Switzerland.
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| ATV
The legend is here. The new Sportsman ETX. The Polaris Sportsman is the original Polaris quad, one of the best-selling ATVs of all time and this legacy is handed down to the latest machines. he new Sportsman ETX offers powerful 30hp ATV performance, superb ergonomics and masses of storage, making it ideal for farm and track work. Power comes from the ProStar® engine with Electronic Fuel Injection, dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. It’s specifically designed to start flawlessly and run smoothly in varied temperature and altitude. Storage-wise the Sportsman ETX wastes no space with industry exclusive Lock & Ride® technology making it easy to carry and secure gear. In fact, the Sportsman offers the most integrated storage of any ATV with the capacity to stash what you need and still have access even with items tied to the deck.
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What has always been legendary about the Sportsman is the Independent Rear Suspension, with masses of travel to minimize body roll and keep the ride smooth, while high ground clearance lets you tackle the toughest terrain. Ergonomics on the ETX have been carefully thought through as well, with the front of the seat and side panels narrowed at the thigh, coupled with longer floor boards for easier mounting and dismounting. Fuel capacity has been increased by 10% compared to its predecessor and there’s 560 watts of charging power with the capability of operating more hard working accessories. All in all, the Polaris legend lives on in the Sportsman ETX while throwing down the gauntlet to lesser mortals in the world of ATVs.
For more information call 0800 915 6720 or visit www.polaris-britain.com
Polaris appoint a new dealer in Shetland In case you’re not sure about the actual location of Shetland - see map...(editor) hetland, a subarctic archipelago of Scotland, comprises about a hundred islands of which sixteen are inhabited. It’s almost an understatement to say the terrain is challenging and although the aspects are not as extreme as the Highlands it is very much ATV country. So it’s with good reason that Polaris are pleased to announce an exciting new development for Shetland with the appointment of Bixter Garage as Polaris Dealer for the area. Bixter Garage started servicing the local community in 1983, specialising in 4x4 authorised repairs, and today also supplies ATVs and off-road trailers for sheep handling. Bixter’s Martin Nicolson is supplying many of the 22,500 population engaged in farming the island’s 300,000 sheep and 5.500 cattle. Many
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people are also involved in Scotland’s oil and fishing industries. Bixter has three full-time and two part-time staff and Martin, who was brought up in agriculture, sees the Polaris products sitting well with his experience. “I’m impressed with the R&D at Polaris, always moving forward, and the range is exceptional. ATVs of 300cc to 400cc suit the island and the customer base. The new Sportsman ETX for example is ideally suited to our farms, which don’t have huge acreages. It sits well with what’s going on here at the moment.” Martin also cites the Ranger ETX and Ranger Diesel as machines that will fit local requirements. He adds: “Richard Coleby, the Polaris District Manager, looks after us very well and we see the challenges ahead being fully met with our appointment. We’re proud to get the chance to promote Polaris in Shetland.”
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| ATV
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| ATV
According to Polaris nobody is as hard on their quad bikes as the Australians or New Zealanders. So in order to counteract these wonton acts of off-road vandalism enter the UTE 570, a new breed of ATV that is now finding increasing favour here in the UK, hill farmers especially able to translate the antipodean advancements to their own particular needs. It would also seem that blue is the favourite down-under colouring since this is currently the only available hue. he first Polaris to come complete with full on-road kit including wing mirrors (although you’ll still need to register the bike), the UTE comes as standard with a 180kg maximum load tipping cargo bed that incorporate the rear light and indicator clusters. There’s also front stowage locker just in front of the handlebars but only sufficient in size for small tools, an emergency supply of oil and waterproofs. What you will more than likely have to do is dip into the accessory catalogue to source suitable front and rear light guards, the small front indicators and rear lights especially vulnerable to knocks although the twin dip and main bean headlights should be able to take care of themselves.
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One of the most efficient mid sized workhorses to have been introduced Physically the new UTE is just over 2m long and as wide as it is high at 1.2m with an overall ground clearance of 28cm combined with 20.8cm and 26cm travel from the front and rear suspension. There’s substantial under body protection in place for when the limit is exceeded, but all vital components are located
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within the UTE’s frame with the noticeably quieter exhaust tucked up just below the rear right arch. In addition the ball joints, driveshaft and suspension bushes are now sealed yet still able to be greased, another significant step forward for Polaris. Sat on pressed steel rims and shod with 25x8-12 front and 25x10-12 rear Carlisle AT489 rubber that, even in 2WD, provide more than sufficient traction in most situations. Power comes from a DOHC 576cc EFI 4-stroke petrol engine mated to a 17 litre fuel tank and the familiar Polaris Variable Transmission, (PVT), that now integrates the new Polaris hill decent system. Drive selection of low and high ranges, along with neutral, reverse and park are selected via the wand like shift just in front of the rider’s right knee. The only thing you have to remember being to stop and grab a handful of brake or stamp on the pedal to allow the selector to shift between settings. The usual cutout, indicator, lights and horn controls and single brake lever are situated around the handlebar’s left grip, transfer selection on the right grip just above the thumb throttle, all three settings selectable ‘on-the-fly’. And still one of the simplest instrumentation readouts in the game, the centrally located pod positioned above the central headlight provides a conventional
analogue speedo with a minimalist LCD screen providing hours running, fluid levels and transmission positioning. Two more innovations for Polaris are engine braking and a reprofiled seat. Engine braking and the lack of it has always been a longstanding criticism of Polaris, this obvious omission now address to a degree that the UTE now comes to a more or less instant halt the moment the throttle is released. Not only is the UTE now far safer to ride, it now means wear and tear on the hydraulic disc brakes are considerably reduced. And from the rider’s physical perspective the adoption of a trails bike profiled seat complete with small and backrest now offers a far more comfortable and relaxing riding position both sat and when riding stood, your legs are now nowhere near as far apart. To ride the new UTE has shifted Polaris a significant step forward. Starting and stopping on the key the only trait the rider has to be aware of is throttle sensitivity when the engine is cold. Possibly unique to the UTE on test, until the unit had warmed up the thumb lever was a fraction ‘on-off’. However after a few minutes idling and slow riding the acceleration became far more gradual. Apart from this minor and fixable issue the UTE is exceptionally easy to ride. The power steering is well weighted yet
sensitive enough when demanding terrain or rapid direction changes are encountered, whilst the hill decent and engine configuration allows for controlled navigation of inclines that might previously have been avoided. Similarly, the wider stance gives the rider considerably more confidence when crossing gradients, the UTE feeling far more planted. And for those who require the facility, the fitment of a suitable ball hitch allows the UTE to tow a further certified 810kg of towed load, the engine developing more than sufficient power and torque to haul the combined cargo weight of 990kg. One of the most efficient midsized workhorses to have been introduced, once you’ve ridden the new UTE 570, you’ll fully understand as to why this new Polaris has transitioned with such ease from one side of the world to the other. Price wise, the suggested retail price for the basic UTE 570 is £8,398-80p including VAT with prices varying for the extensive range of accessories. For more details on UTE 570 and the full range of Polaris ATV’s and UTV’s visit www.polaris-britain.com or call 0800 915 6720. Alternatively, contact your local dealer.
Words & images: Mark Stone
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 57
| ATV
Honda broadens Foreman ATV line-up Honda has extended its TRX500 (Foreman) range with the introduction of three new models; bringing independent rear suspension (IRS) and dual-clutch transmission (DCT) to the line-up for the first time. ll three build upon enhancements made to the last new models launched in January 2014 most notably the stiffer, lighter double-cradle frame, redesigned EPS setting and enhanced fuel injection system - but with further developments based on customer and dealer feedback.
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The enhancements are a result of customer and dealer feedback, competitor benchmarking on handling, comfort and features, and an increased emphasis from Honda R&D on utility usage One of the most fundamental changes is the move to IRS which delivers much improved performance capability, comfort and ride. IRS significantly contributes towards a 55% increase in towing capacity (600kg) and payload compared to previous models, as well as ramping up rack capacities to 45kg (front) and 85kg (rear). IRS also offers increased suspension travel of 215mm (front) and 185mm (rear), both of which can be adjusted to suit load and conditions. Additionally, the new frame, introduced in the January 2014 models and adjusted to accommodate Honda's IRS system, delivers improved torsional rigidity for class leading handling and comfort, and a smoother ride. The TRX500FA5 and FA6
feature Honda's dual range automatic gearbox, offering the choice of automatic or manual modes with Electric Shift Programme (ESP). The introduction of DCT in automatic mode - for the first time on the Foreman range - means reduced power loss which delivers fuel efficiency gains and a smoother ride. A new dual shift mapping programme takes feedback on how the bike is being ridden from the ECU, and changes gear accordingly. Tried and tested on Honda's market-leading motorcycles for years, DCT contributes towards a 12.5% improvement in fuel economy compared to the outgoing models that the FA5 and FA6 replace. Other enhancements to the new TRX500FM5, FA5 and FA6 aim to increase capability, comfort and performance, including: • High/Low box - providing lowrange power for climbing steep slopes, pulling away and negotiating demanding terrain. • Dual-purpose reverse/parking brake lever - one hand operation; pull in for reverse, and push forward to engage parking brake. • Full coverage front bumper tougher all-steel bumper which wraps around the headlights and features integrated mounts for a winch attachment. • High function racks - offering an increased cargo area with large steel plates including additional tie-down points. • New tyre construction - revised Maxxis tyres featuring a new tread pattern for increased grip and enhanced comfort and handling. • Brighter lights - 50 watt assist light, 35 watt headlights, with optimised light distribution.
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• Thicker, wider seat thickness increased by two inches, more optimised shape and 'gripper' texture vinyl. • New grips - similar to those on Honda CRF motorcycles, half waffle texture design, diameter increased by 2mm for improved ergonomics and comfort. The enhancements are a result of customer and dealer feedback, competitor benchmarking on handling, comfort and features, and an increased emphasis from Honda R&D on utility usage. The aim is to broaden the product offering to offer the most functional and capable range on the market, coupled with Honda's continued
commitment to the highest levels of durability, quality and reliability. The new models will be available with a two year warranty from Honda Authorised dealers from January 2015. At launch the TRX500FM5 is priced at £7,200, the FA5 £7,490 and the FA6 £7,790 including VAT.
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| ATV
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 59
| Motors
New Forest Garden Machinery 316-318 Salisbury Road Totton, Southampton Hampshire SO40 3ND Tel: 023 8087 1764 www.nfgmltd.co.uk
LRS (Lincs) Ltd Unit 9-10 Belton Lane Ind Est Belton Lane, Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 9HN Tel: 01476 565999 www.lrs-uk.com
Hog Start & Quads The Old Church, Cemetery Road, Southport Lancashire PR8 5EE Tel. 01704 541450/ 01704 547783 www.hogstart.com
Greenlow ATV Greenlow House Royston Road, Melbourne Hertfordshire SG8 6DG Tel: 01763 260239 www.greenlow.co.uk
Exeter Quads Exmouth Road Exeter Devon EX5 1AR Tel: 01392 877621 www.exeterquads.com
Morse Welding Supplies Ltd Watercombe Lane, Lynx West Trading Estate, Yeovil Somerset, BA20 2SU Tel. 01935 426 390 www.morsewelding.com
60 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
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| Motors
The new Passat Alltrack The latest generation of the Passat Alltrack celebrated its debut at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. ased on the new Passat Estate, the new Passat Alltrack impresses with an independent offroad look, 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive and highly advanced technologies. The updated version confidently handles rough terrain, on the one hand, while simultaneously providing excellent cruising comfort – thanks to the driving profile selector and DCC adaptive chassis control.
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Volkswagen is offering a total of five new direct fuel injection engines for the new Passat Alltrack The Passat Alltrack is an independent model within the model series. This can be seen in
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exterior features such as the modified bumpers (with underbody guard in stainless-steel look), rugged wheel arch and side sill moulding covers in "Anthracite" and sill extensions. Its 27.5 mm higher ground clearance also makes it ready for any driving situation. Anodised silver roof rails, "Alltrack" badges on the radiator grille and tailgate, and custom 17inch alloy wheels (18- and 19-inch wheel options available) upgrade this Estate even more. At the same time, the Passat Alltrack scores with state-of-the-art technology. Thanks to its special Offroad driving programme with suitably modified assistance systems, modified chassis and the alliance of EDS (electronic differential lock), XDS+ and 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive, it is the perfect all-round vehicle for both the on-road and off-road worlds. In addition, the Passat Alltrack is an ideal towing
vehicle. A towing load of 2,200 kg (braked) can be hitched to it on a twelve per cent gradient (exception: 110 kW /150 PS TSI has towing capacity of 1,800 kg). In addition, the Passat Alltrack can be fitted with an exceptionally large range of driver assistance and infotainment systems. They include an Active Info Display (fully digital instruments), head-up display (for projecting information), Media Control rear seat entertainment system for tablet computers, Front Assist (lanechanging assistant), Emergency Assist (stops vehicle in emergency), Traffic Jam Assist, Rear Traffic Alert (detects vehicles in cross-traffic when backing out of parking spaces) and Trailer Assist (for assisted manoeuvring with a trailer). The theme of infotainment also assumes a high priority in the Passat Alltrack. A total of five radio and radio-navigation units are
available for the Passat Alltrack, which enable a maximum degree of connectivity. The various interfaces include connecting to smartphones via App Connect. App Connect consists of applications like Mirror Link™, Car Play (Apple) and Android Auto (Google), which permit integration of nearly all smartphones and an enormous bandwidth of apps. Volkswagen is offering a total of five new direct fuel injection engines for the new Passat Alltrack: The powerful petrol turbocharged engines (TSI) produce 110 kW / 150 PS and 162 kW / 220 PS. The range of the torque- strong turbo-diesels (TDI) begins at 110 kW / 150 PS. The next higher power levels are 140 kW / 190 PS and 176 kW / 240 PS. They all conform to the Euro-6 emissions standard. A stop-start system and recover of braking energy with battery regeneration are also included as standard.
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 61
| Motors
The Amarok Ultimate. Virtually unlimited spec. But with limited availability. The Amarok is a vehicle that hasn’t been slow to make an impression. And with that muscular profile, you can see why. Now comes the ultimate Amarok. Named, aptly enough, The Amarok Ultimate. An amazingly well equipped, limited edition in a choice of metallic Deep Black or Reflex Silver, 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual with a 2.0 BiTDI 180PS 4MOTION engine. The Amarok Ultimate’s exterior features include Bi-xenon headlights with tinted LED rear lights, 19-inch polished ‘Aragonit’ alloys, reverse parking camera, under body protection, new front chrome pack, stainless steel finish rear styling bars and side bars and, of course, the distinctive ‘Ultimate’ badging. As for the interior, there’s a leather multi-function steering wheel, RNS510 satellite navigation including Bluetooth, stylish Alcantara upholstery and heated front seats. To get the full picture, why not drop by our showroom? But with only 350 being made available, we suggest that delay is not an option.
timate. l U k o r a Th e A m now. e l b a l i a v A 62 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
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JCT600 Van Centre (Hull)
Greenhous Volkswagen Van Centre
Listers (Coventry) Van Centre
Saxon Way, Priory Park West, Hessle, Hull, East Yorkshire. Telephone: 01482 908590.
Ennerdale Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Telephone: 01743 600868.
347-367 Bedworth Road, Longford, Coventry, West Midlands. Telephone: 0247 798 9699.
Find us on your sat-nav using HU13 9PB.
Find us on your sat-nav using SY1 3LD.
Find us on your sat-nav using CV6 6BN.
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/JCT600Hull
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/greenhous
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/listerscoventry
JCT600 Van Centre (York)
Greenhous Volkswagen Van Centre (Bilston)
Listers Van Centre (Worcestershire)
Centurion Park, Clifton Moor, York. Telephone: 01904 848102.
Trinity Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton. Telephone: 01902 471418.
Find us on your sat-nav using YO30 4WW.
Find us on your sat-nav using WV14 7EF.
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/JCT600York
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/bilston
JCT600 Van Centre (Sheffield)
Citygate Van Centre (Colindale)
Europa Close, Europa Link, Sheffield. Telephone: 0114 404 0026.
78 Capitol Way, Colindale, London. Telephone: 0208 045 6256.
Find us on your sat-nav using S9 1XS.
Find us on your sat-nav using NW9 0EW.
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/jct600sheffield
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/colindale
North Bank, Berry Hill Industrial Estate, Droitwich. Telephone: 01905 863811. Find us on your sat-nav using WR9 9AU. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/listersworcestershire
Citygate Van Centre (Wooburn Green) Holtspur Lane, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe, Bucks. Telephone: 01494 256061. Find us on your sat-nav using HP10 0AU. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/wooburngreen
Alan Day Van Centre Pinkham Way, North Circular Road, New Southgate, London. Telephone: 0208 045 3493.
Find us on your sat-nav using N11 3UT. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/alandaynewsouthgate
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 63
| Motors
64 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
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| Motors
Garland Great Wall Hampshire Tel: 01252 367373
Dowleys Oxfordshire 01993 842345
Haven Motor Holdings Ltd Sussex 01403 891700
Great Wall Bath Somerset Tel: 01225 473014
www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk
www.dowleys.co.uk
www.havenmotors.co.uk
www.bathhonda.co.uk
Ryedale Garages Ltd North Yorkshire Tel: 01751 431343
MTC Great Wall Cambridgeshire Tel: 01733 309782
G C Stanbury & Son Somerset 01398 323 545
Olds Motor Group Yeovil 01935 429700
www.ryedalegarages.co.uk
www.mtcars.co.uk
www.gcstanbury.co.uk
www.olds.co.uk
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 65
| Motors
2015 Subaru Forester gets upgraded interior and diesel powertrain Subaru UK has announced details of the 2015 model-year update to its best-selling Forester SUV, which features a raft of changes to its interior and powertrain and enhances the go-anywhere capabilities of the Forester range. he most significant change for the latest Subaru Forester is the addition of a diesel-Lineartronic CVT (continuously-variable transmission) powertrain to the UK model line-up, the first Forester to offer such a powertrain. By pairing the popular 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed ‘Boxer’ diesel engine with Lineartronic, Subaru engineers have endowed the car with a more relaxing drive and, at the same time, boosted its off-road capabilities. Paired with the standard All-Wheel Drive drivetrain, Lineartronic brings with it Subaru’s Hill Descent Control (HDC) and the X-Mode system, which intelligently manages the car’s power and torque, brakes and drivetrain to maintain traction on even the most slippery surfaces. The Lineartronic transmission fitted to the Forester’s 2.0-litre diesel engine is the same highcapacity CVT found on the powerful 240 ps XT Turbo model, and is engineered to manage the diesel engine’s high 350 Nm torque output. In its latest application in the Forester, the NVH characteristics of the transmission have been improved with additional soundproofing, while a manual mode provides drivers with seven pre-set ‘gears’ for greater control of the engine. The 148 ps Boxer diesel engine
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itself has also received a range of modifications designed to reduce noise, vibration and harshness and improve fuel economy. A new common-rail injection system enables more precise combustion control, while new glow plugs speed up engine heating for greater fuel efficiency from a cold start. Other changes include revised turbocharger settings while a new radiator, oil cooler and radiator fans have been adopted for diesel models, aiding engine cooling. With the new diesel engine and gearbox combination the 2015 Subaru Forester will return 46.3 mpg and 158 g/km CO2 on the combined cycle, and go from zero to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds. Diesel models equipped with the standard six-speed manual return 49.6 mpg and a now lower 148 g/km CO2 on the combined cycle (-2 g/km). Acceleration is also improved slightly, recording zero to 62 mph in 9.8 seconds (down from 10.2 seconds). Cabin upgrades improve quality and refinement Subaru engineers have introduced a number of improvements to the interior of the car, designed to raise the quality and ambience of the cabin. Central to the upgraded interior is a new factory-fit touchscreen infotainment and navigation system which replaces the previous, Pioneer dealer-fit options. The 7.0-inch touchscreen,
All new Honda HR-V Characterful coupé looks, with the tough stance of an SUV. n all-new Honda HR-V is set to arrive in the UK in summer 2015, delivering a unique proposition to the crossover segment: dynamic styling, the versatility of an MPV, sophisticated-yet-fun driving dynamics and fuel-efficient performance. It is part of the updated range of Honda vehicles that demonstrates the brand’s pioneering approach to
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technological innovation. The HR-V portrays a characterful poise, with the distinctive, boldly sculpted lines of a coupé merged with the tough, solid stance of a robust SUV. Inside, the HR-V offers occupants class-leading space and – thanks to Honda’s innovative Magic Seat ®system – high levels of versatility. High quality soft-touch materials and sophisticated design define the HR-V’s interior, where Honda’s
66 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
fitted as standard to all XC, AC Premium and XT models in the UK, allows front seat occupants to control the car’s satellite navigation and audio systems using the same touchscreen functionality as a smartphone, with swiping and pinching-in and -out to zoom in on map displays. Drivers can control the infotainment and navigation system – as well as the climate control – with Subaru’s latestgeneration voice control system, while full Bluetooth functionality enables users to connect their smartphone to the car via StarLink, for weather and traffic reports, wireless audio and news updates. The upgraded interior also makes use of higher quality materials, in particular a new piano black central fascia, metallic highlights at key locations around the dashboard and new, more tactile heather controls. The car also now receives an extra USB jack allowing occupants to listen to music from a USB-compatible device while charging another at the same time. The Multi-Function Display (MFD) at the top of the dashboard
designers married expansive spaciousness with the feel of a sporty, enveloping cockpit. The new Honda Connect appbased in-car infotainment system is operated through a seven-inch touchscreen display in the centre of the dash, and offers access to internet browsing, real-time news, traffic and weather and music streaming services. The new HR-V is available at launch with a choice of highly responsive and efficient 120 PS 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel or 130 PS 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engines, both part of Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology series. The Advanced Driver Assist System package, which employs a camera and mid-range radar,
continues to display useful information to the driver, such as temperature, the status of the standard All-Wheel Drive system and fuel economy data. Improving the sporty image of the XT Turbo model, meanwhile, the MFD now features a turbo boost gauge for all models fitted with the 241 ps 2.0-litre DIT (direct injection turbo) engine. NVH throughout the cabin is further improved with the adoption of greater soundproofing material under the bonnet and around the air intake. The exterior of the car remains largely unchanged, with the exception of a new shark-fin antenna which replaces the pole antenna found on pre-2015 models. The upgraded 2015 Subaru Forester will go on sale in the UK on 1 April and continues to offer Subaru’s comprehensive five year, 100,000 mile warranty.
incorporates a comprehensive suite of advanced safety technologies, some of which are new to the crossover segment. Characterful, bold lines of a coupé with the tough, solid stance of an SUV.
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| Motors
Perkins Subaru Essex Tel: 01376 550899
Cambridge Subaru Cambridgeshire Tel: 01223 554055
Proveeda Suffolk Tel: 01473 210000
S.G Petch Richmond North Yorkshire Tel: 01748 821185
Maple Garage (Sproatley) East Yorkshire 01964 670 392
MRG Chippenham Wiltshire 01249 443300
MTC Subaru Cambridgeshire 01733 309782
Burrells of Doncaster South Yorkshire 01302 322111
www.perkinsgarages.co.uk
www.maplegarage.co.uk
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www.cambridgesubaru.co.uk
www.mrgcars.co.uk
www.proveeda.co.uk
www.mtc.subaru.co.uk
www.sgpetch.co.uk
www.burrells.org
March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 67
| Motors
RANGE ROVER SPORT Capable on the most challenging terrain
Range Rover Sport Hybrid tows Airstream 2500 miles in gruelling arctic cold weather test Patented hybrid technology contributes to a mighty 700Nm of vehicle torque to provide strong, precisely controllable performance for towing in extreme weather. and Rover has teamed up with Airstream on an adventure to the Arctic Circle to demonstrate the capabilities of the new Range Rover Sport Hybrid. The world’s first premium diesel hybrid towed the 2.5 tonne travel trailer 2,500 miles to Land Rover’s cold-weather test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden, then on to the Arctic Circle. In a dramatic real world test of the vehicle’s capability, the car was towing the 13.1m long rig through some of the worst winter weather Scandinavia has experienced in living memory. Gales, record snow depths and freak icy road conditions tested crew, car and trailer to the extreme.
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“This journey just goes to show that the Range Rover Sport Hybrid is pure hybrid – with all the capability and versatility that you’d expect from a Land Rover.” More European Airstream owners choose Land Rover products to tow their 'silver bullets' than cars from any other manufacturer so the Range Rover Sport Hybrid and Airstream made an excellent match. Setting off from Land Rover’s Design and Engineering Centre at Gaydon in the English Midlands, the team headed to Mengerskirchen in Germany, where a specially winterised travel trailer was waiting for them at Airstream Europe’s headquarters. Top of Airstream’s European range of trailers, the 684 is 8.25m of boutique hotel suite on wheels, with two double beds, satellite television and Corian surfaces in both its fully-
68 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
equipped kitchen and spacious bathroom. Thus specified, and once the team had packed their kit on board, the Airstream weighed in at more than 2.5 tonnes. For the Range Rover Sport Hybrid, that sort of weight proved no problem, whatever the weather did. Throughout, the Range Rover Sport Hybrid demonstrated its astonishing towing prowess. Land Rover has applied for 20 patents for the Vehicle Supervisory Control system that manages the operation of the hybrid powertrain and its sophistication enables the electric motor’s 170Nm of torque to be blended in seamlessly, and contributes to a mighty 700Nm of vehicle torque. This delivers even stronger and more precisely controllable performance, which proved itself very useful, time after time, when towing this large and heavy load through such extreme weather. En route, the team had to cross the five mile long Øresund Bridge, which was being lashed by the tail end of Hurricane Ole. Gale force sidewinds would have deterred those in lesser machinery but the Range Rover Sport Hybrid benefits from the same Trailer Stability Assist that more conventionally powered stablemates do. Braking each wheel individually based on what is happening to the trailer, any incipient sway is dealt with within milliseconds of it starting – well before it becomes an issue. Off-road, the car proved its worth too, repeatedly pulling the trailer up and down snowy and often dangerously icy hills, and along forest tracks without fuss. Ben Samuelson, who led the team, added: “We were closely watching the long range weather forecasts before we set off but nothing prepared us for how bad it got. However, time after time, it was only as we got out of the car that we realised quite how treacherous it was outside.”
Further north, as temperatures plummeted to -22 degrees centigrade outside, both the vehicle and the trailer’s cold-climate capability and comfort ensured that driver, passengers, and indeed those cooking and sleeping in the trailer each evening, experienced nothing but unruffled luxury. The demanding cold-weather facility at Arjeplog in northern Sweden is the winter proving ground for the full range of Land Rover’s all-terrain vehicles. For four months every year, the company’s corps of engineers pitch vehicles to their limits against extreme winter conditions with temperatures which have been known to reach -39 degrees in daytime, but can plummet as low as -42 degrees centigrade overnight. Phil Talboys, who manages the Arjeplog test facility, commented: “The Range Rover Sport Hybrid has gone through the same gruelling test and development regime that all our cars do. This journey just goes to show that the Range Rover Sport Hybrid is pure hybrid – with all the capability and versatility that you’d expect from a Land Rover.”
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CLASS LEADING CAPABILITY Call us today to book a test drive.
Land Rover’s unrivalled breadth of capability has never been in question and Range Rover Sport builds on those qualities with ease. It’s been designed to meet the needs of today.
Armstong Massey - York 01937 531531 armstrongmassey.landrover.co.uk
Rocar Moores - Huddersfield 01484 582817 rocarmoores.landrover.co.uk
Hunters - Southampton 02380 215800 hunters.southampton.landrover.co.uk
Hunters - Norwich 01603 944836 hunters.norwich.landrover.co.uk
Guy Salmon - Knutsford 01565 632525 guysalmon.knutsford.landrover.co.uk
Copley - Halifax 01422 520528 copley.landrover.co.uk
Barretts - Ashford 01233 506070 barretts.ashford.landrover.co.uk
Lloyds - Kelso 01573 224345 lloyd.kelso.landrover.co.uk
Barretts - Canterbury 01227 475475 barretts.canterbury.landrover.co.uk
Williams - Manchester 0161 232 5000 williams.manchester.landrover.co.uk
Ripon Land Rover - North Yorkshire 01765 646464 ripon.landrover.co.uk
Kentdale - Kendal 01539 814444 kentdale.kendal.landrover.co.uk
Chipperfield - Hertfordshire 01923 263030 chipperfield.landrover.co.uk
Yeovil Land Rover 01935 426600 yeovil.landrover.co.uk
Matford - Exeter 01392 825825 matford.exeter.landrover.co.uk
Lakeland - Torver 01539 441317 lakeland.torver.landrover.co.uk
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March 2015 | Farming Monthly | 69
| Motors
Isuzu Salisbury Wiltshire 01722 412222 www.isuzu.co.uk
York Van Centre North Yorkshire 01904 470170 www.yorkvancentre.co.uk
Archie Moss Leicestershire 01530 553504 www.archiemoss.co.uk
Burrells of Doncaster South Yorkshire 01302 322111 www.burrells.org
Garland Motors Ltd Hampshire 01252 367373 www.garlandskoda.co.uk/isuzu
Mark Weatherhead Ltd Cambridgeshire 01954 210355 www.markweatherhead.co.uk
Jeffries of Bacton Suffolk 01449 781087 www.jeffriesofbacton.co.uk
Davies Isuzu Pembrokeshire 0844 6626708 www.daviesnarberth.isuzu.co.uk
Glews Garage East Yorkshire 01405 764525 www.glews.co.uk
MRG Chippenham Wiltshire 01249 443300 www.mrgcars.co.uk
Bob Gerard Limited Leicestershire 01162 592224 www.bobgerard.co.uk
Davies Isuzu Carmarthenshire 0844 6626707 www.daviesgroup.co.uk
Riverside Eastern Ltd North Yorkshire 01723 862242 www.riversidemotors.co.uk
Lifestyle Europe Kent 0844 662 6680 www.lifestyleeurope.co.uk
Maple Garage (Sproatley) East Yorkshire 01964 670 392 www.maplegarage.co.uk
70 | Farming Monthly | March 2015
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| Motors
Beat the winter weather in style with the new Toyota Hilux Invincible X New, top-of-the-range model for Toyota’s super-tough pick-up. oyota’s formidable Hilux gains a new top-of-the-range model this winter in the form of the new Invincible X. Tough enough to take on the worst of Britain’s rain, snow and ice, this newcomer is not just a Toyota thoroughbred, it’s big on style too with a wealth of stand-out features. It retains all the go-anywhere qualities that give Hilux its “unbreakable” reputation, but adds a series of new styling elements that can be mixed and matched to create a highly personalised pick-up. All these “extras” are available as no-cost options to maximise customer choice. To begin with there are four 17-
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inch alloy wheel designs to choose from: the standard Invincible rim and a new Rica five-spoke in allblack or two-tone black/machined or black/graphite finish. Chrome tubular side bars are also part of the package, with or without step grips according to preference. Similarly, customers can opt for a rear hi-over bar, or choose instead to have the Style Pack fitted, adding a front guard, silvercoloured under-run, aluminiumfinish scuff plates, chrome door handles and chrome surrounds for the bonnet air intake and rear lamp clusters. Finally there are four colourways for the leather seat upholstery: the standard Invincible black, or custom two-tone black with contrasting seatback and
cushion inserts in grey, saddle tan or deep red. The custom designs are additionally embossed with the X logo, while the full black upholstery bears the Invincible name. Equipment features, shared with the Invincible grade, include sports front seats, climate control, cruise control, dusk-sensing headlights, front fog lights, rear privacy glass, front side, and curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, headlamp cleaners, rear-view camera, alarm, electrically adjustable heated door
mirrors and the Toyota Touch 2 touchscreen-controlled multimedia system, with Bluetooth. The Invincible X is available exclusively in Double Cab form with Toyota’s 169bhp 3.0-litre D-4D diesel engine matched to either five-speed manual or automatic transmission. With permanent fourwheel drive and an autodisconnecting differential, the Hilux Invincible X is engineered to take on the toughest environments. It also benefits from a 2.8-tonne towing capacity.
Dacia adds new TCe 125 engine to 4WD Duster Dacia is celebrating 10 years of unrivalled success in Europe and the Mediterranean basin at the Geneva Motor Show by introducing a new TCe 125 turbocharged petrol engine to the four-wheel-drive Duster. he TCe 125 engine is perfectly suited to the Renault Group’s downsizing strategy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while enhancing driving pleasure and performance. It is a 1.2-litre unit crammed with the latest energy-saving technologies – engine Stop & Start, deceleration energy recovery and reduced friction – while delivering comparable performance to a normally aspirated 2.0-litre unit. This aluminium-block 1,198cc unit develops, as the name suggests, 125 hp, but of greater importance for everyday driving and off-roading is the maximum 205 Nm of torque available from
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just 2,000rpm to 3,000rpm. This endows the Duster with outstanding driveability and flexibility. Ninety per cent of maximum torque is available from just 1,500rpm. The high torque output also allows for a wide spread of gear ratios. A short first gear in the sixspeed four-wheel-drive transmission allows the car to manoeuvre at very slow speed on rough terrain, while a long sixth makes for quiet, comfortable, economical highway cruising. That high torque output comes from a combination of direct high pressure fuel injection and a turbocharger with a twin continuous angle variator on the camshaft. Renault’s engine Stop & Start
technology minimises fuel consumption and emissions in traffic while ensuring that fuel is always injected into the most appropriate cylinder for instant restarting, while the deceleration energy recovery system stores energy normally wasted as heat during slowing down and stopping in the battery to restart the car. Fuel consumption, emissions and performance figures will be announced closer to the car’s launch date. The Duster’s four-wheel-drive system has three operating modes so that drivers can select the most efficient programme for the road and conditions. The system can be locked in two-wheel drive (100 per cent of engine torque to the front wheels) or four-wheel drive (50:50 torque distribution), or put in Auto, in which case the torque balance varies according to the car’s speed and the grip at each wheel, up to a maximum of 50:50 front-to-rear. Ten years of continuous success Dacia was launched in Europe and the Mediterranean basin in 2005 with the introduction of the Logan, since when it has sold more than 3.1 million vehicles. In 2014 sales by the Romanian brand topped 500,000 for the first time (511,362), giving the company a
market share up by 0.4 per cent to 2.5 per cent. The Duster’s four-wheel-drive system has three operating modes so that drivers can select the most efficient programme for the road and conditions Dacia manufactures seven models – Logan, Logan MCV, Sandero, Duster, Lodgy, Dokker and Dokker Van – and boasts one of the most modern product ranges in Europe. Duster and Sandero account for two-thirds of sales (160,000 each) followed by Logan at almost 100,000. Sandero is the third best-selling model in France and the best-selling model of all in Spain. In the UK the company commands a one per cent market share only two years after arriving, with sales of 23,862 in 2014. Dacia is now 99.43 per cent owned by Renault, which invested close to €500 million (£400 million) in the company between 1999 and 2004 to modernise its facilities and product range. It is now represented in 44 countries.
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