INSIDE: It’s never too late to open your farm gates
page 16
Farming MONTHLY National
May 2022
Also in this issue... | Big names are back at Cereals page 36-43
I Sleepwalking into a global food security challenge page 14
Also inside this month..
page 28 - 35
Women in Farming
Case IH Upgrades
NBA Beef Expo
PLUS: Arable| Grain | Potatoes | Building | Security |LAMMA |Cereals| Livestock| ATV | Motors
• • • •
5-meter HD trailed seed bed cultivator on farm £16,000 3-meter HD subsoiler and disc combination on farm £15,500 Full specification as standard While stocks last
o Moisture Sensors o Application Equipment o Bale Tarpaulins o Hedging Saws o Cultivation Equipment Andrew 07967 300 578 Office 01805 603 363 www.pfc-eu.com info@pfc-eu.com
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CONTENTS M a y 2022
FEATURES
20 Arable
72 Mental Health
86 Muck and Slurry
28 Pre-Harvest Preparation
74 Security
88 On Topic
36 Cereals
76 Livestock
94 Tyres
44 Grain 48 LAMMA 2022 54 Potatoes & Root Crops
FM REGULARS National
62 Women in Farming
6 News
90 Machinery
68 Grassland & Muck
64 Buildings
96 ATV
70 Forestry
66 Energy
104 Motors
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
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Farming MONTHLY National
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For editorial, general enquiries or to advertise please call +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com Farming Monthly National is published monthly in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Printed in the UK No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or publication. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as required and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies. Full copyright applies. All rights reserved. ISSN 2044-0190 (print) ISSN 2044-0200 (digital)
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#GoElectric – an exciting new range of electric UTVs from HiSun May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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This WORLD BEE DAY, look out for solitary bees and help scientists better understand declines ew solitary bee identification guide now available to download free While bumblebees and honeybees are familiar to many of us, solitary bees are often overlooked. In fact, 90% of the UK’s bee species are actually solitary bees, with around 250 solitary bee species, only 24 bumblebee species, and just one honeybee species. Many of them carry charmingly descriptive names, such as the hairy-footed flower bee, the bristleheaded bee and the pantaloon bee.
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Solitary bees, like many other pollinators, are believed to have declined in recent decades, due to factors including habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. But a lack of coordinated monitoring means that not much is known about the status of many species. Scientists at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) working on the EU-funded BEESPOKE project, are hoping that a new free, downloadable guide to solitary bees could help. “Solitary bees tend to be much less well known to people, or can be mistaken for wasps, hoverflies and honeybees, so have been harder to monitor. The new BEESPOKE guide, ‘Solitary Bees of the United Kingdom’, is free to download and gives detailed information and photos to help people identify different species,” said Dr Lucy Capstick, post-doctoral researcher at the GWCT’s Farmland Ecology Unit. “Solitary bees are essential for pollination – an ecosystem service that contributes around £690 million to the UK economy every year, so it is important that we monitor them better to help us understand the factors affecting them and put appropriate conservation measures in place.” 6|
Farming Monthly | May 2022
There is some hope that bees are adapting to environmental changes by processes such as range shift, where a species changes its distribution to adapt to changing climate conditions, for example moving northwards or to a higher altitude as temperatures increase. However, it is not certain that they will be able to adapt at the same rate as the climate changes. Long-term nationwide monitoring would allow scientists to see if these range shifts are occurring in solitary bee species and what effect it is having on their populations. As the name suggests, solitary bees mostly nest and work alone, with the female making her own individual nest where her eggs are laid and left to hatch and mature by themselves. Rather than having pollen baskets (corbiculae) on their legs as social bee species do, they instead have scopae. These are an array of modified hairs on the hind leg, designed for carrying pollen. They are not as highly developed as the social bees’ pollen baskets and so solitary bees lose much more pollen as they fly, indirectly dispersing pollen to a large number of flowers and pollinating them.
parsley, rely on solitary bees such as mining bees (Andrena), plasterer bees (Colletes), yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus), nomad bees (Nomada) and base-banded furrow bees (Lasioglossum), along with hoverflies and beetles, as honeybees and bumble bees are too big. Many solitary bee species can be seen foraging from early spring, with male hairy footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) being seen as early as February and the females following two to three weeks later. Some of the more common species include the red mason bee, patchwork leafcutter bee (both of which may inhabit a bee hotel in the garden), and the ashy mining bee. The new guide gives information about when each species is likely to be seen as well as their distribution and identifying features. Ruby Woollard, from the GWCT Farmland Ecology Unit, said: “Anyone who spots a solitary bee can easily upload their sighting with photos to online databases such as iNaturalist, where they can be verified by an expert, or you can submit your records directly to BWARS (Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society). The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme has also been established, which details how to carry out various pollinator surveys. “We would love to hear about your sightings, so why not tag us in your photos on Facebook @BeespokeNSR or @gamewildlifeconservationtrust.” Download ‘Solitary Bees of the United Kingdom’ from https://northsearegion.eu/ beespoke/publications-downloads/ To celebrate World Bee Day, the GWCT Shop is offering 10% off bee-related products until 25 May – just enter the discount code BEE10 at checkout. Purchases help support the GWCT’s research.
In comparison to honeybees, solitary bees are able to stay active in colder temperatures, so can be more efficient pollinators, and in some cases can pollinate plants that honeybees and bumblebees are unable to. For example, many plants in the Apiaceae family such as carrots, parsnips, or www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| News
ollowing a very dry start to 2022, baled silage can be prone to soil contamination due to dust and slurry being incorporated into bales, suggests Daniel Robinson from agricultural testing specialist Eurofins Agro UK. “If slurry is not incorporated into the soil the crop will not see the full benefit and any residues risk contaminating bales with harmful bacteria such as enterobacteriaceae. High applications followed by dry weather can also cause the fibre from the applied slurry to lift up into the crop, but this can be detected by accurate ash analysis,” says Managing Director Daniel Robinson.
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Normal ash levels in the plant should be around 6% to 8%, depending on the crop. Higher numbers indicate additional mineral content which will have occurred due to soil being incorporated into the bale. Soil can contain clostridia, spores and enterobacteria, which can be become a challenge to overcome. “A test will show contamination by providing data on Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs). Contaminated bales will be high in butyric acid and low in lactic acid, causing dry matter losses. A slower www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
fermentation in the bale will been shown in a higher than optimal pH level which will lead to the bale not storing well and losing protein,” he adds. Pre-cut dry NIR tests should be carried out to establish sugar levels and nitrate content. During the cutting and baling process, soil can be incorporated into the bale which can lead to potentially harmful bacteria being present in the forage. “A higher pH combined with spoilage and harmful organisms can result in moulds and yeasts growing, resulting in further dry matter loss, and potentially producing mycotoxins which can cause health problems in livestock and impact on productivity.” Mr Robinson suggests that a dry NIRS test provides true ash content data by
burning the sample at 550°c which can help to remove any doubt: “Some tests only estimate ash content by using NIR, but we provide a separate ash test to be more accurate. This will prevent contaminated forage from bales being fed out to milkers and means it can be either discarded or fed to other animals.” The dry NIRS process also provides data for dry matter content, pH levels, ME and 23 other parameters. “By removing the moisture in the sample, we are essentially removing the ‘fog’ that other tests cannot see through. Drying the sample leaves only the solid content which, once ground to a consistent 1mm thickness, is exposed to the infrared light to provide greater detail than any other test on the market,” explains Mr Robinson. Uniquely, Eurofins can test samples using only data generated about that forage type. “We can test against all forage types, having calibrations for 27 separate forages. This provides accurate analysis regardless of forage type, whether that be grass or maize, or a mixed whole crop like beans and barley. We benchmark each sample against datasets that only include other like for like samples. The accuracy is unparalleled,” he concludes.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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CropSaver 7 Series Application Equipment – MANUAL and AUTOMATIC OPTIONS
ropSaver is launching the new 7 Series bale management systems for all types of large square baler. The 7 Series builds on the precision and functionality of the previous 600 Series while reducing the overall capital cost of a system. The H2O precision moisture sensor and is the building block for additional 7 Series modules. Accurate measurement of moisture
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is key to understanding further improvements in the management of your baling operation. The H2O moisture sensor with its 24 years of infield experience is built for the latest generation of high density large square balers. The technology used to read moisture is market leading +/- 1% accuracy with zero calibration requirements in different crop types 8|
Farming Monthly | May 2022
or density. The twin star wheels measure by pulsing an electrical signal through the entire bale flake profile. The CropSaver team is often asked ‘why we would pay more for your moisture sensor’, the simple answer is accuracy and reliability with ease of use whether it is integrated to he baler or as a smart device standalone system. Why should a baler operator accept data that is less accurate from a rub pad or moisture probe? With the twin star wheel system, the operator can have full confidence in the data produced. In the near future a second-generation RFID bale tagging system will complement the wet bale marker that provides a simple lowcost option to highlight bales that exceed the operators defined moisture limit. Marking with a food grade colour of the high moisture bales allows the bales to be separated at the stacking point so that the number of waste or poor-quality bales are reduced. The third component is the automatic variable rate applicator which is suitable for all large square balers. The new 7 Series is approximately a 20% saving in
capital cost. CropSaver uses the balers onboard sensors such as the electronic bale length and weigh scale to monitors the balers performance, adjusting CropSaver pH 6.0 buffered acid application in real time. CropSaver pH6.0 animal safe buffered acid. This is an integral part to assist in the baling of high moisture hay and straw when the weather is fighting you all the way to the barn. We have all heard stories of straw baled too wet and turns out like cardboard or hay baled to wet and the usual comments of ‘leave it in the field for a few weeks to sweat’ or at worst self-combust. Once you exceed 16% moisture just as with grain there is varying degrees of spoilage unless using our highquality bale preservative. NEW 7 Series is the most costeffective tool to assist in your baling operation. Improving your understanding of moisture in crops and being able to manage high moisture bales with the wet bale marker or utilising the ultimate bale management applicator system. CropSaver is available from your local New Holland Dealer
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❖ Precision equipment for all balers ❖ Increase productivity ❖ Better quality bales produced ❖ Increased working weather window
Prescison Moisture Sensor
• Prescison moisture sensors • Bale management solutions • Manual & Automatic applicators Andrew: 07967 300 578 info@ pfc-eu.com
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Office: 01805 603 363 May 2022 | Farming Monthly | www.pfc-eu.com
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Whey to go! Keens Cheddar crowned Supreme Champion at the Virtual Cheese Awards 2022 n a gripping final filled with good-old fashioned cheese intrigue, Somerset-based Keens Cheddar fought off over 200 British cheeses to be crowned Supreme Champion and Best of British Cheese at the Virtual Cheese Awards 2022.
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This was the third year of the UK's only online cheese awards. The final was held on Friday 13th May 2022, unlucky for some but not for Keens Cheddar's traditional raw milk extra mature cheddar which went through three separate judging rounds to be named the top cheese of the year. Keen's Cheddar is made by James Keen and family using milk from their own herd of cows fed on the lush pasture around their Somerset farm. The clothbound cheddar is matured for at least 12 months giving it a rich creamy flavour. The Extra Mature ages for at least 20 months, that impressed the judges. Judges noted that the cheddar was a "fantastic example of a mature cheddar which ticks all the boxes. It is beautifully balanced with complex flavours. Superb job." 10 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
James Keen, head cheesemaker at Keens Cheddar said; "Winning the prestigious Supreme Champion Award at the 2022 Virtual Cheese Awards has, without a doubt, made our year! "The concept of having live virtual judging is simply a genius idea. It creates a unique opportunity for anybody to peak behind the curtain and learn the intricacies of the industry from a firstclass line up of judges who know their curds from their whey." Silver was awarded to Blackwood's Cheese Company for Edmund Tew, a washed rind raw milk soft cows cheese made with organic milk farmed on a regenerative system and Cropwell Bishop's Classic Blue Stilton was awarded bronze. The Virtual Cheese Awards was created in 2020 by Sarah de Wit to celebrate and support Britain's world-leading cheese industry. It aims to demystify cheese awards by making the judging process completely transparent and open to everyone. This unique process helps celebrate creativity and gives cheesemakers valuable feedback from some of the most influential cheese
experts in the country. The five-and a half hour LIVE final took place on Friday 13th May 2022 hosted by BBC broadcaster and local food and drink champion, Nigel Barden and was beamed online to 1000s of cheese fans who watched the cheese action unfold. Sarah de Wit, co-founder of the Virtual Cheese Awards and Cheese & Dairy consultant said: "It was such a thrilling final and it was wonderful that Keens Cheddar won Supreme Champion and Best of British cheese with its iconic extra mature cheddar. We only started the Virtual Cheese Awards as a one-off in the pandemic so it's so amazing to see how its grown in its third year. The passion, prowess and perfectionist nature of the British cheese industry was woven into every aspect of the 2022 awards and was a showcase for how our industry is the best in the world bar none". The final featured seven final cheese categories which were all judged by a panel of cheese experts who work at supermarkets, cheesemongers and in the cheese industry. The categories included Cheddar, Speciality, Artisan Hard and Soft, Territorial, Enhanced and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| News Blue cheese categories. James Keen, head cheesemaker at Keens Cheddar adds; "Our flagship mature cheddar is aged for 12 months in our cheese stores to produce a smooth creamy cheese. It carries a multitude of delightful flavours that develop into a cacophony of savoury, grassy and herby notes, and sometimes into a wonderfully surprising fruity flavour. As skilled artisans, we can spot which cheddars have the potential to become outstanding when aged for longer.
The 2022 Virtual Cheese Awards Best of British cheese prize includes:
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The panel of expert judges included Alan Kirby, cheese buyer from Booths, Russell Haggata, cheese technical manager from Morrisons and Chris Dawson, Marks & Spencer's cheese buyer. Along with cheesemongers and affineurs from Neals Yard Dairy, Rennet & Rind, Clarks Speciality Food, Paxton & Whitfield along with Emma Young, The Cheese Explorer and Ruth Holbrook from The Newt, Somerset.
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Free editorial features and digital coverage in Speciality Food magazine and Great British Food magazine worth £4,000 Opportunity to have the winning cheese showcased at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair by the VCA team worth approximately £5,000
5. a. 6. a. 7.
• "However, cheddar cheese in its cotton cloth needs care to bring out the best characteristics, and this is where the skill of the affineur comes to play. We use our five generations of experience to ensure our Keen's Extra Mature Cheddar maintains the smooth texture and the flavours grow to an almost-lost-forever traditional cheddar experience. Lingering for a long while on the tongue but lasting forever in the memory."
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A Level 1 Academy of Cheese courses and a year's subscription worth over £200
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Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire Best Artisan Hard sponsored by Neals Yard Dairy Lynher Dairies, Traditional Cornish Yarg Best Cheddar sponsored by Harvey & Brockless Keens Cheddar, Traditional Raw Milk Extra Mature Cheddar Best Blue sponsored by The Cheeseman & The Cheese Hut Cropwell Bishop, Classic Blue Stilton Best Artisan Soft sponsored by Neals Yard Dairy Tenacres Cheese, Hebden Goat
Regional awards: •
A pair of return Eurostar ticket
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Potential opportunity to be listed in Booths – subject to accrediations.
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The winners of Best of British cheese across the final seven categories were; 1. a.
Best Enhanced Hartington Creamery, Peakland White with Chocolate and Chilli
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Best Speciality sponsored by Speciality & Fine Food Fair Blackwoods Cheese Company, Edmond Tew Best Territorial sponsored by Booths Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire, Mrs
a. 3. a.
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Best Regional cheese of Northern Ireland sponsored by Invest NI Triple Rose made by Ballylisk of Armagh Best Regional cheese of Wales sponsored by Food and Drink Wales Heritage Teifi made by Teifi Cheese Best Regional Cheese of England sponsored by the Cheese Merchant Keens Cheddar, Traditional Raw Milk Extra Mature Cheddar Best Regional Cheese of Scotland Connage Aged Gouda made by Connage Highland Dairy
Recognising Excellence Awards Cheese Hero
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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FORFARMERS CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR TEAM ACROSS THE SOUTH WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW FORAGE TECHNICAL SPECIALIST
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orFarmers have appointed Alan Lockhart as Forage Technical Specialist to help provide technical support to new and existing customers across the South of England.
Alan has a wealth of experience and has been working in the livestock sector for over 20 years. This has included spells working abroad as an agronomist in both Canada and Saudi Arabia, where Alan helped large dairy companies grow high quality forages for their dairy herds.
can be achieved within budgets and will produce visible, positive results in their fields, forage clamps and milk or meat sales. This is exactly the approach that ForFarmers take and why I wanted to work for them. "ForFarmers offers a 'one-stop-shop' service, and I like the fact that I can support customers with my own expertise and knowledge, but also draw on a whole host of specialists, as and when required. At the end of the day, it's about delivering the best service and outcome for the customer." Alan is FACTS (Fertiliser Adviser Certification and Training Scheme) and BASIS qualified, with a keen personal and professional interest in alternative forages, crop protection and agronomy. A passion for agronomy runs in Alan's family, and his great uncle, Jim Lockhart, helped write the original Lockhart and Wiseman's Crop Husbandry textbook that is still in circulation today. "I hope that my knowledge and past experiences can benefit existing ForFarmers clients, but I am also hoping to extend this support to new customers, in the South of the country," concludes Alan. "The livestock sector is facing many challenges and my hope is that by supporting the production of better homegrown forages, we can help alleviate some of the pressures being felt on farms, now and into the future."
"I am really looking forward to supporting customers who want to refine their forage production systems, utilise the best forage varieties, improve soil health and increase crop yields," explains Alan. "It's all about helping farmers become more efficient and produce as much high-quality forage as they can, on their own farms. Given the current economic climate that farmers are operating in, this focus on improved efficiency is very important." Alan will help support customers in the South of England, stretching from Dorset to Reading, and including the Isle of Wight and Channel Islands. "I have always felt that if farmers can produce good volumes of high-quality forage, it makes their life so much easier," continues Alan. "Rationing is much more straightforward, and livestock health is often improved, as well as overall animal performance. "It all starts with the soil and building a rotational forage production system around this precious resource. While predicting the volatility of markets can be likened to looking into a crystal ball, farmers must control what is within the direct influence. Good land management 12 |
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Compassion in World Farming urges UK Government to address the food crisis his week, leading farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming wrote to the Prime Minister and to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister, Rt Hon George Eustice MP, urging the Government to take urgent action to address the devastating impact of rising food prices and escalating food insecurity issues.
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The letter stresses that once the current crisis in which some people are going hungry is resolved, the Government must take far reaching measures to help people move away from unhealthy diets generated by the junk food crisis.
incomes to eat better and so improve their health.
show that 54% of UK cereals are used to feed farm animals.
It stresses the need to increase the quality of public food available to consumers – for example in schools and hospitals – to help create a shift towards nutritious food which is produced to higher animal welfare and environmental standards. This can be done without raising costs. An important component of tackling increasing poor dietary health is a reduction in the consumption of red and processed meat as high consumption levels of such meat can contribute to heart disease, obesity, diabetes and certain cancers.
Lower meat and dairy consumption would reduce the volume of cereals needed as animal feed. It would also free up large amounts of land currently used to grow cereals for feed; this would enable the UK to switch to regenerative forms of farming which use only minimal amounts of costly fertilisers. Reducing the use of cereals as feed and minimising fertiliser use is vital in light of the surging price of wheat, maize and fertilisers.
Peter Stevenson OBE, Chief Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming says: "We have a food system that does the opposite of what it is meant to do: it makes us unhealthy. Poor diet is now a major cause of disease and mortality in the UK".
Support is also needed for business models that link farmers much more directly to consumers, particularly those in the poorest areas, allowing consumers to buy fresh, local, humanely produced food at lower prices and farmers to receive a greater share of the income generated by their produce.
In the UK, the poorer people are, the worse their diet, and the more dietrelated diseases they suffer from. Compassion's letter sets out a range of measures that would help those on low
Just as consumers are under pressure from rising food prices, farmers are facing soaring prices for fertilisers and cereals used as animal feed. Calculations based on Defra figures
Peter Stevenson OBE continues: "The Government must act urgently to address the current food crisis affecting people on low incomes so severely, as well as working to help people shift to healthy diets in the longer term. We need to create a sustainable food system that benefits people, animals, and the planet and is less dependent on grain and fertiliser imports and oriented to a healthier diet with reduced meat and more plant-based British production." To find out more about Compassion in World Farming's campaigns visit: www.ciwf.org.uk/our-campaigns
Don’t waste the transition period, warns CAAV
ext year will see farmers filling out their last ever Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application forms. And with Basic Payments already reducing, it’s vital that they use the transition to a no-subsidy era to their best advantage.
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According to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), farmers are facing huge pressures right now, with extreme market volatility, environmental demands, soaring input costs and declining subsidies. “We’re looking at a monumental time of farming change: It’s a generation’s transformation in a decade,” says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV. BPS will be both halved and delinked in 2024 and the new environmental schemes are not intended to replace that income for most farmers, requiring them to look to improve their businesses. With BPS declining, fluctuating yields and commodity prices will have a greater impact on farm incomes. “In 2022, the average farm will take 85% of its income from trade and 15% from subsidy,” says Mr Moody. For an arable farmer selling 3.5t/acre of wheat at £250/t, a 10% shift www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
in yield or price is equal to 117% of their 2022 Basic Payment. “It’s therefore really important to focus on the business.” Given the massive range in performance between the top and bottom quartile of producers in any sector, there are clearly gains to be made, he adds. “Good businesses will be prepared and will carry on getting better. Others will find themselves in 2028 wondering where their BPS cheque is. We fought to have the transition period and it’s time not to be wasted.”
Preparations will include investing in farm infrastructure, focusing on efficiencies or diversification, examining the business structure and succession planning. “The right people on the right land will seize the opportunities.” In future, land use will be far more varied, with 60% of food output by value coming from 30% of the land, says Mr Moody. As farm types become more varied so they might fall into five categories: Producing food under cover, efficient commodity
production, added value, more extensive production with other income streams including from environmental services and direct environmental land management. Grant schemes and environmental payments will help people to adapt, but ultimately the direction of travel will be decided by individual business owners, he added. “Given the pace and magnitude of the changes facing farming, it will be vital to seek expert advice. There’s going to be huge demand for rural land management advice; as trusted advisers we have a fundamental and critical role in helping businesses through this.” For more information visit www.caav.org.uk.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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Sleepwalking into a global food security challenge new report issued by Kite Consulting suggests that we are sleepwalking into a global food security challenge, which could counter the efforts of western economies to lead on climate change mitigation if policymakers don't take heed.
change in the West risk reducing food production at a time when the conflict in Ukraine has put global food security into sharp relief, particularly for vulnerable countries that are reliant on food imports. This risks social unrest in these countries, which will make addressing climate change harder, Kite argues.
Kite Consulting has today issued a report entitled Project Apollo – Looking at the dangers of restricting dairy output in a world short of food which focuses on how sustainability and food security can be delivered together.
Commenting on the report, John Allen, Managing Partner at Kite Consulting, said:
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The report provides a detailed outline of the strong global demand for dairy and the increasing restrictions on dairy supply because of environmental mitigation measures across dairy exporting nations. Kite estimates suggest that this will result in around 30bn kg/year of unsatisfied dairy demand in dairy importing countries by 2030 – equivalent to roughly twice the entire UK dairy industry's current annual output. Furthermore, initiatives to combat climate
"Of course, every country needs to act on climate change. Yet we face a paradox. Commendable and much-needed initiatives to minimise climate change in Western economies are putting additional pressure on global food security which will, in turn, reduce the legitimacy of governments in vulnerable countries and make addressing climate change harder. "This situation must be avoided. Dairy has a key role to play in global nutrition and when looked at on a nutrient-density basis, our analysis highlights that dairy yields nearly 4 times as much nutrition as
plant-based alternatives per unit of CO2 emissions even when measured using GWP100, and this increases to 8 times when using the increasingly accepted GWP* method. Policymakers must start to look at dairy and all other foods on a nutrients/kg carbon equivalent emissions basis, rather than by kg carbon emissions/kg of food product. We need a policy framework in dairy exporting nations, including the UK, that allows UK farmers to deliver decarbonisation whilst at least maintaining and, ideally, increasing, dairy production to meet global demand and avoid food security issues across the globe. "This requires a much more joined up approach to food security, agricultural policy and climate mitigation than we've seen to date. But the risks of failure are significant – both on climate change and economically. The question is whether policymakers are open to taking a broader view on these issues and if they'll respond effectively in time. If not, we are sleepwalking into a food security and climate disaster."
Soil Association response to the Queen's Speech What No Food Bill? oil Association Head of food policy Rob Percival said: "The absence of a Food Bill in the Queen's Speech is deeply disappointing. The government's response to the National Food Strategy is now long overdue, and a Food Bill would represent the best vehicle for delivering its recommendations. We desperately need to overhaul our food system to build resilience in the face of climate and geopolitical turmoil, and spark a shift to nature-friendly, agroecological farming that supports healthy and sustainable diets. We fear a half-hearted and disjointed response to the National Food Strategy represents a missed opportunity.
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"The climate and nature crises are escalating, but the legislative agenda laid out in this Queen's Speech suggests our government is more interested in 14 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
stamping out legitimate protests, forcing through environmentally questionable trade deals, and deregulating unpopular geneediting technologies, than the important task of reforming our broken food system. As recently highlighted by the IPCC, we cannot reverse the climate and nature crises without significant changes to how we eat, which will also improve the nation's health – government must face up to the scale of the challenge and take bold action now. "With many families struggling to put food on the plate, the absence of a bill to make good food available to all is nothing
less than negligent. Of utmost importance is that every child is provided with at least one healthy and sustainable meal each day, with schools and caterers empowered to deliver this. It's essential that the White Paper, when it's eventually published, commits to the wider implementation of a whole school approach, mandatory accreditation, and universal compliance with school food standards, building on the example set by Food for Life – as called for by the National Food Strategy." www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
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Springboard for Rural Skills arrives at just the right time for Ringlink Services L
ast year, with support from the National Transition Training Fund, Lantra Scotland ran the Springboard for Rural Skills project to meet the need for a more diverse network of training instructors, with activities ranging from instructional techniques training to mentoring and formal skills assessments.
As well as diversifying the network, this innovative scheme also helped to address instructor network succession planning. It has helped several small rural businesses to diversify and become more resilient, as well as helping to reskill redundant workers during the Covid pandemic, with many people seeking opportunities for a career change. As Scotland’s transition to a ‘greener’ economy through sustainable land management gathers pace, a renewed interest in careers in the rural sector has reached new highs, placing increasing demand on training providers. Springboard for Rural Skills: Growing Together follows on from last year’s project, providing an opportunity to build on its success. For Ringlink Services, a provider of labour and training solutions to the agriculture, horticulture and construction industries, Growing Together has come at just the right time. Peter Wood, Ringlink Services Training Manager said: “We are looking to expand our offering by developing a new training centre where we can offer a range of courses on site for our clients. Currently we do most of our training at the client’s place of work, so this centre now allows us to take some of the training back in-house, providing a purpose-built facility ensuring a wellequipped and safe environment to maximise students learning potential. The Springboard has funded instructor training and development for up to 20 freelance instructors which will be critical in the delivery of our new in-house service. Having access to a larger pool of instructors will not only enable us to expand, but it will also satisfy our clients increasing training needs The funding has also come at just the right time - demand for training has increased recently due to the Covid related backlog, with a lot of training having been put on hold. Covid related www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
redundancies has also meant there are more people out of work looking to reskill in new areas. The Springboard has provided an opportunity to grow at a time when demand is at its highest.” One of the beneficiaries of Springboard for Rural Skills is Eddie Bruce, one of 20 freelance instructors regularly delivering training for Ringlink. Eddie will deliver training at the new centre and is the first instructor that the organisation has employed full time. Traditionally instructors are sub-contracted through the network or via other training providers. Eddie underwent the
instructional techniques course funded by the scheme, as well as skills-based training including health and safety, forklift, tractor and ATV training. Eddie said: “I’ve spoken with Ringlink in the past about becoming an instructor but finally got my chance when funding through the Springboard became available. I was still working offshore at the time on a six-week rotation split between offshore and home. I started doing my instructor courses while at home and I’ve never looked back. Becoming an instructor was an easy choice for me - I already had quite a bit of instructor experience while working on the rigs, helping people operate machinery. It gave me a real sense of pride seeing these trainees progress under my instruction. Since I started with Ringlink Services, I’ve completed several courses through both Lantra and NPORS including instructional techniques training, Health and Safety, First Aid and instructor courses for counterbalance and rough terrain forklifts, front tipping dumper trucks, tractors and ATVs. I’ve also just passed a 360-excavator course as a trainee and, after gaining a bit of
experience, I’ll do my assessors course on the 360.
I’ve also had a lot of support from John Eccles who Lantra has provided as a mentor through my training. He’s been a great source of support throughout the instructor program. I’ve been teaching under various guises for many years, but now I’m able to get formal training as a qualified instructor, which opens a lot of doors for me. Looking ahead, I’d like to add more machinery categories to my teaching portfolio, across different industries such as agriculture, construction and the oil industry. Ringlink and the Springboard have given me the platform to succeed in a wider range of industries.” Peter concluded: “We have seen first-hand how the Springboard has not only grown the instructor network, but also, where key geographic skills gaps have been identified, the springboard has served to upskill the current crop of instructors, which provides more opportunities for the instructor and our clients. In the past funding has been made available through various schemes, but it is not always used effectively – with the Springboard we are seeing tangible benefit at a time when it is most needed. We now have more instructors on the ground for all providers which gets the job done for businesses and allows them to work safely and effectively. The instructor network is also aging, and we are expecting an exodus of the older trainers in the coming years, so this scheme has helped introduce new recruits, ensuring the necessary succession required. We are also seeing more health and safety legislation coming through, which will further increase demand. Following lockdown, we are now looking to expand our services through the new training centre as well as seek new opportunities. A couple of areas we are looking at is the introduction of simulators to complement our existing training courses, as well as offering training to a wider range of clients and services, such as new roads and street works for the local councils and utilities sector. The future looks much brighter now, as we begin to move in the right direction.” May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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It's never too late to open your farm gates ith just over three weeks to go to LEAF Open Farm Sunday, the organisers are calling on farmers to welcome the public on to their farm this June to get the nation talking about British farming. "There's still plenty of time to organise an event on your farm this June," said Manager of LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Annabel Shackleton. "There is no denying the extraordinary positive impact that speaking to the public about farming, actually on a farm can have." "One farmer recently hosted a group of vegans, who bought cuts of beef from the farm shop before they left that afternoon! They said they were following a vegan diet for environmental reasons but having spent time on the farm and learning more about it, had a much greater understanding which had made them think differently."
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Much of UK food production aligns with today's consumers' values, particularly from an environmental and welfare perspective, says Mrs Shackleton. This is why she is encouraging farmers to cast aside any hesitation and make 2022 the year that they 'dip a toe' in to hosting the public on their farm this June, to illustrate the positive stories that influence the public's conversations with their friends and ultimately all their buying decisions. Since it started in 2006, LEAF Open Farm Sunday has enthused millions of people across the country about farming in the UK. This has become increasingly important with the sometimes negative or geographically misplaced portrayal of farming in the media, the rise of flexitarianism and veganism, and a greater consumer conscience for buying sustainably. "Each event is different to suit the host farmer, grower or crofter, but what is common to all is that it gives the public a real insight into UK farming. The latest event registration is for an invitation only farm tour in Cumbria for local councillors and their families, using an online ticketing service to manage numbers." Jean Glennie, who grows Christmas
trees on their 700-acre arable farm in Scotland, hosted their first LOFS event last year and is registered again for this June. She said: "We often spoke about getting involved in LEAF Open Farm Sunday but always talked ourselves out of it. We were worried about being unprepared for members of the public coming on to the farm and thinking that there will be nothing of interest to show, but in 2021 we took the leap and signed up. It showed us that what is "everyday" to us, is new and fascinating to them. It has not only allowed us to give back to the community, welcoming them onto our farm for a fun, free family day out, but it has given us the opportunity to tell the Christmas tree story. Christmas trees are a unique crop, requiring specialist care 12 months of the year, something they may never think much about." Herefordshire arable farmer, Ally Hunter Blair, also had his concerns but says that the times that he hosted "were the two best days I've ever had on my farm": "I spent a lot of time worrying about what we were going to do, if people would come and what they would ask. My top tip for anyone considering taking part this year is to stop thinking about it and just do it".
"I guarantee it will be the best day that you'll have on your farm. Everyone knows my social media handle - if I am wrong, come and find me! Children just have the most amazing questions, you can't help but think 'wow, you're so clever, I wouldn't even think of that'. "Don't put yourself out of your comfort zone because that's when you get stressed, and then you won't enjoy it there's so much you can do, simply. I'd recommend doing what you want to do and start small if it's your first event." Any farm can take part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday, on any date in June. You don't need to be a member of LEAF. The LOFS team are on hand to help you plan and prepare your event. A FREE only ticketing service is available to help manage your visitor numbers, plus a useful handbook that provides step-by-step guidance for your event and information on practicalities such as handwashing and signage. LEAF can also put you in touch with a past LEAF Open Farm Sunday host to find out more and inspire ideas. Register today at www.farmsunday.org for your free listing and event handbook. Make it simple: • • • • •
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Use the LOFS TryBooking simple, free online ticketing service to manage numbers Keep it small – invite a local group you know, the local rugby club or Brownies and their families Centre it around a small part of the farm Fill your boots with LEAF resources for simple, fun activities and posters about farming Relax and enjoy the day - you know it all and visitors are there because they want to know it all too!
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LEAF MARQUE FARMERS TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS BY DRIVING IMPROVEMENTS IN MORE SUSTAINABLE FARMING eading global sustainable farming organisation, LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has today released its tenth annual Global Impacts Report, showing the role LEAF Marque certified businesses are playing in delivering more sustainable, climate positive global farming and food systems.
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877 LEAF Marque certified businesses in 19 countries worldwide representing 310,537 ha of combinable crops, fruit and vegetables, flowers, and ornamentals Almost half (48%) of the UK’s fruit and vegetables are grown sustainably on LEAF Marque certified businesses - including 95% celery, 91% lettuce, 85% asparagus, parsnips, and leeks 75% of LEAF Marque farms have one or more types of renewable energy generation and 44% use a carbon footprint tool 73% of LEAF Marque businesses have a general policy to increase soil organic matter with 46% recording soil organic matter and 50% optimising carbon capture and sequestration Almost half (49%) of LEAF Marque certified businesses carry out all eight aspects of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) best practice LEAF Marque farms have an average habitat area of 15% and are working to enrich diversity in our habitats and species through in-field trees, maintaining and creating ponds and habitat banks 87% of LEAF Marque certified businesses hosted a total of 2, 981 on and off farm events engaging 22, 156 visitors with more sustainable farming.
LEAF Marque certification offers a coherent framework to achieve more www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
regenerative outcomes at farm level. For more than 30 years, LEAF has been developing and promoting Integrated Farm Management (IFM), driving continual improvement, by an interlinked, site specific, whole farm approach. Underpinned by the sustainable farming principles of IFM, LEAF Marque certified farmers are cutting emissions, increasing carbon sequestration, enhancing water and soil quality and health, turning to more renewable sources of energy, enhancing biodiversity, and connecting people with more sustainable farming. Launching the report, Tom Green, LEAF Marque Chairman, said: “LEAF recognises that the climate and ecosystem emergency is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and with the UK government committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% and global targets set by the UN at net zero carbon emissions by 2050, agriculture is under an intense spotlight. Globally, farmers are increasingly adopting more sustainable, regenerative, and circular farming practices to protect and enhance depleted natural resources and ecosystems. LEAF Marque certification helps provide the leadership, advice and tools for farmers and growers to improve the sustainability of their operations and how this can be evidenced in a robust and independent way for consumers and brands. The growing reach and awareness of LEAF Marque both here in the UK and worldwide, is supporting the advancement of real and lasting change in food production. I want to thank our many supply chain partners and LEAF Marque growers and congratulate them all for what they are achieving. It is their commitment and leadership that enables us together, to continue to ‘raise the bar’ for the good of our planet and future generations.”
The report comes as LEAF continues to mobilise its new 10-year strategy. LEAF Marque certification forms a cornerstone of the organisations ambitions to drive change at a grassroots level by developing and demonstrating regenerative, agro-ecological farming approaches, environmental enrichment and leadership in education and engaging society - in the UK and across the globe. LEAF Chief Executive, Caroline Drummond, MBE, concluded: “We are extremely proud of what our growers continue to achieve. The impacts outlined in this report clearly show the positive improvements being made to the health of our soils and water sources, to biodiversity and landscape features, to driving the uptake of more renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and to more sustainable and circular livestock management systems. LEAF Marque is farmer led. By working with farmers to reward and incentivise change, and with retailers and consumers to ensure a market for environmentally sustainable food, we are uniquely placed to link landscape health with people’s lives and plates. I thank and congratulate all our growers.”
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GLEBE FARM: HOME TO THE UK’S MOST SUSTAINABLE OAT DRINK
Oat milk is one of the most popular dairy-free alternatives in the UK but do people know how far it’s had to travel for their perfect flat white?
at milk has quickly become the nation’s milk-alternative drink of choice, with one in three Brits knocking back the creamy milk on a regular basis. And being dairy-free, those who drink it probably think they’re doing something good for the planet by not consuming animal products. But do they know how far that oat milk they love so much has travelled to get to them?
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Based in Cambridge, family run oat milk producer Glebe Farm is proud to be the most sustainable oat milk in the UK. Having already announced best-in-class carbon emission figures in 2021 for their UK produced Oat milk, Glebe Farm continues to champion sustainable farming and rock-bottom food miles over 85% of oat milk is imported into the 18 |
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| News the plant. This helps keep their carbon footprint as low as possible. And at only 0.29kg CO2 per litre it is lower than any other oat milk reporting figures in the UK.
UK by market leaders. Glebe Farm is home to Britain’s first ever production plant for making oat milk from scratch. All their oats are sourced locally - within 40 miles - and then milled and ‘milked’ on the farm, so they know exactly where their oats have come from and what goes into each carton. They power production sustainably too, using solar panels and recycled biomass from the farm to provide renewable energy to power
Glebe Farm’s solar panels generate enough energy to power 60 homes, and the biomass generators save 1000 tonnes of CO2 per year - enough to power 250 homes. Using biomass steam, their entire oat milling process can be completed without using any fossil fuel steam. Sustainability and the environment are at the heart of our family business, which doesn’t stop at the oat milk. Their control over the oat supply means they can make use of by-products such
as the inedible oat chaff for powering production facilities, meaning less waste and greater efficiency. On the rest of the 1,200 acre farm, Glebe Farm provides a safe habitat for British wildlife, with bee bricks and hives, wildflower meadows, owl boxes, reforested woodland, and an external reed bed and reservoir to save and clean water - to name a few. What’s more, Glebe Farm supports both community and international donation projects, donating to local food banks and animal sanctuaries as well as the Ukraine food for refugees appeal.
COMMUNITIES RECEIVE £420,000 LEVELLING UP BOOST FOR ARTS CLUB AND CITY FARM wo projects in the South West are among the latest confirmed to receive funding from the government’s £150 million Community Ownership Fund.
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These grants will help community groups take control of treasured venues in their area that are at risk of being lost for ever, transforming them into vibrant hubs for the benefit of local people. This is all part of the government’s drive to level up local communities across the country, create more jobs for local people, boost local businesses and build up local economies as a result. A community in South Somerset will receive £120,000 to take ownership of an historic church and transform it into an arts centre to be used as a social space for musical events and rooms for teaching. Funding will allow the church to re-open, welcoming back the local playgroup and community band, providing entertainment for the whole community and offering music programmes to budding local artists.
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In Bristol, funding will regenerate a 30acre community farm, unlocking jobs and educational training and creating more opportunities for local people. Hartcliffe City Farm offer community-run projects which aim to support physical and mental wellbeing and creative arts for local people. The farm aims to address the climate and biodiversity crisis in Bristol, by bringing people together to tackle the issue. Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP said: “From taking ownership of a church in South Somerset to restoring a city farm in the centre of Bristol, the Community Ownership Fund enables local people to take ownership of projects that benefit their communities for future growth. “Projects like these demonstrate our commitment to helping empower local people, restore their pride in the places they live and level up communities across the region.” The fund is already helping communities across the South West seize ownership of prized local assets that are at risk, including Silks on the Down community
pub in Wiltshire and the Newton St Martins pub in Cornwall. Funding will support a range of vibrant and exciting projects, helping communities across England and Northern Ireland to take ownership of local assets. Projects confirmed today include: • A community in Yorkshire taking ownership of the Countryman’s Inn pub • One of London’s oldest pubs, the Old Red Lion in Islington which will relaunch its theatre pub venue • The Oxford Arms pub in Herefordshire which will be transformed into a vibrant community hub, • A boxing and development centre in Oldham, which aims to support young people and families, • Pugin's heritage building will be restored into a vibrant community centre for local people to enjoy stunning views which dining by the marina. • In Northern Ireland the regeneration of St Columb’s Hall creating a community centre in the heart of Derry-Londonderry.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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Bean crops under disease pressure B ean growers are being warned that downy mildew is highly prevalent in crops this season. The disease is even hitting winter bean plants at levels that would warrant treatment, according to the PGRO Infection has been triggered by recent weather events - exacerbated by cool, overcast conditions and recent rains. High humidity and low seasonal temperatures could now encourage outbreaks of secondary infection on leaves, with more serious yield effects. PGRO R&D Manager, Becky Howard, reported: “Although it is generally spring beans that suffer more damage from downy mildew, winter beans have been displaying high levels of infection that may warrant treatment. “Where plants are already showing signs of infection, growers should be looking to prevent spread onto new growth,” she advised. An EAMU is available for the fungicide SL567A, containing the highly systemic metalaxyl-M to control infection in emerging leaves. PGRO also warns downy mildew is also creating a threat to establishing pea crops. For vining pea crops Revus is approved for control of the disease, however no foliar fungicides are available for use in the combing pea crop. Syngenta Technical Manager, Andy Cunningham, pointed out 20 |
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that continued cool, wet conditions would also be conducive to chocolate spot developing in beans as the season progresses. “If the weather turns hotter and drier that would be good to reduce pressure from downy mildew and chocolate spot,” he advised. “However, it would mean that rust is more likely to occur, with early infections the most damaging in terms of
yield effects.” This season bean growers have the new option to use Elatus Era in beans, which has proven highly effective in the programme to control both chocolate spot and rust – whatever the weather conditions.
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Contact your nearest dealer: Agratech NW Ltd Unit 8 Dale Mill Burnley Road East Lancashire BB4 9HU 01706 211399 www.agratech.co.uk
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High fertiliser costs create double need for top-level wheat disease management igh prices for fertiliser and grain are putting extra pressure on farmers not to let wheat yields slip through their fingers over the rest of this season, says Nigel Scott, regional technical manager for agronomy firm, ProCam.
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In particular, he says strong yields will be needed not only to maintain decent crop margins over prices paid for fertiliser this season, but also to generate enough income from this year’s crops to cover potentially high fertiliser costs next year. “Cereal growers are dealing with some big numbers at present,” says Mr Scott, “both in potential income from cereal crops but also in high fertiliser bills. This leaves little margin for error. If yields slip, lower incomes could mean less cash in the business for fertiliser next season – when fertiliser prices are expected to remain high.” With flag leaves in winter wheat contributing about half of overall yield, Mr Scott says close attention to detail to defend crops against disease for the rest of the season will be crucial. “Tailor fungicides to individual field risks rather than relying on blanket programmes,” he says. Pointing to trial results from ProCam’s research hub at the Stockbridge Technology Centre in Yorkshire, which underline the case for tailored fungicide programmes, Mr Scott highlights three pitfalls that could catch growers out this year if not prepared.
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1. Variety resistance changes History has shown how winter wheat variety resistance ratings to yellow rust can tumble over a year, says Mr Scott. But Septoria tritici resistance ratings for a number of varieties on the AHDB Recommended List (RL) have also fallen since last season, he says, and in many cases these reductions occurred after decisions to grow these varieties had already been made. “For up-to-date information, look at the one-year Septoria tritici resistance ratings for your varieties on the RL, rather than using their three-year ratings,” Mr Scott urges. “Even then, take into account other disease risk factors.” 2. Drilling date effects With winter wheat drilled over a wide window from September to February this season, do not overlook the unexpected effects that drilling date can have on disease risk, says Mr Scott. “We know early drilling significantly increases Septoria tritici risk. But work at our Yorkshire trials hub has shown that even a variety with strong Septoria tritici resistance can suffer infection if drilled in September. Latest results from 2021 showed the treated yield from this variety was 1 t/ha lower if drilled in September compared with October. This underlines the need to take drilling date seriously. For crops drilled before late October, you could consider their Septoria tritici resistance as being one or more points lower than their RL rating,” he adds.
With yellow rust, Mr Scott says it is laterdrilled crops that can be more susceptible, and although spring frosts reduced yellow rust earlier this season, it can rapidly bounce back. 3. Fungicide timing and dose Accurate fungicide spray timings are essential to protect yield against disease, says Mr Scott. And as tempting as it may be to save money by reducing fungicide doses if you have already spent a lot on fertiliser, dose rate has a massive impact on the duration of protection from a fungicide and on the level of curative activity it provides against infection, he stresses. “If you’re late applying fungicides, it’s important to keep doses up because you need that curative activity to counter any infection build-up. On the other hand, if you’re on-time or early applying a fungicide, a suitably robust dose is needed because you need a longer period of control. This is something we saw last season when Septoria tritici didn’t strike until late in the season and inferior programmes left crops exposed. “Clearly, you need to stay within maximum doses permitted on fungicide labels. But if yields slip through inadequate protection, it will be more difficult to cover high fertiliser costs.”
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APRIL RAINFALL AND RISING FERTILISER PRICES BOOST FOR ALGIFOL O ne of the driest Aprils on record and the rapid rise of fertiliser prices have contributed to a surge in sales for one biostimulant brand.
Marcus Palmer, the UK distributor of Algifol, says sales rose by 20% year on year in April.
month, which saw just 48.9mm of rainfall.
Mr Palmer says the orders were placed by both large chemical companies as well as smaller growers and farms, with many saying that the low rainfall, the desire to cut input costs, and a stronger commitment to natural products was powering their purchases.
Nitrogen and the effect that biostimulants have on crops," says Mr Palmer. "Incorporating biostimulants, such as Algifol, into their plans saves farmers money and increases their crops' resistance to heat stress. I have used Algifol for several years now and have seen its effect first-hand.
"Over the last year, we have seen a sharp increase in enquiries, with many farmers wanting to try Algifol on small areas. I think as we are now getting larger repeat orders from these customers that they're happy with the results they've seen and, with the rising input costs, are looking at biostimulants as a way of reducing their fertiliser use while still giving the crop the best chance possible." As a result of the boom in April sales, Marcus is predicting continued interest in Algifol and has ordered an increased amount of the biostimulant from manufacturers NeoMed-Pharma in Germany. "I think we will see continued interest in Algifol throughout this year and have taken the opportunity to increase our stock. Like everything at the moment, supply chains are being disrupted, and so if farmers want to apply Algifol as a trial or on all of their crops, then I'd encourage them to place their orders as soon as possible." Marcus has distributed Algifol in the UK by Marcus since 2005. During that time, he and his customers have applied it to a wide range of crops, including combining peas, potatoes and other vegetables as well as sugar beet, oilseed rape and cereals. Algifol is a concentrated brown algae gathered from the North Atlantic, dried and refined to maximise its wealth of trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones. NeoMed-Pharma recommends four applications of one litre of Algifol diluted at a ratio of up to 1:1,000, which can be applied by knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers or planes.
More than 2,400 litres of the seaweedbased biostimulants were sold in the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
"There has been significant media coverage of both the rising cost of
For more information about Algifol or to place an order, visit www.mjpsupplies.co.uk, email marcus@mjpsupplies.co.uk or call 07702 293 727. May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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NEW KRONE BALECOLLECT FEATURE IMPROVES BALE HANDLING
he new GPS auto feature on the Krone BaleCollect bale accumulator makes bale handling easier and more convenient, by allowing bales to be deposited automatically at right angles along pre-set virtual lines.
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Depositing bales in this way ensures efficient bale collecting, less field traffic and operator hassle. In the past, operators had to trigger the unloading function manually, which meant that not all bales were deposited along straight lines. The GPS-controlled auto depositing feature is designed with contractors and
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large scale farmers in mind, because it saves time and costs for bale transport by reducing fuel consumption, the number of tractor hours and working hours.
compaction issues, better field management and higher yields.
Another important benefit of this feature is increased work safety in awkward places and on the headland. Also, bales are no longer overlooked and accidentally left in the field. Field traffic can be significantly reduced too, leading to lower soil
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New agronomy and marketing support at ADAMA UK DAMA Agricultural Solutions UK Ltd. has extended its UK crop protection team with the appointment of a supporting regional agronomy manager and new marketing assistant.
cultivating relationships and lines of communication with key distributors and independent agronomists.
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Eloise Seaman joins ADAMA as the UK team’s marketing assistant. From a farming family in North Norfolk, Eloise graduated from Harper Adams University in May 2021 with a degree in Food Manufacture with Marketing. As part of her degree Eloise completed a year in industry working for Keeling’s International as the company’s technical undergraduate.
Matt Welton joins the ADAMA team in the new role of Supporting Regional Agronomy Manager. Matt is a University of Bath biology graduate (2020) with a dissertation specialising in the fusarium wilt pathogen of wheat. As part of his degree Matt worked within the Agricultural Solutions division of BASF on a 12-month work placement where he assisted a team of agronomists in a full season of herbicide and fungicide trials. Following his graduation, Matt joined the Management Development Services (MDS) Ltd. food and fresh produce graduate scheme: he initially spent six months with Syngenta in Basel, Switzerland, as a global marketing trainee in the company’s biologicals department before returning to the UK as a buying assistant for Iceland Foods. He has subsequently joined ADAMA for an initial 12-month period as a supporting regional agronomy
Following her graduation, Eloise joined the Management Development Service (MDS) Ltd. graduate scheme: her first secondment was with Riverford Organic where she developed a quality assurance role. She has subsequently joined ADAMA for an initial 12-month period as the company’s marketing assistant.
manager, a role in which he will assist ADAMA’s team of regional agronomy managers to maximise the uptake of the company’s crop protection products by
“We’re delighted to be partnering with MDS and welcome Matt and Eloise to our UK team,” explains ADAMA UK’s Go To Market Director, Ali Bosher. “We look forward to helping them further their careers over the next 12-months and I’m sure they will both become valued resources as we continue to enhance our crop protection offering to our trade and distribution partners.”
New marketing and technical manager appointed DAMA Agricultural Solutions UK Ltd. has appointed David Roberts to the newly created position of marketing and technical manager for the company’s molluscicide, sugar beet, oilseed rape and plant growth regulator portfolios. David has worked for ADAMA since 2016 when he was appointed as the company’s technical specialist for herbicides in the UK. He subsequently joined ADAMA’s European team as Product Strategy Manager for cereal herbicides and PGRs (plant growth regulators).
back to ADAMA’s UK marketing and technical team,” explains Go To Market Director, Alison Bosher. “David was an instrumental part of the UK team when he originally joined the company six years ago and has been similarly invaluable in his recent European role.
David spent the early part of his career working as an agronomist and regional technical manager before joining SumiAgro in a technical support and training capacity. He subsequently worked as a senior R&D agronomist for Dow AgroSciences and has a total of 35 years’ experience in the agricultural sector. He is BASIS, FACTS and PPA qualified and is a member of the BASIS Professional Register.*
“David’s appointment comes at a crucial stage in the development and expansion of our molluscicide, PGR and sugar beet and oilseed rape specific crop protection portfolios in the UK and I know his technical expertise and proven marketing experience will be a great asset to our own regulatory, agronomy and commercial teams and to their counterparts within each of
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“We are delighted to welcome David www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
ADAMA’s key customer accounts.” *BASIS: British Agrochemicals Standards Inspection Scheme *FACTS - Fertiliser Advisors Certification and Training Scheme *PPA - Plant Protection Award May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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Organic farming on the rise in the UK growing number of farmers are converting to organic as nature-friendly farming increasingly meets consumer demand and offers resilience, according to Soil Association Certification.
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Data released by Defra today (Thursday 12 May) has revealed that land going through the two-year conversion period to organic rose by 34% in 2021, compared to the previous year. UK organic land also rose by 3.6% last year, following a rise of 0.8% in 2020. Sophie Kirk, Business Development Manager for Soil Association Certification, said: "It is encouraging to see that the latest statistics show confidence in organic farming is on the 26 |
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rise in the UK. Our farming sector has dealt with many shocks over the last few years but opportunities for sustainable farming remain strong with rising consumer demand and government support for organic. "It is clear both government and shoppers are waking up to the benefits organic can deliver for nature and the environment, and these latest figures show that, with the right incentives, nature and climate friendly farming can grow rapidly." The rise in organic farming last year is expected to continue in 2022 after the government announced earlier this year that they would pay up to double the previous rates to farmers in England who convert to organic.
All payments for organic farming are rising by between 50 and 500% for those entering a new scheme with Countryside Stewardship, which is open for applications until July. A new organic enterprise Arable farmer Alex Fraser (pictured right) and his brother Rob (pictured left) completed conversion to organic on their 260 acre farm in West Yorkshire last summer. They are growing spring beans and spring wheat in an intercropping system, and applying the same approach to oats and vetch, as well as growing barley and oats. He said: "We took our family farm back in hand three years ago when the previous www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
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tenancy came to an end and straight away decided to put it into organic conversion. It has been a massive learning curve for us but when faced with issues such as climate change, biodiversity losses and the burden of chronic health conditions, it was the perfect time to build a sustainable farming system from scratch. We couldn't really imagine farming in any other way; it just felt like the right thing to do.
organic farming community to encourage us to try things like intercropping to provide fertility and control weeds. "If you look at the huge input costs that keep going up and you also look at all the benefits organic can offer, to me it seems the most viable option both financially and for supporting biodiversity and the climate." UK farming must rise to the challenge
"Not everything we've tried has worked. We're learning as we go along and being dynamic and flexible in our approach means we can make the most of every situation. "We've had the support from Countryside Stewardship and we've been getting loads of advice from other farmers in the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
The latest land stats also follow the UK organic market* breaking the £3 billion mark for the first time ever in 2021 – growing by 23% from 2019 to 2021, and significantly out-performing non-organic sales.
and products are imported to support the increased demand for organic food. We need robust UK supply chains to support more organic production at home, particularly as our research shows consumers want to buy British. "The long-term goals that government has set out for agriculture, with a new focus on protecting soils, wildlife and the environment, are in harmony with the principles of organic farming. Alongside continued growth in the organic market, this should give any farmer greater confidence to switch to or maintain organic farming practices, despite the short-term uncertainty facing every farm."
Kirk added: "Currently more ingredients May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Arable - Pre-Harvest Preparation
How are margins looking for harvests’ 22 and 23? e are fast approaching harvest 22 and looking now to harvest 23 for cropping decisions, but the cost and margin picture looks very different to this time last year.
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UK feed wheat new crop futures (Nov-22) closed yesterday at £340.10/t. This is almost double the price from this time last year, where new crop futures (Nov-21) closed at £178.75/t (18 May 2021). A tight supply and demand balance for grains across the board, intensified by the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, has driven values to record highs in recent months. Though input costs have been rising too. This season-to-date (Jul-Apr), UK produced AN (34.5% N) prices have averaged £601.00/t, up 138% (+£349.00/t) from the average over the 2020/21 season. Today, I explore how this changing picture has impacted on gross margins. The aim of these figures is to not directly indicate how much profit can be made by each crop, because variable costs will differ by farm. It is more to understand a difference in profitability by year, and to support decision making for harvest 23 cropping. These figures may also give an indication of what the UK planted area may look like too. Harvest 22 – costs high but prices higher… Using two scenarios, profitability between crops can be assessed for harvest 22. For many businesses, the story will rely on price paid for fertiliser and this impact on variable cost for harvest 22. The first scenario takes an average season-to-date for UK produced AN 34%, Muriate of Potash and Triple Super Phosphate. The second scenario takes the top recorded prices this season for these three fertilisers, to compare profitability. Perhaps to no surprise with strong global wheat values supporting UK feed wheat futures, milling wheat and feed wheat are top performers in both scenarios. Though the difference in
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
the price paid for fertiliser makes a large difference in gross margin. For the milling wheat premium for harvest 22, this uses an average for the 2021/22 season to date. This season’s average has been higher on the year due to the current tight supply and concerns around milling wheat availability. As such, milling wheat gross margins look attractive for harvest 22 especially in scenario 1. Oilseed rape follows closely behind, considering high prices supported from inelastic demand for rapeseed and rapeseed oil. However, new-crop (Nov-22) prices are lagging previous May-21 highs, as supply is expected to improve globally next season. However, crush demand is set to be firm also, which could keep balances tight in the first half of the marketing year. Linseed, however, is understood now to be trading separately to oilseed rape. As a result, this crop may not have benefitted to the same extent from rapeseed’s price highs.
especially as harvest 23 approaches.
Harvest 23 – prices lower than harvest 22, but costs to remain high?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, when you purchased your fertiliser and how much you paid for it will be a big factor in your gross margin picture for harvest 22. Looking forward to harvest 23, UK feed wheat prices look firm for Nov-23, but rising input costs will be a challenge. Purchasing your fertiliser will be something to think about, considering prices for AN are now available for September delivery. However, cash flow will remain a key concern to many, given the increase in input prices. Also, a price output per £1 spent on variable cost will be something to consider, given the rising cost picture. For help assessing how your farm performance currently, Farmbench is a useful tool available from the AHDB. For information on price direction for crops too, make sure to subscribe to Grain Market Daily’s and Market Report from our team.
Looking to harvest 23, costs look to remain high. Nov-23 UK feed wheat futures prices too look to be firm. Yesterday, the contract closed at £280.20/t. Though is this enough to offset high prices? Using AHDB forecasts for potassium and phosphate costs, and using CF fertiliser’s latest price for September delivery, margins look to be squeezed compared to harvest 22. Even if there was a timely end to the war in Ukraine, destruction to Ukraine’s export infrastructure will cause longer term challenges. This adds to the global tightness outlook for the medium term, still further supporting 2023 wheat prices. As such, milling wheat and feed wheat remain top performers. However, the difference between the two looks narrower than harvest 22. For harvest 23, we have used a 5-year average premium to calculate the milling wheat price. This is despite the past two years seeing firmer premiums. Should the milling wheat balance remain tight next season, we could see this premium increase,
Looking to other crops, milling oats performed higher than winter rapeseed for harvest 23. We can explain this through reduced applications of fertiliser filtering into reduced variable costs. Winter rapeseed margins look to remain favourable for harvest 23. Will the price incentive be enough for farmers to consider growing more? There are still the same issues surrounding cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and impact on yield. But this year’s crop conditions have not noted significant damage. However, in regard to break crops, feed beans and winter triticale look to deliver a higher output per £1 spent on variable cost. The pulses market can be variable at times, but crops require lower inputs and benefit fields though nitrogen fixing. Something to consider in another high-cost year. Conclusion
A link to gross margins for harvest 22 released this time last year can be found here. The difference one year makes. For a comparison to 2021, please use this link to gross margins for harvest 21.
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29
| Arable - Pre-Harvest Preparation
Harvest is coming…
he arable harvest season for 2022 is very nearly upon us and there’s still time to get yourself prepared. Perry of Oakley Ltd. are here to help. In our Devon based factory, we’ve been busily manufacturing a massive stock list comprising of heads, boots, drive ends, tail ends, trough & trunk sections, chain & flight, plus much more, including an extensive selection of drier spares. Our focus is responding to any last minute requests as quick as possible, to get you set up for the season.
experienced manufacturer for your handling, drying & storage equipment.
To aid the supply of all spares stock & new machines, the Perry sales and technical support team have over 450 years of industry knowledge. That combined with the 75 years the company has been manufacturing handling, drying & storage equipment, makes us the clear supplier of choice. In a period where parts and machinery entering the UK from Europe are less certain and more costly this is the best time to choose the UK’s most
The two Perry drier ranges provide driers to fit requirements and budgets from farms to commercial grain stores. They are the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah” series. Both driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, which can be linked to any smart phone for control of the drier from any location. This technology is designed and programmed in house and allows Perry engineers (UK-based) remote
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
Perry of Oakley Ltd. provide high quality machinery to a wide variety of industries, including farms, commercial grain stores, waste & aggregate industries, feed & pet food, pharmaceutical & biomass industries, and many others. Perry manufacture a complete range of chain & flight conveyors, elevators, augers, belt conveyors, twin trace conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners and much more, to complement the range of in-house designed and manufactured continuous mixed flow grain driers.
access for diagnostics and adjustments. The auto control uses both the exhaust air temperature and hot grain temperature to give advanced control of the drier, to maintain a consistent moisture content of the discharged grain. All of the Perry’s machines are designed & manufactured in the UK based factory from high quality galvanised steel. The range of handling equipment is available in capacities from 10tph to 1200tph, and can convey lengths of up to 150m and elevate to 40m. With a full range of accessories available, the products become a versatile option for handling a wide variety of materials. To find out more about Perry of Oakley Ltd. and their range of drying & handling equipment call +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk. You can also find a full list of products and services at www.perryofoakley.co.uk.
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The UK’s Most Experienced Manufacturer of Grain www.farmingmonthly.co.uk 31 May 2022 | Farming Monthly | Drying, Handling & Storage Equipment
| Arable - Pre-Harvest Preparation
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| Arable - Pre-Harvest Preparation
Pre-harvest preparation for a successful season Ilkinson Dynamic Balancing Ltd (WDB Ltd) share how regular maintenance of your rotating machinery can help prepare you for a successful harvest season.
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With the harvest season just around the corner, it’s imperative that your rotating machinery is in optimum working condition to avoid any unaccounted-for downtime and jeopardise the hard work and investment put into growing your crops. Flail rotors are subject to extreme operating conditions and unexpected debris can damage the flails, bending them out of shape, as well as snapping and loosening lugs. This in turn can result
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in problems such as excessive vibration, failure of bearings and seals, premature wear and ultimately unsafe operation. Carrying out pre-harvest inspections of your rotating equipment is therefore essential to allow time for necessary repairs and balancing to be factored in. When carrying out these checks, be sure to look at bearings, drive belts, pulleys and seals for any unusual noise, vibration or oil leaks and any sign of excessive wear. In addition to this, you should rotate freestanding, idle machinery at least once a week to avoid brinelling (flat spot or indentation on bearings). It’s not just flail rotors that require inspection for existing problems – ventilation and drying fans left dormant
out of the harvest season can cause bearings to develop flat spots, resulting in vibration and bearing failure. To avoid this, inspect the impellers for any damage to the blades and operate the fan unit to test for any unusual noise or vibration. Most repairs and balancing work on these fans can be done in-situ without incurring removal or dismantling costs. A damaged rotor does not mean it’s ready for retirement – a detailed inspection will determine the type of repair required to bring your equipment back to its optimum condition prior to harvest. Although new flails are not always necessary, if you renew flails on a regular basis, the balance, performance and lifespan of the flail rotor can be increased.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| CEREALS
Big names are back at Cereals 2022 E xhibitors are flocking back to Cereals as the event gears up to welcome visitors in June. Among the names set to return are KWS, New Holland Agriculture, Corteva Agriscience, Bayer and Senova. Technology is a key theme, from crop breeding breakthroughs in the plots to the latest agricultural drone developments. And exhibitors, especially those not attending last year, are keen to take up the opportunity of getting in front of farmers. Tech display New Holland plans to pack its stand with the latest technology including the first methane powered tractor; T6.180, the new T7HD tractor with PLM Intelligence, and a new range of utility tractors, says marketing manager Mark Crosby. “We have missed seeing our customers face to face during the pandemic years but this year blue
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
and yellow are back and we’re excited to meet everyone in person again.” Senova will be back alongside the Just Oats stand, which covers the whole supply chain from breeder to
product – through companies like Morning Foods. “It could be the first year when people really come to shows – last year was a bit half and half,” says Senova marketing manager Alison
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| CEREALS
Barrow. “We are looking forward to seeing the crowds return.” There will be more than 30 new exhibitors at this year’s event, including LSPB, Nitrasol, Crop Angel, Fisher German, Spreadwise and Limex.
Looking ahead, if spraying is allowed, drones could play a key role in allowing chemicals to be applied at the right timing, even though the ground may be too wet to travel, he adds. Breeding developments
Drone action Agricultural drone company, Crop Angel, is exhibiting for the first time in its own right, with a new small 10 litre drone on display. “As well as drone sprayers there will also be one with a pellet applicator – suitable for sowing a cover crop in a standing crop of wheat, for example,” says director Chris Eglington. And with the agricultural use of drones now permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under a £9 licence, visitors can gain valuable insight from the experts. Spraying chemicals remains illegal, however, gaining permission ‘is looking more promising than ever’, says Mr Eglington. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Crop breeding company LSPB is also exhibiting for the first time. Although many of its varieties are well known by farmers, such as spring bean Lynx, LSPB itself is less well recognised, says key account and product manager Michael Shuldham. “It is an opportunity to showcase our varieties in front of farmers and talk to them directly. We have some crop plots with a wide range of varieties. We will have two clubroot resistant hybrid oilseed rape varieties and new varieties with phoma gene resistance – RLMS.” There will also be a new spring wheat variety on LSPB’s stand, likely
to prove popular with farmers who have blackgrass problems or as a crop to follow sugar beet, he adds. And with growers looking to reduce nitrogen use and move away from imported soya, LSPB has a strong spring bean portfolio. “It is an exciting time to be growing pulses.” Cereals event director Alli McEntyre says the event has a lot to offer farmers keen to get an insight into the latest technology. “There will be a wide range of technology and practical advice on offer that will help boost returns on visitors’ own farms. “At a time of great change in the industry, staying ahead will be increasingly important,” she adds. • The Cereals Event will be held near Duxford, Cambridgeshire on 8-9 June 2022. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the relaunched website at www.cerealsevent.co.uk.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| CEREALS
New features and old favourites on show at Cereals isitors to Cereals can enjoy all their favourite attractions plus some exciting new ones at this year’s event. New features for 2022 include Crop to Kitchen which will showcase arable farmers selling direct to consumers, a curated version of the winter wheat and barley RL and a demo area for machinery and kit that qualifies for the Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme. With farmers seeking new ways to generate income as BPS payments decline, Crop to Kitchen will explore how growers are creating opportunities using redundant farm buildings and crop diversification, explains Cereals event director Alli McEntyre. “Farmers will be able to talk to other farmers with experience of selling directly to consumers. Products featured include quinoa, mushrooms, rhubarb, oilseed rape oil, wine, juices, heritage wheat, flour and beer.” And winter wheat and barley growers will be able to compare varieties more easily at Cereals. Working with exhibitors, arable project manager Jonathan Backhouse has curated a spread of 26 popular winter wheats, including representation from every breeder on the AHDB RL with varieties representing winter wheat Groups 1-4. This feature will also showcase 14 winter barleys, again with popular picks from all breeders to represent malting, two-row feed and six-row hybrid varieties. “While many of these varieties are on display elsewhere in the show, this gives growers the opportunity to walk among them in one place for side-byside comparison,” says Mr Backhouse. The Improving Farm Productivity grant scheme covers up to 40% of the costs for slurry treatment and robotics and innovation equipment.
V
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
Such kit, including for robotic weeding and harvesting, will be on show in the dedicated demo area. Join the Direct Drill Arena for its inaugural year at Cereals, expanded for 2022 to include a full arena with amplified AV and presentation. Demonstrators will showcase and discuss the benefits of their technology and offer sustainable solutions for farmers. Aitchison, Amazone, Claydon, Horizon, Horsch, John Deere, Kuhn and Mzuri will be among the exhibitors demonstrating in this area. Among the regular features are the
crop plots, both breeder variety plots and agronomy trial plots – with big hitters such as Bayer, Corteva, KWS and Senova/Just Oats back this year. The popular NIAB Soil Hole is returning and the Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers arena will be centre stage. Keeping on top of weeds is an everpresent challenge for growers and as well as inter-row weeding demos there are also plans to have in-row weeding demos, says Allan Knight, technical sales and marketing manager at Garford. “Inter-row weeding can be used for cereals whereas in-row weeding is used for salad crops such as lettuces. There is more and more machinery being demonstrated at Cereals which isn’t just for cereals. Farmers are diversifying into other
crops as well and it is important that we show this machinery off.” Demonstrating companies include Garford, Lemken and Terrington. Visitors will also be able to see working demo plots from Agxeed, Claydon, Horizon, J. Brock, Kuhn, Mzuri, New Holland and TWB Engineering. After its successful debut at last year’s Cereals, the NAAC Drainage Hub will be back to help farmers find out more about this topical subject. It will bring together leading agricultural contractors with land drainage expertise and include presentations, video demos and drainage equipment. AHDB will be running its seminar programme – Code Green for Farming – including details on new agricultural policy, tackling rising input costs, making the environment pay and new technology. And Farmers Weekly will be running a seminar in the New Era Theatre on both days based on its popular Transition series, which looks at how farmers can make their businesses more financially and environmentally sustainable. Around the event there will numerous exhibitors on hand to answer visitors’ questions, with postharvest technology and the latest crop protection and nutrition products on show, to name but a few. “At this time of transition for farmers, Cereals offers an ideal one-stopshop to see all the latest innovation in action so that arable farmers can get a real flavour of what technology will be most suited to their farm,” says Ms McEntyre. • The Cereals Event will be held near Duxford, Cambridgeshire on 8-9 June 2022. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the relaunched website at www.cerealsevent.co.uk.
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| CEREALS
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May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| CEREALS
Cereals crop plots preview a resounding success ereals exhibitors took an early opportunity to showcase their crop plots at the Cereals Spring Crop Plot Day at the event venue, Chrishall Grange near Duxford in Cambridgeshire.
C
Kicking off the preview day, host Robert Law of Law Farming said: “It will be the sixth time I’ve hosted the event. Two years ago Covid came and we had to spray the plots off – I’m happy that farmers will now be back here, visiting Cereals.”
“There will also be a full range of hybrid barley varieties including SY Kingsbarn, SY Thunderbolt and SY Canyon. These will be included in the ‘Rooting Zone’ demonstration where the hybrid rooting vigour will be on display.” On the winter malting side, there will be wider availability of Craft and Electrum –
oilseed rape varieties; Respect and Flemming, which come from a new and exciting generation of hybrids, said Mr Guest. “We have commercially launched these after 20 years of research and testing to develop varieties containing the new gene RlmS, which offers a new source of resistance for protection against phoma. Flemming also features
Mr Law farms 500ha at Chrishall Grange as part of a 1600ha farming enterprise, a mixed farm with arable crops including sugar beet, an 1800-ewe flock and 60 suckler cows. Four years on from when he last hosted the event, there have been enormous changes. “First it was the early days after the Brexit referendum, then we had Covid, now we are six weeks into the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Suddenly one-third of world wheat production has been affected by the conflict. “We need to focus on our primary role as food producers, feeding the nation, alongside the environmental agenda,” he said. “We are moving into the unknown. I am trying to run a business but sometimes it seems like being at a casino.” Cereals will give an opportunity for people to meet up and discuss business challenges, said Mr Law. “For the past two years they haven’t been able to do that. I’m Zoomed out and looking forward to seeing people back at the event.” So what crop features does the event have in store? Syngenta Winter wheat, spring and winter malting barley and wildflower mixes will be on display at Syngenta’s stand, said Kathryn Hamlen, technical manager, malting barley at the company. Wheat varieties will include Graham, Gleam, SY Insitor and new variety, SY Coach. 40 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
and SY Vessel will be the first nonglycocidic nitrile (GN) winter malting variety on show. Laureate remains a favourite spring malting barley and there will be beer available on the stand brewed using malt from the variety, named by the winner of the ‘name the beer’ competition. LSPB First time exhibitor, LSPB is keen to expand awareness of its spring bean portfolio and is displaying Vertigo, Fanfare and Lynx, said managing director, Chris Guest. “We also have a candidate variety but this is still under code.” Also in the LSPB plots are two winter
turnip yellows virus (TuYV) resistance. Other plots will showcase winter bean and spring pea portfolios along with spring wheat. Rothamsted Research As plant breeders’ attention turns to tackling the effects of climate change, which may increase susceptibility to pests and diseases, it is important to be able to mine ancient wheat lines to develop more resilient varieties, said James Clarke, head of communications at Rothamsted Research. “We are using robotics to watch wheat varieties growing 24/7 and we are able to monitor performance in detail, from emergence to harvest,” he explained. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| CEREALS “This helps us identify suitable traits as
fast as possible.” One area to look at could be how wheat responds to hot nights as traditionally it doesn’t thrive in these conditions. Corteva
Varietal, cultural and chemical wheat disease management will form the basis of the NIAB stand at Cereals, with a mix of plots and advice to aid growers in decision-making on disease control.
Crop plots are currently growing well and will provide a strong visual demonstration of Corteva Agriscience’s crop protection and seed portfolio, said UK & Ireland marketing manager Alex Nichols.
It has 125 different crop and variety plots including 32 winter wheat and 16 winter oilseed rape varieties from the AHDB 2022/23 Recommended or Candidate List.
Available in limited volumes in 2021, this season is the first year many farmers will have the chance to put fungicide Univoq to the test, and Cereals plots will show the lasting protection delivered by a T2 fungicide spray, he explained.
This year the stand features plots showcasing fungicide inputs versus yield in winter wheat, a comparison of new cereal fungicides and, for the first time, treated and untreated wheat variety blends.
PT303 Protector Sclerotinia will also be on show. The hybrid from Corteva’s Pioneer OSR brand has consistently given top yields across multiple trial programmes. And it provides tolerance to a disease which is associated with the UK’s increasingly common high rainfall events, said Mr Nichols. “PT303 also combines proven TuYV resistance and multigenic phoma resistance for a best-in-class overall disease resistance rating.” Corteva is also launching its Utrisha N, which enables plants to fix nitrogen from the air, and is showcasing Instinct, which has the potential to reduce nitrogen losses from combinable crops, he added. “We are really looking forward to being back at Cereals and putting the spotlight on these breakthrough technical innovations.” Premium Crops With oilseed rape prices at an alltime high, growers have the opportunity to add even more value by growing high erucic acid rape (HEAR) varieties, said Nigel Padbury of Premium Crops. “We will have three varieties on demo. We are offering a contract for HEAR with a £130/t premium over double zero varieties.” The company is also demonstrating its winter linseed varieties for sowing this autumn. “With its relatively low nitrogen requirement at just 80 to 120kg N/ha, winter linseed is a real alternative to OSR,” says Mr Padbury. NIAB www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
There will also be a focus on legumes and protein crops, said Kevin Middleton, marketing communications executive at NIAB. “These include lupins, peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and soya. Our demo plots at Cereals will explore research work on legume crop improvement, alongside opportunities for crop diversification.” Bayer Bayer is relaunching its Dekalb range and as part of this, will be launching its oilseed rape variety, Expose, said the company’s Antonia Walker. “It is flexible, good for early drilling but also suitable for September drilling. Stems are not too long – short to medium in length. It has TuYV resistance, pod shatter resistance and a good lodging score.” There will also be three new maize varieties from overseas on display. Senova Winter beans are a key feature at Senova’s stand with Vespa and Vincent the top two yielders on the PGRO Descriptive List. Tom Yewbrey, seed sales manager at Senova, said winter beans are an excellent break-crop option, with nitrogen prices being so high. “There are good markets for beans. All our varieties are suitable for export and there is increased demand for homegrown protein.” The Senova/Just Oats plots also feature leading winter oat variety, Mascani and high yielding candidate, Cromwell. New soft Group 4 wheat variety, Swallow, has also been
performing well, particularly in trials in northern England and Scotland and has excellent distilling potential, said Mr Yewbrey. KWS KWS has introduced a new circular crop plot design with segments this year, allowing a more comprehensive display of wheats and barleys, said Will Compson, UK country manager. High yielding hard Group 4 wheat, Dawsum, has proved a popular choice with farmers, as has 2-row winter barley KWS Tardis. “Last year there was limited seed but this autumn it is likely to be the most widely sown 2-row.” Ceres Rural Finding crops that are financially viable and sustainable is difficult in the current climate, however, Cereals offers a good opportunity to look at different crops and pass information back to clients, said Ceres Rural partner Ed Hutley. Ceres manages the event’s agronomy and while it has been a kind autumn, the site can be prone to drought so Mr Hutley is hoping for moderate rain for the plots to look at their best in time for June. Looking ahead at prospects for the industry, Mr Hutley said: “A lot of people will be in a relatively comfortable position this autumn, however, there are concerns about next year and we need to put forward sustainable solutions.” Six practical steps that can be taken to develop a more sustainable or regenerative approach to farming practices are being highlighted by Ceres Rural at this year’s Cereals Event. Cereals event director Alli McEntyre was delighted to see such a large and strong diversity of crop plots ahead of the event. “It was great to get everyone together and see the interest of the companies and press involved.” The Cereals Event will be held near Duxford, Cambridgeshire on 8-9 June 2022. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the relaunched website at www.cerealsevent.co.uk.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| CEREALS
Getting a grip underground – Cereals tackles rooting and drainage
he NIAB Soil Hole will once again feature at the Cereals Event, giving a unique insight into crop growth below ground, with a focus on different soil monitoring approaches. “This year we will be demonstrating soil monitoring – what, how, when and why,” explains NIAB’s head of farming systems Dr Elizabeth Stockdale. “This includes a demonstration of an automated soil sampling robot from the Small Robot Company, working with a consortium led by PES Technologies including NIAB, alongside a working soil sequencing display. “We will be highlighting how to use collected data to inform decisions. It is not just a question of gathering data – we need to make good choices based on it.” Some soil parameters will be measured in the Soil Hole during the event. “These include physical structure, water management and biological activity,” says Dr Stockdale. “Other samples will have been taken in advance of the show.” With blackgrass still a major problem, and continuing issues with oilseed rape and cabbage stem flea beetle, rotations designed around cover crops and spring cropping are increasing in popularity. The Soil Hole will offer a look at what is happening underground with these crops, she adds. “Sometimes spring crops get away slowly because they take time to build
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
roots. The Soil Hole offers an opportunity to see the number of roots in different crops. In some crops they will be quite near the surface and for others, deeper. “We have a superb diversity of crops lining the pit, including spring linseed, lupins, clover, beans and spring barley,” says Dr Stockdale. “We have also compacted some tramlines and will cut the wheat plots a couple of weeks before the event to give us a stubble field, so we can demonstrate the recommended sampling point for general rotational soil
health sampling.” NAAC Drainage Hub Also focusing on matters underground will be the NAAC Drainage Hub, featuring lively, informative seminars and offering an opportunity to meet exhibitors from this important sector. Philip Wright, soil consultant at Wright Resolutions, will be covering ‘soil structure, carbon, and the pathway to a more regenerative approach – it all relies on drainage’. Offering a farmer viewpoint, Jake Freestone of Overbury Estates will
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| CEREALS
talk about ‘how land drainage improved my farm’, with Richard Price of Tetworth Hall Estate covering this topic on day two. For those wishing to gain a handle on the cost/benefit of drainage, Harry Henderson at AHDB will cover the ‘economics of land drainage’. And for those unsure where to begin, Farm Services’ director Rob Burtonshaw, land drainage contractor and Nuffield Scholar, will give some pointers in his presentation – ‘thinking of drainage – where to start’. There will be plenty of opportunity for visitors to pose questions to the panellists and go home fully armed with information on how to improve farm productivity through better drainage. Around the stands in the NAAC Drainage Hub will be East Anglia-based Miles Drainage which offers a GPS-based land drainage design and installation service, according to the company’s Andrew Wright. “We will also be exhibiting the Miles Single Leg Mole Plough.” Trencher manufacturer Mastenbroek will focus on the relatively new concept of land forming and land levelling, says managing director Matt Hammerton. This www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
involves scraping ridges and moving soil into divots or lower areas of a field. “Land forming, which is commonplace in the United States and Europe but is yet to take off in the UK, creates more productive land, leading to better yields for farmers.”
Mitchell-Rowlands will exhibit a full specification professional Drainjetter for cleaning out land drains, says managing director Graham Mitchell-Rowlands. “It can hold up to 700m of hose. The twin hydraulically-driven drive system has enough power to cope with this hose length. “The latest feature is a double hydraulic
telescopic arm which can easily reach the opposite side of a dyke.” Cotterill Civils will be showing and discussing a wide range of land drainage solutions, culvert pipes, rainwater harvesting tanks, sewage treatment solutions, water tanks and more, says group marketing executive Izzie Smith. “We are at Cereals to connect with existing and new customers and promote the benefits of land drainage.” Murray Peat, associate at Fisher German, manages the company’s Linewatch, a safety organisation which raises awareness of oil and gas pipelines around the UK and encourages people to work around them safely. “Breaches to pipelines can damage the environment and cause death or injury to those working nearby,” he says. Other companies exhibiting at the NAAC Drainage Hub include: DMJ Drainage, Naylor Drainage, the Fen Group and William Morfoot. • The Cereals Event will be held near Duxford, Cambridgeshire on 8-9 June 2022. For more information or to purchase tickets visit the relaunched website at www.cerealsevent.co.uk.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Grain
Thousands have their say on the AHDB levy
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42% of registered levy payers have had their say on the priorities for the sector and the importance of the work we should do to support these (total of 4,478 levy payers out of 10,537 registered)
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Average scores range between 2.3 out of 5 and 4.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the most important) with only 3 average scores across 70 questions scoring below 3
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Similar scores across weighted (reflecting size of business) and unweighted (one levy payer, one vote) results with some small exceptions in the pork results
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All sector council members (new members and those in their second term) are ratified by receiving over 50% of the votes
HDB has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from levy payers in the Shape the Future votes. Levy payers were asked if they agreed with the proposed priorities for each sector by ranking them in terms of importance from 1 – 5, where 1 is low and 5 is high. They were then asked to rank the importance of the work AHDB should do to support those areas.
On the importance of the work that AHDB should do to support the priorities, highest scores included:
The results and feedback will now be used by the sector councils to make funding decisions in the sector they represent on the work AHDB will deliver for levy payers.
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With turnout at 42 per cent or 4,478 votes from 10,537 levy payers registered, the priorities which scored the highest include*: •
Protecting the reputation of the beef, lamb, dairy and pork sectors, and promoting benefits to consumers (which received an average score of 4.6 from beef and lamb producers, 4.5 from the dairy sector and 4.4 from pork levy payers)
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Supporting farmers to remain viable despite changes to farm support, profitability and productivity challenges in the cereals & oilseeds sector (with an average score of 4.4)
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Selling every part of the pig for the best financial return at home in the UK or overseas in the pork sector (with an average score of 4.4).
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•
Protecting and enhancing the reputation of the industry in the beef, lamb and dairy sector (with an average score of 4.5).
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Our Recommended List information for the cereals & oilseeds sector (with a score of 4.2) Using our pork consumer marketing campaigns to help sell every part of the pig (with an average score of 4.1).
With all the new and second term sector council members for each of the four sectors now ratified (and receiving over 50% of votes as part of this process), councils will meet in June and again in July to consider the feedback received from levy payers and to build it into their sector plans. AHDB’s Divisional Director of Engagement Will Jackson said: “This is the first time we have undertaken such a campaign and to receive nearly 4,500 votes from across our four sectors shows it has been a very worthwhile exercise. Engagement to this degree in the industry is unprecedented. We have been encouraged by the comments and feedback received through this process which will now trigger discussions and decisions about our work.
sector for the next five years. They will now spend time to analyse and discuss this data in order to identify the priorities for each sector, which will be confirmed with levy payers in October. “The 15 minutes spent voting on the priorities for each sector will make a real difference about how levy funds are invested." AHDB Chief Executive Tim Rycroft added: “For the first time, thousands of levy payers have taken the opportunity to give us vital feedback about the work we should do on their behalf. This is the first step in delivering our promise to put levy payers at the heart of everything we do” “I would like to thank all the levy payers who voted, the many industry influencers and organisations who have supported Shape the Future and of course the whole AHDB team who have put their heart and soul into making this exercise work. “Consulting levy payers and putting their voice at the heart of what we do, was one of the promises about changing AHDB that we made a year ago. “I look forward to our sector councils presenting their final decisions on the work we will undertake and the priorities for the four sectors later in the year.” The results of the Shape the Future campaign can be found here: www.ahdb.org.uk/Shape-theFuture. *one levy payer, one vote scores
“We are also very pleased we now have in place your sector councils who will decide on the future priorities for each www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Grain
Use brome maps to target weed control
here are bromes located in your fields? Which species are present? Is herbicide resistance an issue? Here’s why weed maps need to become standard in your integrated pest management (IPM) plans.
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Integrated pest management (IPM) home How to manage brome weeds in cereals The integrated strategy To prevent, minimise and reduce brome pressure, it is important to build an integrated strategy around nonchemical control. This strategy is formed around six key components: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Understand the weed population in your field. Prevent weed introduction and minimise spread. Exploit the whole rotation to reduce weed pressures. Make best use of carefully timed and chosen cultivations. Consider drilling later and increasing seed rate. Use chemistry carefully to maximise control and protect efficacy.
The importance of each one of these components is elevated when the threat of herbicide resistance is considered. Herbicide resistance Last year, AHDB reported findings from ADAS-led research. The researchers gathered UK seed samples to grow brome in containers for herbicide screens. Through the screens, they identified resistance to ALS herbicides in UK brome populations for the first time – with resistance found in some sterile brome, rye brome, meadow brome and great brome populations. The researchers also detected reduced sensitivity to glyphosate in one sterile and one rye brome population, but, thankfully, found no clear evidence of resistance to the ACCase herbicides tested. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
As the seed for the ALS-resistant populations was derived from several English counties, it showed that resistance is far from an isolated incident.
It is critical that steps are taken before the resistance situation spirals out of control – lessons from other resistant weed species emphasise the importance of this statement. The Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) document, ‘Ten facts everyone should know about herbicide resistance’, states “It is much cheaper to stop resistance developing, so spotting the early signs is vital.” Weed maps With clear evidence of herbicide resistance in bromes on our shores, it is essential to watch weed populations like hawks – and this involves mapping brome patches in the summer (usually, June or July). Species-level maps are needed. This is because the type of brome present determines the most appropriate management response. As such assessments require careful observations of flowering structures, AHDB has published guidance to help you tell your barren bromes from your great bromes. Which brome species is in your field? During the same period, it is a good idea to harvest ripe weed seeds for herbicide resistance tests – especially, if you have observed any difficulty controlling bromes with herbicides. A mugful of seed provides a good sample size. If taking multiple samples, be sure to have a system in place to help you trace back samples to weed patches. Sterile brome: collect ripe seed from early June to the end of July. Meadow brome and rye brome: collect from mid-late July to the end of August. WRAG guidance provides in-depth information on resistance testing No survivors When poor weed control is observed in the field, it is easy to jump to conclusions and assume that resistance is the cause.
A survey, conducted as part of the ADAS-led research, found that many people believed resistance was present in their fields. However, this could not always be backed up by hard evidence – such as the results of resistance testing. Sub-optimal use of herbicides is the more likely reason. This is far from ideal because it helps some weeds survive treatment. And survivors will quite happily spread their genetic defences to offspring. Once resistance is present, it doesn’t go away. To the contrary, without appropriate intervention, herbicide resistant weeds will build and spread – readily and rapidly. At present, good brome control is achievable, especially in non-cereal crops within the rotation. The use of cultural and chemical control is critical to success. With sprays, it is important to maximise efficacy – with optimised herbicide programmes, timings and doses – to ensure weed kill. The five main brome species are increasing and are now found in all UK regions. Collectively, we need to up our game to keep a lid on resistance threat. However, there are many factors that drive spread, and the finger should not be pointed at herbicide resistance without hard evidence to hand. The adoption of less intensive farming practices, including increases in land put down to low/no-till production and margins/environmental areas, will help to tip the balance in the favour of brome. Every ounce of advantage gained by brome needs to be countered by an equivalent mass of weed management strategy. If management remains static, then the weeds will win. If poor choices are made, then the weeds will win. By understanding the weed population in your field, you will be able tailor management and retain the upper hand. It is why weed maps need to be a field standard.
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| Grain
Rapid disease testing saves farmer £1,600 on Septoria treatment pring Septoria pressures in wheat are reported to be high to medium across much of the UK thanks to proven rapid disease testing that’s helping agronomists and farmers to manage disease risk with accurate data at their disposal.
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And one farmer has saved £1,600 on Septoria fungicides from a £70 SwiftDetect test. Damian McAuley is a senior agronomist for Indigro and since he started using SwiftDetect in 2021, he says it’s saved his client money. “On one of our client’s farms, we tested for Septoria at pre T1 (leaf 3) stage. One end of the farm was reported to be high risk and the other end low risk. We therefore tailored the inputs accordingly and pulled back fungicide rates by roughly 10% on 400 hectares of wheat, 46 |
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making a £1,600 cost saving,” says Damian. Evidence of higher than typical Septoria levels this spring has been seen in Kinross, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Herefordshire, and Lincolnshire. This is down to the increased uptake of SwiftDetect – the rapid test that can detect disease down to just a few pathogen cells, even in the latent period. “With more agronomists and farmers coming on board, we are able to compare data and are seeing more Septoria this year than last,” says Chris Steele, crop diagnostics manager from SwiftDetect. “After a mild winter, we saw disease pressures increase followed by heavy rain earlier in the year, which reduced Yellow Rust but increased Septoria risk, and the moisture is still there in the crop. “The Yellow Rust risk is still around
waiting in the wings to pounce and can be found especially on varieties such as Zyatt, Skyfall and even Extase. Mildew seems to have disappeared but can still be found in the most susceptible varieties and in areas that are sheltered and/or in headlands,” says Chris. Indigro agronomist, Damian McAuley, says it’s helped him to plan for risk more effectively. “The rapid turnaround of SwiftDetect testing is what sets it apart. “We work a week ahead and we need a quick turnaround. Without accurate testing, you can see disease in crops but it’s more difficult to plan for risk, because you don’t always know the extent of the disease threat, especially if it’s in the early stages where in some cases it isn’t visible. “SwiftDetect gives genuine hard data, reported in a traffic light system, showing whether the disease is low, medium or high risk, so you can plan your treatment www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Grain accordingly,” he says. “Early in the season at pre T0 stage, we sampled some rust susceptible Zyatt to see the risk threat. The results came back as low risk, so we didn’t treat pre T0 with tebuconazole, which would have cost around £5/ha, plus sprayer time and diesel, which saved approximately £1,500, over a 300ha area. “The test costs us £70 each time and results come back in one working day, potentially saving us time, money and crucially, impacting the environment less,” says Damian.
integrated tool. “You don’t believe it until you see it, but it’s a fantastic service and now a crucial part of our integrated pest and disease management strategy. “All 10 Indigro agronomists are AICC members, and with this data we are able to plot results geographically, which gives even more forewarning,” he adds. SwiftDetect gives real time insight into the level of disease in your crop, allowing fungicides to target the disease more effectively and efficiently by using the appropriate product and dose rate. This year, more diseases have been added to the service, including: •
Septoria in wheat
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Yellow rust in wheat
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Brown rust in wheat
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Mildew in wheat
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Ramularia in barley
Light leaf spot in oilseed rape will be added in autumn 2022. SwiftDetect can be purchased directly from store.microgenetics.co.uk and to find out more, contact Chris Steele, crop diagnostics manager on chris.steele@microgenetics.co.uk.
Damian says that SwiftDetect is now an important
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May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| LAMMA
LAMMA 2022 brings farming industry together
housands of farmers, businesses and industry leaders flocked to the NEC for the 40th year of LAMMA, the UK's leading agricultural machinery, equipment and technology show. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, visitors and exhibitors alike were optimistic about the return of the show. Nick Ewbank, Managing Director of veteran LAMMA exhibitor Lynx Engineering, said, "We have been coming to LAMMA since it first started and are very happy it's back. I have been really impressed with turnout and happy to have had some international visitors to our stand as well."
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"There has been a good flow of people throughout the two days with a great deal of good, genuine interest in our products," added John Christofides, Regional Sales Director at Bobcat EMEA. "Our team have been very happy with the quality of conversations we have had so far with visitors." Visitors also took advantage of numerous show features and scheduled speakers. Event favourites, the Farm Safety Zone and the International Export Advice Centre once again presented the latest advice and developments to help farmers protect their staff and grow their businesses. 48 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
In addition to this, there were also several new additions to the line-up like the Farming 4.0 Trail, LAMMA365 Dealer and Speaker Zones and Fendt & Valtra Speaker Zone – all of which brought even more ground-breaking expertise, kit and policy to LAMMA. "Exhibiting as part of the Dealer Zone meant all of our brands and divisions could be together, which allowed us to share what we do across the business," said James Bird, Regional Sales Manager from Wiltshire-based dealership T H White. "The New Holland T6 Methane Power has especially drawn a lot of attention - you couldn't get near it on day one due to the crowd!" Speaker sessions were popular with visitors, covering a wide range of topics including driving license requirements, careers, farm safety, second-hand machinery and business opportunities abroad. The lively session regarding red diesel in the LAMMA365 Speaker Zone seminar gave visitors a chance to ask a representative from HMRC about the recent legislation changes and clarify uncertainties, including the definition of 'permitted' vehicles and 'permitted' usage.
and several used the show to unveil their latest products to the industry. "Virtually every product we have here at the show is new," said Ben Agar, Business Development Director for ARGO, which launched two new tractors at LAMMA, including the McCormick X6.4HD. LAMMA once again served as a one-stop shop for farmers and business owners wanting to compare machinery options and speak to multiple manufacturers. "It's been my first time at LAMMA and it's absolutely brilliant," shared a Suffolk beef farmer. "There is so much choice of stands to visit, and I've made some new contacts that I will follow up when I get back as I'm planning to order a new handling system." Another farmer from Yorkshire added, "To get this many people, manufacturers and suppliers in one place is amazing. It is so nice to see so many people coming out and supporting the industry." In 2023, LAMMA Show will return to its normal place on the agricultural calendar at the NEC from 10-11th January 2023. Sign up to the LAMMA Newsletter for the latest show news and be the first to know when 2023 tickets are available.
More than 600 exhibitors set up stands, www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| LAMMA
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
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| LAMMA
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Farming Monthly | May 2022
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| LAMMA
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May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Potatoes | Potatoes & Root Crops
Biox-M Handbook - Sustainable Potato Sprout Control •
Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry,
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Is approved for use on organic potato crops,
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Has no harvest interval or MRL,
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Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage,
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And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes,
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Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development when crop is processed,
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Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated,
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And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.
Biox-M is the only 100% natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes.. uno (Plant Protection) Ltd have recently published a handy to use A5 ring bound copy of the Technical Handbook for Biox-M. With more than a decade of experience using Biox-M (100% spearmint oil) to control sprouting in stored potatoes in the UK and across Europe, the Technical Handbook captures many of the lessons learned from using the product in a very wide range of storage situations. If you would like a hard copy of the Biox-M Technical Handbook, please contact Technical Director, Nick Tapp: nick@junopp.com
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The 2020 harvest season saw many growers and store managers use Biox-M for the first time, and improvements to store integrity, air distribution and store management were to the fore. Significant improvements have been made, and growers are now refining the use of Biox-M to maximise treatment interval (to exceed 6 weeks at any storage temperature), and to reduce the use in store of what has rapidly become very expensive electricity. Even distribution of fog at application is essential to achieve good efficacy, but there is only a need to run fans intermittently during treatment
and in the closed period subsequently to maintain that even distribution of product. Risks from acrylamide have been back in the news. Higher storage temperatures can help solve the problem. An early response from some storekeepers to the loss of CIPC was to run stores at a lower temperature – using more power to do so. With (much) higher farm energy costs, perhaps that decision might be worth a review. Growers and foggers will get the best from Biox-M, even at higher storage temperatures.
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| Potatoes
Natural. Effective. Powerful. 100% Spearmint Oil sprout inhibitor for use on ware potatoes in store.
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MAPP 16021 www.junopp.com May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Potatoes & Root Crops
SECOND QUEEN'S AWARD FOR HAITH GROUP he UK's leading designer and manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment, Haith, has today (21 April 2022) been awarded its second Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.
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Haith has been recognised for developing its unique and marketleading Rota-Tip box tipping system. First manufactured in 2011, Haith's Rota-Tip Up-Eject is trusted by the majority of the UK's vegetable / potato packers to transfer produce onto washing, sizing and packing lines. 56 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
The Rota-Tip Up-Eject is the second Haith machine to receive a Queen's Award for Enterprise for Innovation. The company's Root Veg Polisher was recognised in 2010. "Haith was established in 1964 by the late George Geoffrey Haith, who, as a very talented engineer, always tried to find a way to help his farming customers to do things more effectively," says Duane Hill, Haith's managing director. "Mr Haith was a fantastic problem-solver and a great innovator. These traits have been an integral part of the business ever since and have formed the foundations of the company's growth. Today, our company is renowned around the globe for our
innovative vegetable handling systems. "The Rota-Tip Up-Eject, which has been recognised today, and the Root Veg Polisher that received a Queen's Award for Enterprise 12 years ago, show that Haith's approach to helping its customers has not changed. We are always looking to find better ways of doing things and providing solutions that are efficient, incredibly well made, priced competitively and backed up by the best customer service we can offer. "Today's recognition is excellent news for our team, a reward for their hard work, and a testimony to our www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Potatoes & Root Crops
customers who involve us in their businesses and trust us to develop solutions to enhance their business. Everyone at Haith is very proud to be recognised by the Queen's Award for Enterprise for a second time." Haith's Rota-Tip Up-Eject was designed at the request of food packers and processors who experienced oil leaks, high energy use and instability when using traditional hydraulic box tipplers. Haith innovated the design by replacing the hydraulic motors with all-electric drives, which use less power and prevent oil leaks. Haith also developed a new, safer, and more effective rotating system that can handle larger box volumes than older designs. Since introducing the Up-Eject www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
system, Haith has sold over 180 machines to most of the UK's leading food suppliers and exported them to Europe, Japan, Israel, Canada and the United States. In the UK, Mr Hill estimates that 95% of the UK's supermarket potato suppliers use the Haith Rota-tip, meaning the vast majority of potatoes sold in Britain will have been handled by Haith's awardwinning machine. Incorporated as a limited company in 1964, Tickhill Engineering, which trades as Haith, is one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of vegetable handling equipment. The company employs more than 120 people in Armthorpe, near Doncaster, who design and manufacture a comprehensive range of vegetable handling machines, spanning grading, washing, bulk
handling, weighing, pre-pack systems and water treatment solutions. Haith's machines are relied upon by some of the world's largest food producers and packing companies, along with farmers of all sizes in the UK and overseas. Now in its 56th year, the Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen's Awards Emblem for the next five years.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Potatoes & Root Crops
Agronomy Connection adds root crop specialist to its highly trained team ell-known independent agronomist Howard Hinds has joined Agronomy Connection, further expanding one of the most highly trained teams in the industry with his in-depth knowledge of carrots, parsnips and potatoes.
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Nottinghamshire-based Howard started with Agronomy Connection in February. He has brought with him a sizeable group of grower customers and will also train agronomists who want to specialise in these root crops or are taking them on as part of a larger portfolio. After graduating from Nottingham Trent University in applied biology in 1983, specialising in plant science, Howard started his career working in arable trials before becoming a potato agronomist with McCain Foods. He then worked in vegetable sprayer development, helping design a drop-leg machine to improve potato blight control. In the mid 1990s he became a director 58 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
of Plant Systems, a plant disease forecasting and veg consultancy specialist, where he began specialising in carrots and parsnips.
protection products, said Howard. “This is the big challenge from an agronomy point of view, particularly the loss of insecticides and herbicides.
A decade later he formed his own company, providing independent agronomy services and integrated crop management systems for carrot and parsnip businesses in the East Midlands, Shropshire, the North East and Scotland.
“We are getting more and more involved in integrated pest management, but the key challenge is to get the same results using these measures as we did beforehand.
Explaining his latest move, Howard said: “One of the big drivers for me joining Agronomy Connection was succession – passing on customers to a new company over a period of time and offering specialist knowledge to younger people. “I couldn’t see too many agronomists following on into root crops, so I hope this will provide a way of overcoming that so that when I hang up my wellies there will be a good pool of people out there with the necessary expertise.” One of the main problems they will need to tackle is the ongoing loss of plant
“However, we have lost AHDB funding for the horticulture and potato sectors. Much of the work didn’t seem relevant to growers – they saw a lot of the money going on blue-sky research, which was laudable enough, but they couldn’t see the payback. “So where is the new research coming from? I think there is going to be a place for a research body, but I also think there is an opportunity for companies like Agronomy Connection to step in and become involved in more practical research to develop new management techniques, while continuing the drive to more sustainable production systems.”
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| Potatoes & Root Crops
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otato growers may need to rethink their usual reliance on preemergence herbicides this year after a period of dry weather.
While planting has progressed well thanks to favourable conditions, the dry soils will have a negative impact on the efficacy of the pre-emergence weedkillers typically applied to ridges shortly after planting. Corteva Agriscience Field Technical Manager Craig Chisholm says leaving weeds unchecked can reduce yield, slow down harvesting machinery and increase the risk of blight. “Dry soils can crack or slip down the ridges, disrupting the all-important seal required for optimum efficacy from preemergence herbicides. As a result, rain or planned irrigation in the next few weeks will stimulate weed growth from the ridge surface and from depth,” Craig says.
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“Dry conditions in unirrigated fields and disruption to the herbicide ‘barrier’ means that the efficacy of preemergence chemistry will be compromised. This could well be a year when growers need to think about following up with a post-emergence spray.” Titus®, containing the active ingredient rimsulfuron, is a valuable herbicide which targets key problem weeds and is an invaluable tool in a dry season when pre-emergence activity will be negatively affected. The selective herbicide has been a mainstay of potato growers’ earlyseason programmes to control a wide range of broadleaf weeds including cleavers, chickweed, redshank, mayweed and oilseed rape volunteers. Titus has also demonstrated excellent activity on a range of grasses, notably couch.
UK and Irish potato growers and agronomists and with fewer options available for weed control, it will become an ever-more important tool,” says Craig. “Titus should be applied when broadleaved weeds are small and actively growing, typically cotyledon to four leaves, and grasses pre-tillering (two-tothree leaves), and before crop sheltering can impact herbicide coverage. “It is suitable for use on all potato varieties excluding seed crops and is compatible with metribuzin, which will further broaden the weed spectrum in potato varieties which are tolerant to post-emergence application.” Titus should be applied at 50g/ha when applied alone or 40-50g/ha in mix with metribuzin, and always used with an approved adjuvant.
“The qualities of Titus are well known to
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| Potatoes & Root Crops
WORLD POTATO CONGRESS 2022: TEAM BEHIND HARVESTEYE CONTINUE TO SHOWCASE CROP INSIGHTS INNOVATION arvestEye - a machinelearning driven crop insights tool - is heading to the World Potato Congress at the end of May, as it continues to showcase on the global agricultural stage the actionable insights it places in the hands of growers.
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map crop performance through vision sensing technology which effectively monitors crop variability and helps growers maximise their yield. “At the World Potato Congress, we will be further increasing awareness of our innovative product to businesses across
Developed by agri-tech R&D firm Bhive Innovations, HarvestEye comprises of a patented technology that provides timely insights on root crops as they are lifted - presenting growers with valuable information on the size and count over whole field that is absent from conventional sampling. The 11th World Potato Congress, which is running from 29 May - 2 June in Dublin, features more than 1,000 participants from across the globe, with ‘The Changing World of the Potato’ being the driving theme underpinning the discourse at this year’s event. Vidyanath (Vee) Gururajan, managing director at HarvestEye, who will be speaking at WPC, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing HarvestEye once again on the global root crop stage. The event is an opportunity to engage with the potato growing community - to address their needs and more effectively 60 |
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value and supply chains and look forward to discussing with the delegates the unprecedented insights that HarvestEye offers.” Fitting to both existing harvesting or grading equipment, HarvestEye is a cost-efficient method to achieve targeted agronomic performance, whereby data is collected by the product and delivered to an online portal. Following exhibiting at April’s global
fresh produce exhibition Fruit Logistica, WPC continues to raise awareness for HarvestEye, as the technology expands into new and existing territories including central Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific. Vee added: “We are constantly in dialogue with a range of farmers to see how we can better meet their needs for a crop harvesting insights tool. Having recently visited India, The United States and Majorca to speak with growers and trial HarvestEye, our product is constantly evolving to improve the accuracy of the harvest performance data we can gain across a range of different varieties and soil conditions. "In turn we are enhancing confidence across potato supply chains and maximising returns for all parties through reduced wastage and increased efficiency.” HarvestEye will be exhibiting at stand 27 at WPC 2022 alongside other potato technology innovators. Interested parties can also hear further from Vee as part of WPC’s speaking programme on Innovation the potato supply chain, taking place on 1 June at 10am. For more information about HarvestEye, visit https://www.harvesteye.com/ www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Potatoes & Root Crops
THE JERSEY ROYAL COMPANY RECOGNISED AS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING he Jersey Royal Company was officially launched as a LEAF Demonstration Farm by global sustainable farming organisation LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) in recognition of its high environmental standards and commitment to more sustainable and climate positive farming practices.
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and LEAF Marque certified business, in sharing our vision and inspiring other farmers. “We are incredibly proud that The Jersey Royal still leads the market as the besttasting, fresh, true seasonal new potato and is still one of only a few brands in the fruit and veg sector. It is also vital that consumers are aware of the steps farmers are taking to advance better,
As the largest farm on Jersey, farming around 8,300 vergées (1,800 ha) annually across 1,800 fields and employing up to 450 staff, it is a fully integrated business growing, packing and supplying around 20,000 tonnes of the internationally recognised and protected Jersey Royal new potatoes to more than 180 different destinations.
LEAF also announced the publication of the latest in its series of sustainable farming guidance booklets – Simply Sustainable Plastics, setting out simple and practical ways for farmers to manage on farm plastic waste more sustainably. Attendees saw examples of best practice in action and learnt how The Jersey Royal Company are cutting plastic waste by reducing the area of potatoes grown under cover by approximately 150Ha (20%), with this plastic being used twice before being shipped back to the UK to be recycled. In addition, the company also aims to have 100% of its prepack packaging to be fully recyclable by next season.
The Jersey Royal Company has a long-standing association with LEAF and was the first farm on the Island to become a member more than 25 years ago and went on to achieve LEAF Marque certification in 2005. In recent years, the business has been instrumental in driving forward a groundbreaking partnership with The Government of Jersey, which resulted in all the Island’s dairy and arable farmers becoming LEAF Marque certified in 2019 – making Jersey the first LEAF Marque Island in the world. With a continuous drive to implement more sustainable and nature-based farming excellence, through Integrated Farm Management, the business aims to continually reduce inputs, minimise energy use, reduce waste, sustainably manage soil and water, boost biodiversity and enhance landscape features and wildlife habitats.
smarter, more sustainable farming solutions. We are proud and honoured to have joined LEAF’s UK wide network of Demonstration Farms and excited about the opportunities it will offer as a platform for knowledge exchange and public engagement.”
Speaking at the launch Mike Renouard, Business Unit Director at The Jersey Royal Company said: “Integrated Farm Management is a real driver throughout the business. We continually look to develop, improve, and streamline practices to be more efficient, but crucially, more sustainable. We are delighted to have been recognised by LEAF for our approach to advancing more climate positive farming and we greatly look forward to the role we can play as a both a Demonstration Farm
Vicky Robinson, LEAF Director, Technical added: “This year LEAF celebrates its 30th anniversary and since its inception, LEAF Demonstration Farms have been core to all that LEAF stands for – innovation, practical and farmer led. We are embarking on an exciting new era and we remain as committed as ever to bold, ambitious and creative approaches to developing and promoting more sustainable, regenerative and circular farming and food systems. Our next 10-year strategy is built around three central themes
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focused on backing innovation, bringing together some of the smartest minds in agriculture, ensuring strong market incentives to drive uptake of more sustainable farming practices and connecting people with their food and how it is produced. LEAF’s network of Demonstration Farms and Innovation Centres are critical in ensuring that sustainable farming practices, delivered through IFM and evidenced by rigorous scientific research, reaches farmers on the ground. We are hugely honoured to welcome The Jersey Royal Company to the LEAF Network and delighted to take our long partnership to the next level.”
As a LEAF Demonstration Farm, The Jersey Royal Company joins 38 other Demonstration Farms from every farming sector and will promote the sustainable farming principles of IFM to other farmers as well as to industry organisations, politicians and community groups. The launch was attended by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Air Chief Marshal, Sir Stephen Dalton GCB and supported by Agrii, Jersey Water, Farm Jersey, Jersey Farmers Union, Rubis and David Dumosch, Agricultural and Horticultural Merchants. Simply Sustainable Plastics is the sixth in LEAF’s Simply Sustainable Series of technical guidance booklets covering soil, water, biodiversity, biosecurity and Integrated Pest Management.
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Welsh farm switch from beef to dairy by Claire Jones he thought of going into the dairy industry has been playing on our minds for a few years and when lockdown happened in March 2020 it gave us the chance to sit down and evaluate our farm business. Rearing a beef suckler herd between 90-150 cows, lambing around 300 Welsh ewes and both of us working to get extra income, we knew this was not the lifestyle we wanted. Especially with two young children. Stephen and I had taken over his family farm over 10 years ago and we were ready for a change. Then came lockdown and we finally decided now was the time to take the plunge. The children were a bit older, and we had the time to dedicate to the business. First thing we needed to secure was a milk contract. We have three lorries that pass our driveway, we approached all three and only one came back with a contract for us to sign (spring and autumn calving). Once the contract
British Friesians.
was in place we then had to sit down and decide what type of dairy farming we would like to do. We opted for a low input grass-based system as this suited our land. Considering I had never milked a cow before I was keen to get as much experience as possible so we both decided to go and look for work at a dairy farm. Finding a milking job from a reputable dairy farmer was a key factor to our success. I didn’t just want any milking job.
Farming Connect is a body funded by the Welsh Government to help farmers with training, advice and funding. We immediately contacted them, they helped us with business planning, training and grant applications. They also funded the farmer (whom we were milking for) to be our mentor. This is a fantastic service and I highly recommend it. To have someone who is just a phone call away to ask for advice has been a massive help. He is still involved within our farm and is currently helping us with our grazing platform. We are using a paddock grazing system, measuring grass and recording it on Agrinet. Watching how much more good quality grass we are now producing compared to before has been incredible. Looking at the structure of the farm we have had to make a lot of changes, in fact we needed to demolish all the farm sheds except for two existing steel buildings and a workshop. Our current yard at the time was also not on a level site so there was also a lot of digging work
With our milking job secured and gaining more knowledge every day we decided to go into the dairy industry as a heifer herd. Some called us bonkers, but many assured us it was the correct decision to do. Starting off with a clean herd. We managed to source majority of our spring calving heifers from a farmer who was in the process of leaving the industry and was about an hour and half drive away from us. British Friesian heifers with short leg, a lot of bone and strong feet. Exactly what we needed for our farm. We then sourced our Autumn calving heifers from Leominster which are a mixture of jersey cross and Friesian cross. I personally favorite the cross breeds however, Stephen is in favour of the 62 |
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involved too. With the old sheds gone and a level site we built a new cubicle shed for 148 cows, including
slurry channels and a feeding passage. With the spring and autumn calving block it was rather important that we could divide the shed into sections for dry cows and milking cows. Cow comfort was high on the list, so we went for the CozyCow mattrasses and the Teemore cubicles, feed barriers and handling system. Next on the list of items to buy was a parlour, we went for a 16/32 swing over Delaval parlour with ACR’s and milk meters. We did have a quote from a few other companies www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
however, we decided with the Delaval as they are located just 30 minutes away from us should any issues arise. The reasoning for a 16/32 size parlour was we don’t have the acreage to keep hundreds of cows and we are just a husband-and-wife team so needed it to be a size where we could manage as a single person milking if needed. Although we do tend to employ staff in the future. With recurrent lockdown’s I was keen to get majority of our expenses paid for in late 2020. I knew there would be an inflation on materials, so I managed to pay deposits and secure our shed, parlour, slurry pit, milk tank, and silo cake bin before the huge hike in prices. This wasn’t the case for certain things such as machinery hire, fuel and concrete. Spring calving approached and we have calved down 71 heifers to our own Angus bulls. We will also have another 70 heifers for the Autumn block. Calving was a success, hard work and very long days but it was worth it when you see the girls walking into the parlour. It was a very proud moment for us when we had our first ever milk collection. A day I will
never forget. Fellow dairy farmers near us have been a huge support to us and their encouragement has seen very reassuring. The heifers are producing on average 23 litres a day, BF 4.2 and Protein 3.36 eating 3kg of cake a day in the parlour. We are approaching the end of our spring breeding season and have used AI along side the Allflex collars with Belgian Blue and Hereford semen. The angus bulls will go out with them to sweep up any left-over next week.
Follow Claire on instagram: @_farmers_wife_ March May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Buildings
Designing buildings to withstand winter storms
y intention for this article was to present an update from the various British Standards committees on which I represent the interests of the agricultural sector.
Let’s start with some basic aerodynamics. When the wind blows over or around a building, it is forced to change direction and either speed up or slow down depending on the shape and orientation of the obstruction.
Then the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning and Storm Eunice arrived. Once again, the news was filled with fallen trees, displaced trampolines and cladding (roof and wall) ripped from modern buildings.
Where the wind blows directly onto a surface, the local external pressure will increase. Where the wind blows parallel to a wall or over a roof, it speeds up causing a decrease in the external air pressure. Unless the building is completely airtight, the wind will also change the internal pressure, either increasing or decreasing it.
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While the first two can be regarded as the expected norm when storms and gales hit our country, the sight of cladding sheets and panels flying around left me wondering whether the UK had just experienced the one in 50-year event that buildings are supposed to be designed for, or whether some buildings had not been designed properly. With this in mind, this article revisits the issue of wind loading on buildings and explains how buildings can be designed to withstand the worst of our winter storms. In the next issue, I shall look specifically at some of the detailing issues that affect the storm resistance of buildings. Wind forces on buildings 64 |
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The combination of changes to the internal and external air pressure results in either a net positive pressure (on windward facing walls, and the windward slopes of steep roofs) or a net suction (on leeward facing walls, on walls parallel to the direction of the wind and on roofs generally). From a building design point of view, it is important to understand that wind speed varies enormously with location and building geometry, meaning wind loading is site and building specific, so should be calculated for each and every building project.
Since the magnitude of the wind loading has a direct bearing on the design of the frame, column and rafter sizes for example, it follows that the design of every building is. It should come as no surprise that a building designed for a sheltered location in Oxfordshire may not be adequate if placed on a hilltop on the coast of Cornwall. Importantly, the wind force on the building is proportional to the square of the wind speed, so doubling the wind speed will produce four times the wind loading on the building. What are the factors that affect wind speed 1. Location Some parts of the country tend to experience higher wind speeds than others and this needs to be taken into account when calculating the wind loading on a building. To enable engineers without specialist meteorological expertise to judge the likely wind speed at a particular location, the available meteorological data has been analysed to produce a contoured wind map of the UK, which is published as part of the UK National Annex to BS www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Buildings EN 1991-1-4. The values shown on the map are magnitudes of the basic wind speed to which correction factors may be applied to take account of wind direction, altitude and exposure conditions. 2. Altitude Wind speed increases with altitude and this is accounted for by a correction factor that is applied to the basic wind speed. This is especially important for agricultural buildings, since many are constructed at altitudes higher than 200m above sea level, where wind speeds are significantly higher than those in low-lying locations. 3. Distance to sea The shorter the distance to the sea, the greater the wind speed because the wind loses energy and speed as it blows across land. The greatest reduction in wind speed occurs over the first few miles, meaning that locations on the coast experience much higher wind loading than sites only one or two miles inland. Cliff top sites that combine a coastal location with altitude, experience particularly high wind speeds. 4. Town or country Agricultural buildings are generally builtin exposed locations that do not benefit from the shelter provided by a surrounding town or city. This results in wind speeds which would be higher than would be experienced by comparable buildings located on an urban site. 5. Topography Topographical features such as hills can increase wind speed as the air is forced over them. For this reason, it is important for the person calculating the wind loading to have some familiarity with the site and not simply rely on postcodes. Local obstructions can have a significant impact on the wind speed, by providing shelter, for example, but this effect may vary across the site or even across the building footprint. 6. Wind direction In the UK, the strongest winds generally blow from the southwest, so a southwest facing coastal location is likely to experience stronger winds that one on the North Sea coast. As wind can - and does - blow from any direction, the factors listed above, in particular distance to the sea and distance into a town, need to be assessed for several points around the compass and the wind speed calculated for each direction. 7. Building height
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Taller buildings are exposed to stronger winds and this needs to be reflected in the wind loading calculations. For single storey buildings it is common practice to calculate the wind speed for the ridge height. For a multi-storey building, especially high rises, it is possible to divide the building into zones over its height, so that only the very top of the building is designed for the maximum wind loading. Design practice The wind forces acting on a building should be calculated using a recognised code of practice, which in the UK is BS EN 1991-1-4. This is one of the structural Eurocodes and is applicable across Europe, although each country has its own National Annex containing nationally determined parameters and specific national recommendations. The calculation method in BS EN 1991-1-4 is complex and requires specialist technical knowledge, so it is essential wind loading calculations are undertaken by a qualified structural or civil engineer. By far the simplest approach is to use one of the many software tools currently available. These range from commercially available packages that take account of all of the factors noted above to free online tools that produce reasonable, but conservative, results with minimal input from the user.
the more conservative (i.e., higher) the wind loading, so building designers face a trade-off between design effort and the cost of materials. Taking a one size fits all approach and designing all buildings for the worst possible wind load will result in overdesigned structures and is not recommended. On the other hand, calculating the wind pressures to the nth degree for a standard industrial unit or agricultural building is an unnecessary expense that will probably give little or no saving in material costs compared to the standard design approaches. The standard approach presented in BS EN 1991-1-4 and employed by many software tools is a pragmatic way of ensuring that buildings are safe and efficient without needing too much effort at the design stage. While employing an engineer to calculate the wind loading may seem to be an unnecessary additional cost, the cost of not doing so is almost certain to be greater, either in additional steel or the cost of remedial measures when the building encounters its first storm. Dr Martin Heywood RIDBA Technical Consultant
Several steel purlin manufacturers include wind loading tools as part of their specification software which are free to customers. In many cases, the precise site location may be specified in the software by its postcode or grid reference. Alternatively, various online resources may be used to obtain the grid reference, altitude and other location data. Thanks to Google, even the local topography and surrounding terrain may be surveyed without leaving the office. The simpler the design approach, May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Energy
Farmers will find their place in the sun by investing in solar farming electing the right location means solar farms can generate income, improve biodiversity, and boost farms' green credentials explains Pieter D'haen, development manager at power firm SSE Energy Solutions.
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Travelling through the countryside, it's easy to see how rural businesses have contributed to the fight against climate change. Those existing wind turbines, anaerobic digesters, and other devices dotted across the landscape will become even more important as the UK stretches to reach its net-zero targets by electrifying transport and heat. However, many farmers who are still looking for ways to decarbonise while generating new income have turned to solar panels as they have high potential and multiple benefits. Here are some things to consider when thinking about solar developments. Where can solar panels be installed? Picking the right location is key as there are certain considerations to take into account. It's tempting to think that securing planning permission will be enough, but what about a grid connection to sell power from the solar farm into the wider electricity network? Sites must be within good proximity of a grid connection point – if there's a substation nearby then that's normally a good indication that connections could be available. When it comes to the land itself then there are some obvious considerations that will minimise concerns at the planning stage. Look for flat land that faces south, which isn't prone to flooding, and which is
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classed as agricultural grade three or four. As for the size of land, companies tend to prefer working with sites of at least 100 acres. Flexibility is key – developers change over time, so it's worth carrying out research beforehand to make sure a variety of partners could be interested in working with the site. What are the costs and return on investment? As a source of additional income, farmers can consider renting out a location to a solar developer. The easiest way is to rent each acre at a set price. Roughly, landowners could expect to receive income of between £750-£1,200 per acre per year. A medium-sized solar farm is around 200 acres, so that's an annual income of around £200,000. The lifespan of solar panels has increased in recent years, so these days it's typical to enter into a 40-year agreement to lease land, with a possibility to upgrade as the technology is updated. A more sophisticated option is for a landowner to take a percentage of the revenue generated from selling electricity to the grid. This option exposes landowners to the ups and downs of the electricity market though – while energy prices are climbing at the moment, there's no guarantee that they'll continue to rise. What are the benefits? Solar panels are much more efficient than they used to be. In the past ten years, they have essentially doubled their capacity while
maintaining their size, which means farmers who previously rejected the investment due to high costs might now be able to revisit the idea as the return on their investment is likely to be greater. One of the best aspects of a solar farm is that the land can also continue to be used for other purposes. Grazing sheep – but not cattle – around solar arrays helps to keep vegetation trimmed back. Additionally, there is a benefit to biodiversity from having solar farms: according to a CIRIA study, farms with control plots had 10 plant species compared to 25 species in solar farms. This is especially relevant as the UK Environment Act 2021 now requires farms to demonstrate a biodiversity net gain in their activities. Aligning with global commitments to beating climate change is high on the agricultural community's agenda, and farmers are keen to find new ways to reduce their environmental impact and comply with increasingly tight regulations. Solar is a technology that's come on leaps and bounds – it's low cost, reliable and has minimal impact on landscapes or communities. Amid all the changes to countryside payments, solar could contribute to diversified income streams for farms, estates, and other businesses – solar's prospects appear bright. Pieter D'haen is development manager at power firm SSE Energy Solutions
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| Energy
Renewables are do-able if you listen to the experts he politicisation of energy is proving yet another motivator for self-sufficiency and renewable solutions. Kris Johnson, of insurance broker Lycetts, looks at how farmers are reacting and offers advice on the steps they can take.
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With latest figures revealing that renewables accounted for 39 per cent of total electricity generation in 2021 (1)– the second highest amount on record – the appetite for green energy is strong. A driving force is the UK’s commitment to ensuring all electricity comes from clean energy sources by 2035. The opportunities presented to farmers and landowners are being realised, and the realisation is dawning that helping save the planet could also help to save their livelihoods. Considerable bottom line savings can be made by farmers generating their own electricity to power machinery and equipment. In addition, surplus electricity can be sold under the government’s Smart Export Guarantee scheme. Entering the renewables market is symptomatic of the strong desire – and even necessity – to embrace diversification. Indeed, more than half (53 per cent) of farmers surveyed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that they are looking to diversify into non-traditional farming areas in the next three to five years (2). Going solo or sharing the risk?
obvious and popular natural resources used by farmers to generate electricity. According to DEFRA, 12,600 farms have already diversified into solar energy, with the average income from these enterprises standing at £3,100 per farm, per year.
The latter can include everything from liability for workers and third parties, theft and damage caused by fire, hail or storms, to the repair or replacement of equipment, such as solar panels, caused by electrical or mechanical breakdowns.
Inevitably, the amount – and associated profitability – of electricity generated by solar and wind power is subject to the vagaries of the UK weather. Faced with this uncertainty, the more cautious farmer may opt to rent out land to developers with greater experience in the industry.
For any farmer or landowner considering entering the renewables field – or extending existing operations – it is essential they seek specialist advice from an insurer or broker.
Many large-scale projects are being developed and operated by renewable energy specialists, who will pay farmers and landowners rents of up to £1,000 per acre. However, while this relieves the landowner from some of the pressures and worries, it must be remembered that liability remains with them. Seek out a specialist The importance of getting specialist insurance advice is exemplified in the case of solar panels. Many ground-mounted installations have been fitted without protection against cattle damage or intruders looking to cause malicious damage or steal vital components. Robust fencing and CCTV can mitigate against these risks and indeed, are often requirements of insurers. Across the lifecycle of a renewable project, insurable risks can range from those faced during construction, commissioning and testing – including damage during the build, start-up delays and advanced loss of profits – to a scheme’s day-to-day operation.
Insurance cover is available for renewable energy construction and installation, and specialist engineering policies can be taken out to protect against equipment breakdown and associated losses of income. For equipment deemed less reliable, premiums may prove extremely costly and, in some cases, may be uninsurable making the business unviable. Close communication with an insurer or broker throughout any development is therefore essential, particularly during periods of project transition when gaps in cover can inadvertently occur. Diversifying into renewables can certainly create profit, but unless you are fully aware of the risks, attempting to go green could leave you in the red. 1)Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Energy Trends, March 31, 2022 2)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Farmer Opinion Tracker for England: October 2021
Sun and wind power are two of the most
Burges Salmon advises Bluefield Solar Income Fund on acquisition of UK-based solar and wind portfolio Burges Salmon has advised long-standing client Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF) on the acquisition of a 93.2MWp UK-based solar and wind portfolio and its entry into a new £200m revolving credit facility, bringing its total portfolio of assets to 766MWp.
BSIF is a fast expanding UK focused investment company, primarily investing in the acquisition and long term management of low carbon assets. It has an enviable position in the renewable energy market with an eye firmly on growth – BSIF chair John Rennocks, said the company continues to assess “a strong pipeline of opportunities across both primary and secondary markets” – as the world’s energy markets move away from fossil fuels towards a low carbon and sustainable future.
The new solar and wind portfolio is BSIF’s largest acquisition to date, consisting of fifteen solar photovoltaic plants with a total installed capacity of 64.9MWp and four wind farms with a total installed capacity of 28.3MWp. It represents the third acquisition of operational assets BSIF has made in the last 12 months. The acquisition is financed by a new £200m revolving credit facility provided by RBSi and Santander UK which has refinanced existing arrangements and supports the groups ambitious growth plans.
The Burges Salmon team working on the deal was led by partners Jonathan Eves (Corporate) and Victoria Allsopp (Banking & Finance), along with associates Bethan Penrhyn-Jones and Luke Addison, senior associates Peter Dunn and Chris Herford and solicitors Benjamin Edwards and Harrison Folland, all from the firm’s Energy team. The firm also provided support across the full spectrum of expertise including Projects, Real Estate, Planning, Construction and Engineering, and Corporate Tax teams.
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irm advises the low carbon assets-focused investment company on new portfolio of renewable energy generation assets
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Baiju Devani, UK Investment Director at Bluefield Partners LLP, Investment Adviser to Bluefield Solar, says: “This is a hugely exciting acquisition for Bluefield Solar Income Fund, adding a substantial number of highly regulated solar assets as well as operational wind assets to the company’s portfolio. It was brilliant to have the Burges Salmon team working with us again on both the acquisition and the expansion of the RCF – their advice, dedication and expertise throughout the process was instrumental in helping us get to a successful close.” Jonathan Eves comments: “This strategic acquisition is BSIF’s largest operational portfolio expansion to date, marking a fantastic opportunity for the company and enabling it to further its growth targets. This is a landmark renewable energy sector transaction for our long-standing client and we look forward to continuing to partner with BSIF as it achieves its growth aspirations.”
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| Grassland & Muck
https://www.claas.co.uk The ARION 600 and 500 range - the new mid-range standard Assisting you, wherever it is needed. One of our most popular tractors has just got even better thanks to a host of new functions developed by our engineers in consultation with ARION drivers. After all, they work in the field every day, so they know exactly what they want.
For more information contact:
Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lodge Farm, Broughton Road, Frolesworth, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5EH Telephone: 01455 209300 https://www.sharnfordtractors.co.uk
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| Grassland & Muck
Top tips for spring grass management gainst a back drop of rising input costs, farmers need to look at maximising the output from their grassland by focussing on a few key agronomy management practices, is the advice from Jim Clark, Carlisle-based agronomist with Hutchinsons.
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This means looking at grass more as an arable crop such as creating a long term plan for reseeding and controlling weeds and a soil health plan. The most important step is often the first, and managing grassland is no different. Get out and walk the grass, and really look at its condition. So, take note of how much cover there is across the field, what is the weed burden particularly in relation to docks, and also any poaching and compaction. Take some soil samples as you go to check your pH,P and K levels. Poached and compacted soils carry a higher weed burden, chickweed can be a particular issue, but docks are a major problem this spring as a result of a milder winter and stock out-wintered for longer causing bare soil - and docks love open ground. Choose grass varieties with the weed burden and herbicide options in mind. For example if including clover in the sward, many dock and chickweed herbicides will knock this out as well, so its important to plan ahead when thinking about reseeding and if fields have a high weed burden sow a short term or even a different crop for a few years to get them under control before sowing your clover and herbal lays. Remember that some herbicides are much kinder to the grass when carrying out weed www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
control than others and you don’t want to check the grass growth in spring, so use a softer product based around Fluroxypyr. When reseeding, seed to soil contact is essential for good establishment. So unless the soil is bare avoid a scratch harrow air drill. When direct drilling seeds into the sward, temperature is key to success. Cooler temps of 6-8∞C suit Italians and Westerwolds, but later perennials and clover need 9-10∞C. Grass should be sown before applying slurry, particularly if going on in bands, as if drilled after the slurry is applied it is much harder for the drills to penetrate the soil which affects soil: seed contact. Five Top Tips for grass management 1.
Look closely at the soils for compaction or poaching and plan any sward restoration work around this.
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Know the weed burden in each field. Recognise that docks need a specific management plan.
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Choose grass varieties carefully taking into account suitable herbicide programmes.
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Choose the correct reseeding approach depending on sward quality and soil temps
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Time slurry applications to compliment the best possible establishment.
For more information contact Jim Clark on email jim.clark@hlhltd.co.uk mobile 07841 451383
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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||Forestry Energy
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||Forestry Energy
New guide for forest managers to help adapt woodlands for climate change new guide setting out how landowners and managers can adapt their woodlands in the face of climate change has been published today (Saturday 14th May) by the Forestry Commission, Scottish Forestry, Natural Resources Wales and the Northern Ireland Forest Service, as National Plant Health Week draws to a close.
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The UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide ‘Adapting forest and woodland management to the changing climate’ outlines the steps that can be taken to foster woodlands which will be resilient to current and future threats as a result of climate change, such as drought, changing weather patterns and more frequent, severe weather events. For our forests and woodlands to thrive, adaptation measures must be considered carefully. The guide presents a range of such measures, including diversifying the different types of trees planted across a landscape – such as changing the dominant species – to increase biodiversity. It also advises choosing seeds best suited for the local site and climate to reduce the risks associated with drought, frost, and pests and diseases. It is also recommended that landowners and foresters consider encouraging more natural regeneration. Naturally regenerated areas may reduce wind, drought, frost, pest and disease risk where individuals are better adapted to changing local site conditions. Chair of the Forestry Commission, Sir William Worsley said: “The woodlands of the future need to be planted and managed differently if they are to be resilient to our changing climate. “By planting a more diverse range of tree species in the right place and in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard, we can foster healthy and thriving treescapes across the country. This new Guide will help land managers protect our precious woodlands and ensure their resilience for years to come.”
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Today’s publication follows a range of announcements throughout this week promoting the benefits of healthy trees and plants, as part of National Plant Health Week (9-15 May). These include the launch of the Forest Research Holt Laboratory and the Centre for Forest Protection, both of which will conduct innovative research into tree pests and diseases, as well as ways to manage emerging threats from climate change. Woodland creation is an important part of the wider adaptation of society to climate change, as forests and woodlands can provide shade and shelter, give flood protection, and reduce both air pollution and soil erosion. Growing trees removes carbon dioxide from the air, stores the carbon in wood products throughout their life and helps manage the risk of flooding. Implementing these steps into everyday forest management will support the delivery of the England Trees Action Plan, which sets out the Government’s long-term plan for the nation’s trees, woodlands and forests. It will also underpin wider Government efforts to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, plant 30,000 hectares of trees across the UK per year by 2025, and achieve Net Zero by 2050. The Guide has been produced by Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission and Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research. The UKFS Practice Guide to ‘Adapting forest and woodland management to the changing climate’ can be downloaded free of charge from the Forest Research online publications catalogue. Hard copies will also be available shortly (£12 per copy). More information on supporting resources for the Guide is available here.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Mental Health
NFU raises over £6,000 for rural mental health charity T he NFU has led a 130-mile egg and spoon relay raising more than £6,000 for the rural mental health charity YANA (You Are Not Alone).
The relay was in memory of NFU poultry member and former Poultry Industry Programme Chair Patrick Joice, who suffered from depression following the diagnosis of a rare cancer which claimed his life in 2019. Throughout his illness he was committed to increasing awareness around mental health. More than 30 people took part to carry an egg and spoon from Norfolk to Warwickshire, where it was carried over the finish line at the Pig and Poultry Fair by Patrick’s family. 72 |
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NFU poultry board chair James Mottershead took part in the relay. He said: “This event was a fantastic way to show our support for charities like YANA and honour Patrick’s legacy. “There are so many people who rely on charities like YANA to help support their mental health and every penny raised through this event will help YANA continue this vital work in rural communities. “I also hope this fundraiser helps to continue Patrick’s legacy in opening up the conversation around mental health and shows anyone who may be struggling in silence that help is out there.”
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Farming people aren’t ‘invincible’
At RABI, we understand that the farming community is facing complex challenges. This is why we’re evolving our services to support those changing needs. Through a network of local support, we aim to get people back on track and improve farmer resilience. Registered Charity Number 208858
Call us today 0808 281 9490 / rabi.org.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Security
Increased security risk as unaccompanied trailers top one million TrailerLock holds universal key to fridge trailer and sea container security ccording to a report from the Department for Transport, recent trends in road freight have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. In 2020, Road goods vehicles made 3.2 million trips travelling from Great Britain to Europe, a 6% decrease compared to the previous year.
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However, of this 3.2 million, the report highlights a significant increase in unaccompanied trailer traffic to over 1 million – 42% to the Netherlands and 28% to Ireland – and as such, the risk of theft and attempts to stow away in unsecure trailers is increased. Helping operators to combat this problem, TrailerLock have introduced a new universal key for their Fridge trailer and sea container door lock, which means that any driver can access any trailer using a common key. All operators need to do is secrete the key under the trailer (and advise their forwarding counterpart as such) or mail a key in advance – 74 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
or to be doubly sure, do both. Manufactured from solid steel, simple to operate and resistant to bolt-croppers and crowbars, FridgeLock is extendable and fits most types of surface-mounted door furniture – particularly for temperature-controlled trailers and containers. More information at www.trailerlock.uk.com A barrel lock, protected by a coated steel cap, needs just a half turn to open the two sections of the device, which is then adjusted for length and clamped over each of the vertical door rods. In addition to protecting the vehicle load itself, FridgeLock protects drivers and continental operators by reducing the possibility of Border Force penalties, which can run into many tens of thousands of pounds. The lock is also ideal for domestic traffic, especially when vehicles are parked up overnight.
Currently, ‘civil penalties for clandestine entrants’ amount to £4,000 per illegal entrant - £2,000 to be paid by the driver and £2,000 to be paid by the haulier. If these penalties are not paid, the vehicle can be seized and held until payment is made. If the penalty is not paid at all, the vehicle can be destroyed. Simon Clarke of Smith Bowyer Clarke, specialist road transport lawyers, further explains: “We have around 10 new instructions per week where hauliers are seeking to appeal against the imposition of penalties for clandestine entrants running into the tens of thousands of pounds. In some cases, having to pay these penalties would mean the company going out of business. We are well used to dealing with penalties in the range of £20,000 to £40,000; we have just closed one case where a haulier had imposed against him a £68,000 penalty, reduced by us on appeal to £20,000.”
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Security
According to continental operator Tarrant International, FridgeLock has proved to be effective and simple to use in their temperature-controlled vehicle fleet. “Quick, strong and uncomplicated,” says Director Fergal Tarrant. “We also use other locks but this one does the job.” Regarding the potential perils of
trailer break-ins, Simon Clarke adds,
robust lock that cannot be disarmed.”
“Drivers may be vigilant in checking their vehicles; however, thousands of illegal immigrants hide inside trucks heading for the UK each year. Despite Border Force accepting that a driver and haulier have no idea that the illegal immigrants were inside the truck, penalties will be imposed. One of the best ways to prevent this is by securing the doors of a trailer with a
Available from the sole UK, Ireland and US distributor, TrailerLock Tel: 01934 712701 or 01326 340502 Email: info@trailerlock.uk.comb Web: www.trailerlock.uk.com TrailerLock is part of M1 Marketing Group
Tel: 01455 891929 M I D Business Centre/Sapcote Rd, Burbage, Hinckley, LE10 2AU
NationWide Service
http://www.multiindustrialdoors.co.uk sales@multiindustrialdoors.co.uk
• Galvanised Roller Shutters
• Steel Fire Exit Doors
• Plastisol Colour Coated Roller Shutters
• Fast Acting High Speed Doors
• Insulated Roller Shutters
• Dock Leveler/Loading Bay Installations
• Sectional Overhead Doors
• PVC Strip Curtains
• Steel 10 Point Locking Security/Personnel Door
• and many more products
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Livestock
Fertility focus at Beef Expo
Herd monitoring technology improves conception rates through accurate heat detection and optimised insemination timing ith the use of sexed semen to breed replacement heifers and accelerate the genetic progression of beef herds becoming increasing commonplace, Allflex Livestock Intelligence’s focus at this year’s Beef Expo event (Darlington Farmers Market, 28th May 2022) will be to showcase the role of technology in ensuring conceptions rates from sexed semen remain on par with those from conventional semen.
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SenseHub collars and monitoring ear tags have been proven to accurately and reliably detect more than 95% of heats, including the majority of silent heats. “This information is subsequently relayed to the herd manager or AI technician as
“To help beef farmers understand more about how technology can improve their herds’ fertility scores from sexed semen, Allflex’s team of herd monitoring experts will be at the Beef Expo event to showcase the SenseHub system and to
easy to interpret graphs and text alerts to ensure each animal, irrespective of whether she is ear-marked to receive sexed or conventional semen, is inseminated at the optimum time. As such, each animal will have a higher chance of conceiving,” Paul Mitcham adds.
offer practical heat detection and insemination timing advice.”
“Because the sorting process can make sexed semen slightly less durable than conventional semen, conception rates from the former tend to lag 10-15% behind those typically achieved from conventional inseminations,” explains Paul Mitcham, Allflex’s monitoring sales manager in the UK. “For this reason, as well as safeguarding its viability by ensuring sexed semen is stored and handled with care and precision, it is also vital that sexed semen is used at the optimum timing. For conventional semen the general rule of thumb is for artificial insemination to take place at around 8 to 14 hours after peak heat, but for sexed semen this should be delayed to between 14 and 20 hours. “Relying on visual heat detection makes it difficult to determine exactly when each heat starts,” Paul continues, “which is why more and more herd managers are turning to technology to accurately detect the onset of oestrus.” The advanced electronics housed within the latest generation of Allflex’s 76 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
For more information go to www.allflex.co.uk or visit the Allflex stand at Beef Expo.
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Livestock
Return of UK's Annual Beef Event - NBA Beef Expo The UK's only event dedicated to the British Beef Industry, The National Beef Association's annual Beef Expo event returns with an outstanding display of cattle classes, trade stands and seminar speakers he beef sector is facing huge change and challenge, so keeping abreast of developments is vital and that is exactly what the 2022 NBA Beef Expo aims to do. With thousands expected to attend the British beef industry's annual flagship event, NBA Beef Expo will take place at Darlington Farmer's Auction Mart, on Saturday 28th May.
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for the fourth year at the event. "As well as the cattle show, Beef Expo is a platform for knowledge sharing and networking, through the exhibition of trade stands and demonstrations and the phenomenal line-up of seminar speakers. These really are world leaders in their fields, and the knowledge and information they will bring will be invaluable." Said Neil.
for the TB Advisory Service and member of the bTB Partnership; Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Sustainable Sourcing for Wm Morrison PLC; and Boehringer Ingelheim's Ruminant Veterinary Adviser, Kath Aplin. As in previous years, one of the highlights is the Farm Tours, which will take place on Friday 27th May prior to Beef Expo and will feature a large beef
With over 100 head of some of the UK's best commercial cattle, representation from the UK's main cattle breed societies, and a programme of seminars with globally renowned speakers, this is a major annual event in the beef industry's calendar. Hosted by the National Beef Association (NBA), it is the UK's only event dedicated to the British beef industry and provides an important opportunity for farmers to access expert knowledge and advice. Alongside the show of cattle, Beef Expo will also welcome a line-up of breed society stands and trade exhibitors, bringing the latest research developments, technology, and innovation. This gives beef farmers the chance to view demonstrations and discuss potential options and ideas to improve productivity and efficiency at home. An important part of the day are the series of seminars, this year's programme focusses on industry sustainability and animal health and welfare. Commenting ahead of this year's event, NBA Chief Executive, Neil Shand, said: "It's fantastic to be opening the doors on the NBA Beef Expo once again, especially with such an incredible programme. Cattle entries are tremendous, and we have two extremely experienced and knowledgeable judges casting an eye over them in the showring." Over 120 head of some of the UK's best commercial cattle will be presented for judging before experienced Welsh duo, Bryn Lloyd and Daffyd Lewis. Bryn will judge the Native and Continental classes, as well as the Supreme Championship, while Dafydd will judge the Baby Beef classes, Baby Championship and Young Handlers. With an overall prize fund of £6000, this year, the National Commercial Cattle Show will consist of 10 classes, including the new class for steers by any other Continental or Cross Bred sire. In addition, the South Devon Cattle Society will host its Performance Championship www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Seminars speakers include specialist Professor Alice Stanton RCSI, who has done invaluable work on the importance of red meat to human health; Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner, who currently serves on the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Food, Farming, Fisheries and Rural Affairs; Christine Middlemiss, the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer; and Will Jackson, AHDB's Strategy Director for Beef and Lamb. Seminar Timetable: •
10:00 – 11:00 Future Agriculture Support
•
11:30 – 13:00 Sustainable Beef Sourcing, Production and the Benefits for Human Health
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13:30 – 14:30 Health & Welfare
•
15:00 – 16:00 MEAT the Team
Animal
Also included in the line-up are independent Livestock Sustainability Consultant, Dr. Jude Capper; Sarah Tomlinson, MRCVS, Technical Director
finishing unit, and one of the foremost Limousin breeders in the north of England. Opening their farm gates are the Richardson family from Bracken House, Melsonby, North Yorkshire, and the Suddes family from South Farm, Cornsay, County Durham. The 2022 NBA Beef Expo is supported by mainline sponsors Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, Vickers and Barrass, Farmers Guardian, Dunbia, Woodhead Brothers, Morrisons, Limousin, AHDB, Lely and Boehringer Ingelheim. In concluding Neil said: "This is the annual event for the Beef Industry, and we are all absolutely delighted that we have been able to bring together a world class line up. It is going to be a true celebration of the beef farming sector. The support which we have received from everyone at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, our many sponsors, the Committee and our volunteers has been tremendous – without them this event really would not be possible." Tickets for Beef Expo and the Farm Tours can be purchased online in advance at https://bit.ly/BeefExpoTickets.
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| Livestock
New data from broiler benchmarking platform shows scope to improve intestinal health
atest data from Elanco’s Health Tracking System (HTSi) shows an overall drop in broiler intestinal health, highlighting a crucial opportunity for producers to improve feed efficiency and bird performance.
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The 2021 HTSi report, launched at Pig and Poultry Fair, analysed animal health data from 5,988 necropsied birds, covering over 90% of the UK broiler market, providing a unique insight into the status of bird health and Intestinal Integrity in UK&I broilers. “HTSi collects data that incorporates multiple lesions to assess all the important markers of bird health. This includes gut health, locomotor function, respiratory integrity and bird welfare,” said Tom Hepburn, EKS Technology & Analytics, Poultry International at Elanco. With the intestines arguably the most important body system of the broiler, Mr Hepburn explained that Intestinal Integrity is one of the key parameters monitored within HTSi. “The programme generates an Intestinal Integrity score known as I2, which takes into consideration 23 intestinal health lesions including coccidiosis to give a score of between 0 and 100. A score of 78 |
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90 or below indicates poor intestinal health and is when producers see a significant impact on feed conversion ratio (FCR) and bird performance,” he said. The 2021 report shows that the I2 index of UK&I flocks in 2021, was overall lower than in 2020 and 2019. Scores declined throughout the winter of 2020 and this continued into the spring of 2021. While post April, there was a steady increase in I2 score, this then plateaued. According to Mr Hepburn, this could be due to seasonal challenges and because the coccidiosis challenge in 2021 was higher, with report data indicating a stronger and longer peak challenge from E. acervulina and E. maxima across the cycle, the two most prevalent species of coccidiosis in the UK&I. Either way, he said the data highlights scope for improvement in I2, which could generate significant financial benefits. “As I2 improves, so will FCR and average daily gain (ADG). Maximising feed efficiency and improving these key performance indicators (KPIs) as a result, will always deliver a cost benefit, but even more so during times of high feed prices, such as at present.
“For every one unit increase in I2, ADG increases by 0.04g and FCR improves by 0.13 points. So, for example, if you’ve got an FCR of 1.520 and the I2 score moves from 90 to 100, FCR will improve to 1.507.” To put this into perspective, Mr Hepburn said that a poultry company producing 100 million broilers per year, could see an income boost of £572,000 by improving their I2 by five points, something that is very achievable with the right interventions. “Improving Intestinal Integrity and gut health is key to sustainable broiler production with environmental, economic and social benefits to be seen from managing coccidiosis as well as other gut lesions. “With this in mind, data from Elanco’s Health Tracking System (HTSi) is an extremely powerful tool that enables poultry businesses to monitor the performance of birds, better understand flock health and drive towards future improvements,” concluded Mr Hepburn. A full version of Elanco’s latest HTSi report can be found here: https:// www.myelanco.co.uk/brand/htsi.
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Livestock
Top-Ranking Dairy Herd Opens Gates for Gold Cup Open Day on 5 July ne of the UK's highest ranking dairy herds on £PLI is opening its gates for the renowned Gold Cup Open Day on 5th July at Stapleford Abbotts, near Romford, Essex.
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The event, which historically attracts thousands of dairy farmers and industry representatives, is at this year's winners of the 2020 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup trophy, the Torrance family of the Curtismill pedigree Holstein herd. John Torrance – who farms in partnership with father Robert, mother Janet and wife Lucy, were crowned winners at the recent Dairy-Tech event at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. The Curtismill herd comprises 670 cows and 430 followers and is part of their
farming business run on 429 hectares of Crown Estate land, just inside the M25 corridor. Ranking among the top UK herds for PLI, the family's focus is on efficiency, and they aim to breed cows that will produce 70,000 litres of milk during an average of five lactations. The average annual yield (September 2021) for this all-year-round calving housed herd, which is milked three times a day, was 13,700kg of milk sold, at 4.08% fat and 3.26% protein, with a calving interval of 382 days. Visitors to the event will hear how the team's close attention to detail in the cow environment and parlour routine and commitment to the key disease control and eradication schemes for dairy herds contributes to the low disease incidence
and high health status seen in this herd. Event organiser Matt Knight, Managing Director of RABDF, said: "The Torrance family scooped the Gold Cup in the competition's hundredth year, making this year's celebration more special. "We will have a jam-packed day consisting of farm tours, talk stations, and plenty of trade stands for visitors to attend. "This herd is exceptional, with breeding and cow management key to its success. There will be lots for visitors to see and take home from the day." The event is free to attend, but prior registration is required. To register and for more information, please go to https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/326280793637 .
Survey seeks farmers' views on GHG emission reduction
Farmers are being asked to complete a survey to help reduce methane emissions
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eef and dairy farmers are being asked for their views on the role of precision livestock farming technologies in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Researchers at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) have shared a survey about enteric methane emissions – the single largest source of direct GHG in beef and dairy systems – as part of the EU-funded GrASTech project. The project, led by Belgian colleagues ILVO (Flanders research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food), focuses on the management of grassland and grazing cattle to reduce GHG emissions. It aims to identify best management practices and precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies - both to support management decisions that directly target GHG mitigation and to reduce technical inefficiencies such as ill health, infertility and deaths, that increase emissions intensity indirectly. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
The anonymous survey will take around ten minutes to complete.
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Livestock
A NEW MILK TESTING SERVICE OFFERED TO FARMERS urofins Food & Water Testing UK and Ireland is launching a brand new service across Scotland to further support the milk production industry.
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Eurofins in Galashiels has expanded its range of testing services with the launch of its very first tailored milk testing matrix, including those most commonly relied on by milk farmers Psychrotrophs, Thermodurics, Coliforms, and Total Viable Count (TVC).
sector. With the lab's existing knowledge, tools, and equipment, we're delighted to launch our very first specialist milk testing suite to support those working in the industry. "We're committed to improving food safety standards across the UK, and our
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The range of tests will allow farmers to gain valuable insight into the effectiveness of the cleaning practices within their facilities. If not effective, high levels of bacteria can result, subsequently increasing the risk of receiving penalties from milk purchasers. Eurofins Galashiels employs 38 fulltime employees specialising in microbiology testing services.
The tests will provide an insight to farmers on where improvements can be made in the milking parlour from a cleaning and hygiene perspective. Dan Oliver, Commercial Director at Eurofins Food & Water Testing, explained: "As a specialist microbiology lab, Galashiels has often been outsourced by third parties to undertake a variety of tests for the milk farming
given the financial situation many businesses are currently facing, we will be making the service as cost efficient for our customers as possible."
new suite has safety and efficiency at its core. Not only does it meet the desired testing requirements of the industry, but
Dan added. "We're still in the early stages of the launch so are currently refining the process of sending samples to make it even simpler, but at the moment samples can be sent to us with an ice pack using a 24hour courier service."
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Livestock
NSA and Moredun work together to support UK sheep farmers ith a shared passion of providing valuable advice to UK sheep farmers, the National Sheep Association (NSA) and Moredun have a long history of working closely together to ensure a sustainable, healthy and productive UK sheep flock.
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With both NSA and Moredun committed to this collaboration both organisations are pleased to announce their continued working relationship for the years ahead offering members of both associations with ongoing access to a package of benefits the affiliation between the two provides. Professor Lee Innes, Moredun Director of Communications says: “Moredun is delighted to be working with NSA to progress our very successful relationship to promote new knowledge and developments in the health and welfare of sheep through successful disease prevention and control. We are really looking forward to the upcoming NSA events this summer to have the opportunity to meet with people and show some of our science in action in our new Moredun Mobile Laboratory.” Working together NSA and Moredun
communicate key messages to UK sheep farmers through NSA Sheep Farmer magazine, at NSA meetings, Moredun factsheets sharing news of their ground breaking research work and at NSA events. NSA is therefore excited to welcome Moredun back to this summer’s NSA Scot Sheep and NSA Sheep Event where their latest research will be shared with thousands of sheep farmers. Taking place on Wednesday 1st June at Over Finlarg Farm, Dundee NSA Scot Sheep will welcome the Moredun Mobile Laboratory bus and stand that will share information on research into infection diseases of sheep. The bus will then make its way south joining NSA Sheep Event at the Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire on Wednesday 27th July. For those not able to attend an NSA event face-to-face this summer NSA and Moredun will be hosting online webinars this July and August on a range of topics meaning everyone can benefit from the advice of Moredun experts and experienced sheep farmers. Webinars will take place on: •
discussing ticks and tick borne diseases •
Tuesday 16th August at 7:30pm discussing sheep scab: How to test, control and quarantine
More information on the leading industry experts joining NSA and Moredun for the webinars will be shared on the NSA website soon. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “NSA is of course thrilled to continue working with Moredun. As a world leading research facility there is no better organisation to go to for information on sheep health that we can confidently pass on to our sheep farming members as advice that can be relied upon to maintain or improve flock health. NSA looks forward to working with Moredun this summer and beyond.” More information on the work between NSA and Moredun can be found on the NSA website at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/nsaand-moredun.
Thursday 7th July at 7.30pm
RCVS Knowledge launches new SMART goals tool to improve antimicrobial use eterinary charity RCVS Knowledge is pleased to announce the launch of its Farm Vet Champions SMART goals tool, which allows veterinary teams who treat farm animals to set goals to help target, track and improve their antimicrobial prescribing.
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their learning into action and help them manage their antimicrobial use in practice. Fiona Lovatt, Farm Vet Champions Clinical Lead, says: “I am so excited to see the launch of our SMART goal tool. It is both engaging and simple to use, and I expect it will encourage practice teams to motivate each other to track their progress in their stewardship activities.
The new tool is an addition to the Farm Vet Champions programme, which supports veterinary teams with knowledge and resources to ensure antimicrobials are used responsibly for the benefit of animals, the public and society. The new resource is completely free and available through the RCVS Knowledge Learn platform.
“I am extremely grateful to the experienced team at RCVS Knowledge as well as our dedicated steering group from across the veterinary and agricultural organisations who have partnered with us to develop this amazing resource.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global crisis that puts us all at risk of developing untreatable and potentially fatal infections. AMR is no longer a silent pandemic; it is vital that we use antimicrobials responsibly before millions of lives are lost.
“It is such a critical time to ensure we are using antimicrobials responsibly so that they will work when patients really need them. We all have a responsibility to fight antimicrobial resistance. The good news is there is a lot we can do – one of those things is getting involved with Farm Vet Champions, enhancing our skills and adapting our practice.”
Since Farm Vet Champions launched in May 2021, almost 700 Farm Vet Champions have had access to its free, ondemand CPD covering species-specific modules, behaviour change and communications and the legal use of veterinary medicines, in a variety of formats, including articles, webinars and podcasts. The new SMART goals tool will provide additional to help veterinary teams, to turn
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Fraser Broadfoot, Head of Antibiotic Use and Stewardship Team at Veterinary Medicines Directorate, says: “We are really supportive of this important initiative. In the UK we have seen a 52% reduction in antibiotic use for food producing animals since 2014, and this has been driven by vets and farmers working together to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics and with a strong focus on disease prevention. However, as highlighted in the RUMA
sector targets, there are still areas where improvements can be made and where antibiotic use data is lacking. “Driving forward positive changes is extremely rewarding, but can also be challenging. This SMART goals tool therefore provides an easy-to-use and practical resource that is designed to help and motivate vets and practice teams to set, monitor and accomplish goals and build on the tremendous progress that they have already achieved. This will not only help the livestock sectors to achieve their targets, but will result in improvements in animal health and, by reducing the burden of resistant bacteria, have public health benefits too.” To support the take-up of the new SMART goals tool, RCVS Knowledge will be running an interactive webinar on Zoom at 12:30pm on Tuesday 17 May. The webinar is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the new tool and AMR more broadly. RCVS Knowledge offers a broad range of resources and initiatives on AMR. For more information on Farm Vet Champions, please visit www.rcvsknowledge.org/FVC To keep informed on all RCVS Knowledge activities and broader AMR work, sign up to the RCVS Knowledge newsletter at https:// tinyurl.com/bdd57ksx
May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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Pig & Poultry Fair highlights industry challenges and opportunities ig and poultry producers welcomed the chance to come together at the British Pig & Poultry Fair to discuss and highlight pressing issues and opportunities for the sectors.
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Jen Walters, AHDB head of knowledge exchange in pork, said she was pleased to see so many producers at the Fair this week. “It had a great vibe despite the incredibly difficult circumstances. It was really nice to engage with everybody,” she said. “Producers want hope for the future and to hear about opportunities. So to hear in the Pig Forum that pork is very much in demand and consumers want to eat it was reassuring.” However, soaring feed, fertiliser and fuel costs driven by the 82 |
Farming Monthly | May 2022
Ukraine War will lead to rising food prices and shortages, said Steve Ellis, chief executive of the Karro Food Group. “The impact of global shortage is global rationing – we should be protecting our own food supply at all costs,” he warned. In the Poultry Forum Theatre, egg producers took the opportunity to highlight the cost of production crisis they are facing, with a recent British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) survey indicating that more than 70% will leave the industry within a year if a price rise is not forthcoming. Keen to engage in discussions with retailers, BFREPA asked representatives from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose to attend a Breaking Point Summit at the Fair. While
Tesco and Morrisons discussed the issue with the industry outside of the event, and responded positively, the other retailers did not attend or respond. Costs have risen massively in the past 12 months, explained ADAS livestock consultant Jon Walton. “Egg prices have increased by 3.1p/dozen but total costs, excluding finance, have increased from 91.7 to 117.6p 25.9p/dozen.” Also speaking in the Poultry Forum was Nick Davies, group agriculture director at the 2 Sisters Food Group. He highlighted the importance of analysing data to improve broiler efficiencies, as well as harnessing available government support. The Pig and Poultry Forums are available to watch at: https:// www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Livestock
www.pigandpoultry.org.uk/2022forum-recordings/ Technology has the answers to many challenges faced by the sectors and visitors to the Fair made the most of having all the latest innovations under one roof.
environment, and provides an outcome-based measure of animal welfare. The judges said it had great potential to help producers identify problems early and address some of the industry’s wider environmental and welfare challenges.
Pondus won the Poultry Business New Product award with an inshed camera system for weighing and analysing broiler behaviour. It eliminates the need for hand weighing and improves the representativeness of weight data for farmers and integrators to support management decisions and improve planning.
There were two highly commended runners up in the Pig World New Product award – Cargill’s BehavePro L, a fastacting liquid solution which calms pigs, and the Dalton Silo weighing system from Dalton Engineering, which allow silos to be weighed without lifting them onto weigh cells.
Winner of Pig World New Product award was Greengage's Animal Welfare Index, developed and trialled with SRUC. It is an innovative monitoring system and app that collects data on productivity, behaviour and the
These new developments were just a small proportion of the total, with more than 66 new products on offer among the 335 stands at the Fair.
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manager at ABN, which partners the Fair, said the event offered an ideal opportunity to have useful conversations with producers. “Farmers are a very resilient bunch. They are frustrated at not being able to get the profit they desperately need but are still talking about how to take their businesses forward. We had valuable discussions about incredibly volatile markets and how we can plan ahead to meet the challenges of achieving Net Zero.” Ian Dowsland, head of agri performance and infrastructure at Moy Park, added: “It was a great opportunity to be here reconnecting and engaging with our colleagues, growers and industry partners and so good to see everyone face-to-face at last.”
Bob Dixon, national sales May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Muck & Slurry
New contractor trailer with ramspread has launched the first contractor trailer to feature its Teletram GSM remote control system. The chassis of the contractor trailer has been widened by 200mm to enable the trailer to carry more equipment and the remote control will enable single operator use.
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The Teletram 2020 GSM remote does not rely on radio connectivity and instead can connect a mobile device, using its 2G to 5G data connection, to one or multiple engine driven pumps. The remote control features a seven-inch colour screen and industrial grade instrumentation that can be operated using Apple or Android mobile devices. Communication is not 84 |
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compromised by distance and multiple pump units can be controlled by the same device. “This means that an operator pumping over an eight-kilometre distance with four pump units will only need one device to monitor and operate all of the pump units,” explains Tramspread managing director, Terry Baker. This, combined with pressure sensors and a flowmeter, allows the entire umbilical system to be accurately operated and monitored by just one man. Fitted with Tramspread’s Raven Box mapping and recording technology, the unit can also report the areas treated and the quantity of slurry utilised. “The combination of knowing the speed of flow and being able to control it remotely is key to the time and equipment savings this
trailer offers. The unit also keeps a record of the slurry utilised so operators can measure how effective each application is and improve distribution in the future,” says Mr Baker. The contractor pump trailer is powered by a 175 horsepower Iveco engine coupled to a Bauer SX2000 pump which is capable of pumping up to 300 cubic metres per hour depending on distance and hose diameter. The long drawbar enables an applicator, such as a dribble bar, to be carried on the tractor’s rear three-point linkage while towing the trailer. Up to 2,000 metres of drag hose is carried on two galvanised detachable spools located at the front of the trailer, while a further 1,000 metres is carried on the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Muck & Slurry
h GSM remote tractors front 3-point linkage via a powerful twin hydraulic drive reeler, giving a total system capacity of 3,000 metres. Over the twin sprung high-speed axles there is a large 900 litre fuel tank. Mounted over the fuel tank is a compressor which is also remote controlled and a suction hose loading area with two large toolboxes.
Hydraulic Rope Chain
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Pondus won the Poultry Business New Product award with an in-shed camera system for weighing and analysing broiler behaviour. It eliminates the need for hand weighing and improves the representativeness of weight data for farmers and integrators to support management decisions and improve planning. Winner of Pig World New Product award was Greengage's Animal Welfare Index, developed and trialled with SRUC. It is an innovative monitoring system and app that collects data on productivity, www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
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| Muck & Slurry behaviour and the environment, and provides an outcome-based measure of animal welfare. The judges said it had great potential to help producers identify problems early and address some of the industry’s wider environmental and welfare challenges. There were two highly commended runners up in the Pig World New Product award – Cargill’s BehavePro L, a fast-acting liquid solution which calms pigs, and the Dalton Silo weighing system from Dalton Engineering, which allow silos to be weighed without lifting them onto weigh cells. These new developments were just a small proportion of the total, with more than 66 new products on offer among the 335 stands at the Fair.
discussions about incredibly volatile markets and how we can plan ahead to meet the challenges of achieving Net Zero.”
Bob Dixon, national sales manager at ABN, which partners the Fair, said the event offered an ideal opportunity to have useful conversations with producers. “Farmers are a very resilient bunch. They are frustrated at not being able to get the profit they desperately need but are still talking about how to take their businesses forward. We had valuable
Ian Dowsland, head of agri performance and infrastructure at Moy Park, added: “It was a great opportunity to be here reconnecting and engaging with our colleagues, growers and industry partners and so good to see everyone face-to-face at last.”
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| Muck & Slurry
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| On Topic
Meet Daisy – The Pink John Deere W
hen you think of a John Deere, you probably think of the classic green and yellow… What if we told you we vinyl wrapped one in Pink?
The lovely Bishop’s Court Farm has Alpacas, pygmy goats, an up-andcoming Air BnB, and now a Pink Tractor! Keep reading for the story of how it all happened… From Harvesters to Tractors
Farol Ltd., in Thame, had a customer looking for a Pink Tractor, so after we vinyl wrapped the 2 Forage Harvesters for them in Hexis Ebony Black, they knew exactly who to call to get the job done. Arriving to the “sea of green and yellow” It was with some trepidation that we arrived to the Farol site on the morning of the pink tractor wrap. We have previously described the Farol
dealership as a “sea of green and yellow” with a yard full of John Deere machinery so the pink vinyl was always going to stick out like a sore thumb! We wondered if the team at Farol might tuck us away in a corner for us to work away unnoticed by the technicians, so you can imagine our surprise as we were situated in the middle of the enormous tractor repair workshop in full view of everyone. The signs of disapproval soon followed as we removed the pink vinyl from its box and began to roll out large sections to wrap the enormous bonnet. The colour definitely split opinions and we were visited throughout the day from many Farol employees who were wondering if they had heard correctly when their colleague had mentioned a pink tractor wrap! The green and yellow overalls clad army of technicians had many things to say as we were working, and it was amusing to hear how disgruntled people could get over the “sacrilege” of wrapping a John Deere in pink! It was clear that the employees at
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| On Topic Farol have a great loyalty to the green and yellow and we wondered if wrapping it pink might do a disservice to the icon that is a John Deere Tractor. At Bishop’s Court Farm A few weeks after the Tractor was delivered to the client at Bishop’s Court Farm, we took a visit over to see how they were getting on and get some final shots for the video. It was amazing to see Daisy right at home with farm owner Keith, and farm managers Cath and Sharon. After chatting with them in between taking photos and visiting the alpacas, it was clear that the pink was a hit! Not only with the farm hands but the locals who often contact them before they go for a walk, just to see if the Pink Tractor will be around! What would John Deere think? The comment that amazed us the most was that John Deere themselves had contacted the farm, expressing how much they loved how unusual the idea was! We can now rest assured that they are on board with the pink!
The Team The best part of any job is very often the people we get to work with. Talking to Cath and Sharon, it is clear they love what they do and take great pride in watching Bishop’s Court Farm grow. Whilst Daisy might be quite the attraction, she will most definitely be quite the workhorse in order to earn her keep. Visiting the Farm You can visit Daisy as she works away on the farm. Bishop’s Court Farm has opened up access to the public right of way for visitors as well as now offering Alpaca walks! If you spot Daisy, make sure you send us a photo! Harvesters, Tractor… What next? We’re excited to see how the world of farm machinery could transform with vinyl wrapping. With it’s many benefits, from personalisation to adding a level of protection from theft, it’s a wonder that it is not already more popular! Call us if you’re interested to find out more on 01993 684112 or https://www.complete-graphics.co.uk/ Follow @completegraphicswraps on instagram
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| Machinery
Case IH UPGRADES ITs RB 344 fixed chamber round baler T
he upgraded Case IH RB 344 fixed chamber round baler adds a host of innovative design and performance features to the best elements of the previous model. Offering excellent value for money, this compact and manoeuvrable newcomer handles all baling tasks with ease so that the farmer only needs one machine. Michal Jankowski, Case IH Product Marketing Manager, states: “The RB 344 has gained a very strong following throughout Europe because of its ability to produce dense, perfectly-formed 120cm x 125cm bales in all crop conditions. Farmers also appreciate its ease of operation, versatility, reliability, durability and low maintenance costs.” “The new version of this very popular, highly effective baler has a modern, visually-striking design in keeping with other Case IH products. We have two models, the RB 344 F Rotor Feeder and 90 |
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RB 344 R Rotor Cutter, which are available from Case IH dealers right now. Both are very efficient and work comfortably behind tractors of less than 80hp.” The most obvious design feature of the RB 344 is its modern side shield, which incorporates a robust metal frame, top hinges and gas strut supports. Opening wide for easy access for service and maintenance, it also protects spare rolls of net wrap stored on the machine. Rubber bumpers on both sides of the tailgate’s frame ensure that it closes smoothly and quietly, while the wiring harness now runs inside the bull bar and front lights have been repositioned for a robust, professional appearance. Behind its attractive new panelling the RB 344 introduces a host of mechanical improvements which enhance performance and durability while reducing operating costs. The stripper roll, bale chamber, floor roll and pick-up, for example, are now driven by high-
quality drive chains with chromized pins and hardened plates that have a longer life cycle and reduce maintenance costs. The bearings which support the main drive, stripper roll, and drive side rotor have also been upgraded with highly efficient seals that prevent dust contamination.
Equipped with closely spaced steel tines and long pick-up guards which are painted red to make them more visible, the 2m pick-up collects the crop and delivers it in a smooth, continuous flow to the feeder and bale chamber. This maximises intake capacity so even heavy swaths can be handled without losses, while the Duckbill feeding system ensures a reliable net start in all crop conditions. A precise density control system ensures that bales are formed to the exact specifications that have been set which can be adjusted or monitored from the tractor seat. Operators have an excellent view across the full width of the pick-up, which helps www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Machinery
to maximise crop gathering and maintain bale shape. The design of the RB 344 also ensures that the bales are correctly formed and uniformly wrapped right to the edges whether the crop is wet, wilted, or dry, so that all its nutritional value and storage potential is retained. Regardless of whether net, plastic film or twine is used for wrapping, cutting is fast and automatic, leaving the bale ready for immediate ejection.
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A further aid to reliable high performance is the well-proven Case IH Hydraulic Rotor Reverser, a factory fit option for the Rotor Feeder model. This uses a free-run clutch which allows the operator to quickly and easily reverse the rotor to clear a blockage without leaving the cab.
electrically-selected knives that ensure the crop is cut evenly, improving the quality of baled material and cutting crop losses. Another feature is the slat-chain chamber system which ensures a positive start to bale formation under all crop conditions, saving time and producing well-shaped bales.
The versatility of the RB 344 is further improved by the Rotor Cutter, with 15
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| Machinery
PLATINUM PARADE AS JCB MACHINES PAY HOMAGE TO QUEEN'S REIGN CB machines from the past and the present will be taking centre stage at a special pageant in London as the nation comes together to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee next month.
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The company confirmed today that it has signed an agreement to become a Platinum Jubilee Pageant Partner – and milestone machines spanning The Queen's 70-year reign will be taking part in the spectacular event. The Pageant - to be held in London on Sunday June 5th - will be the culmination of celebrations to mark The Queen's 70 years on the throne. It will involve more than 10,000 people and tell the story of 92 |
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the monarch's seven-decade reign through music, dance, and fashion. Taking a bow will be JCB backhoe loaders from landmark years of The Queen's reign. Leading the way will be the Mark 1 JCB backhoe from 1953, the year of Her Majesty's Coronation. Next in line will be iconic JCB 3CX backhoes manufactured in The Queen's jubilee years of 1977, 2002 and 2012. Bringing the parade right up to date for Platinum Jubilee year will be a 2022 JCB backhoe loader powered by hydrogen. JCB Chairman Lord Bamford: "I am delighted that JCB is supporting the Platinum Jubilee Pageant as a Partner. It will be a very unique occasion and a wonderful way of saying thank you to The Queen for 70 years of service to our country and the Commonwealth. We are
very proud to be taking part in the Pageant and proud of the role JCB machines have played over the course of the last 70 years in helping shape the world we live in today. We are also thrilled about a future where our machines will be powered by hydrogen and delighted to be able to highlight this technology." The event will culminate in front of Buckingham Palace and be watched by up to one billion people globally across multiple platforms. It will also be a rare public outing for JCB's brand new hydrogen-powered machines, which are currently being developed by the Staffordshire-based company as it explores the potential of hydrogen as a zero CO₂ alternative to fossil fuels.
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| Machinery
Cornthwaite Group take on the mighty Strautmann Brand PICO Ltd is pleased to announce the expansion of its partnership with Cornthwaite Group, who have added the German engineered Strautmann range of forage and feeding wagons to their product line up. Cornthwaite Group is already a longstanding and successful OPICO dealer, selling and servicing the Maschio Gaspardo range of flail mowers, cultivation machinery and precision drills. One of the largest John Deere dealer groups in the country, Cornthwaite’s operate throughout the Northwest and into South West Scotland, with depots in Nantwich, Bispham Green, Kendal, Carlisle and Dumfries. The Cornthwaite
O
Commenting,
Charles Bedforth, OPICO Sales Director said, “We couldn’t be more delighted that Strautmann will be represented by the Cornthwaite Group and we are confident that all our customers will continue to receive excellent support.” Stuart Cornthwaite, Managing Director of Cornthwaite Group, remarked, “The
Strautmann range of forage and feeding wagons are a valuable addition to our machinery portfolio. Our sales and service team have already undertaken comprehensive training on the range and are looking forward to getting the machines out to our customers for demonstrations in the upcoming season.”
Groupe Sales Team with (left to right in foreground) Stuart Cornthwaite, Charles Bedforth (OPICO Ltd) and David Lawson (Cornthwaite Group)
ERNEST DOE WINS DEALER OF THE YEAR
ew Holland has announced the winner of its 2021 UK and Ireland Dealer of the Year, which celebrates excellence in performance and service quality across its extensive dealer network
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Following their most successful year to date, Ernest Doe & Sons are delighted to win this accolade in recognition of their dedication and commitment to their customers and the New Holland brand. Angus Doe, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to receive this award which is testament to the hard work and sustained efforts of our team, both customer-facing and behind the scenes. It is vitally important that our customers receive a good experience and our team works hard to continuously improve this through every part of our business.
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He continued: “Our relationship with New Holland spans almost 90 years, having first started dealing in Fordson Tractors in the 1930s. Over the years they have led the way as innovative pioneers of the agricultural industry, and we are proud to represent this market leading brand and be able to offer its impressive portfolio of machinery to our customers.”
With 10 New Holland depots, Ernest Doe serves the whole of East Anglia and has achieved strong sales performance across New Holland tractors, combines, telehandlers and implements during 2021. This has been underpinned by a high performing service department
which has achieved the highest-level Service Top Partner accreditation and a knowledgeable and well stocked parts department which strives to ensure that downtime is minimised as much as possible. Pat Smith, New Holland Business Director for the UK and Ireland, said: “The purpose of these awards is to acknowledge and reward the performance and effort that our dealers put into the service they provide to our customers. The past two years have presented a unique challenge, not just in the agricultural machinery sector, but to all of us. That 2021 was a very successful year for New Holland and our dealers shows the excellent teamwork across our whole dealer network.” May 2022 | Farming Monthly |
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| Tyres
New intelligent combine tyres C ontinental CombineMaster and CombineMaster VF tyres can now be specified with
ContiPressureCheck™, a unique tyre monitoring system that will help to prevent downtime this harvest. ContiPressureCheck™ monitors the pressure and temperature of tyres. Sensors in the tyre communicate the pressure and the heat build-up to help the operator decide on the optimum operating pressure. There are two warning levels offered by the sensor. The first suggests that a fault has occurred, but the machine can continue to work. The second calls for an immediate stop due to a more severe tyre problem. “This is a good way to improve 94 |
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| Tyres the life of combine tyres and reduce unnecessary downtime. Operators can choose to have a handheld device, or a terminal mounted in the cab. Both will feed back information on the tyre and help the operator to make adjustments that will reduce the likelihood of tyre failure,” explains Continental agricultural tyre specialist Rebecca Shedden. The most sensitive part of a tyre is the valve. ContiPressureCheck™ provides tyre data without the need to touch the valve. It therefore offers a safer and more secure way to
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monitor tyres and reduces the likelihood of dirt affecting the valve. Miss Shedden explains that many tyres are replaced before the tread has worn fully. This is due largely to unknown tyre damage which leads to failure during use. “ContiPressureCheck™ is constantly monitoring tyre performance in real time and providing data to the operator. This helps to prevent downtime because the tyre will not be under undue stress and any fault in the tyre will be reported in time for the operator to make repairs or
adjustments.” The monitors can be retrofitted or purchased with the new generation of Continental agricultural tyres. “Continental has been manufacturing new tyres at a facility in Lousado, Portugal since 2017. These tyres are all covered by a 10-year warranty and designed to work with ContiPressureCheck™, which can be specified when purchasing tyres or added retrospectively to extend tyre life and improve operational efficiency,” she concludes.
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| ATV
Check out HiSUN videos here
#GoElectric – an exciting new range of electric UTVs from HiSun B
arrus has introduced the all-new HiSun lithium-ion powered electric UTVs into the UK, a range of four innovative models designed to raise the bar. The four power options are the HiSun 5 kW, 7.5 kW, 15 kW and a 4-seater 15 kW. All are designed to work just as hard, if not harder, than traditional fuelpowered machines. The top of the range Sector 15 kW is a real everyday workhorse with more power and torque to tackle the most challenging of terrains. With the ability to climb steep slopes, the Sector 15 easily handles 30 degree plus inclines in forward and reverse. The 4-seater version of the 15 kW UTV can transport up to four passengers, carry machinery and equipment and tow heavy loads with ease. The lithium-ion technology batteries 96 |
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that power both models are designed for longer run times and a single charge will keep the UTV working for a full day. The versatility of this vehicle makes it ideal for multiple uses in agricultural applications, on large estates, local authorities, utilities, sport and recreation, and by conservationists. Like its bigger brother, the Sector 7.5 kW is a reliable, everyday machine with the capability to tackle a multitude of tasks whatever the weather. The open cargo bed will carry up to 280 kg/ 67 lbs ideal for transporting everything from logs, bales of hay, tools and equipment.
The smallest of the lithium-ion powered models, the 5 kW UTV still has the power and torque to climb slopes over 30 degrees. The longer run times of the lithium-ion batteries will keep this reliable worker going for up to 44* miles on a single charge. All models have the option of the DFK fully enclosed cab kit that includes a glass windscreen with wash/wipe, rear screen, metal roof, and lockable doors so the UTVs can be customised depending on the customer's requirements. HiSun UTVs are true multi-functional vehicles. Featuring a winch, tow hitch and cargo bed they have the versatility to recover, carry equipment and tow powered machinery. The move to electric UTVs offers many benefits over petrol powered machines. There is no compromise on power with these latest lithium-ion UTVs providing all the power www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| ATV in the drive to tackle climate change and reduce global warming. Choosing electric power offers huge savings in fuel costs with an overnight charge costing around £1*. There is also the bonus of no road tax as electric UTVs can be used both on and off-road. With no engine and fewer parts to service, electric UTVs are usually cheaper to service and maintain. needed for use in challenging off-road conditions. They are free from harmful carbon emissions which supports the shift to a virtually zero-carbon economy
UTV and ATV assembly centre at their head office in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Vehicles are fully assembled in the new facility and delivered by Barrus Transport to the dealer ready for final checks before registering and handing over to the customer.”
The quiet electric motor is a key attribute making these machines ideal for driving near to animals or in areas where noise needs to be kept to a minimum. An electric UTV has no gearbox which means that acceleration is smoother making for a more comfortable ride. Roger Suckling, Sales Manager for the Vehicle Division at Barrus explains, “In response to the growth in demand for our HiSun electric vehicles and to offer the very best service and support to our HiSun dealers, Barrus has expanded its engineering and production facilities with the introduction of a brand new
*Figures quoted are intended as a guide only. Cost/mileage would be dependent on usage and conditions.
4 models available
#GoElectric No Compromise on Power Zero Emissions Economical to Run Less Maintenance Quiet Operation
Hall 7
Stand 7.700
HiSun - Supported by Barrus E. P. Barrus Ltd., Glen Way, Launton Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 4UR Tel: 01869 363665 Email: vehicle@barrus.co.uk www.barrus.co.uk
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| ATV
Make light work of spring weed control, with a Honda ATV or UTV
s weeds take advantage of the ideal spring growing conditions, effective management is required to keep them in check. The task is made much easier when a Honda ATV or Pioneer UTV is part of the farm machinery fleet.
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The market leading Honda ATV range includes Fourtrax 420 and Foreman 520 utility models with selectable 2 and 4wd. Large flotation tyres provide plenty of grip and distribute the weight effectively, so that damage to crops and other sensitive ground is minimal. Each model comes with versatile, rugged load carrying racks and a powerful electrical supply which allows 12-volt accessories to be powered without needing additional batteries to be carried.
Sprayers to suit situations and budgets
For field edge weed control an ATV with a mounted sprayer is ideal. Typical tank capacities are 60 to 135 litres allowing users to select a size to suit the area being treated as well as the ATV’s recommended rack capacity. Sprayer specifications
range from simple on-demand pumps suitable for hand-lance spraying to high output pumps with pressure control circuits and capable of supplying booms up to 3.5m. Hand lances equipped with long hoses are ideal for farm woodland and plantations, allowing the ATV to be parked while the user sprays target weeds on foot. Many spray booms in the popular Logic Equipment range feature individual nozzle taps, allowing users to select just one or more spray nozzles to treat narrow strips around the crop edge, or to spray across the full boom width to tackle larger areas. Maintaining clear strips helps prevent weed encroachment from field boundaries, and it also makes it easier to watch the edge of the combine header for the first pass around the field. Using the ATV to transport the required chemical mix is easier and more efficient than using a pedestrian knapsack sprayer. ATV sprayers are also ideal for pasture and grassland weed control. Wider booms up to 3.5m can maximise work rates applying selective herbicides to tackle weeds in the sward, while for smaller weed patches and individual target weeds such as thistles, a hand-lance allows 98 |
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| ATV without dripping. Because only target weeds are contacted by the chemical-laden brush bristles little chemical is needed, and broad-spectrum herbicides such as glyphosate can be used saving considerable cost compared with selective alternatives needed for hydraulic nozzle sprayers. Year-around benefits A Honda ATV or Pioneer UTV’s ability to travel across soft ground without causing ruts makes it ideal for both arable and grassland weed control, allowing use when heavier vehicles such as tractors with mounted or trailed sprayers would cause unacceptable ground damage, and at significantly lower cost. Almost any farm or estate will benefit from adding a Honda ATV or UTV to the machinery fleet, where it will improve efficiency and achieve time and cost savings throughout the year. Your local Honda dealer has a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be pleased to help identify the ideal model for your farm, along with accessories and implements from manufacturers such as Logic. Use of appropriate protective clothing and approved operator training is highly recommended. Every new Honda ATV comes with a freeof-charge operator course through the European ATV Safety Institute (EASI), helping businesses comply with Health and Safety guidelines. broad spectrum herbicides to be applied only where needed. For larger areas requiring larger tank capacity trailed sprayers are available, with similar low ground pressure tyres to the ATV and with electric- or petrol-powered pumps. Greater capacity Honda’s Pioneer 520 side x side UTV is a great option for users with larger areas, and it comes standard with two seats as well as a rear tipping cargo bed which carries loads up to 204kg. It has a quiet, smooth, and economical 518cc petrol engine and an efficient mechanical five-speed, shaft-drive transmission with manual and automatic operating modes. An optional cab provides weather protection, and a rear hitch can be added to tow trailers and attachments up to 454kg. For use with larger capacity mounted and trailed sprayers it is ideal, and at just 1,270mm wide it can operate in confined areas and fit through gaps which are too small for most competitor UTVs.
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ATV weed wipers Where there is adequate difference in height between the grass or growing crop and problem weeds, a weed wiper offers advantages compared to hydraulic sprayers. Several models are designed for ATV use, including the Logic Contact 2000 which has a grounddriven rotating brush to apply chemical direct to the leaves. A mix of nylon and fibre bristles scrape the leaves during application, ensuring maximum take-up of herbicide by the plant. Chemical is fed to the brush by a 12volt pump, allowing the operator to accurately regulate the amount applied for optimum results
To find out more about the full range of Honda ATVs and UTVs and to contact your local main dealer just visit www.honda.co.uk
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Quad bike queen opens new premises Q uad Bikes R Us owner Kerry Marven was joined by representatives from Yamaha UK to officially open her new showroom in Heybridge, Maldon.
“We have been in business 18 years and working with Yamaha for 16. We moved from our old site in Great Totham to establish bigger premises and become an exclusive Yamaha dealership selling the full range of leisure, sports, and utility ATVs,” she explains. The new premises, with its new showroom, highlights the full range of Yamaha machines including the Wolverine side by side, YXZ 1000R and a selection of ATVs for adults and juniors. “We are a family run business, here to
help anyone who wants to enjoy these exciting machines. We can advise on which are most suitable for their individual needs, and we have a
workshop on site to help existing owners with spares and repairs,” she says.
Yamaha UK has worked closely with Kerry to develop the new showroom, which also stocks the full 2022 range of Yamaha riding and leisure apparel. “We have had so much support from the
Yamaha team, and I feel we have really improved the business by making this move. The showroom looks amazing,
and we have really enjoyed welcoming customers old and new,” she adds. Demand for ATVs has risen since the pandemic, with many looking to spend more leisure time in the UK enjoying these products and having fun. “Our best seller is the YFM700R sports ATV but since Covid hit we have noticed a huge interest in the junior machines with parents looking for fun activities at a time when holidays were not possible,” she says. Whilst more than happy with her latest move, Kerry still has aspirations for the business in the future. “I have a fantastic team here and I would like to see that grow so that we can one day open the first Yamaha superstore in the South East,” she concludes.
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| ATV
Discover Rhino-Rack® accessories for your next off-road challenge n an industry-exclusive collaboration, Polaris Off Road Vehicles has joined forces with Rhino-Rack® storage solutions to help riders get the most out of their storage area and stay prepared for any job that might emerge as the day develops. The partnership delivers purpose-built, highquality and world-ready roof racks, bed racks and accessories specifically built for the Polaris RANGER and GENERAL utility off-road vehicles.
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Rhino-Rack® is a trusted outdoor adventure brand with 30 years of experience designing and creating premium, award-winning outdoor gear to endure the most extreme conditions, born and proven in Australia. “Rhino-Rack® shares our core values in maximising the potential of every day. From farmers, landowners, and hunters to off-road enthusiasts and adventurers, we always aim to make life as convenient and accessible as possible.” said Dario Baraggia, Parts, Gear and Accessories Manager for Polaris Off Road Vehicles EMEA. “We’re firm believers that our parts and accessories should be as reliable and durable as our vehicles, so it’s easy to see why we’ve partnered with Rhino-Rack® to enhance our customers’ storage capabilities – the racks are welded and super strong, the fit is unique to our products so very tight and secure, and the accessories allow storage to be tailored to our users with attachments for all applications.”
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Designed for perfect integration and fitment to Polaris vehicles, and tested to extreme off-road standards, RhinoRack®-equipped off-road vehicles are even more versatile than before with up to 40% more storage space alongside task- or accessory-specific attachments so riders can bring everything they need to, organised and secure.
quickly with durable brackets, the cargo corner bracket to mount a cooler box in the cargo bed using a unique antirotation nut for maximum security, the easy-attached traction board mount, and the gun mount bracket used to mount Kolpin Stronghold Gun Boots to Rhino-Rack® systems (paired with the Auto-Latch Mount, sold separately).
ROOF AND BED RACKS
Additional tie-down points can be added in multiple places on the platform with the D-ring eyelet tie-downs, made with anti-corrosive galvanised steel for heavy-duty strength and long life. With the spare tyre straps, riders can transport their spare tyres outside of the cargo bed and can be easily mounted to the rear bed rack, and the multipurpose tool holder can carry and protect tools, paddles and more thanks to rubber inserts that secure tools into place and a ratchet-locking mechanism for quickrelease.
As a space-saving solution for carrying cargo and equipment, Rhino-Rack® offers a complete roof and bed rack system for the Polaris Ranger full-size three-seat and crew models, as well as a rear bed rack for the Polaris General. Constructed with strong, lightweight and rust-resistant aluminium, the rear bed and roof racks can be easily installed with the addition of a Rhino-Rack® mount, utilising the innovative and secure bolting mechanism for a tight fit and long life.
BRING IT ALL. BRING IT ON. VERSATILE ATTACHMENTS Whether it’s a day of tackling tough terrain on the trails, or knocking work tasks off the to-do list, Rhino-Rack®’s range of versatile attachments will help riders stay prepared by having enough storage space and innovative solutions to take all their equipment.
Watch the Rhino-Rack® launch video on YouTube. For more information and to purchase Rhino-Rack® storage solutions, please speak to your local, authorised Polaris dealer. #MakeSpaceForAdventure
Rhino-Rack® offers a range of mounts to securely attach tools and accessories to your Polaris, including the noncorrosive, powder-coated steel high-lift jack mount that installs simply and
Rhino-Rack® is a registered trademark of Rhino Rack Australia Pty Limited.
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Kawasaki announce complete he 2022 utility range will feature the popular Kawasaki MULE Pro DX, Mule Pro DXT, Mule SX 4×4, and Pro-MX vehicles. Also included in the range is the BRUTE FORCE 4x4i EPS ATV, which will be available in two colours.
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The MULE Pro DX and MULE Pro DXT remain the flagship vehicles in the range, with both machines retaining their current specification for 2022. At the core of each machine lays a 3cylinder, OHV water-cooled, 993cm3 Bosch fuel injected diesel engine; a feature of particular interest to multivehicle users pursuing a “single fuel” policy. Driving through a dual range CVT, both vehicles offer selectable 2WD and 4WD delivering 17.8 kW @
For more information
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3600rpm and 52.1 Nm of maximum torque at 2,400rpm. For the MULE Pro DX, a spacious tipping load bed and impressive towing ability mean that almost no task is too big to ask of it. The MULE Pro DXT helps to push the range into new customer bases, thanks to the additional ability to move work crews into difficult or environmentally sensitive locations with minimal impact. Featuring such user-friendly features as tilt adjustable steering wheels and speed sensitive electronic power steering plus front and rear independent suspension, both these sturdy vehicles certainly make light of heavy work and leave their operators fresh at the end of
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each demanding day. The entry-level MULE range will again be comprised of the MULE SX 4×4 and Pro-MX. Both models offer outstanding value for money and boast selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Lo dual-range transfer case and a rear differential lock. The MULE SX 4×4 relies on a sturdy and ultra-reliable OHV 410cm3 petrol engine delivering 9.9kW (13.5 PS) of motive power. Its 500kg towing capacity and 181kg load bed maximum are more than enough for many users while such “creature comforts” as a tilting steering wheel and Independent MacPherson strut front suspension, the SX faithfully delivers all day, every day.
Southam Agri. Services Southam, Warwickshire CV47 2DH 01926 813426 http://southamagri.co.uk
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| ATV
e 2022 MULE and ATV line up
Its range partner, the MULE Pro MX cuts a real dash, not simply due to its sprightly turn of speed but, equally, an automotive styling approach redolent of a sturdy pickup truck. The singlecylinder CVT transmission equipped 695cm3 engine delivers 32.8kW (45 PS) for year-round working in even the harshest conditions with the added benefit of electronic power steering as standard fitment.
default option when value, reliability and rugged build quality are required.
The 2022 range will be available from August and will cost:
Completing the 2022 range is the 749cm3 Brute Force ATV models. Featuring the powerful 37.3 kW {51 PS} @ 6,750 rpm water-cooled fuel-injected V-Twin engines, a 4×4 drive train and Electronic Power Steering (EPS), the ATVs will be available in Super Black or Camouflage Real Tree Xtra Green.
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MULE Pro-DX – £11,999
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MULE Pro-DXT – £13,199
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MULE SX 4×4 – £7,299
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MULE Pro-MX – £9,199
With disc brakes both front and rear plus the luxury of double wishbone suspension at both ends, the MULE Pro MX is both work and price friendly. Offered in traditional Kawasaki Timberline Green, the MULE SX 4×4 and MULE Pro MX are, for many, the
The variable speed EPS, carefully considered ergonomics and vast spread of smooth all-conquering power make the Brute Force a logical number one choice when rugged power combined with a small vehicle footprint are required.
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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS – £7,799
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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Camo – £8,099
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May 2022 | Farming Monthly | 103
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ISUZU UK REVEALS PRICING SPECIFICATION AND RELEASE DATE FOR THE ALL-NEW ISUZU D-MAX ARCTIC TRUCKS AT35
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suzu UK is set to open the order books for the All-New Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 on May 3rd 2022, having first previewed the preproduction model at the 2021 Commercial Vehicle Show.
Building on the Award-Winning durability and reliability of the Isuzu D-Max platform, the cool and capable Isuzu DMax Arctic Trucks AT35 has been developed and engineered to handle the most challenging landscapes with ease while offering a distinctive presence and authentic performance that is noticed everywhere, whether on or off-road. The Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is a
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professionally re-engineered vehicle incorporating significant enhancements to the body, frame, drivetrain, suspension, wheels and tyres.
All elements of the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 build are undertaken by the PickUp Professionals at Isuzu UK and experienced Arctic Trucks technicians to ensure the highest standards of build quality, adherence to all relevant vehicle type approvals and full alignment with Isuzu’s five-year/125,000-mile warranty. Plus, importantly the vehicle also retains its commercial vehicle status, with no compromise to payload or towing capacity.
Taking its name from the 35-inch tyres fitted to the vehicle as standard, the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35’s chassis and bodywork are re-engineered to accommodate its rugged 17-inch matt black alloy wheels and enlarged 315/70 R17 all-terrain tyres. The suspension system is overhauled with an optimised and elevated tailored Bilstein performance suspension system featuring front springs & dampers, rear dampers and additional front and rear body lift, providing a total front and rear elevation of +50mm over the standard DMax pick-up. Built as the ultimate off-road performance vehicle, the Isuzu D-Max
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| Motors Trucks extended profile side steps, strengthened Arctic Trucks mud flaps and a versatile 2-inch rear multifunction receiver hitch, enabling the quick and easy fitment of tow balls, winches, rearmounted steps and more.
Arctic Trucks AT35 enhances the renowned D-Max off-road capability,
increasing the ground clearance to 266mm at the front and 290mm at the rear, with an approach angle of 35°, a departure angle of 29° and a break over angle of 34°. The combined effect from the enlarged tyres, performance springs and dampers results in a softer, faster ride over rough surfaces and a lighter footprint over delicate terrain, without compromising on-road behaviour.
The signature styling of the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is enhanced by the extra-wide colour-coded wheel arch extensions, which create additional clearance and amplify the vehicle’s raised stance, whilst conveying a dramatic sense of styling and purpose. The vehicle is also equipped with Arctic www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Built on the best-selling Isuzu VCross model, the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 benefits from an SUV-like level of specification with gunmetal grey exterior styling elements, premium black interior headlining, a nine-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility and an eight-speaker sound system. The leather interior includes the Arctic Trucks branding incorporated on the headrests and further benefits from a wireless mobile phone charge point, Arctic Trucks door entry guards and a premium carpet mat set. The vehicle is finished with Arctic Trucks and AT35 badging throughout the exterior and interior along with dedicated locking wheel nuts and an
William Brown, Managing Director, Isuzu UK said “We are so pleased to launch the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, having first unveiled the concept at the CV Show last year. This new halo model for the Isuzu range really demonstrates how adaptable and versatile the D-Max platform is, and with the AT35 we showcase how inspiring and extreme the vehicle can be, whilst importantly retaining the full commercial vehicle status, with no compromise to payload or towing capacity.” Peter Smith, Managing Director, Arctic Trucks UK said “With the many challenges we have all faced over the past couple of years we are delighted to finally be able to bring the All-New Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 to the market. We are very proud of what we have developed together with Isuzu UK on this latest generation D-Max which is undoubtedly the best yet. We are excited that customers will soon be able to order this latest, highly anticipated, highly capable vehicle and it has been great to further strengthen the successful long-standing collaboration between Isuzu UK and Arctic Trucks UK” Priced from £47,999 CVOTR and £49,499 CVOTR for a version with automatic transmission, the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is available to order from May 3rd at any Arctic Trucks appointed Isuzu dealership, throughout the UK.
Arctic Trucks torque wrench. The Isuzu D-Max boasts class-leading safety standards and achieved the maximum five-star safety rating in the tough new Euro NCAP test. This UK first for a pick-up is in part due to the new Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) fitted as standard across the range, with every Isuzu DMax featuring Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Manual & Intelligent Speed Limiter, along with Lane Departure Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking as standard.
SPECIALISING IN SINGLE AND DOUBLE CAB PICKUPS NEW , USED AND RECONDITIONED PARTS AVAILABLE ENGINE, AXLES, GEARBOX AND CHASSIS REPLACEMENTS ALL AVAILABLE WITH OPTIONAL COLLECTION AND FITTING. SERVICES
PAY AND COLLECT YOU’RE PARTS MAIL ORDER SERVICE 3 MONTHS WARRANTY
4X4 & 2WD Pickups of all ages. Runners or non runners give our office a call today and let us know what you’ve got .
The Sidings, Holdsworth Road, Halifax , West Yorkshire HX3 6SN info@thorntonbreaker.co.uk - www.thorntonbreakers.co.uk
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INEOS Grenadier starts at £49,000 with a simple model line-up available to order from 18 May
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full-height cargo barrier and a full-length flat floor capable of taking a standard Euro pallet (1,200mm x 800mm). Customers can opt for a rear side window instead of the standard blank panel at no extra cost.
A WORKHORSE VEHICLE WITH COMFORT AND REFINEMENT AS STANDARD
The standard five-seat Grenadier Station Wagon is also certified as a commercial vehicle and is fitted with a cargo barrier, to provide the optimum balance between payload and passenger carrying capability. Two further five-seat Station Wagon Belstaff editions have a greater emphasis on passenger comfort than load space capacity, with more knee room for second row passengers compared with the standard five-seater.
he Grenadier is a modern, workhorse 4X4 designed, engineered and built to world-class standards. Starting from £49,000 RRP in the UK, its simple model line-up provides the basis for buyers to easily select and configure their perfect Grenadier with a wide range of options and accessories.
The Grenadier is available as a two-seat Utility Wagon and a five-seat Station Wagon. The Grenadier Utility Wagon variant is a blank canvas ready to be configured for the exact needs of customers. It is built for those needing a stripped back, no nonsense workhorse, but still with the comfort, refinement and standard features that today’s drivers expect. Designed to carry loads, the Utility Wagon has two seats, and is certified as a commercial vehicle. It comes with a 106 |
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HIGH-SPEC BELSTAFF EDITIONS: FOR EVERY ADVENTURE In addition to the standard specification Grenadier, INEOS Automotive also offers two pre- configured vehicle editions that reflect Belstaff’s and INEOS Automotive’s shared philosophy for producing authentic, uncompromising products that are engineered to last.
Creating premium outerwear since 1924, Belstaff is known for its iconic waxed cotton jackets and its pioneering and progressive spirit. The Grenadier Trialmaster and Fieldmaster Editions, which can be selected on the non- commercial fiveseat Station Wagon, have both been curated with specific purposes in mind and are built to take on the outdoors. The Trialmaster Edition has been specified with extreme off-roading in mind. It is named after the iconic Belstaff Trialmaster Jacket, which was created in 1948 at the request of professional Trials biker and Irishman, Sammy Miller, and was designed to cope with the gruelling conditions of the Scottish Six Days Trial. While the Grenadier Trialmaster Edition also gets the Smooth Pack features, it has an entirely different personality thanks in part to the additional Rough Pack. This adds front and rear diff locks and the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyres. With functionality and versatility the top priority, the Grenadier Trialmaster Edition also gets a host of www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Motors
additional practical kit, including a raised air intake, exterior utility belts, and an auxiliary battery. This is the Grenadier for customers that are passionate about hardcore off-roading and tackling the toughest terrain on the most extreme expeditions. The Grenadier Fieldmaster Edition is named after the iconic Belstaff Fieldmaster Jacket, which is designed for life in the outdoors. It is specified for those with an adventure lifestyle who will use their vehicle to get them and their kit to wherever they want to go. It comes with the Smooth Pack, a collection of
comfort and convenience features that makes the Grenadier even easier to use in every situation. It includes a rear-view camera, puddle lamps, power heated door mirrors and auxiliary USB power outlets. Other additional premium enhancements include 17-inch alloy wheels (with the option to upgrade to 18inch alloy wheels), Safari Windows, leather upholstery, carpet floor mats and heated front seats. Whether towing a horsebox, hauling kayaks to the river, or going wild camping, the Grenadier Fieldmaster Edition makes outdoor adventures even more accessible.
CUSTOMISATION FOR ALL All versions of the Grenadier are uncompromising, highly capable 4X4 vehicles. Even the standard Utility Wagon models offer everything most users will need: peerless off-roading capability, refined on-road driveability, and a functional, modern, comfortable interior. But every customer is unique, so every Grenadier can be customised to suit the specific role they will play for their owner. From launch, INEOS will offer a wide range of factory-fit options, the prepackaged Rough and Smooth options packs, and an extensive choice of accessories. An open-source approach means customers can affix existing kit, and pre-wired electric access points mean fitting lights and other powered accessories is straightforward. SIMPLIFIED ORDERING PROCESS Order books and an enhanced online configurator go live from 18 May. While thousands of reservists around the world have priority to secure their build slot, anyone in the launch markets* can configure and order their Grenadier. The online configurator at ineosgrenadier.com takes customers through the build of their perfect
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Grenadier, step-by-step, and for customers in most major launch markets, the vehicle price updates in real time†. An online finance calculator† is part of the process, too, and through a partnership with Auto Trader, customers can get an indication of what the part exchange valuation could be for their current car, prior to inspection by a sales agent. With transparency and no negotiation with dealers to worry about, the price shown on the configurator is the price customers will pay. Once they’ve settled on their configuration, customers will be able to choose their collection location – an interactive map showing nearest
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retailers will be available on the website. A deposit payment of £2,500 – refundable until the vehicle contract is signed – secures a build slot.
open from 7am to 7pm on weekdays. Italian, Spanish and French speaking support staff are available between 8am and 5pm.
CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR EVERY STEP
From 3 May, the English service will be available 24/7, German will be available between 7am and 7pm weekdays and 8am-4pm on weekends. The Italian, Spanish and French language service will be available between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. All times are BST.
INEOS Automotive has opened its UKbased customer contact centre to support those just beginning to learn about the Grenadier as well as those who need help as they finalise their order. Customers can get in touch by phone, email, and via live webchats. The English and German desks are
TOTAL SUPPORT FOR OWNERS By removing unnecessary complexity, stripping back electronics and providing
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| Motors accessible information, there’s less to go wrong and, if it does, it’s easy to fix. From the full boxsection ladder frame to the corrosion-resistant and galvanised body, every component on the Grenadier is engineered for strength and built to last. INEOS has taken the best possible engine, gearbox, axle and transfer case combination for the Grenadier and specifically tuned them to accomplish the task in hand. Service, parts and manuals Once they’ve taken delivery of their Grenadier, customers will have the reassurance of comprehensive aftersales support from INEOS. Retailers will be the backbone of the service network, providing maintenance, repair and parts. Additional geographical coverage will be provided by handpicked INEOS-accredited Bosch Car Service and independent 4X4 specialist workshops. The aim is for most customers to always be within 45 minutes of an authorised service point. ‘Flying Spanner’ technicians from INEOS HQ are on-call if the service network needs additional support. Roadside assistance will also be included as standard with every Grenadier. For all owners, help will never be far away. INEOS Automotive recommends a
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regular 12-month servicing interval for the Grenadier; or six-month servicing for continuous tough environments. For owners who want to carry out work on their Grenadier themselves, INEOS will provide online 3D interactive manuals with support from the technical team at INEOS HQ just a call or a click away. The vehicle has been deliberately designed and engineered to be easy to work on inside and out. The INEOS-accredited service network will hold stock of common parts to ensure customers can get back on the road quickly. Any parts that aren’t on the shelf in the network will be dispatched from a 6,000m2 global parts hub in Belgium by express courier.
After 1.1 million miles of testing and development, INEOS is confident in the Grenadier’s durability and reliability. So, it provides the peace-of-mind of a comprehensive warranty. Complete vehicle warranty provision is as follows: •
UK/Europe/Middle East/ANZ: Five years / unlimited mileage
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Africa: Five years / 100,000 km
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North America: Five years / 60,000 miles
Globally, the Grenadier will come with a three-year paint warranty, a three-year warranty for accessories, and the ladderframe chassis and body components will have a 12-year anti- perforation warranty.
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JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNC STRATEGY TO ACCELERATE IT J
aguar Land Rover has announced a new Open Innovation strategy, to accelerate next-generation technology and sustainability to support its Modern Luxury vision for the business, its partners, and customers.
Open Innovation will drive collaborations with start-ups, scale-ups and like-minded external organisations on electrification, connectivity, digital services, metaverse, intelligent enterprise, manufacturing, supply chain and sustainability. As part of the new global strategy, 112 |
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Jaguar Land Rover will launch a first-ofits kind innovation hub in the UK, in partnership with the corporate innovation platform and investor, Plug and Play. In addition, two separate partnerships with Cubo Itau and Firjan will provide access to the vibrant Latin American start-up ecosystem. The announcement is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy: to be the creator of the world’s most desirable, luxury vehicles for the most discerning of customers. By collaborating with innovators and sector experts, the Open Innovation programme will help the business identify digital services, products, tools, and processes for it to
achieve its goal of net zero by 2039, while creating new value chains for the business. As a Founding Partner of Plug and Play UK, Jaguar Land Rover is building an ecosystem of start-ups and scale-ups that will create jobs and opportunities for the digital economy. The platform will also provide access to a global ecosystem of potential partners, enabling the organisation to test new technologies and business models. Activities will be located close to Jaguar Land Rover’s headquarters in the West Midlands, the heart of the UK’s automotive industry.
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CHES OPEN INNOVATION TS MODERN LUXURY VISION In addition, Jaguar Land Rover has signed two partnership agreements in Brazil with Cubo Itau and Firjan. Brazil is an important hub to benefit from the flourishing Latin American start-up ecosystem, as well as being home to one of Jaguar Land Rover’s production facilities. Cubo Itau, located in São Paulo, currently hosts hundreds of start-ups covering several industries like fintech, agribusiness, healthcare and retail. Jaguar Land Rover will play a key role in Cubo’s newly created Smart Mobility Hub, which will spearhead innovations for the automotive sector.
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Firjan, is a private entity that represents industrial and business sectors in Rio de Janeiro state. With a 10,000-strong network of enterprise members, Firjan will work closely with Jaguar Land Rover to connect start-ups who are developing advanced automotive manufacturing processes and provide access to advanced laboratories for R&D programmes. To enable Open Innovation, Jaguar Land Rover has appointed 70+ ‘champions’ from across key business areas – including sustainability, engineering, design, research, and manufacturing – that will be at the forefront of driving the strategy.
François Dossa, Executive Director, Strategy and Sustainability, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “With the launch of the Open Innovation platform, Jaguar Land Rover is looking at the entire mobility and sustainability ecosystem to offer an unparalleled customer experience, shaping the future of our industry, and paving the way to the future. We will explore everything from second-life batteries and circular economy to new fintech, insurtech and digital services – all aligned with Jaguar Land Rover as the proud creators of Modern Luxury.”
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Hyundai’s Tech Day platform showcases company’s leadership in technology and innovation
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yundai Motor Europe’s Tech Day format offers journalists exclusive opportunities to learn about the latest technology emerging from the company’s facilities around the world. A typical Tech Day event includes a range of formats hosted by both internal and external experts, such as deep dives of products and the latest tools used in the production process for the development of future models, as well as panel discussions and even interactive VR workshops. In recent years, Hyundai has evolved from a traditional automaker to a techdriven Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company has achieved this through significant investments in battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and a diversity of mobility solutions. Another key pillar of this transformation is the company’s development of state-of-the-art technology, as it plots a path for the future of mobility beyond getting from A to B. “Since Hyundai introduced our first Tech Day in 2019, we have hosted a number of interactive events that have enabled us to demonstrate our leadership in technological innovation,” says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe. “This platform continues to evolve as new formats 114 |
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emerge and our investments in the latest technoloical innovations come to fruition. Through our Tech Day events, we are able to reach journalists beyond traditional automotive media and show how Hyundai is becoming a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. “The HME PR and Communications team invite journalists to attend interactive Tech Days events throughout the year so that they can gain first-hand insights about the leadership in research and development that is happening across our company,” says Florian Büngener, Head of PR and Communications at Hyundai Motor Europe. “Through a range of guest presentations from Hyundai representatives, to interactive workshops and behind-the-scenes tours, our Tech Days events enable media attendees to see first-hand how our brand is at the forefront of technological innovation.” SEVEN concept VR Tech Day In March 2022, Hyundai welcomed Europe’s leading tech and design journalists to its European Design Center at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC) in Rüsselsheim, Germany, for the SEVEN concept VR Tech Day. There, they met leading Hyundai representatives and enjoyed a series of virtual workshops where they experienced first-hand the company’s modern design process,
which is enabled by VR technology, as well as a virtual walkaround of SEVEN, Hyundai’s latest concept car. In recent years, Hyundai designers working in the company’s six design centers around the world have transitioned to a fully-digital approach. Today, they use a range of cutting-edge technology like VR, which enables them to work together across continents. VR technology offers them more freedom to experiment. With far fewer materials used, the modern design process is also much more sustainable than traditional methods. This approach will support Hyundai in achieving its target of carbon neutrality by 2045. For the SEVEN concept VR Tech Day, HMETC opened the doors of its state-ofthe-art 20x23m Vision Lab to external guests for the first time since the completion of its renovation in November 2021. It is now outfitted with some of the most advanced design technology in the automotive industry, including 48 cameras with active tracking. In this hall, the company’s European designers use VR headsets to meet with their global counterparts and discuss upcoming models. “Our new HMETC Vision Lab is a stateof-the-art virtual 3D environment that showcases our modern design approach. It enables us to freely exchange concepts within our global design organisation and make much www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
| Motors quicker developmental decisions and technical assessments from the very outset of a project,” says Thomas Bürkle, Hyundai’s Chief Designer in Europe. “Inside, our designers are able to make adjustments to the digital model with much greater accuracy using not just VR, but also AR and mixed reality. They’re able to hone in on a bumper detail using digital laser pointers, for example, and can define lines and shapes more accurately and efficiently than in the past.” For the first workshop, Simon Loasby, Head of Styling at Hyundai Motor Company, joined the guests virtually from Hyundai’s Global Design Center in Namyang, Korea. Through the power of VR, he presented a walkaround of SEVEN’s exterior. To experience this, the journalists were equipped with VR headsets. During the second workshop, Thomas Bürkle showcased the interior of SEVEN. For this event, Hyundai’s engineers created a bespoke Virtual Interior Journey. Using mixed reality, the journalists were able to experience SEVEN’s premium lounge and take part in a free-flowing Q&A session. Looking back at previous Tech Day events IONIQ 5 Tech Day In July 2021, Hyundai brought its Tech Day format to the IONIQ 5 Driving Experience in Valencia, Spain. This time around, it was presented in a new digital-hybrid format. In a series of presentations, which were also streamed online to people not in attendance on-site, Hyundai executives and external speakers provided an overview of the company’s fully-electric midsize CUV. Following this, tech and design media had the opportunity to participate in an online Q&A session featuring experts from Hyundai Motor Europe. Hyundai Motor Europe representatives, Raf Van Nuffel, Product and Pricing Director and Eduard Rates Garcia, Head of Product Planning and Market Intel, deep dived into IONIQ 5’s groundbreaking Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). E-GMP offers customers enhanced time efficiency by allowing for faster charging capabilities and increased driving range. In addition, it enables a range of technological features such as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which allows customers to freely power or charge any electrical equipment while on the move. Attendees had the opportunity to see a demonstration of this innovative technology on-site. Other topics covered at the IONIQ 5 Tech Day included an examination of what IONIQ 5 means for Hyundai as a
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brand and how the model fits into Hyundai's corporate responsibility strategy – not just with regards to its zero local emissions powertrain, but also the sustainable materials that were used in its design. The media had a chance to speak with Yasin Savci, Senior Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe, to learn how many of IONIQ 5’s interior touchpoints – seats, headliner, door trim, floor, and armrest – use ecofriendly, sustainably sourced materials such as recycled PET bottles, plantbased (sustainable PET) yarns and natural wool yarns, and eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts. Hyundai also hosted a special episode of its Are We There Yet? podcast in Valencia. Host Suzi Perry was joined by three HME representatives: Raf Van Nuffel, Thomas Bürkle and Yasin Savci. During the episode, the speakers discussed IONIQ 5’s electrified features, sustainable materials and futuristic design. Together with its CSV partner Healthy Seas, Hyundai ensures plastic waste recovered from the sea is recycled into new materials, to support a circular economy. Healthy Seas works with Aquafil, who transform the reclaimed fishing nets and other nylon waste into ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon yarn that can, in turn, be used to make new sustainable products. IONIQ 5 features floor mats developed using ECONYL®. Virtual Tech Day at SHIFT Mobility Convention With social distancing measures in place for much of 2020, Hyundai hosted its first Virtual Tech Day event at the SHIFT Mobility Convention, which was held in conjunction with IFA 2020 and took place as a hybrid-digital event. Through various activities, Hyundai highlighted its accomplishments in the field of fuel cell mobility, shared insights on the role of start-ups and OEMs in driving progress forward, and explained its transformation from an automotive manufacturer to a tech-driven Smart Mobility Solution Provider. A virtual panel discussion entitled “Fuelling the Future: Paving the Way to a Hydrogen Society” considered the potential of fuel cell technology as a zero local emissions mobility solution, as well as the importance of developing solutions that are both ecologically and economically sustainable. The panellists included key Hyundai representatives, as well as important figures from the worlds of politics and sustainability, including: Dr. – ing. Sae Hoon Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Fuel Cell Center at Hyundai Motor Group; the Swiss psychiastrist balloonist and Hyundai Brand Ambassador Bertrand Piccard; and Mark Freymüller, CEO at Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility AG.
#NextAwaits CRADLE Tech Day In November 2019, Hyundai invited top tech media from around Europe to the global innovation hub Tel Aviv for the #NextAwaits Tech Day, where they had the chance to meet experts from Hyundai CRADLE Tel Aviv. Hyundai CRADLE is Hyundai Motor Company’s corporate venturing and open innovation business focused on seed-to-growth investments in, amongst others, artificial intelligence, robotics, smart energy solutions, smart cities, including mobility services, and cyber security, in support of Hyundai’s strategy to develop advanced future automotive technologies. Hyundai CRADLE Tel Aviv has a portfolio of Israeli startups across various mobility domains it has invested in. These fields include sensors to enable autonomous driving, cybersecurity, real-time trauma analysis in the case of car accidents, V2X, smart cities, and connected cars. In a series of presentations and workshops, the attendees learned about how Hyundai is becoming a leading player in developing future mobility solutions and embracing a start-up culture. Virtual Seating Buck Tech Day In September 2019, Hyundai hosted a Virtual Seating Buck Tech Day in Amsterdam. Across a series of workshops, participants were invited to learn about how HMETC integrates virtual reality in the design process, while also receiving an overview of the company’s Autonomous IONIQ concept. Thanks to virtual reality, designers at HMETC can understand, and even feel, both the exterior and interior of a product before it physically exists, and better meet the demands of Hyundai customers. Following an introduction from members of the HMETC design team, journalists discovered how Hyundai’s i10 Virtual Seating Buck demonstrates the company’s willingness to embrace new technology in vehicle development via an interactive VR workshop. More Tech Day events planned So far, Hyundai’s Tech Day platform has generated increased interest for the brand among non-automotive media. It is also scalable, with invitations ranging from small media groups to hundreds of journalists. The format continues to evolve so that it is even more exclusive and impressive, and showcases some of the most advanced technology used within the automotive industry. Hyundai intends to utilise this format for even more events throughout 2022 and beyond. More details will be revealed in due course. May 2022 | Farming Monthly | 115
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DACIA CELEBRATES PRODUCTION OF ITS 10 millionth vehicle
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acia is celebrating the production of its 10 millionth vehicle since the brand was born in 1968. The stylish New Dacia Duster Extreme SE in Urban Grey was produced on Wednesday 20 April 2022 at the Mioveni plant in Romania.
Within the 10 million vehicles produced, there have been: •
2.6 million Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway, the bestselling vehicle to private customers in Europe since 2017
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2.1 million Dacia Duster, the best-selling SUV to private
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customers in Europe since 2018
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1.95 million Dacia Logan and Logan MCV
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2.3 million Dacia 1300 (and variants)
Denis Le Vot, CEO of Dacia said: “We are very proud to have passed the symbolic milestone of 10 million vehicles produced. This result rewards a pragmatic vision of the automobile, focused on what is essential to our customers. Building on its experience, Dacia will continue to grow and offer attractive vehicles that are adapted to our customers’ lifestyles.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
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Dacia started assembling its very first vehicle, the Dacia 1100, in August 1968. The following year, the iconic Dacia 1300 model inspired a whole family of derivatives such as the sedan, station wagon, sports coupe and LCV. It remained in production for 35 years and has left its mark on the Romanian automotive landscape. A new chapter in Dacia’s history was opened following its acquisition by Renault Group in 1999. With the launch of Logan in 2004, Dacia became a global carmaker and the pace of sales accelerated. In 2005, Dacia opened a production line outside of Romania, at the Somaca plant in Casablanca (Morocco).
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The expansion of the model range, including Sandero and Duster, and their immediate successes have made it necessary to expand production capacity even further over the years. Expansion includes the inauguration of a brandnew plant in the port city of Tangier, Morocco (2012), the opening of a production line in Oran, exclusively for the Algerian market (2016) and the production of Spring starting at the Shyian plant in China (2020). Dacia vehicles are currently sold in 44 countries, mainly in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. May 2022 | Farming Monthly | 117
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2,500 UK DC CHARGERS NOW AVAILABLE VIA KIA CHARGE
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ore than 2,500 rapid chargers (50kW+) are now available via Kia Charge, as of April 2022. Kia Charge – an exclusive service designed to simplify public EV charging – now gives Kia owners access to more DC connectors in the UK than almost any other brand. DC charging is crucial to allowing electric vehicle owners to recharge quickly while en route to a destination. Since April 2021, Kia Charge has seen its number of available DC rapid chargers grow by 33 per cent in the UK, from 1,951 connectors to 2,591 – more
than any single ‘super charger’ network in the UK. These include DC chargers of 50kW or more, as well as high-power charging stations that can recharge at up to 350kW. The UK Government recently announced a target of 300,000 public chargers to be available across the UK by 2030. As the UK’s public charging infrastructure grows exponentially, Kia Charge continues to offer Kia drivers the best access to the widest range of chargers from a single account. Furthermore, Kia compensates all charging activity via Kia Charge with 100
per cent renewable wind power. Kia purchases the equivalent number of megawatt-hours (mWh) used by customers from renewable sources, via Guarantee of Origin certificates, effectively flooding the grid with zeroemissions power and increasing visibility for green electricity demand on the market. 21,000 connectors in the UK via Kia Charge The Kia Charge service provides easy access to chargers across all parts of the UK, Northern Ireland and Europe from a single account. In total, Kia Charge opens access to 21,123 connectors across the UK – equivalent to approximately 70% of the national public infrastructure – and more than 300,000 across 29 European countries. In the UK, the service encompasses 23 charge point operators, including bp pulse, Instavolt, Pod Point, Osprey and Shell Recharge. The service also offers access to the IONITY high-powered charging network. A single account gives access to all networks via a smartphone app (Android or iOS) or RFID card, with straightforward monthly invoicing. Choice of subscriptions and key network bolt-ons
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| Motors • IONITY Power costs £11.25 a month and reduces the IONITY charging tariff from 69p per kWh to just 25p per kWh in the UK, or €0.29 in most other European countries (paying for itself within a single 10-to-80 per cent charge) • The bp pulse bolt-on costs £7.85 per month and offers the same price to users as the popular bp pulse subscription available directly from bp Kia EVs and DC fastcharging
Kia Charge offers a choice of subscriptions to suit most user profiles:
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£2.99 monthly subscription fee and the cost of electricity used
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No one-time activation costs or session fees in the UK
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Offers a 15% discount on the base charging tariff on all UK networks (except bp pulse, Pod Point or IONITY) e.g. at Osprey, charg.gy, Instavolt, Source London, Shell Recharge, and others
Easy’ users pay •
£1.99 one-time activation fee and no monthly subscription
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49p session fee per charge (excluding charging within the Pod Point and bp pulse networks), plus the cost of electricity
‘Plus’ users pay:
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Two bolt-on packages are also available:
The Kia EV6 is one of the very few electric vehicles on sale today featuring a powerful 800V charging system, which enables drivers to charge their car from 10-to-80 per cent in just 18 minutes at stations offering 240 kW charging or higher (e.g. IONITY). The all-new Niro – due on sale in the UK later in the summer – will recharge from 10-to-80 per cent in just 43 minutes from stations offering 75 kW or more. Globally, Kia plans to offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. After EV6 and the allnew Niro, the next EV due from the brand is the Kia EV9, launching in the UK in 2023 with the same 800V rapidcharging technology as the EV6.
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PJ NICHOLLS SSANGYONG DONATE VEHICLE FOR AID TRIP TO ROMANIA
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J Nicholls is delighted to provide a SsangYong Musso Saracen to aid The Star of Hope Romania Foundation. Three members of staff of a local school are making the 3,500-mile round trip in the vehicle to provide aid and assistance to Ukrainian refugees, particularly children, fleeing the ongoing conflict. The Star of Hope Romania Foundation is a non-governmental organisation based in Iasi and was officially established in 1998 with the support of the Swedish Star of Hope International Organisation. Their aim is to improve the quality of life of children in difficulty, especially children with disabilities. The Foundation has set up 12 day centers, some of which are close to the Ukrainian border, with over 450 beneficiaries per 120 |
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month. For the past month, they have been dealing with a number of child refugees and money has been raised to send the members of staff over to help. The job will be made easier thanks to the generosity of PJ Nicholls, donating the Musso pick-up truck. Tom Nicholls, managing director at PJ Nicholls, commented: “When we saw the campaign from RGS Worcester to send their staff to the Ukrainian border to help with the ongoing conflict, we knew we had to offer our assistance. We are pleased to offer the SsangYong Musso Saracen pick-up which will be more than capable in delivering goods to those in need.”
experience in the motor trade. Whilst specialising in 4WD and SUV vehicles, they pride themselves on their customer service and helping the community and local charities. The SsangYong Musso is a multi-awardwinning pick-up that was launched last year with an impressive front grille, as well as a host of other upgrades on the previous generation model. With the ability to tow 3.5 tonnes and carry a 1tonne payload simultaneously, it should live up to the task in providing vital assistance to a worthy cause.
PJ Nicholls are a family-run dealership based in Pershore and have extensive
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Commercial vehicle production accelerates as March output surpasses pre-pandemic levels
• British CV production rises 57.0% in the first quarter of 2022. • Q1 production for domestic and overseas markets grows by 42.6% and 70.5% respectively. • Last month marks best March since 2011 with output up 64.3% to 10,130 units.
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K commercial vehicle (CV) production grew 57.0% in the first quarter of 2022 according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Some 25,268 vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches rolled out of British factories in Q1, including 10,130 units in March alone, a year-onyear increase of 64.3% in the month. Last month also saw CV production finally exceed pre-pandemic levels, up 11.3% on 2019’s performance, equating to 1,032 more vehicles built as manufacturers ramped up production.1 Growth over the first three months of the year was driven largely by a 70.5% uplift in exported CVs, with some 5,873 more units heading overseas, while domestic production also increased by a notable 42.6%. More than half (56.2%) of all CVs produced this year have been shipped abroad, with 94.4% of those headed to the EU. During March, exports almost doubled, growing 95.1%, while the percentage of CVs built for UK operators also increased by 33.6%
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Despite the challenges the UK automotive industry continues to face, most notably the global shortage of semiconductors, commercial vehicle manufacturing output is still resolute. Significant demand from both home and overseas for the latest and greenest working vehicles continues and will be aided by new model and technology releases throughout the year. Competitiveness, however, is far from assured and action must be taken now to reduce the
potential impact of rising energy and inflation costs, to encourage investment and the long term future of the sector.”
SSANGYONG MOTORS CELEBRATES COMMITMENT TO REAL LIVING WAGE
sangYong Motors UK has today been accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Its living wage commitment will see that everyone working at SsangYong will receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 in the UK or £11.05 in London. Both rates are significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour.
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The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
2011, the living wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 300,000 people and put over £1.6 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.
HR manager at SsangYong Motors UK, Laura Cuthbert, commented; “As an organisation, we are passionate that all colleagues are paid fairly. We value the contribution of all individuals at SsangYong, and our salary and rewards packages are one way that we demonstrate this. We are delighted to become a recognised Living Wage employer, joining other companies with the same ethical approach to fair pay.”
Wage Foundation said: “We’re delighted that SsangYong has joined the movement of almost 9,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on. “It joins thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real living wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay."
Katherine Chapman, director, Living May 2022 | Farming Monthly | 121
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ALL-NEW KIA NIRO EV ON SHOW AT FULLY CHARGED LIVE 2022 T he all-new Kia Niro EV will be on public display at Fully Charged Live at the end of this month, giving EV fans the chance to see the new car ‘in the metal’ before sales commence in the summer.
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A pre-production prototype of the all-new Niro EV will be on static display at Fully Charged Live, the major EV and clean energy show (fullycharged.live). The car will preview the range-topping ‘4’ grade in the all-new Niro EV line-up, showing the range of features and technologies
that customers will have access to. It will also give visitors to the show the chance to find out more about the car’s powertrain, featuring a 64.8kWh battery pack and 150kW (201bhp) electric motor.
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Kia recently announced full UK pricing and specifications for the all-new Niro family*, which is now available to pre-order. It is due to replace the Kia e-Niro when UK customer deliveries commence this summer. The outgoing model was the UK’s second best-selling EV in 2021, and contributed to Kia’s record share of the UK and EV market. Several examples of the multi award-winning Kia EV6 will also be available at Fully Charged Live for test drives. The EV6 was launched at the end of 2021 and has won plaudits from industry experts and EV drivers alike. Earlier this year it was named European Car of the Year 2022. Prices for the Kia EV6 range start from £41,695 on-the-road, with its 77.4kWh battery pack capable of up to
328 miles on a single charge (WLTP
combined) in certain specifications. Kia’s bold plans for vehicle electrification pushed the brand to its best-ever EV sales in 2021, and EVs have made up almost one in five (18 per cent) of Kia’s total UK sales so far in 2021. The brand also now offers a total of 10 electrified (hybrid, plug-in-hybrid and electric) models – one of the most comprehensive electrified line-ups in the UK today. The Niro EV sits alongside the EV6 and Soul EV in Kia’s fully electric line-up. Globally, Kia plans to offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. Fully Charged Live takes place from 29 April to 1 May at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre.
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Volvo Cars Tech Fund makes strategic inv
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olvo Cars has taken a strategic minority stake in carwow, a leading online marketplace for buying and selling cars, through the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, its venture capital arm.
As a leading platform in Europe for buying new cars and helping consumers sell their current car online, carwow has experienced considerable growth in recent years and is now one of the market leaders in the UK, Germany and Spain for online sales of new cars. 124 |
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Through the investment, Volvo Cars will gain valuable insights in areas such as online sales, customer acquisition and content creation, which will help its shift towards online and direct customer relationships. The equity investment is the next step in the existing partnership between Volvo Cars and carwow, which includes collaborations on Volvo Cars’ subscription service as well as driving traffic and sales leads to Volvo Cars and its retail partners.
in any consumer industry, which includes the competitive landscape of Volvo Cars,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Chief Commercial Officer at Volvo Cars. “We were one of the first car manufacturers committed to shift to online sales, and through this strategic partnership, we will learn and gain insights into online buying behaviour. Our collaboration with carwow will help us and our retail partners to grow volumes and reach our target of selling around half of our volume online by 2025.”
“Third-party marketplaces play a key role
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vestment in online marketplace carwow
is integral to its aim of becoming a global leader in the fast-growing premium electric segment, with millions of direct consumer relationships. Its online sales strategy is based on changing consumer behaviours and industry trends in combination with its ambition to be a leading pure electric car brand by 2030. The company’s focus on online sales and direct customer relationships includes creating a simple and hasslefree experience for ordering Volvo products and services, with transparent pricing and product information, as well as clarity on delivery times through its www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
online store on volvocars.com. “Volvo Cars and carwow have the same ambitions: to make buying a car online easy and seamless, and to help consumers switch to electric cars,” said Alexander Petrofski, Head of the Volvo Cars Tech Fund. “Our investment in carwow is a good example of how the Volvo Cars Tech Fund aims to support the overall strategic direction of the company.”
headquartered in London and employs more than 400 people across Europe. Having started life as a reviews aggregator, it has also become one of the most influential names in consumer car media. Its automotive channel on YouTube has more than six million subscribers and counting. Financial details of the Volvo Cars Tech Fund investment in carwow were not disclosed.
As one of the leading online marketplaces for new cars across the UK, Germany and Spain, carwow is May 2022 | Farming Monthly | 125
THE ALL-NEW ISUZU D-MAX
LOVES WORK LOADS
BUSINESS CONTRACT HIRE FROM ONLY
£289
† MONTHLY RENTAL PLUS VAT INITIAL RENTAL £2,601.00 PLUS VAT Followed by 47 Monthly Rentals. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
DRIVEN TO DO Model pictured is a DL20 including optional special paint finish from £298.39 +VAT a month plus Initial Rental of £2,685.51 +VAT
B & B Trucks
Burton on Trent, Staffordshire Tel: 01283 521 522 bandbtrucksand tractors-isuzu.co.uk
Jeffries of Bacton Stowmarket, Suffolk Tel: 01449 781 131 jeffriesofbactonisuzu.co.uk
Startin Tractors
Ashby Road, Twycross Tel: 01827 880 088 startintractorsisuzu.co.uk
York Van Centre Station Lane, York Tel: 01904 470 170 yorkvancentreisuzu.co.uk
Culverwell Cars Robertsbridge, East Sussex Tel: 01580 880 567 culverwellisuzu.co.uk
SMARTER. STRONGER. SAFER. All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1 – 27.6 (10.2 – 11.2). Mid 31.4 – 36.4 (7.8 – 9.0). High 36.0 – 39.4 (7.2 – 7.8). Extra-High 29.0 – 30.8 (9.2 – 9.7). Combined 30.7 – 33.6 (8.4 – 9.2). CO2 emissions 220 – 241g/km. †Example based on 8,000 miles per annum, non-maintained. Subject to status. UK residents 18+. Rental amounts shown are on the specific model stated plus VAT @ 20%. This offer excludes fleet and Members Affinity scheme sales, is only available through participating Isuzu dealers and is not available in conjunction with any other offers or with BASC, NGO or NFU member discounts. This offer is only available through Lex Autolease Ltd trading as Isuzu Contract Hire, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Offer ends 31.05.2022. Vehicle must be returned in a good condition to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. If the vehicle has exceeded the maximum permitted mileage then a charge of 9.5p plus VAT @20% per excess mile will apply. The All-New Isuzu D-Max is Smarter Stronger Safer compared to previous model. Terms and conditions apply.