October 2021 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: New Grain Technology on show at MMS page 56-57

Farming MONTHLY National

October 2021

I Why Artificial Intelligence is critical to farm security page 46 | VR drone experience

at CropTec

Also inside this month..

page 18

Women in Farming

Hatihs Rota-Tip

Landrover Defender 110

PLUS: Arable| Grain | Potatoes | Building | Security|Energy| Livestock| ATV | Motors

Add moisture sensors and application equipment to you autumn / winter baler purchases

Prescison moisture sensors Bale management solutions Manual & Automatic applicators

The precision system is built around a market leading zero calibration moisture system. we all know the importance of moisture but when the automatic applicator is added it provides a solution to deal with high moistures often found in hay just when you think it is ready to bale, this opens the baling window and improves the quality of the baled product utilising Baler’s Choice preservative. When moisture is the only concern a wet bale marker will highlight the individual flakes on square balers that are above your preferred limit. For round balers the bale that has and average moisture above the limit is marked

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CONTENTS O c t o b e r 2021

FEATURES 18

16 24 28 32 46 48 52

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42

57

70

Arable New one-year sugar beet contract agreed for 2022

Potatoes & Root Crops Tong keeps an eye on automation at BP2021

FM REGULARS

Grain AHDB releases a variety blend tool for winter wheat

National

Women in farming Katie Boyes, a young hard working and very positive dairy farmer

Security Why Artificial Intelligence is Critical to Farm Security

Livestock Dairy farmers missing out on millions

Muck and Slurry Slurry inoculant offers potential to cut ammonia emissions

Farming Monthly | October 2021

6 34 42

News SOPHIE GREGORY NAMED 2021 DAIRY WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Buildings 2021 RIDBA Building Awards

Energy HRS agrees ‘anaerobic digestion dangerously overlooked’

56 68 76

Machinery Case IH announces new Oxfordshire dealership

ATV Polaris Off Road welcomes all-new RANGER models for 2022

Motors The remote-control farm is ripe for the picking, says VNC Automotive

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Farming MONTHLY National

Agriculture. Covered.

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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.

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New 4.20m wide DISCO 4400 CONTOUR October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 5

| News

LAMMA & IAgrE launch award for young, promising agricultural engineers he LAMMA Show and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) have partnered up to launch the 2022 Young Engineer Award, providing a platform for young engineers who are working to help UK farms become more sustainable, profitable and efficient.

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"From the very beginning, the LAMMA Show was dedicated to promoting and educating young agricultural engineers," explains Kate Walsh, LAMMA Event Manager.

"LAMMA celebrates its 40th year in 2022, and as we reflect on our past, we also look to the future and what it will bring to the industry. The opportunity to champion the best and brightest agricultural engineers is the perfect way to celebrate that legacy while also supporting the future of British farming."

The award showcases engineers

who have created or made changes to a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology and, by doing so, improved efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm.

"We recognise agricultural engineering can reduce the environmental footprint of farming through reducing carbon emissions and better fuel efficiency, and by partnering with LAMMA for this award, IAgrE can recognise and reward practical, environmentally efficient and sustainable agricultural engineering solutions," says IAgrE CEO Charlie Nicklin, who is one of the award judges.

"I will be looking for entries that demonstrate creativity and profitability, a finished product, prototype or concept that will help a farm or business's profitability and

how it contributes towards sustainability."

Those interested in applying can do so at LAMMA365.com. Entry is free, both individuals and groups are eligible to apply, and the award is open to engineers 35 years of age and under as of 1st January 2022.

The winner will be determined by a combination of judges' scores and a public vote. The winner will be announced at the LAMMA Show in January 2022. The winner's prize will be announced in the coming weeks.

For further details, please visit LAMMA365.com.

Winning posters highlight dangers on farms wo children have been named as the winners of a poster competition to raise awareness of the dangers on farms and crofts.

Six-year-old Stuart Ward, from South Lanarkshire, won the category for children aged six and under, and Gemma Forgie, 11, from Moray, won the seven to 12 category.

Organised by SAC Consulting - part of Scotland’s Rural College - for the Farm Advisory Service, children were asked to create a poster using paints, crayons or other materials showing examples of farm safety.

Stuart’s poster had six images drawn in felt pen with messages including ‘Sheep can head butt you’ and ‘Don’t touch chemicals’.

Gemma’s poster also showed a range of images, drawn in crayon, with captions such as ‘Children should be supervised to stop them getting to anywhere they

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

shouldn’t’ and ‘High vis for extra visibility if big machinery is around’.

competition, said: “We had a good response, and the quality and effort of the entries was very high, so it was hard to pick a winner in each category.

Six-year-old Stuart Ward's winning entry Gemma Forgie's winning entry There were 37 entries overall with all children receiving a hi vis safety vest, and the winners each also receiving an art stationary box.

Agricultural Technician Kevin MacKinnon, who organised the

“The winning entries by Stuart and Gemma were outstanding and showed a good understanding of the dangers on farms.” www.fas.scot

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SOPHIE GREGORY NAMED 2021 DAIRY WOMAN OF THE YEAR orset farmer Sophie Gregory was announced the winner of this year’s Dairy Woman of the Year Award, sponsored by HSBC UK, at the Women in Dairy Virtual Conference last month.

In addition to milking 360 cows with 150 followers alongside her husband Tom Sophie spends a lot of time engaging with the wider public.

Predominantly using her social media channels and working with schools her aim is to educate people of all ages about the industry. An element of this includes taking part in Farmer Time, an industry initiative aimed at using digital communications to inspire and engage children about the sector and the journey of agriculture from farm to fork.

Sophie and her family have also featured in various Arla videos about farming and take part in Open Farm Sunday doing live videos for their social media pages.

Last year’s award winner, Cheshire dairy farmer Karen Halton, who was

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part of the judging panel, said all of the finalists were inspirational young ladies but Sophie’s passion and ethos for nurturing and mentoring new talent was second to none.

“She also had a grasp of the business and its finances and came across as a great communicator.

Being hands on with the farm alongside bringing up a young family is no mean feat and Sophie makes it her priority to go the extra mile for the benefit of the industry.”

Describing the win as “one of the proudest moments of her farming career” Sophie said it was a shock to be named as a finalist let alone

crowned winner.

“If there’s one piece of advice I could give to my younger self I would tell myself to have dreams, work hard, stay focused and surround yourself with good people.

“It’s important to never stop learning but you mustn’t forget to look after yourself along the way.”

With no background of farming Sophie has had to learn on the job.

Whilst groups such as Women in Dairy are important to many within the industry Sophie explains how they are a great opportunity to meet people in similar situations, bringing women together to connect and share their ideas. “In such a fastmoving industry it’s important to have as many chances to meet likeminded people, develop skills and ultimately inspire the next generation into farming through what we learn.”

If you are interested in finding out more about Women in Dairy, its local networking groups or the award please visit www.womenindairy.co.uk

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ed@tractortuninguk.co.uk www.tractortuninguk.co.uk October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 7

| News

Precision where it counts? hether you are bale silage, haylage, hay or straw understanding the conditions are vital.

ThirtyPlus lead the way in forage management equipment. Offering precision moisture sensors for all balers with systems fully integrated or smart device controlled. For square balers, ThirtyPlus use market leading precision starwheels measuring up to 70% moisture, while utilising twin disc technology for round balers up to 60% moisture reading with accuracy at +/-1%. The system measures through the bale pulsing from side to side up to 9 reading per second to give real time actual moisture. ThirtyPlus offer baler integrated systems and smart phone systems suitable for all baler operators.

Once you have an understanding about the actual moisture there are then options to manage the bales quality. Utilising the wet bale marker will identify bales which exceed the safe moisture

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

baling limit and allow separation in the stack. Square bales will have high moisture flaked marked while round balers will have the left and right sides marked as the bales are ejected if they exceed moisture alarm set by the operator.

For the ultimate quality using the baler safe ThirtyPlus buffered acid preservative will open the baling widow in hay and straw by up to 30%. The application systems will monitor the balers performance, crop moisture and adjust the application rate automatically, updating the rate every second in real time.

Utilising the large square internal weight an length sensors to monitor the baling performance.

As output changes in real time the applicator will adjust to maintain application rates. The moisture parameters can be set to apply 3 rates which will automatically adjust as the moisture sensor provides precision readings. If a single fixed rate is required, this is

achieved by simply adjusting the application parameters.

The ThirtyPlus preservative is pH6.0, making it baler safe and safe for all livestock, including horses. It is the strongest preservative on the market for hay and straw. ThirtyPlus have real world proven test results for the application rates recommended. There is no substitute for reliability and repeatability of the ThirtyPlus product.

Using the ThirtyPlus market leading application equipment and preservative will improve efficiency and forage quality while reducing production cost. The key to making high quality forage is a full understanding of the process from growing the crop to harvesting and storing the crop.

Attempting to cut corners and save money usually has the unwanted outcome of actually costing more in the long run.

ThirtyPlus specialists can advise the optimum products to suit your budget and requirements. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Adaptive Control system

Equipment for: Large Square / Round / Conventional

✓ Precision moisture sensor ✓ Auto Rate Control ✓ Baler intuitive ✓ Auto Pause ✓ Job records ✓ Animal / Baler safe preservative

HayBoss baler accessories designed for Massey and Fendt balers www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 9

| News

Britons want farming on the agenda for COP26 – and want farmers to have access to agricultural innovations to respond to climate crisis

FAIRBURN'S EGGS STAFF STEP UP TO SMASH THE THREE PEAKS AND RAISE ALMOST £25,000 FOR FARM AFRICA

hildren should learn how food is grown and produced so that they leave school with an understanding of the health and sustainability implications of farming and the extent to which Britain relies on imports, according to new research. The data also highlights an existing gap in knowledge, with 84% of respondents unaware of the fact that farming is responsible for 25-30% of global emissions.

Promisingly, 57% of those surveyed supported making food production a more sustainable process through the use of more innovative farming techniques and methodologies.

Following a summer of droughts, storms, and heat waves, including the hottest temperatures recorded in Europe since records began [1] , YouGov research indicates rising concern about the environment and UK emissions levels. It finds that 86% of Britons want to see improved education around the journey from farm to fork, backing a recent recommendation from Henry Dimbleby in his National Food Strategy [2] , while seven in ten (71%) believe farming and agriculture should be on the table in the COP26 discussions in Glasgow later this autumn. At present it is not one of the main agenda topics.

data makes clear the desire for us to do more to shore up farming domestically. 84% of respondents want to see British farmers better supported to grow more food here to reduce our reliance on imports and 81% are keen for agricultural innovations to be used to make the UK more self-sufficient. 75% of respondents agreed that one of the key advantages of embracing innovations in agriculture is the reduction in the UK's reliance on imports from other countries. But in recognition of increasing food security worries, only a fifth backed focusing on organic farming, with the public focused on making food production a more sustainable process using innovative farming techniques and methodologies. Just 15% of those polled labelled reducing the amount of land needed for farming as a priority.

The findings come ahead of the Government's response to its consultation on the future regulation of gene editing, which scientists say would enable farmers to produce higher-yield harvests with a lower environmental impact through growing more nutritious and robust crops on smaller areas of land in a changing climate. Promisingly, the Government have also just approved a trial in which scientists will genetically engineer wheat to reduce levels of asparagine, which is considered carcinogenic.

Reducing asparagine could produce healthier wheat which could reduce cancer risk to humans. Since 1 in 4 deaths in the UK are attributable to cancer, this could be a significant breakthrough 4.

ntrepid Fairburn's Eggs staff have just completed the National Three Peaks Challenge, trekking more than 66,000 steps – the equivalent of 750 flights of stairs – and raising almost £25,000 for charity Farm Africa which helps smaller farm holders in eastern Africa grow more and sell more food.

The event, in which participants attempt to climb the highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours, sees walkers climb each peak in turn and are driven from the foot of one mountain to the next. In total, the Fairburn's team drove 1,170 miles, thanks to driver Bryan Parker, and walked just over 24 miles in 24 hours as they scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in all kinds of weather.

The Fairburn's Team left to right: Peter Price, Aiste Baltrukaite, Dan Fairburn, Egle Samulione, Tabby Ward, Bryan Parker, Alice Turner, Lynette Ashmore

Mark Buckingham, Chair of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council said: "Over the last few months British farmers have helped the country through some of its most difficult times, ensuring a safe supply of healthy, good quality and affordable fresh produce. As all of us deal with the impact of climate change and environmental extremes, it is vital that we are equipped to access all the tools available. If UK food production is to remain both resilient and sustainable farmers must have access to technologies like gene editing.

"The role agricultural technology can play in helping reach net zero ambitions and meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals cannot be understated, therefore it is important that farming and innovation is on the agenda at COP26. Equally, it is important that consumers are well informed about how food gets from farm to fork and the challenges faced by farmers to be both sustainable and productive."

"There was heavy rain throughout this section of the hike," recalls Fairburn's national brand and account executive Tabby Ward. "It was very miserable and cold, and the cloud didn't really clear until we were about 40 minutes from the end. But we finished in good time and in good spirits!"

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The research, carried out on behalf of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, shows public enthusiasm for new approaches to farming in light of ongoing environmental challenges, with 81% agreeing farmers should be able to benefit from innovations that could help them play their full role in meeting the UK's climate change ambition of reaching 'net zero' by 2050. Since farmers will also need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to serve the world's growing population , it is crucial they have every tool available to them to improve food production.

Those surveyed were clear that consumers also have an important role to play in addressing the environmental impact of food and farming. 42% of respondents agreed that there should be greater encouragement of balanced diets which include more sustainable options and 85% agreed we should eat more locally grown produce. A third (33%) also said that providing consumers with a greater choice of food by utilising different production techniques was important. Using a more diverse range of technologies will give consumers greater freedom to choose more nutritious food grown using safe techniques with reduced environmental impact.

Britain relies on imports for 45% of its food supply3, a figure that 71% of those surveyed found worrying. The 10 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

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"The challenge of climbing three mountains back-to-back was difficult enough, but the lack of sleep in between made it that much harder," says Fairburn's supply chain manager Alice Turner. "It really was mind over matter pushing yourself to carry on!"

The team took in breath-taking scenery every step of the way, but the views of the Scottish Highlands as they headed to Fort William were some of their most memorable. "We passed beautiful lochs and what felt like a never-ending line of mountains, debating between us how big Ben Nevis would be by comparison," added Fairburn's national brand and accounts manager Lynette Ashmore.

In beautiful sunshine, it took the team five hours to scale Scotland's tallest mountain. Then, by stark contrast, they took on Scafell Pike - the tallest peak in England at 3,209ft - in heavy cloud and driving rain.

Last in their epic trek was Snowdon in Wales.

Standing at 3,560ft, the team completed their climb on a beautifully crisp day and even driver Bryan joined in.

"I have to say a huge thank you to everyone that organised and took part in this challenge for such a fantastic charity, which helps smallholder farmers in East Africa," says Fairburn's CEO Daniel Fairburn, who also took part in the trek. "I couldn't have asked for better people to do it with. That said, my legs still don't feel like they are mine!"

Dan Collison, Farm Africa CEO, said: "I have been with Farm Africa for almost 18 months now, and I have been constantly amazed by the lengths supporters will go to support our work.

Completing the Three Peaks Challenge is an incredible achievement and testament to L J Fairburn & Son's fantastic support and dedication."

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A recently qualified agricultural solicitor has been recognised for her work in the rural sector mma Blamire, 25, who lives on her family's farm at Thursby, near Carlisle, picked up the Agricultural Student/ Rural Skills Award at the inaugural Cumbria Farmer Awards 2021.

Emma is part of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors' Agriculture and Estates team, one of the leading agricultural law practices in the north of England.

Judges praised how she used her farming background and knowledge of the agricultural industry to give an excellent insight into her work as a solicitor specialising in agricultural law.

Emma also helps out on the family farm and is an active member of her local Young Farmers' club.

She said she was surprised and delighted to win the award.

"I absolutely wasn't expecting it when my name was announced," she said.

"My job involves helping farmers plan for the future, whether that's expanding, downsizing or diversifying their businesses, and having a farming background does help me understand what they are going through.

"I'd like to say a huge thank you to the judges, to The Cumberland News for organising the awards, and to whoever nominated me. It was a lovely surprise."

Around 220 farmers, industry professionals and local dignitaries

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

attended the Cumbria Farmer Awards which were held at The Greenhill Hotel, near Wigton. Organised by Newsquest Cumbria, which includes The Cumberland News, the 12 categories celebrated the diversity and dedication of Cumbria's farming sector.

The Agricultural Student/ Rural Skills Award recognises young people who are invested in agriculture and forging a career which will benefit the future of the sector.

Jonathan Carroll, Head of Agriculture at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which operates across Cumbria and Northumberland, paid tribute to Emma's role in the team.

He said: "It's great to see the future of the firm coming through and contributing to the team. Emma's award recognises the skills that young farmers can bring into other professions, bringing a practical understanding of the farmer's day-to-day life into her legal work."

Cartmell Shepherd's Agriculture and Estates team was recently highlighted for praise in the Legal 500, a UK professional law ranking which analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world.

Jonathan and fellow director Mark Jackson were recognised as "leading individuals", while Katherine PretswellWalker, who is also a director at the firm, was described as a "rising star". The firm

also retained its Band 1 rating in the rankings, which it has held for a number of years.

After A-Levels at Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton, Emma read law in Liverpool John Moores University followed by a one-year Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University.

After doing work experience at Cartmell Shepherd while still at university, she successfully applied for a two-year training contract, spending six months in different departments to gain experience.

She qualified as a solicitor in September 2020.

Emma lives at Mid Whinnow Farm, with her parents, Ian and Gillian, her sister Amy and her brother Tom. She is a member of Raughton Head Young Farmers, and regularly takes part in competitions, particularly public speaking.

When she's not working or competing with Young Farmers, Emma helps out on the family's dairy farm, which is home to a herd of pedigree Holstein, Friesian and Viking Red cows, and a flock of around 100 pedigree Zwartbles sheep.

Emma added: "I feel very lucky to be following my chosen career in my chosen field, while still being able to live at home, work on the farm and be part of Young Farmers."

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 11

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48% of farmers see the removal of BPS payments as having the biggest impact on-farm

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ecent research has found that 48% of farmers believe the removal of BPS payments by 2028 will have the biggest impact on their farm business going forwards.

The poll carried out by the National Farm Research Unit (part of the Map of Ag Group) on behalf of the Institute of Agricultural Management (IAgrM) asked farmers about the biggest issues they will face in the next three years, as part of the lead up to the IAgrM National Farm Management Conference in November.

“We wanted farmers to be involved in shaping the conference this year,” says 12 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

John Giles, Institute of Agricultural Management council member.

“Ending of BPS payments was way out in front in the results, with increased restrictions on input use and ability to achieve net zero carbon targets and the impact of climate change coming in second and third respectively,” he says.

“It’s interesting to hear that this is such a focus, as the main aim of the conference is to look ahead to transitioning into life after direct payments.

Rather than just talking about the issues, we’ve taken it a step further to look at life beyond this and what skills and solutions are needed to get ready for this momentous change,” says John Giles Mr Giles.

“There’s a showstopping line-up of speakers who will talk about their experiences from boots on the ground insight to leading industry advisors who can talk about the issues that farm businesses are facing and what can be done to get ready for the changes that are ahead.

“For example, Nicholas Saphir, the AHDB Chair, will open the session by

talking about what the industry needs to do to get to 2028 and what the gaps are that are holding us back.”

The conference titled ‘Agriculture 2028: Transitioning to Life Beyond Direct Payments’ is to be held at the QE II Centre in London on 16th November.

Sessions will focus on the gaps that need to be bridged by the industry to reach success after 2028. These include: •

• • • •

•

The trade competitiveness gap – what should be the focus of UK agriculture in international markets and what can we learn from others?

The farm management skills gap – what skills will we need in 2028?

The technology gap – how do we bridge the disconnect between agtech uptake in the industry?

The information gap – what is needed from media and information sources?

The innovation gap – what innovations are needed to help support a productive and sustainable farming and livestock sector?

The entrepreneurship gap – what is being done to improve this, how and by who?

Mr Giles explains that the conference is open to anyone, both members of the Institute and non-members. This is the event to attend this year if you are looking for help and advice on future proofing your farm business.

Book your tickets on the IAgrM website: www.iagrm.com/conference

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Jeremy Clarkson named 2021 Farming Champion of the Year roadcaster and farmer Jeremy Clarkson has been named the NFU’s 2021 Farming Champion of the Year at the Farmers Weekly Awards for his work this year which has seen him champion British farming.

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His hit show Clarkson’s Farm has showcased the realities of farming on his farm in Oxfordshire to millions of viewers, who enjoy his outspoken views on farming and no-nonsense approach. He has been a strong supporter of the NFU’s Back British Farming day and echoed its call for UK food self-sufficiency not to slip below 60% - and went further, calling for

government to make 80% self-sufficiency a target.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “When it comes to recognising someone who has done their best to showcase British food and farming over the past 12 months, no-one has earned this award more than Jeremy Clarkson. His show has really resonated with the public, brought alive the ups and downs of our industry to a huge new audience, and transported British farming into the living rooms of families across the country.

shelves stocked with British food and dealt with extreme weather events. Now, they are battling labour shortages, supply chain disruption and rising costs, which are causing severe problems for essential food producing businesses.

“Through all of this, Jeremy Clarkson has been a vocal champion for the British farming industry. His enthusiasm comes through in spades and his overwhelming and continued support for the NFU’s Back British Farming campaign makes him a very deserving winner of this prestigious award.”

“It’s been such a challenging time for British farming over the past 12 months; as key workers our farmers have kept

Celebrity farmer Adam Henson shares top safety tips with agriculture workers

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armer and TV presenter Adam Henson has shared his top tips to help keep fellow agriculture workers safe while carrying out work on farmland.

Best known for his role as a rural TV presenter and farmer, Adam is fronting a series of videos for electricity firm SP Energy Networks to highlight the electrical dangers associated with agricultural work.

Top tips shared by Adam, who was raised on a working farm and has over 30 years' experience as a farmer, include taking care when operating machinery near overhead lines and how to plan ahead correctly so that work is carried out safely.

The three safety videos outline how to avoid general farm safety incidents, how to stay safe when working near overhead powerlines and how to effectively map out farmland and plan ahead so farming can be carried out safely.

Adam, who is a joint director of the Cotswold Farm Park tourist enterprise as well as a national TV presenter, said: "I'm very lucky that I'm able to do what I love for a living but I'm also very conscious that farming isn't without its risks.

"I've heard of many different types of accidents over the years. When you live and breathe farming, it can be easy to forget to follow the basic safety advice that keeps us all safe.

"That's why I'm delighted to be working with SP Energy Networks to front its safety campaign to provide vital tips. I'd urge you to heed the advice and ensure your farm doesn't fall foul to potential accidents."

Adam will appear in the series of videos www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

posted on SP Energy Networks' social media channels and website over the coming weeks.

possible. If anyone is injured, please call 999 for medical attention.

The safety campaign is designed to get farmers thinking about safety measures they should take while working on farmland, as last year alone, more than 600 electrical safety incidents were reported to SP Energy Networks.

Adam's top tips are: When you're working on farmland near overhead powerlines, be mindful of machinery and its size as it passes underneath, particularly if working with new machinery and bigger equipment.

Plan ahead. Carefully plan the routes of your machinery, including access points and avoid stacking or storing items directly under overhead lines Contact SP Energy Networks for a network plan for your land.

Tell others about potential hazards. Make sure all staff, contractors and delivery drivers are aware of potential electrical hazards.

If something does go wrong, call the national 105 emergency helpline. This will allow you to get help as soon as

Frank Monaghan, Health and Safety Director at SP Energy Networks, said: "Farming is an incredibly skilled occupation but as we get into one of the busiest times of year it can be easy to forget some of the vital safety steps to take when carrying out agricultural work.

"We hope our new video series with Adam can raise awareness of simple tips to follow to stay safe when working near electricity and can help to prevent potential accidents."

For further information and details on SP Energy Networks farm safety advice, please visit spenergynetworks.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 13

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MAJOR TOUR EVENT SET TO PUT JCB GOLF COU

CB's Golf and Country Club is set to realise its vision as a major international tour destination as some of the biggest names in the sport prepare to descend on the course for a star-studded competition.

The prestigious Staffordshire club - the brainchild of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford - will host the JCB Championship as part of the Legends Tour's international schedule in July next year.

The event will take place in the week after The Senior Open at Gleneagles and will offer a prize fund of €600,000.

The JCB Championship will be hosted

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

by Ryder Cup and European Tour legend Darren Clarke and profits will be donated to JCB's NSPCC Platinum Jubilee Appeal.

Today Anthony Bamford said: "When JCB set out to create a world class golf and country club, it was always our ambition to attract an international tour event, so it really is wonderful news that the course has been selected to host such a prominent competition."

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald added: "The JCB Golf and Country Club has already successfully hosted the Rose Ladies Series tournament and our inclusion in the Legends Tour's international schedule really is the next step in fully realising our aspirations for

the course. We are thrilled by the news."

Spanning 240 acres of rolling countryside, the JCB Golf and Country Club has been hailed as a masterpiece in contemporary course design since it opened in 2018. It was designed and built using industry-leading technology to create aesthetically appealing tee shots, wide, sweeping fairways and interesting, yet fun, green complexes.

Darren Clarke said: "I'm extremely proud to be hosting The JCB Championship. Knowing JCB as a company and having been fortunate enough to visit JCB's Golf and Country Club, you can be certain that this will be a fantastic event and I'm very much www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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URSE FIRMLY ON THE MAP looking forward to it."

Phil Harrison, Chief Executive of the Legends Tour, said: "We are thrilled to have secured the first international event to be held at JCB Golf and Country Club. It is truly a world-class venue, and this is an opportunity for us to help showcase it to the world.

"We are thankful to the venue, as well as Chubby Chandler and International Sports Management (ISM), for their help in bringing this event to fruition and we are looking forward to working alongside them in the coming months."

ISM has a rich history of promoting tournaments and past events include the British Masters, Turkish Airlines Open and the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

ISM Chief Executive Officer Chubby Chandler said: "As a member of The JCB Golf and Country Club I'm very proud that ISM is involved in what is sure to be a memorable tournament.

Darren is also excited to be involved and is sure to bring a few friends to the JCB Championship with him. We have some great plans for the tournament and, befitting JCB and its incredible venue, we're looking forward to helping produce something unique and very special."

The JCB Championship will take place from July 29-31, 2022. The full 2022 Legends Tour International Schedule will be revealed later this year.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Arable

Better payback from liming as fertiliser prices soar iming grassland this autumn could offer greater financial benefits than usual as fertiliser prices soar.

This results in less wastage of expensive nutrients, less pollution into water courses and an improved soil structure, with all its associated benefits.

As part of the AHDB Grass Campaign, consultant, Dr George Fisher, has urged growers to check soil pH, and if it falls short of the optimum, to apply lime between now and Christmas.

All of this has been reflected in longstanding research, which shows grass yield can be 30-40% lower as pH drops from the optimum 6.5, down to 5.5.

L

This will achieve a greater financial payback this year as fertiliser prices reach a new record high. The price of ammonium nitrate has doubled since the beginning of the year and it has been quoted at £475-£480/tonne for October/November. In contrast, the price of lime remains relatively stable, providing an even better return on investment than in previous years.

Further gains from optimising pH include the more efficient capture of nitrogen by legumes while a growing body of evidence is beginning to suggest soils with a low or high pH can lose more carbon.

All of this points towards the importance of measuring the pH of all grassland soils, and optimising pH at close to 6.5.

Optimising a soil's pH will ensure its nutrients are available to the growing crop rather than lost through leaching or locked up in an inaccessible form.

This has environmental as well as financial benefits.

"This ensures that all nutrients, whether from the soil or a bag or from livestock, are at the optimum availability for the plant to take up, provided everything else is in place," said Dr Fisher.

Raising the soil's pH to its optimum by liming will not only increase its ability to release nutrients to the growing crop, but it will also optimise conditions for the soil's biology and health.

"It doesn't matter when you lime if ground conditions are suitable, but if you do it now, at the end of the grazing season, it has the winter to work its way into the soil and positively impact the pH next season."

Once the pH is known, the amount of lime required can be determined from the Agricultural Lime Association's website, (www.aglime.org.uk) where a 'lime calculator' will specify the tonnage to be applied to different soil types and through a choice of products.

It's not so much an issue of which product is used – with choices ranging from the basic crushed lime direct from a quarry to enhanced, granulated products – but of opting for calcium-based products, rather than those based on magnesium.

Soil health is about chemistry (its nutrients), physics (its structure) and biology (its microbial life).

Dr Fisher said: "You can work away on the physics and biology, but if you don't have the pH right, you will still lose nutrients," he says. "But get them all right and you reduce your chances of nutrient loss, leaching and pollution and increase your chances of a healthy and high-yielding crop."

For more information about grassland management visit: https:// ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/ahdbgrass

New one-year sugar beet contract agreed for 2022 FU Sugar and British Sugar have today announced a one-year sugar beet contract from 2022, including the continuation of the Virus Yellows assurance scheme1 and the futureslinked contract.

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The one-year contract for 2022 will pay a fixed price of £27 per adjusted tonne. Current multi-year contracted growers will have the option to upgrade to a fixed £25 per adjusted tonne by contracting for an additional contract year. There will be no separate market-linked bonus. These prices are on a zero-crown tare basis, meaning growers are paid for the entire roots of beet they deliver.

In addition, NFU Sugar and British Sugar have agreed to continue the innovative futures-linked variable priced contract, giving growers the ability to make their own pricing decisions for a portion of their 16 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

contract2. This will now be open to all growers, who will have the option to allocate up to 10% of their tonnage onto this contract.

Also new for this year is a local premium for all growers up to 28 miles contract distance from their nearest factory3.

NFU Sugar board chairman Michael Sly said: “Following another difficult negotiation, we have finally managed to agree terms with British Sugar. The substantial increase in the one-year contract price reflects the increased costs and risk sugar beet growers now face and recognises the fact that sugar beet must offer returns comparable with alternatives.

“After a successful pilot this year, the futures-linked variable priced contract will now be available to all UK sugar beet growers. This contract offers both growers and the processor the

potential to lock in attractive prices, meaning all parties can benefit from it. Other countries around the EU are starting to follow our lead on this and I am sure that this type of contract will become increasingly common as EU countries modernise their thinking and practices.”

Peter Watson, Agriculture Director, British Sugar said: “We are pleased to be able to share the agreed contract prices with growers after a long negotiation. Our aim was always to agree a fair and sustainable price for all and we believe this is what we have achieved.

“Together with our Virus Yellows assurance scheme, the new local premium and the futures-linked contract we believe the contracts offer a competitive package for growers.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Arable

VR drone experience at CropTec

rone Ag has developed new functionality for its mobile app Skippy Scout including 360-degree field imaging with virtual reality (VR) compatibility and plant counting. The new version of the software will be on show at CropTec, at stand 1.10, where visitors can experience how it works using a VR headset. “Using VR offers a unique opportunity to see what the drone sees and understand how the technology works,” says Drone Ag founder Jack Wrangham.

D

The new software will enable users to see a whole field with a bird’s eye view.

Rather than only viewing individual scouting points, the new interface, “Scout Spheres”, offers high resolution overviews of entire fields combined with the ability to inspect leaf-level scout point data. “We are the only provider to offer users a drone-enabled, full field overview that includes the ability to focus on any area of the field and choose where to inspect at leaf-level,” he says.

Skippy Scout is capable of counting emerging plants 20 times faster than walking the crop. It can count cereals, OSR, soybeans, beans, peas, and potatoes, offering an accurate total of plants in an image, as well as the

number of plants per square metre. “This development will enable existing and new users of Skippy to count emerging plants and then monitor the same fields to establish an accurate green area index (GAI) as the crop develops,” he says.

The new 2.6 version of Skippy (2.6) also features terrain aware route planning which halves flight times to maximise battery life and offers users the fastest scouting technology. “The amount of time being saved will enable farmers to concentrate on the problem rather than spend all their time finding it, only to find they are too late to make a difference,” he concludes.

Yara moves to ensure UK fertiliser supply

S

peaking late last night Yara CEO Svein Tore Holsether confirmed that Yara

is bringing ammonia to Europe from production facilities in Trinidad, the United States and Australia to support fertilizer capacity after the surge in European wholesale gas prices have caused factories within Europe to stop or curtail production.

"Faced with record high gas prices, we actually have the flexibility in our system to switch off ammonia production: so rather than using European natural gas, we're importing from our other facilities that are running at full blast," he said.

"We are bringing that ammonia into Europe so that we can maintain our 18 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

fertilizer production at close to full capacity."

Commenting on the announcement Mark Tucker, Head of Agronomy at Yara UK, has confirmed that the UK will have supplies: "It's a relief for farmers that product is still available, but please do talk to your usual supplier as early as possible to discuss your requirements."

"I would also encourage all farmers and their advisors to view this announcement as an opportunity to look again at your season 2021/22 cropping and nitrogen management plans. Are there opportunities to manage risk by considering spring cropping and adopt new technology to further improve nitrogen use efficiency? This will ensure

that you make every kg of purchased nitrogen work harder for your business and optimise the return on investment."

Yara confirmed it was impossible to say how long the high gas prices would last in Europe, but that it was able to supply all its customers with contracted volumes.

Concluding on the current situation Mr Holsether said: "Longer term, what we need in place is policy to make development of renewable energy more resilient and we need a more valuechain approach to the food system, which is currently so fragmented."

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Soil health and regenerative techniques to take centre stage in this year's CropTec Show seminars

ith growers in the midst of a tumultuous time in British farming, this year's CropTec Show seminar programme will examine the building blocks for a sustainable arable farming future.

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health seminar Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, head of farming systems at NIAB, and Thomas Gent, founder of Gentle Farming, will examine what a healthy soil system looks like and provide advice on how best to explore the new agrienvironment financial support on offer.

CropTec's acclaimed seminar programme returns for 2021 with a focus on four key technical areas of arable farming, including crop protection and crop nutrition, alongside a renewed focus on soil health and adopting regenerative techniques on-farm.

Helping farmers to minimise their cost of production has underpinned CropTec since the show's launch in 2013, with nitrogen fertiliser use a key consideration in the economic and environmental performance of an arable business.

Based on feedback and extensive research with farmers, this year's seminar sessions have been designed to help growers address some of the challenges facing arable farmers and advisers as they navigate the biggest agricultural transition since the post-war era.

An exciting new development for 2021 is the introduction of a 'Lunchtime Debate' focused on regenerative agriculture and sponsored by Horsch.

Chaired by Harry Farnsworth, Control Union UK sustainable agriculture projects lead, this exclusive debate will welcome three forward-thinking farmers farming on different soil types. They will share their first-hand experience of utilising regenerative techniques on their farms and address the question: does regenerative agriculture really stack up?

Improvements to soil health are a key focus of the Government's new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme and in this year's CropTec soil www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

This year's crop nutrition seminar, which sees Yara return as sponsor, will look at the latest techniques to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and will also provide growers with an insight into exciting new developments in organomineral fertilisers and their potential value within crop nutrition programmes and achieving net zero.

In recent years, EU regulation has resulted in the loss of a number of key crop protection active ingredients, but with Great Britain in the process of transitioning to an independent regulatory regime for pesticides, pesticide policy experts Dr Chris Hartfield, NFU's senior regulatory affairs adviser and Hazel Doonan, head of agronomy and crop protection sector at the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), will shine a much-needed light on the threats and opportunities faced by growers and advisers in a new era for crop protection.

Session chair Dr Hartfield said: "This session will help to highlight the opportunities. The big question is: is

Government going to grasp these to create a better, more holistic and science led crop protection approach, which supports innovation, provides solutions and enables competitive agricultural production?"

UPL and Unium Bioscience are set to support the seminar programme.

Pointing to this year as a 'golden opportunity' to experience seminar content, Gareth Jones, CropTec events manager said: "Although the pandemic initially had a detrimental effect on exhibitions, it has also given the CropTec team an opportunity to breathe new life into the event.

"With this re-vamped seminar programme, brand new knowledge hubs and a diverse exhibitor list, we aim to provide growers, agronomists, business consultants and suppliers with unique insights into how to build sustainable and profitable businesses."

The CropTec Show will be held in accordance with the latest UK Government and Public Health England recommendations regarding Covidsecure business-to-business trade exhibitions. The CropTec team want to ensure that all visitors and exhibitors feel comfortable whilst attending the show.

Rest assured, show management is working closely with the East of England Showground and the exhibitions industry to ensure the latest advice and best practice is being followed.

To find out more and register for this year's event, visit: www.croptecshow.com.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Arable

Pre-emergence priority a T

he onset of windy autumnal weather conditions now poses an additional challenge for essential preemergence herbicide

applications.

After a prolonged dry and settled late summer, some soil moisture will now bring a welcome chance for finer seedbed preparation, as well as a boost to residual herbicide performance. But wind causing disruption to spraying schedules is a serious concern, warns Syngenta application specialist, Harry Fordham.

“Syngenta grass weed trials consistently show best results are achieved with preemergence herbicide stacks applied as soon as possible after drilling,” he advised. “Performance will be maximised with a greater number of active ingredients in the stack, and with higher 20 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

application rates that will give longer residual control.”

Pre-emergence application is the safest herbicide timing for the crop and enables higher rates of Defy to be used. Trials have shown applications utilising Defy at 4.0 or 5.0 l/ha consistently delivers greater efficacy on many grass and broad-leaved weeds.

A well-timed pre-emergence treatment also ensures control is in place, if subsequent post-em applications are delayed or missed because of weather conditions, as occurred last autumn, he added.

Harry pointed out that application opportunities were limited for many last autumn, initially because of persistent windy conditions, and then by wet weather and waterlogged soils.

“Over recent years we’ve seen more unsettled and windy conditions in the autumn. Growers and sprayer operators need to make the most of any opportunity and adopt techniques to maximise results,” he urged.

Pre-em application best practice •

Apply at 200 l/ha

•

Spray at 12 km/hr or less

•

Maintain boom height at 50 cm

•

Use angled 90% drift reduction nozzles

Using the Syngenta Spray Assist App gives advance notice of potential spray windows and weather conditions, along with nozzle recommendations and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

as windy conditions blow application techniques to achieve the best possible results at any timing. The App has been further enhanced for 2021, with results from the latest season of Syngenta application and grass weed control trials.

“Changing weather patterns increasingly result in more localised extremes,” said Harry. “Spray Assist uses local weather forecasts and predictive data to tailor results to any field location. User feedback has shown it is highly accurate and reliable.”

The recommendations for pre-emergence application reiterate the importance of speed, boom height and water volume.

Advocating application at less than 12 km/hr, with a stable boom height of 50 cm above the soil and a water volume of 200 l/ha are all designed to minimise the risk of spray drift and achieve even spray www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

distribution on the soil surface.

even if other fields were applied at a reduced water volume,” he advised.

“Repeated seasons of application research has shown that can be further enhanced with the use of 90% drift reduction nozzle technology, combined with an angled spray pattern to give better coverage of soil clods.”

Syngenta grass weed technical manager, Georgina Young, added that while preemergence Defy application can achieve the best results, where treatments are missed or delayed it can still be effectively used after crop emergence.

Harry added the work had also confirmed application at 200 l/ha consistently achieved optimum results, compared to 100 l/ha or lower water volumes. Whilst higher water volumes and slower spraying would have some impact on sprayer output, in practice effects were limited and could often be offset by gains in operation efficiency.

“Agronomists do need to be aware of the rates being used and the potential risk of crop damage if there is a high loading of partner herbicides in the mix,” she advised. “However, where necessary, Defy has been shown to be a very useful option to get residual control in place where pre-emergence application has proved impossible.”

“If operators are under pressure to cover the ground, we would urge growers to prioritise treatment of problem fields with high grass weed populations at 200 l/ha, October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Potatoes

Sustainable Sprout Control • Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry; • Is approved for use on organic potato crops; • Has no harvest interval or MRL; • Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage, • And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes;

iox-M is a wellestablished and highly effective treatment to control sprouting in potatoes in store and is in widespread use in the UK and on the continent on crops destined for both fresh and processing markets.

B

Although approved for use in the UK in 2012, the 2020 harvest season was the first to have seen widespread adoption of Biox-M as the principal product available for sprout control in this country.

Many store managers used BioxM for the first time in 2020/21 and all have made great strides in understanding and implementing best practice in store management. The industry goes into the new season much better prepared and with much greater familiarity than a year ago.

Every store is different. That seems like an obvious statement but is hugely relevant when dealing with an unfamiliar

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

• Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development on processing; • Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated; • And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.

Biox-M is the natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes.

product, which behaves very differently to the “old chemistry” being replaced. Understanding the distribution of the fog and then vapour in store is essential to achieving excellent sprout control. Much has also been learned about the best use of fans to ensure an even distribution in store during application (find and address the ‘dead’ spots in store, and don’t run the fans too fast), and then the appropriate use of fans to maintain an even distribution of vapour during the closed period.

Fans should not be run too fast or too often during the closed period following treatment. Treatment of bulk stores has been particularly effective.

The first application of Biox-M should be made when eyes are merely ‘blinking’. There is no advantage in delaying until sprouts are well-established. And then getting the fog distribution and air circulation right in store has seen increases in the interval between treatments and crops

treated with Biox-M were successfully stored through to the end of June.

Biox-M is very much part of the wider sustainability tool-box, which customers and consumers increasingly expect growers to consider. Biox-M comes from a naturally occurring perennial crop, spearmint (mentha spicata), grown in a number of countries around the world – India, China and the US are large exporters.

Carbon is sequestered in the crop and in the soil (perennial crops sequester carbon in soil much more effectively than annual crops). Spearmint oil is extracted by a simple process of steam distillation. To deliver a uniform product with a minimum level of carvone, the oil is blended to produce Biox-M. No synthetic, persistent or harmful chemistry is involved.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

BIOX-M

| Potatoes

Exceptional sprout control in fresh and processing crops

Contact:

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Peter Hall peter@junopp.com 07973 172722 Nick Tapp nick@junopp.com 07775 785748 www.junopp.com October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Potatoes

LATEST VERSION OF HAITH'S ROTA-TIP TO LAUNCH AT BRITISH POTATO 21 ith over 170 machines sold, Haith's Rota-tip range is the potato industry's most popular box tippler, and visitors to this year's British Potato will be the first to see the next generation of the class-leading machine.

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The Rota-tip PRO, which has had a patent application granted, will take

spilled during the process.

Haith has also added a powered rotation lid to the new Rota-tip PRO. In previous models, the web lid is fixed, but in the latest version, the lid extends just before the tipping process starts.

To make transportation easier, the new Rota-tip PRO has a narrower footprint than previous models. The 300mm difference means that the new Rota-tip PRO takes up less space, making it ideal for small packhouses and facilities.

Haith's strategic partners GRIMME will also have a strong presence on the stand as both companies make their first appearance at British Potatoes since formalising their working relationship.

centre stage on Haith's stand on 24 and 25 November.

The Rota-tip PRO features all-electric drives and a new mechanism to allow it to take boxes of varying heights, which will be clamped to ensure they're secure and that the contents are not

"As well as our team, who will be able to talk to people about our class-leading range of vegetable handling solutions, we will have members of the GRIMME sales team with us as part of our strategic working relationship," says Duane Hill, Haith's managing director. "And, just like previous shows, visitors to our stand are guaranteed a warm welcome, and we will be treating them to some of Yorkshire's finest food and drink as normal!"

Haith Group has exhibited at every British Potato show, and once again, the company is one of the event sponsors as the company continues to support the industry and the potato growers that have put their trust in the company's products.

To find out more about Haith and its range of vegetable handling equipment, please visit www.haith.co.uk, email sales@haith.co.uk or call 01302 831 911.

From single machines through to complete turnkey installations, Haith has unrivalled experience and expertise in designing and installing vegetable handling solutions.

IN-FIELD

24(0) | 1302 | October 2021 Farming +44 831911Monthly sales@haith.co.uk

IN-TAKE

BOX TIPPLERS

WASHERS & DESTONERS

POLISHERS

GRADERS

OPTICAL SORTERS

TURNKEY SOLUTIONS

INNOVATION COMBINED

www.haith.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk Strategic Partner

| Potatoes

GIC'S CONTINUOUS MOTION MACHINES COME OF AGE AT BRITISH POTATO

A

UK manufacturer of packaging machines will celebrate 18 years of developing continuous motion machines at this year's British Potato show.

Gainsborough-based GIC will be marking the anniversary of its continuous motion machines by displaying its latest GIC3100 model on its stand at the November show.

"Obviously, there have been several enhancements over the last 18 years.

We have upgraded the electronics, introduced remote access to the machines, and we've made them faster by fitting them with new servo motion technology as it has become available."

The most recent enhancement has been the integration of Ceetak's QPH sealing technology.

The relationship with Ceetak, also allows GIC to incorporate the TOSS HLS hot air sealer into its continuous motion machines. The leading hot air sealer can be specified to machines when they need to run at very high linear film speeds.

Today, GIC offers a range of four continuous motion vertical form fill and seal machines, comprising the GIC3000, GIC8000, GIC3100 and GIC8100. The 3000 and 8000 models are designed to pillow pack, while the higher specification, higher speed 3100 and 8100 offer doy, quod pack and servo gusseting capabilities.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

A further benefit to GIC machine users is that the company's machines can now feature interchangeable jaws, allowing traditional heat seal methods or Ceetak's high integrity QPH sealing technology to be fitted or removed quickly. This gives operators flexibility in specifying methods of heat-sealing polypropylene, polyethylene and laminates on the same VFFS machine.

Tests by Ceetak have shown that QPH sealing technology, which ensures a high integrity, completely fused hermetic seal, can produce up to a 10% reduction.

GIC introduced its first continuous motion machine in 2003, and while the engineering principles relating to the machine are largely the same today, the company has introduced several new features in recent years.

"Over the last eighteen years we have developed a suite of machines to suit the needs of the potato industry, as well as those companies packing fresh produce and whole head crop handlers, who rely on bulletproof reliability, to frozen food factories and condiment manufacturers, who need high speed and high care versions," says GIC managing director Andy Beal.

"When we started to design our continuous motion machines, we decided that they would feature the fewest possible moving parts. By minimising the number of moving mechanical parts, we have ensured the GIC3000 and GIC8000s are incredibly efficient and reliable.

dialogue box.

Over the last 18 years, GIC has commissioned several hundred machines in a wide range of industry sectors, including frozen and dried foods as well as fresh produce.

The first GIC continuous motion machine was supplied to E Park & Sons in Epworth and is still in use today. The machine, which is used to pack potatoes, did have a full GIC factory refurbishment in the summer of 2014, 11 years after it was commissioned.

Integrating QPH sealing technology allows full calibration, control and diagnostics of the system via the GIC touchscreen. A dedicated Ceetak sealing page on the HMI enables the user to control all operating characteristics related to the sealing, cooling and release phases of the cycle. This page also allows the user to calibrate the system to ambient conditions, ensuring efficient use of the system, and diagnose potential faults and warnings through a descriptive

Today, the GIC8000 continuous motion machine is GIC's best-selling model and is used around the world by packers looking for a reliable, efficient and durable vertical fill form and seal machine.

For further information about GIC, visit its stand at British Potato, email info@gic.uk.net or call 01427 611885.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Potatoes

Tong keeps an eye on a L

eading potato and vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, and sponsor of the BP2021 British Potato exhibition, Tong Engineering, will be showcasing equipment advances from field to pack, as well as the latest technologies in automation and optical sorting, at the UK’s largest biannual potato event in November.

Exhibiting in Hall 2 at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, Tong is welcoming visitors to the company’s stand to discuss how the latest equipment developments can address the real challenges currently facing vegetable producers, by minimising labour requirements whilst maximising capacity and yield.

“Since the industry last met at the British Potato event the handling requirements of growers and fresh-pack companies have far from stood-still,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “The priority for our customers to maintain efficiency at every stage of the vegetable handling process is greater than ever, and we have introduced several new product developments across our range during this time that are truly streamlining the potato handling process.”

As part of the company’s ongoing product development programme, advancements have been applied to its in-field, on-farm and packhouse solutions, including the launch of the new FieldLoad PRO mobile field-loader, MonstaFill high-capacity box filler and patented E-Tip all-electric box tipper, as well as design updates across its

26 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes

automation at BP2021 best-selling range of washing and polishing equipment.

“Optical sorting technologies are also progressing incredibly fast and are replacing manual sorting facilities more and more,” says Edward. “Reducing the reliance on the workforce to achieve efficient grading and sorting is at the forefront of equipment upgrade projects large and small. We have seen significantly increased demand for handling solutions that integrate advanced vision grading systems, and a large number of our latest turnkey projects feature specialist optical sorting equipment.”

“An exciting advancement for the potato industry is the new internal potato defect sorting capabilities of the MAF Pomone weight grader. We have been the UK distributor of MAF equipment for over 30 years and we are very excited to unveil the new MAF-exclusive, patented IDD8 internal defect sorting technology for potatoes at BP2021.”

“The event is the perfect opportunity to meet with customers old and new to showcase the advanced handling solutions we offer as a dedicated manufacturing partner from post-harvest to pack.

We very much welcome visitors to join us over the two-day event on our stand 211, to discuss their upcoming projects with a selection of tasteful appetisers and refreshments.”

THE COMPLETE HANDLING SOLUTION

Designed with you in mind INNOVATIVE DESIGN FROM FARM TO PACK

www.tongengineering.com e: sales@tongengineering.com t: +44 (0)1790 752771

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Grain

Now is the perfect time to start your upgrades ith 2021's harvest drawing to an end, now is the perfect time to start thinking about replacing the handling equipment, or silo that has been giving you trouble all season, or buying a new drier, ready for next year's harvest.

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Do you have machines being held together by multiple repairs over numerous years, or maybe a machine that has spent half of the season being blocked up, or perhaps your drier just isn’t keeping up with your combine anymore? Perry of Oakley Ltd. can help.

Whether you are looking for a single machine or a whole new plant we have a solution that will work with our extensive grain handling, drying and storage range.

In the handling range, Perry manufacture and supply chain & flight conveyors, aspirator precleaners, belt & bucket elevators, belt conveyors, U-trough and tubular screw conveyors, which

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

come in three different performance levels: industrial (150-1000tph), light industrial (60-150tph) & agricultural (8-60tph). The agricultural range is supplied with a 10 year performance guarantee.

Alongside the handling range, Perry specialise in manufacturing continuous mixed flow grain driers.

Two models are available: the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah” series.

The two drier ranges provide driers to fit requirements and budgets from farms to commercial grain stores. The larger Savannah Series driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, which can be linked to any smart phone for full control of the drier from any location. This technology is designed and programmed in house allowing UK engineers remote 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.

The smaller more cost-effective

Mistral series drier is controlled via a hard-wired control panel, though this is easily upgradable to the Perry PLC touch screen control panel.

The silo range offer a very costeffective storage option. Flat bottom silos range from 3m to 32m giving storage capacities from 27m³ to 26,000m³. Hopper bottom silos range from 3m to 13m diameter with either 45 or 60 degree cones. The hopper silo ranges can be manufactured with either a heavy duty hip ring or with an internal light weight hip ensuring we can supply the most cost effective solution for specific requirements. Perry can also supply complete aeration systems, temperature control systems, unloading equipment, walkways & catwalks, towers & structures.

Contact Perry today for all handling, storage & drier requirements on +44 (0)1404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk, and receive a free, no obligation quotation.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Grain

AHDB releases a variety blend tool for winter wheat arietal mixtures increase a field’s genetic diversity and may help slow the spread of some diseases and reduce the risk of resistance breakdown. Fuelled by a passion for adding value to numbers, AHDB’s Bastiaan Brak discusses how he’s used Recommended Lists (RL) data to build a tool to guide variety-blend decisions.

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As a research data analyst, it should come as no surprise that I am fascinated by numbers. They can tell us so much about how the world works. Yet, all too often, their full potential goes unexploited.

Even within the relatively narrow field of variety trials, we only

scrape the surface of the data story. So, when several UK farmers mentioned (independently) that they were experimenting with variety blends, I knew RL data could be crunched in a way to guide their decisions on which varieties to test.

The UK is not alone, either.

Globally, there has been a spike in interest in the use of mixtures. For example, in France, it is estimated that the bread-making wheat area grown as mixtures has more than doubled recently – from around 5% in 2017 to around 12% in 2020 (source: FranceAgriMer).

The primary reason people consider mixes is to add genetic diversity to a field as part of efforts

to spread risk – with disease topping the risk-management list.

Although several scientific studies have shown that the technique has promise as a disease management tool, it is a complex area – involving numerous genetic and environmental interactions. As a result, it is best to test the approach on the farm before adopting the approach more widely. And this is where the variety blend tool comes in.

RL data When it comes to the development of a tool, it is often best to focus on the simplest option and add in the bells and whistles later. Even in the most basic form, a tool can be surprisingly complex. As a result,

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| Grain the variety blend tool has simple mathematics at its heart. Luckily, for the RL component values considered by the tool, bigger numbers are better. For the selected components, the tool simply adds together the associated values and divides the total by the number of varieties in the mix – the bigger the average score, the potentially stronger the mix.

Of course, it is not that simple.

Although many components are associated with 1–9 values (brown rust, yellow rust, septoria tritici and lodging) others have relatively large values (Hagberg Falling Number, specific weight and untreated yield). For these components, the tool converts their values to a 1–9 scale – where 1 and 9 represent the minimum and maximum values, respectively (see table), with other values (between these points) determined by a simple straight line. The tool also considers protein content values, as published in the RL.

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As a mixture of at least three varieties is considered best, the tool considers either three-way or four-way mixes.

assesses the potential influence of parents, grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents in the mix. Once again, it is a simple calculation – this time based on the number of times a variety features in its lineage. A score of ‘1’ indicates that varieties in the blend share no ancestors, whereas a score of ‘0’ indicates that all varieties in the blend share the same parentage.

Some words of caution

The values generated by the tool are based on the performance of single varieties in RL trials.

As such, the tool is not able to capture the complex interactions associated with varietal mixtures or predict relative performance.

The tool needs to be used with caution and varietal mixes not considered as a recommendation.

However, it can aid the identification of mixes for subsequent on-farm testing.

Parental diversity Based on NIAB winter wheat parentage data, the tool also

The tool visualises data in numerous ways. As with any tool, the best way to find out what it can do is to experiment with it – it is resilient and tough to ‘break’.

We plan to update the tool around the time the RL booklet edition is launched (typically, January).

However, if you do plan to test mixtures on the farm, be sure to talk with grain buyers to assess any potential specification issues first.

This tool is just one of several data-driven tools I’ve helped develop recently – you can access them via AHDB’s ‘tools’ page.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 31

Katie Boyes, a young hard working and very positive dairy farmer, shares her farming experiences with us.

rom a young age I always knew I wanted to farm. I was lucky enough to grow up on our family farm, we only had 35 milking cows and a 6 abreast parlour back then, but that is what stemmed my passion 32 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

for cattle.

In 2005 we sold the milking herd; I was only 7! From 2005 we started a suckler herd, we bred simmental heifers from our friesan milking cows to create a strong cross cow with good stature and plenty of milk.

Some of these cows lasted up to 14 years old and have only been sold in recent years.

Fast forward quite some years. 2015 I got my first job on a dairy farm. I put the word out and was approached at the young farmers dairy judging! The farm had 400 cows, a 58 rotary parlour and had an almost block calving system. I worked here for a couple of years on and off. I fin‐ ished college in the summer of 2017 and had my heart set on go‐ ing to New Zealand. I got a fant‐

astic job on a dairy farm at the very bottom of the south island, not far from Invercargill. The farm was 400 cows, with a 44 aside swing over the parlour. The best I milked the cows and washed out was 2 1/2hrs! It then was the best time of my life! I learnt so much! I arrived just before breeding sea‐ son and that was a huge eyeopener! Some days we were serving 40 cows! I was the 2IC (second in command). I fed the cows, made the grass breaks for the cows, washed the tank and parlour. I did nearly everything.

But I loved it!

A couple of years went by, and I never settled into a job. One com‐ pany I worked for really chal‐ lenged me mentally. I was knocked down several times and, in the end, I couldn't do it any‐ more! One thing I learnt from this job is always to remember your www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

worth. You cannot do everything and don't try and please someone who cannot be pleased!

After that fiasco, I went self-em‐ ployed. Best decision I had made for a long while. I worked on a couple of dairy farms relief milk‐ ing and a poultry farm. I have never struggled to find work. If you are strong willed and able to hold your own ground, you should never have to struggle. There are always some that have to have a word about a woman working on a farm. But I will always bark back. I haven't got this far just to be knocked down by a silly little comment. I now work on a dairy farm with 160 cows, three lely A2 robots and I love my job!

I am a cattle farmer, me and ma‐ chinery really don't bode that well. I'm just not confident. I have worked with cattle since I was

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young. It's what I do! When needed I can hop on a tractor to help with the arable work. Last year I lead corn, the first time I had ever been given the opportunity.

When such op‐ portunities arise, always take them.

Every day should be a school day!

Alongside the farm work I do, I have a passion for Simmental cattle. I bought my first heifer in 2017, I had no idea what I was looking for then. She may not look anything fancy but she has had three heifer calves to date and is a lovely an‐ imal! I bought an‐ other in 2018 to show as a maiden heifer and then an‐ other in 2019. I now have 3 of my own cows running in dads' herd, they all calved this year and gave me two bulls and one heifer. Mag‐ nus, Maverick and Malibu.

I see a future here on our family farm, we are improving our suckler herd vastly

and are going more into pure sim‐ mental breeding. With it only be‐ ing a small farm, it isn't viable to have a full-time member of staff other than my dad. We all chip in and help as and when we can.

Farming is hard, it always will be! it is always going to be challen‐ ging. The saying with livestock you get dead stock is something I live by. At a young age, we were aware of the concept of death and cattle going to slaughter. You are always going to have animals that leave a hole in your heart.

But enjoy what you do and you will never work a day in your life!

Follow Katie on Instagram: @kate_and_cows

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Buildings

RIDBA celebrate the best in r he Rural and Industrial Design and Building Associ‐ ation (RIDBA) hosted the 2021 RIDBA Building Awards at the Macdonald Manchester Hotel on September 30, 2021.

Hundreds of guests celebrated the fant‐ astic work of RIDBA members from all over the UK at the prestigious RIDBA Building Awards.

Comedian and writer Jo Caulfield hosted the event which saw prizes and com‐ mendations handed out to brilliant pro‐ jects across eight categories.

Net-zero carbon rated Lingwood House

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

was named as this year’s overall winner.

The concept of creating a modern and functional office and warehouse space which could achieve an environmentally friendly rating was crucial for the judges.

The striking building is also just six metres from a railway line which meant M D Anthony had to be particularly ver‐ satile in their approach during the design and construction phases.

RIDBA Chairman, Neil Fox, said: “I’m delighted that at long last we were able to celebrate the best in rural and in‐ dustrial buildings.

“Once again RIDBA members have shown the sheer quality of their work and

some of these projects have been com‐ pleted under extraordinary circum‐ stances. I would like to congratulate each and every finalist.”

Full details of all the winners can be found at www.ridba.org.uk.

The 2021 RIDBA Building Awards were sponsored by AJN Steelstock, Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Kingspan, Steadmans, Eternit, STRUMIS and media partner, Farming Monthly.

The chosen charity was the Lily Mae Foundation. The foundation supports parents and families after a stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage or medical termination.

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| Buildings

rural and industrial buildings

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October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Buildings

2021 RIDBA Building Awards: Celebrating the best in rural and industrial buildings he Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association (RIDBA) hosted the 2021 RIDBA Building Awards at the Macdonald Manchester Hotel on September 30, 2021.

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Hundreds of guests celebrated the fantastic work of RIDBA members from all over the UK at the prestigious RIDBA Building Awards.

Comedian and writer Jo Caulfield hosted the event which saw prizes and commendations handed out to brilliant projects across eight categories.

RIDBA Chairman, Neil Fox, said: “I’m delighted that at long last we were able to celebrate the best in rural and industrial buildings.

A special mention to overall winner, RIDBA member M D Anthony, for their Lingwood House entry. This modern, ecofriendly office and warehouse achieved a net-zero carbon rating through the use of carefully selected materials and the positioning of the building.

M D Anthony were faced with the challenge of meeting Network Rail’s complex requirements as the eastern end of the building is positioned within six metres of the electrified Greater Anglia trainline. This project demonstrates just how much planning has gone into the design of this build and is a worthy overall winner.

Public services •

Winner – The Grand Lodge at Oaklands by Colley Farm Buildings Ltd Retail & distribution

•

Winner – Mainsgill Farm Shop Extension by S&A Fabrications Farm storage

•

Winner – Machinery Shed by A.C. Bacon Engineering Training

•

Winner - Shufflebottom

Full details of all the entries can be found at www.ridba.org.uk.

The 2021 RIDBA Building Awards were sponsored by AJN Steelstock, Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Kingspan, Steadmans, Eternit, STRUMIS and media partner, Farming Monthly.

The chosen charity was the Lily Mae Foundation. The foundation supports parents and families after a stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage or medical termination. RIDBA would like to thank guests for their generous donations.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our sponsors, without their support, these awards would not have been possible.”

In total there were eight winners: Residential & offices •

Overall winner – Lingwood House by M D Anthony

•

Highly commended – Ben Jurin Islay Road

by Wareing Buildings

Education & leisure •

Winner – The Nest at Norwich City FC by A.C. Bacon Engineering

•

Highly commended – Innovation Centre at University of Essex by A.C. Bacon Engineering

Industrial & production •

Winner – Project Horizon, Mustard and Mint Factory by A.C. Bacon Engineering

•

Highly commended – Aerotron Composites

by M D Anthony

Livestock • •

Winner – Wharton Cattle Shed by S&A Fabrications Special recognition – Lower Trederwen Farm Broiler Units by Powell & Co Construction

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings

Protection and longevity for agricultural steel

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Joseph Ash Galvanizing is proud to be a Premium Sponsor at the RIDBA 2021 Awards

Contact us today: Joseph Ash Ltd The Alcora Building 2 Mucklow Hill Halesowen, B62 8DG www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

+44 (0)121 504 2573 sales@josephash.co.uk www.josephash.co.uk October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Buildings

Local company wins two prestigious National building awards

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he Rural and Industrial Design and Building Associ‐ ation (RIDBA) is the leading trade association for the modern agriculture and in‐ dustrial buildings industry in the UK.

Every other year, RIDBA holds an awards ceremony to recognise excel‐ lence in the industry, recognising the very best in rural and industrial buildings and providing an excellent platform for RIDBA members to showcase their best projects.

This year S&A Fabrications of Barnard Castle entered four projects to the awards and were shortlisted for all of

www.s-and-a.co.uk

them. At the awards ceremony in Manchester this week, S&A won two of the prestigious awards, including one for their work building the new shop exten‐ sion at Mainsgill Farm on the A66.

The other project was a livestock building in Lincolnshire which won Livestock Building of the year for its effective use of space and internal design.

Simon Pelly, who has worked for S&A for 15 years and bought the company along with his business partner Jonathan Kirk in 2018, said “the RIDBA awards are the yardstick in the industry for recognising and rewarding excellence. I’m delighted to have our projects recognised again and it is testament to the hard work and

dedication that our staff here in Barnard Castle and the build teams across the UK put in”.

“Our livestock buildings have been re‐ cognised for many years, but the project at Mainsgill Farm shows just how versat‐ ile steel framed buildings can be and how good they can look with the right finishes and a keen eye to detail.”

S&A Fabrications employ over 40 people at their headquarters in Barnard Castle, where they manufacture all of their steel framed buildings which are then distrib‐ uted and erected around the country.

Please telephone us on 01833 690 379 or Email fabs@s-and-a.co.uk

T: 01833 690 379

• design and build • steel fabrication • steel erection • project management • turnkey projects 38 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

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| Buildings

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 39

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

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October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Energy

HRS agrees ‘anaerobic digestion dangerously overlooked’ n August 2021 the InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its sixth assessment report on climate change which painted an alarming picture of the global effects of climate change and the need for immediate action to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the environment.

I

In particular the IPCC report identified that urgently tackling emissions of methane is a cost-effective and rapid way of helping to reduce the future effects of climate change. However, given this emphasis on the need for rapid action, it is disappointing that the deployment of anaerobic digestion (AD)

around the world falls far short of capacity.

Both the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have recognised that AD is ‘a readily available low-cost technology that can help reduce these emissions.’ However, despite some positive developments, such as the European Union’s Methane Strategy, AD and its potential to mitigate methane emissions, deliver clean renewable gas and sustainable organic biofertiliser is seriously overlooked by many policymakers.

In the wake of the latest IPCC report Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the World Biogas Association,

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

warned: “Research from the WBA and other biogas trade bodies… has demonstrated our industry’s potential to deliver a huge reduction in global GHG emissions, especially methane, within the next few years… We are issuing our own warning to world governments that it is dangerous to overlook the recognised power of AD as an immediate solution.”

With experience of delivering heat exchange solutions and systems to AD plants around the world, HRS Heat Exchangers wholeheartedly agrees with these comments. Not only is AD underutilised around the world, but in many situations where it is deployed, the overall efficiency of biogas production or spare heat utilisation is less than optimum. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

HRS produces a range of systems which are specifically designed to improve the efficiency of AD plant operation, add value to digestate production (which is a valuable, renewable and low-carbon organic fertiliser and soil conditioner) and prolong the life of AD plant components. Among these systems are our Digestate Pasteurisation System (DPS), Digestate Concentration System (DCS), and the Biogas Dehumidification System (BDS Series).

HRS also manufacture a range of heat exchangers for use in biogas production including the HRS Unicus Series of scraped

surface heat exchangers for use in thermal hydrolysis to increase biogas production, the G Series for exhaust gas cooling and heat recapture, and the DTI Series for feedstock and digestate heating.

Whatever your biogas project, from small on-farm crop and manure digestion to large municipal waste treatment HRS Heat Exchangers has the solutions to increase AD plant efficiency, prolong operational life and maximise both the economic and environmental benefits.

By Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Energy

Using batteries - and what it means for a farm’s sustainability credentials C arlton Cummins, co-founder and chief technical of‐ ficer of clean technology firm Aceleron explains the many ways that working farms stand to benefit from the use of batteries.

“This year marked the start of farming in the UK’s seven year transition away from EU based rules towards a new system outlined by Defra’s Farming Is Changing report. One of the areas that is ad‐ dressed in the report is how farmers can improve their environ‐ mental impact.

It may not be immedi‐ ately obvious, but us‐ ing batteries on a farm could in fact help reduce a farm’s car‐ bon footprint and even count towards an application for the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Connecting batteries to solar panels will en‐ able an energy effi‐ cient power source that can be used inde‐ pendently, overcom‐ ing grid and network constraints in remote areas and - perhaps most importantly of all, keeping energy bills down. Here are some examples of how batteries can be used as a power source: Light EV’s As electric vehicles become more com‐ mon on the road, bat‐ teries can also be used to power light electric vehicles on the farm such as a quad bike, electric forklift, electric motor‐ bike or light utility vehicle. Simply charge the battery overnight, connect it to the vehicle and you have ‘free’ power for the day.

Backup power Traditionally, backup power is supplied by diesel generators harmful to the envir‐ onment and costly to run, repair and re‐ place. Battery tech‐ nology has advanced to the point where diesel generators will soon become a thing of the past. Batteries such as The Essen‐ tial from Aceleron can provide a reliable, clean power source which can be monitored and controlled remotely, making it sus‐ tainable and ‘smart’.

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

Renewable energy storage Renewable energy is an intermittent energy resource, depend‐ ent on the sun shining or a windy day so pairing it with a de‐ pendable, flexible energy storage system such as battery stor‐ age will guarantee a system that has the ability to match energy supply with energy demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This flexibility is also particularly useful dur‐ ing peak demand hours. Regardless of what the weather is doing, stored energy can be drawn upon whilst also contribut‐ ing to the efficiency and resilience of an integrated grid.

Cost effectiveness It is also really import‐ ant to consider the li‐ fecycle of the battery you invest in as these are expensive pieces of equipment. A typ‐ ical battery will need to be replaced when it no longer works as they can’t easily be serviced and this puts costs up.

The technology we have designed at Aceleron means that our batteries are built to last a lifetime - a first for the battery market. Using a unique compression technology, every part of an Aceleron battery can be repaired or re‐ placed, with the re‐ placed parts being fully recyclable - or even reusable. This means that once the initial purchase is covered, the battery storage system can be serviced and re‐ paired on an ongoing basis, reducing longterm costs signific‐ antly.

The ability to store en‐ ergy on a farm is obvi‐ ously key for multiple reasons. However, the major considera‐ tion for us all is the current climate emer‐ gency. We all have to do what we can to reduce emissions and reach our net zero goals. Batteries have a big part to play in fa‐ cilitating the move towards the decarbonisation of electricity generation whilst keeping costs down and meeting our sustain‐ ability goals.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

RNG Plant Manufacturer WELTEC BIOPOWER announce Bristola as US Service Partner erman biogas plant manu‐ facturer WELTEC BI‐ OPOWER are pleased to announce the agreement of a Service Partnership in the USA, with Bristola, based centrally in Des Moines (Iowa). The com‐ mon goal is to promote the expansion of renewable energies by building and ser‐ vicing efficient biogas plants. Both com‐ panies have over 20 years of experience in the industry. During this time, WEL‐ TEC has designed and built over 350 biogas and RNG plants in 25 countries around the world.

WELTEC BIOPOWER had already suc‐ cessfully entered the US market in 2006 with the construction of two biogas plants in Wisconsin, both successfully convert‐ ing dairy manures to electricity for over a decade. For some time now, the produc‐ tion of carbon negative RNG from ma‐ nures and waste materials has been en‐ joying a major boom in the USA. WEL‐ TEC is currently working on a pipeline of

G

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projects across North America, based on the tried and tested German-engineered anaerobic digestion technology.

As a global market-leading technology provider, WELTEC understands that designing and building a biogas plant and handing it over on time, at full output is only part of the story. Local Service and Support is just as important as solid design and construction. With Bristola this can be reliably fulfilled. Bristola per‐ sonnel will have full training in the con‐ struction and operation of WELTEC plants and will be able to call upon the full support and expertise of the WEL‐ TEC Service Department, Biology De‐ partment and other in-house experts to assist the US clients to get the best per‐ formance and uptime from their invest‐ ments.

“At Bristola, we focus on the robot-con‐ trolled cleaning of tanks and lagoons.

This procedure enables ́zero down-time cleaning’, as the tanks do not have to be emptied, saving both time and money”,

explains Jared Burma, CEO of Bristola and adds:“I appreciate WELTEC‘s ex‐ pertise and many years of experience in the construction of biogas plants. The in‐ tegration of our after-sales service in the technical area, combined with tank clean‐ ing, results in synergies for all stakehold‐ ers.“ Dr Kevin Monson, International Sales Manager for WELTEC BIOPOWER, praises the good cooperation: “Aside from Bristola’s zero down-time tank cleaning solution, which will be of particu‐ lar benefit to sand-bedded dairy RNG customers and food waste plants, Bris‐ tola‘s high level of customer focus and commitment will benefit both WELTEC and our customers. Our US customers can have extra confidence knowing there are US boots on the ground and locally available spare parts. We are looking for‐ ward to developing this partnership in this fast-growing market.“

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Security

Why Artificial Intelligence is Critical to Farm Security

Gill Nunn and Peter Norton, Co-Founders of Shropshire-based agri-tech business NextGenAgri, explore the problems with traditional farm security solutions and explain why artificial intelligence will be vital in protecting farm assets and equipment in the future. he rising numbers of farm thefts have been well documented over the last few years, and while there might be seasonal or regional variations, the problem is only getting worse. The NFU’s latest report into rural crime showed that, while thefts slowed down during the pandemic, thieves have now devised new tactics to overcome security bar‐ riers.

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The problem, in many cases, is that 46 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

existing security provisions aren’t enough of a deterrent. Locks can be broken, diesel can be siphoned, live‐ stock can be rounded up and loaded onto trucks, and quad bikes can be rolled silently off the premises.

In the darker, quieter winter months, when the working days are shorter, nights are longer and there are less workers on site, thieves have the perfect opportunity to strike – so se‐ curity becomes a much more press‐ ing concern.

Experts advise that protecting your assets, machinery and livestock re‐ quires a whole-farm approach - a multi-layered defence strategy that uses all the tools at your disposal to their best effect, including CCTV, ro‐ bust locks, motion sensor lights, burglar alarm systems and trackers.

These tools, however, have limita‐ tions. Alarms can be set off by some‐ thing as small as a spider, while foxes frequently trigger motion sensor lights. Even if they did signal www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Security

that someone was on site, the people present at the time – whether it’s the farmer himself, his wife or his children – may not want to go out‐ side into the dark to confront a po‐ tentially dangerous criminal.

CCTV, therefore, has become one of the most widely relied-upon tools, because seeing a large camera not only acts as a deterrent, but enables farmers and estate managers to identify individuals and report them.

There’s a problem with this ap‐ proach, too, though. By the time you’ve reviewed the footage, the thief – and your assets – could be long gone.

That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. Interestingly, the whole concept of AI still intimidates people; there are lots of misconcep‐ tions about it that leave them nervous. Yet it’s got a huge amount to offer agricultural businesses – par‐ ticularly when it comes to farm secur‐ ity.

AI is now widely used in healthcare, education, retail and financial mar‐ kets, and is increasingly used in crop monitoring. It’s actually been around for decades, and whether or not you realise it, you’re probably interacting with something that’s AI-driven on a regular basis. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Broadly speaking, AI is a technology which uses machine learning to build up a picture of commonalities, which allows it to identify what’s normal and what’s abnormal. It isn’t here to re‐ place the skills or knowledge that we as humans have – far from it. Rather, it’s a sophisticated tool that can aug‐ ment our own capabilities, making life easier and more secure.

New AI-driven tools like the farm se‐ curity system we’ve just launched with NextGenAgri are now coming onto the market. This system works with any existing CCTV hardware to significantly expand its capabilities.

Rather than just capturing footage for you to review, AI-driven farm security software can – in real time – use people and vehicle recognition, as well as motion sensors, to detect activity and identify whether it’s sus‐ picious.

More than that, it gives you a chance to act through an instant text mes‐ sage or email alert, so you can de‐ cide whether or not to take action. If you recognise the person or vehicle, you can simply ignore the alert. If you don’t, and you’re concerned, you can quickly escalate it to your local police station – without you having to intervene yourself.

tem ‘teaches’ itself more about what’s normal or abnormal on your specific premises. Every time you dismiss an alert, it knows not to show you that same person or vehicle in future. If you have seasonal workers arriving on site at 4am, for instance, you can teach the system that the worker is ‘safe’.

Since few farms could afford to em‐ ploy a full-time security guard, this solution acts as a sentinel to guard your assets when you physically can’t.

The signage showing that a CCTV system has AI software installed is also a deterrent that thieves will think twice about gambling with. Ulti‐ mately, it means farmers can be proactive, rather than purely re-active, and take a preventative as well as a remedial approach.

Through AI, we can automate secur‐ ity much more effectively – meaning farmers can stay one step ahead of thieves, however sophisticated their approach becomes.

For more information, visit www.next‐ genagri.co.uk

Whenever an alert is issued, the sys‐ October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Livestock

Dairy farmers missing out on millions D airy farmers could be missing out on £55 million a year in lost revenue by not meeting milk buyer requirements for butterfat and protein.

AHDB analysis of the 2020/21 season shows over 40% of milk destined for the liquid market and 55% for manufacturing fell below target butterfat levels, resulting in farmers missing out on £38 million of additional income.

A further £17 million was lost by the 64% of farmers on manufacturing contracts who fell short of target protein levels.

Patty Clayton, AHDB lead dairy analyst said: "I'd encourage farmers to work out a simple budget to understand whether the income generated by increasing solids outweighs the costs.

"Global demand for solids on the rise so, depending on your milk buyer, increasing milk solids is likely to be a positive longterm decision."

An assessment of a sample of milk delivered to buyers during the 2020/21 milk year showed over 40% of the milk

destined for the liquid market was delivered with a butterfat level of less than the base level of 4%.

For milk destined for manufacturing, the typical base level for butterfat is slightly higher at 4.2%, and around 55% of the milk delivered for manufacturing fell below this. Meeting desired butterfat targets would have generated around £38m of additional income for farmers.

Farmers on liquid contracts do not typically achieve payments for surplus protein but may incur added costs to produce it.

Despite this, over 40% of milk destined for this market exceeded the typical base level of 3.3%.

Manufacturers usually pay for milk delivered above a base value of 3.4% for protein. Around 64% of milk supplied missed this target, forfeiting an estimated £17m in payments.

"At current payment rates, an all-yearround calver producing 1.5 million litres a year would generate £3,600 of additional revenue per year by increasing their butterfat content from 4.0% to 4.1%. This could be as much as £5,400 per year

depending on your contract," says Patty.

"It's important for farmers to assess their individual circumstances and pricing schedules before making any decisions.

Our handy checklist suggests the key steps to follow when thinking about making changes that will increase constituents."

Farmer checklist to increase milk solids from dairy cows Use AHDB's Milk Price Calculator to see how changes to constituents affect your milk cheque

Review your feeding approach and ration with your nutritionist or vet Work out a partial budget to see whether the costs to increase solids outweigh the additional revenues Longer-term, breed from bulls who are likely to pass higher constituent genetics to cows. AHDB's Herd Genetic Report allows you to see your herd's strengths and weaknesses and make informed breeding decisions.

RABDF DAIRY STUDENT AWARD LAUNCHES FOR 2022 WITH WINNER SET TO RECEIVE WORK PLACEMENT AT AWARD SPONSOR MOLE VALLEY FARMERS he Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has launched its 2022 Dairy Student Award, a longstanding competition within the industry, highly regarded by peers, companies and prospective employers for highlighting some of the sectors rising stars.

“The optimism and enthusiasm towards the industry is clear to see from the applicants and is encouraging for the future success of the sector.

2021 award winner Katie Ackland, who has just started her placement at Mole Valley Farmers, explains how winning the award has helped her.

“We look forward to receiving this year’s entries to see the applicants suggestions as they respond to a practical case study scenario.”

The competition is sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers and takes the form of an essay response to a case study, prepared

by Kite Consulting, to reflect real-life farming challenges.

Open to entrants who are studying at universities across the UK the winning student stands to take away £750 plus a six month paid placement with award sponsor Mole Valley Farmers.

She says: “The whole competition allowed me to grow in confidence and after learning so much about the sector and wider agricultural circle from studying at Harper Adams and I felt investing time within the process would only benefit my future dairy aspirations.

To take part course leaders must nominate applicants for the award before they are able to receive the case study and prepare their response. Essays must be submitted by Thursday 4 November, after which, a panel of judges will choose six finalists to join them for a formal interview and presentation at The Farmers Club in London. Presentations must outline how the dairy industry might need to change to meet the challenges of the future.

Jack Cordery, CEO of Mole Valley Farmers, says the company is delighted to sponsor the Dairy Student Award again this year.

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RABDF vice-chairs Di Wastenage and Robert Craig are joined on the judging panel this year by Mole Valley’s James Hague and Chloe Cross from Kite Consulting.

Mr Craig says the competition has become distinguished across the dairy industry as a result of the high calibre of students entering each year.

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“It is crucial we encourage, develop and promote high calibre people coming into the industry. We need young people who understand and can work to develop innovative and practical solutions to the technical and management challenges of modern dairy farming.

“This is probably more important than ever, as we need to not only help our farmers in terms of productivity and profitability, but now increasingly with the challenge of sustainability at the forefront of our thinking.

“We look forward to seeing high quality award entries and meeting the shortlisted finalists later this year.”

“As well as giving me more confidence the award has opened up doors along the way and the chance to meet key figures in the industry.

“During my time with them Mole Valley have given me the opportunity to complete a project focusing on the future impact of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs), a major change impacting the future agricultural sector.

“With so many challenges and opportunities currently facing the industry I think there is a lot to learn with some big sector changes. I’m hoping my placement will give me the opportunity to develop technical skills and open doors.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the award please visit www.rabdf.co.uk/dairy-student-award or call 02476 639317. The final two candidates will be invited to Dairy-Tech on Wednesday 2 February 2022 where the winner of this year’s award will be announced.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Dairy Industry Urged to Share GHG Emission Facts Ahead of COP26 T he dairy industry is being tasked to get behind a drive to spread accurate facts about greenhouse gas emissions from the sector ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow at the end of October (31st Oct).

how little the UK dairy industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The association asks individuals, key industry stakeholders, businesses, and organisations to push the messages within the industry and the wider public before, during, and after COP26.

about emissions from UK Dairy Farms

Matt Knight, RABDF Managing Director, said: "It is vitally important we come together as an industry and highlight what the UK dairy's contribution is to greenhouse gas emissions.

Dairy farming receives a lot of negative media attention for its perceived role in raising GHG emissions. Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, we want to highlight some keys facts about UK dairy cow emissions and dispel some of the myths.

01

Less than 3% of total UK emissions

46% of dairy cow emissions

Almost half of the emissions coming from the dairy cow is from their digestion - a perfectly natural process of ruminants

04

"As an industry, we are working so hard to reduce the levels, but often this is pushed back in our face when inaccurate facts are published.

Come from UK dairy farming

03

Producing milk efficiently

"The dairy sector, along with other areas of agriculture, is often used as a scapegoat when it comes to emissions, with 'belching' cows regularly hitting the headlines in the national press.

It takes 8 litres of tap water to produce 1 litre of milk or 158 litres of tap water to produce 1 litre of almond drink

UK milk emissions much lower than global average

The carbon footprint of a litre of British milk is around 1.25kg CO2e compared to a global average of 2.9kg CO2e per litre.

05

UK dairy cows are some of the most climate friendly in the world

There are 278 million dairy cows worldwide. If they were all as efficient as UK dairy cows, we WOULD ONLY NEED AROUND 76 MILLION of them to produce the same amount of milk.

For references please see www.rabdf.co.uk/emissions

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has pulled together some key facts to highlight www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

The facts the RABDF is asking the industry to push include: 1.

Less than 3% of total UK emissions come from UK dairy farming

2.

46% of dairy cow emissions Almost half of the emissions coming from the dairy cow is from their digestion - a perfectly natural process of ruminants

The aim is to help inform everyone of the actual levels of greenhouse gas contributions coming from the dairy industry and dispel many of the current myths.

5 truths

02

better informed about emissions from the dairy industry," he said.

"We anticipate UK agriculture will come under the spotlight at COP26, so we must be ready to make our story known and shout about the good work we are doing to reduce emissions from what is already quite a low level."

Mr Knight continued: "If everyone can share just one fact on social media, in their company newsletter, to a friend or in a conversation, for example, then that is at least one extra person that is

3.

Producing milk efficiently It takes 8 litres of tap water to produce 1 litre of milk or 158 litres of tap water to produce 1 litre of almond drink 4.

UK milk emissions much lower than global average The carbon footprint of a litre of British milk is around 1.25kg CO2e compared to a global average of 2.9kg CO2e per litre.

5.

UK dairy cows are some of the most climate friendly in the world There are 278 million dairy cows worldwide. If they were all as efficient as UK dairy cows, we WOULD ONLY NEED AROUND 76 MILLION of them to produce the same amount of milk.

The RABDF has produced some draft social media posts, newsletter snippets, visuals and posters that are free to copy and paste from their website at www.rabdf.co.uk/ emissions Mr Knight added: "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to spread the good work of the dairy industry and reinforce the fact dairy products aren't only good for human health, they are also good for the planet too."

For your free visuals, social media posts and more on greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector, please visit www.rabdf.co.uk/ emissions

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 49

| Livestock

WEDA offers hygienic PVC pens in wooden look In pig farming, therefore, there is increasing demand for housing concepts that focus on the health and performance of the animals.

This is especially true in times when new types of infectious diseases are spreading world- wide.

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irst organic farm converts its open organic pig farm

Farms in the organic and conventional sectors attach equal importance to individual, hygienic housing conditions. In pig farming, therefore, there is increasing demand for housing concepts that focus on the health and performance of the animals. This is especially true in times when new types of infectious diseases are spreading worldwide. WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp responds to these specific requirements of the keepers and is the only manufacturer to offer its hygienic pen walls and mod- ules in a natural wooden look.

Highest hygiene standards achievable Up to now, pens in the conventional sector have been equipped with the usual blue or grey hard PVC boards. In organic farming, on the other hand, operators have often used wood.

“Real wood, however, has the disadvantage that dirt and bacteria settle in the fabric. With our new plastic boards in wooden look, on the other hand, the hygiene standards under ecological husbandry conditions can be achieved quite easily because nothing sticks after cleaning,” argues WEDA development manager Ralf Meyer.

makes the material ideal for open stables with outdoor runs,” says Ralf Meyer. The additional costs, on the other hand, are low.

Offer extended to Hy.Board modules Therefore, the Lower Saxony specialist for pig husbandry decided to immediately extend this offer to the flexible, hygienic Hy.Board modules, whose sides are additionally welded. These pen walls made of PVC were developed especially for WEDA and are available in individual, adaptable sizes. The Hy.Boards are also quick and easy to assemble and clean.

First organic farm equipped with wooden look WEDA’s first project was to equip the organic farm ‘Arche Wilhelminenhof’ from Bakum in Lower Saxony with the

innovative wooden look pens within a very short time. Here, the complete pens of the open stable with outdoor run were equipped. “The new material as well as the look fit perfectly into our existing concept, it’s a completely different look,” says operator Angelika Balz happily. This is not least due to the fact that other components, such as the gates, are made of stainless steel. “And they, just like the pens, are also very easy to clean, so that our entire farm now meets the highest hygiene standards,” Angelika Balz sums up with satisfaction.

WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp responds to these specific requirements of the keepers and is the only manufacturer to offer its hygienic pen walls and modules in a natu- ral wooden look.

Easy to assemble and UV-resistant The wooden look pen modules thus combine the best properties of both materials. In addition, the new wooden look boards are very easy to assemble.

“Moreover, their surface is UV-resistant. This 50 |

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

FREE WEBINAR TARGETS BETTER CALF REARING airy farmers keen to rear calves more productively are invited to join a free educational webinar on Thursday, October 21st 2021 designed to help them produce better heifers.

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Organised by Volac, the practical 90minute lunchtime session is open to all and features expert speakers who will focus on feeding for growth through effective calf nutrition, the benefits of

computerised feeding and practical tips on how to improve the rearing environment.

speaker – research scientist and calf housing specialist Jamie Robertson – will discuss how to assess calf buildings from a shelter and hygiene perspective.

Joshua Hirneiss, sales manager with Urban Calf Feeders is up first. He will highlight how calf nutrition and health can be improved by automatic feeding, whilst at the same time saving on labour input.

Secondly, Dr Jessica Cooke, R&D Manager with Volac will focus on how to maximise calf nutrition efficiency during the crucial pre-weaned period. The third

The free webinar kicks off at 12.15pm on 21st October.

To register interest and attendance, visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/3016328432602/ WN_245EC_g6T_u7QJDQ-2PzGw

Udder Health Survey Launched to Better Understand Management Practices airy farmers are being asked to complete a short survey on udder health and, in return, will be supporting the Farming Community Network (FCN) with a contribution given for every completed entry.

name their vet practice. This is so feedback can be shared with them and support offered where needed.

Mr Tyrer added: "We recognise farmers are facing challenging times at present, which is why we want to give something back by supporting the FCN."

Zoetis Vet Andy Tyrer said: This survey is important in supporting vets to better understand the management of udder health on-farm."

The survey can be completed at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/99Y9PQB .

The survey by Zoetis looks to offer vets greater clarity as to where further support and education should be directed.

In return, for every completed survey, a donation of £1 per submitted survey will be donated by Zoetis to the FCN, a charity that supports farmers and members of the farming community in times of difficulty.

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All entries are completely anonymous, with no personal details requested.

However, respondents are asked to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

For more information on the FCN and the support they offer, visit www.fcn.org.uk/, call 03000 111 999 or email their confidential helpline at e-helpline help@fcn.org.uk.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Muck & Slurry

Slurry inoculant offers potential to cut ammonia emissions while reducing fertiliser and labour costs airy farmers in the UK and Ireland are being encouraged to introduce a slurry inoculant ahead of the winter housing period, to reduce ammonia emissions and increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).

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With 2030 government targets to reduce ammonia emissions from agriculture by 16%, the use of biological slurry treatments has been highlighted as an extremely viable option, explains Lientjie Colahan, technical sales support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition.

“When slurry is spread, a process called

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volatilisation can happen, which means that ammonium N (NH4+) is converted into ammonia (NH3) and is released into the atmosphere,” she says.

bacteria can improve the consistency and handleability of slurry which will reduce the fuel and labour costs associated with slurry management.

“However, treating slurry with a biological inoculant can reduce the ammonium in the slurry and increase the organic nitrogen content which results in less ammonia production.”

Mrs Colahan notes that to maximise the benefits of the inoculant,it is crucial to start the treatment ahead of winter housing, prior to new slurry being added to the pit,

Mrs Colahan explains how this has been proven in a recent trial. “From November 2020 to February 2021, a trial was carried out in a slatted dairy housing system showed that slurry inoculated with SlurriN PRO reduced ammonia emissions on average by 36.5%, improving air quality within the shed.”

“The simplest and most convenient way of applying the inoculant, if the slurry store only has a small amount of residual, slurry is once a month. Mix a 1kg sachet of SlurriN PRO into ten litres of water and pour this directly into the slurry store. This process should be repeated every month, for the duration of the winter housing period.”

She adds that there were further benefits. “The organic nitrogen content of the slurry was also greatly improved.

With more nitrogen being incorporated into the bacteria’s cells there is less opportunity for nitrogen leaching after the slurry is spread. This form of nitrogen is also rapidly available to the plant.”

With the correct application of SlurriN PRO, the specific blend of enzymes and

While the government's reduction targets are ambitious, the promising results from the recent trial indicate that these goals are potentially achievable. The trial is the first of many that Lallemand Animal Nutrition is set to undertake, with the hope to further encourage dairy farmers to take full advantage of the benefits that improved slurry management has to offer.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 53

| Muck & Slurry

Wagtail offers safe and versatile hose handling ramspread has designed and manufactured a new hose handler to help when spreading umbilically. The Tramspread ‘Wagtail’ Hose Humper pivots to both the left and right which enables more accurate hose placing outside tramlines which reduces pipe wear.

T

“This is the first hose humper we have designed with the ability to pivot the wheel to either side of the tractor. This mechanism reduces damage to the crop when spreading because the operator does not have to leave the tramlines when moving the hose,” says Tramspread managing director Terry Baker.

The option to move hose to either side of the tractor also helps the operator to avoid obstacles more easily. “By having the flexibility to position hose on either side of the tractor it makes moving a hose around much quicker and easier,” he adds.

The hydraulic offset and raising the wheel into the transport position is controlled from the tractors spool valves. A breaking mechanism allows for the wheel to spin freely or be locked in position.

“When the Wagtail is raised it also leaves the tractor pick up hitch available for other implements such as trailed hose reeler or pump trailer,” explains Mr Baker.

The Wagtail can be used to move hose widths up to 8 inches making it suitable for most slurry and digestate operations. “By choosing to use the Wagtail, operators can reduce stress on pipe and couplings. This will also reduce the risk of leaks and spills, making spreading safer, easier for the operator and better for the crop,” he concludes..

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

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October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 55

| Machinery

New grain handling technology on show at MMS The Midlands Machinery Show is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society and is a platform for SME and large agricultural businesses to show their diverse range of machinery and innovation to those who work and have an interest in agriculture. It attracts around 10,000 visitors over two days. catchy harvest, increasingly uncertain weather patterns and phasing out of the basic farm payment have focused arable farmers’ attention on optimising grain quality postharvest to maximise returns.

“Farmers can save on fuel costs by maximising the sun’s operating latent heat when on-floor bulk drying,” explains Mr Flach. “Justify the cost of investing in technology which promises efficiency: Will that investment make for financial sense when only used for two months a year?”

And there is lots of new technology on the market to improve efficiencies, speed throughput and protect grain, which will be on display at the Midlands Machinery Show in November.

The design of double drying systems makes for increased efficiency, according to Jorge Semiao, marketing manager at grain dryer manufacturer Alvan Blanch.

“Recirculating hot air saves fuel. These systems might retail for more money but there is huge operative efficiency.

A

“It is critical to look after corn after it has left the combine,” says Richard Flach, coowner of grain drying specialist Flach and le-Roy. “The benefits of correctly and efficiently handling and storing grain postharvest cannot be ignored any longer. All too often farmers spend £1-2m on a new combine – which they replace after five years – then just stick the grain in a shed until sold.”

There is a marked increase in inquiries for both grain handling and storage systems, he says. With quality systems lasting, on average, up to 40 years, family farms with a keen younger generation are currently reviewing on-farm facilities while they still have the basic payment to help finance replacing or upgrading equipment.

“This season some farmers have really struggled to get crops dry in time to meet market and storage requirements,” explains Andrew Head, managing director of grain handling firm BDC Systems. “Those who understand the benefits of hot air temperature driers, such as the Svegma Continuous Flow Dryer, have seen how successfully they can manage wet, tricky and unpredictable harvests.”

Improving efficiency is also a key priority: More so, now than ever, in light of significant increase in fuel and gas prices.

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

“We are soon launching a smart controller which reads both the grain’s input and output moisture levels and then automatically manages the drier to achieve desired moisture output,” he adds. “Over the past two years 20 UK installations have trialled the system; the results and accuracy are great. The controller can be fitted to existing systems and has proven to reduce fuel costs.”

BDC Systems has already seen increased interest in its Moisture Monitor System (MMS). “It samples grain from both incoming and outgoing elevators,” explains Mr Head. “If grain is getting dried to 14%, it detects when moisture content goes above or below 14% and sends a text message.

The MMS’ system is remotely controlled to ensure correct levels are maintained.”

Garry Ingram, managing director at Master Farm – which specialises in mobile driers admits that reinvesting in grain storage and handling is never a top priority for farmers.

“They tend to eke it out year after year because driers are only needed when weather is bad. At harvest they tear out their hair out for a few weeks then convince themselves next year will be ok,” he says.

generating more interest. Today’s models are more efficient and tend to hold their second-hand value – certainly better than a fixed system. And there are grants out there; you just need to be very astute to find them. There is a lot of paperwork involved but these machines are expensive so it is well worth the effort.”

The national logistics crisis highlights problems for producers who do not have enough long-term grain storage infrastructure. says Richard Jenner, member services director at grain marketing co-operative Openfield.

“The main benefit to co-operative membership is the opportunity to move grain to a network of storage facilities, enabling members to hold onto grain until the market improves. With the grain market moving c.£50/t during both of the past two years, the opportunity value lost has been significant for those who have had to sell immediately off farm.”

Membership also gives access to advanced technology which would not be financially viable on individual holdings. This can add significant value to the crop, says Mr Jenner. “Techniques like fine cleaning and colour sorting are becoming more prevalent as the requirements of the food and drink industries and the customers they serve are ever evolving.”

All of these industry experts will be available to speak to at the Midlands Machinery Show, which takes place on 9-10 November 2021 at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.

•

Tickets are now available. Entry is free but advanced registration is essential.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.

“But mobile systems are certainly

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

BDC Midlands Machinery Preview D on’t worry about wet grain, let a Svegma continuous mixed flow dryer take the strain! says Andrew Head, MD, BDC Systems Ltd, provider of complete grain handling solutions - Stand No 3, Lady Eastwood Centre

If you ever doubted the wisdom of investing in your grain dryer, the unsettled weather which made this such a catchy, on/off harvest surely reassured you that it was, indeed, a wise investment.

With farmers having to combine at every opportunity, often in far from perfect conditions, moisture content (mc) was well above the ideal and drying was essential.

Farmers who had invested in a continuous mixed flow dryer will have achieved a return on that investment, whilst those without adequate drying facilities have struggled to get their grain dry and in tip-top condition.

Climate change is not going away and we cannot know for sure how it will continue to affect farming. But, if harvest 2021 was anything to go by, investing in a grain dryer could be a very wise investment.

The Svegma continuous mixed flow dryer is a key weapon in BDC Systems Ltd’s armoury of complete grain handling solutions.

Originally developed to withstand the harsh drying conditions in Scandinavia, Svegma dryers are manufactured from heavy gauge galvanised steel sheet delivering

long life and durability. Construction allows the dryers to be installed indoors or outside without the need for cladding.

Designed using the latest cutting-edge technology, Svegma dryers have an industry leading reputation for outstanding quality and efficiency and are used extensively by farmers, farming co-operatives, commercial plant operators and maltsters.

The first Svegma dryer was installed in the UK 38 years ago and there are now over 1,000 installations, all helping to stop farmers from losing sleep over wet grain.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Visit our stand – the BDC team will be happy to talk to you about our complete range of grain handling, drying, clearing, storage, ventilation, milling and mixing solutions.

We will be able to ensure that your grain handling facilities deliver exactly what you need.

You don’t have to worry about wet grain, let a Svegma continuous mixed flow dryer take the strain!!

For more info visit: https:// bdcsystems.com/ or call 01672 810851

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 57

| Machinery | Tillage

Focus on efficiencies at MMS F

arm machinery and legislation is ever-evolving, and focussing on efficiencies is even more crucial than ever given the withdrawal of Basic Payments and need for profitability.

Fortunately, visitors to the Midlands Machinery Show on 9-10 November will be given an insight into the latest equipment and advice to help their businesses to adapt and thrive. “Featuring 100s of exhibitors including national manufacturers, distributors and regional dealers, live demonstrations and a packed seminar programme, there will be something for everyone, from the smallest producer to the largest arable contractor,” says show manager Elizabeth Halsall.

New this year will be a green power demonstration, featuring the latest electric tractors and telehandlers from the likes of Kramer and Manitou, as well as large machinery and groundcare demonstrations.

Changes to red diesel regulations, new machinery grants and how to work successfully with your contractor are just some of the topics being covered in a seminar with the National Association of Agricultural Contractors.

Such discussions are particularly relevant as over 90% of farmers use contractors,

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

says the association’s Jill Hewitt. “With the decline of subsidies, I think more farmers are going to be looking to contractors rather than investing in machinery themselves.”

Other topics featuring in the seminar programme include how to optimise machinery sharing with the Lincolnshire Machinery Ring, succession planning with Wilkin Chapman solicitors and rainwater harvesting with JRH Water Management.

There will also be a focus on the environment, with a range of technical topics from carbon audits to steps towards net zero. “Net zero represents a fantastic opportunity for agriculture, with farmers and growers brilliantly placed to both contribute to and benefit from the transition,” says Bruno Gardner, managing director of NFU Enzero.

However, climate change does bring challenges – and increasingly uncertain weather patterns have directed arable farmers’ attention to optimising grain quality post-harvest to maximise returns.

There is lots of new technology on the market to improve efficiencies, speed throughput and protect grain, which will be on display at the show. “The benefits of correctly and efficiently handling and storing grain post-harvest cannot be ignored any longer,” says Richard Flach,

co-owner of grain drying specialist Flach and le-Roy.

But keeping equipment running during busy times of year is always a concern – so supporting the next generation of agricultural engineers is vital. The Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Award is back for its fifth year – championing upcoming talent in the sector.

“The award aims to raise the profile of the sector and support young people from diverse backgrounds and skill-sets to develop the abilities they need to embark on successful agricultural careers,” says Simon Eccleston, CEO of the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.

Those who are interested in tractors and how they are put together have a particularly special treat this year: An exclusive insight into the entire production line at John Deere’s renowned Mannheim factory in Germany, thanks to a live streamed tour of the facility on both days of the show.

“Building a modern tractor is extremely complex,” explains Chris Wiltshire, marketing manager at John Deere UK & Ireland. “Visitors will be able to see how we build and test our tractors, with commentary and close-up views which you wouldn’t even get at an in-person visit.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery | Tillage

Spaldings to focus on tillage parts and vegetation maintenance at the Midlands Machinery Show ey products for renewing the performance of tillage implements with fresh soilengaging parts will be a focus of the Spaldings stand at the Midlands Machinery Show on November 9/10 at the Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire.

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Spaldings Agriculture offers a choice of soil-wearing parts to suit different implements and farm budgets, with its own SPL Ultra range of premium-quality points, wings and shins providing ultimate performance catering for a number of leading cultivator and subsoiler makes and models.

“Listening to our customers’ experiences enabled us to identify soil-engaging parts that would benefit from enhanced performance,” says Steve Constable, Managing Director.

“Detailed analysis by our development engineers of wear patterns on both OEM and non-genuine wearing parts then gave us the insight to make design improvements that make a real difference to the performance over time of our SPL Ultra products.”

Padagas brushes for yard, track and road sweeping come in rigid and rotary formats with buckets fittings for collection.

Spaldings Flat-Lift, the original shallow soil loosener that remains in production.

The flail mulcher range comprises in-line models from 1.80m to 6.10m wide, with hydraulic offset available on three mid-size

In addition to these products, Spaldings is also the official distributor of all parts for Tillso subsoilers and cultivators, and is a national dealer for Grimme original wearing parts.

A selection of soil-engaging items from the Spaldings SPL Ultra range.

The newly-expanded range includes parts for Grange, Horsch, Keeble, Kuhn, Kverneland, Simba/Great Plains, TWB and Väderstad implements, as well as for the

For autumn and winter vegetation maintenance, Husqvarna and Stihl chainsaws and related hand tools from Spaldings Groundcare and Spaldings Forestry are complemented by the TMC Cancela flail and rotary mulching toppers and forest mulchers covering a wide range of applications and working situations.

Spaldings TMC Cancela TJL-280

The Spanish manufacturer has many years’ experience producing this type of machinery, focusing on heavy-duty build for performance and durability.

machines, while the rotary brush cutters come in 2.0m rigid and 3.60m folding configurations.

For sweeping up operations around yards and along farm tracks, the Padagas range distributed by Spaldings provides a comprehensive line-up of pallet fork, tractor linkage and loader-mounted rigid and rotary brushes, including bucket-mounted models for sweeping and collecting.

All Spaldings products are available to order online (spaldings.co.uk), through the knowledgeable telesales staff or face-toface with a nationwide network of sales representatives.

Spaldings will focus on autumn vegetation maintenance and wearing parts for soil-engaging implements at the Midlands Machinery Show. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Products are backed by a return-to-base or on-site maintenance and repairs service provided by Spaldings and independent technicians.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Machinery | Tillage

SHARMANS POSE SKILLS CHALLENGE AT MIDLANDS MACHINERY SHOW F

arm equipment owners and operators will be challenged by dealer Sharmans Agricultural to demonstrate their skills behind the controls of an electric JCB mini excavator at the Midlands Machinery Show at the Newark Showground in November.

back at the Midlands Machinery Show this year; we’ve exhibited there ever since the event started and it will be good to meet customers and show them the latest products from the manufacturers we represent.”

Electric performance

The skills challenge, which will involve picking up footballs with a digger bucket to place them in a barrel, will be a bit of fun, he adds, but also a good way to illustrate the quietness and smooth and easy controls of JCB’s 19C-1E all-electric mini excavator.

This small but powerful 1.9 tonne 360-degree digger is one of JCB’s pioneering batterypowered machines for agricultural, landscaping and construction work, and part of a growing ETech range that earlier this year was joined by JCB’s first all-electric Loadall telescopic handler, the 525-60E.

Scott Barclay, managing director, Sharmans Agricultural – delighted with the return of the Midlands Machinery Show.

Managing director Scott Barclay has enthusiastically welcomed the return of the event following last year’s forced cancellation, especially now that the company is operating across a larger JCB sales, parts and service territory.

In addition to depots at Stamford and Eltisley near St Neots, Sharmans Agricultural has branches at Grantham, Melton Mowbray, Lowdham, and Pytchley near Kettering that cover a JCB territory now extending from South Yorkshire through Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland to Northamptonshire.

On both machines, all hydraulic and ground drive functions are powered by electric motors supplied by battery packs that have a choice of charging options.

The digger, which can be used for light excavation on farm building projects, water supply schemes and for drainage works, has three operating modes to balance performance requirements and battery charge duration, and a fourth for faster movement from one on-site location to another.

Latest Loadalls Sharmans Agricultural also plans to show the high-specification 542-70 AgriXtra from JCB’s latest range of diesel-fuelled Loadall telescopic handlers.

They have additional power and torque outputs from Stage V emissions-compliant JCB engines and this model features as standard JCB’s DualTech VT, a unique award-winning hydro-mechanical transmission with different operating modes to suit varied on-farm applications.

Essentially, DualTech VT combines the best characteristics of hydrostatic drive for low speed precision and manoeuvring in and around farm buildings, and allmechanical direct powershift drive for maximum tractive effort when clearing cattle yards, loading from muck heaps and towing on the road.

The Midlands Machinery Show will be hosted by the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society on November 9th and 10th at the Newark Showground.

Covid-19 mitigation measures require all visitors to have their own tickets, which are free and valid for both days; online registration (midlandsmachineryshow.co.uk) will ensure the quickest entry to the event.

Football challenge – the JCB 19C-1E all-electric mini digger.

JCB is one of the dealership’s key franchises, supplying and supporting the British manufacturer’s Fastrac tractors, Loadall telescopic handlers, loading shovels and telescopic wheeled loaders, and the many other handling machines produced in JCB’s distinctive yellow and black colours.

Mr Barclay said: “I’m delighted that we’ll be

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| Machinery | Tillage

Case IH announces new Oxfordshire dealership

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ase IH has today announced that KFS, based in Chipping Norton, has been appointed as a new Case IH dealer.

The Krone-owned dealership will provide a full dealership service for the Case IH machinery range alongside its existing Krone and Lemken equipment.

Commenting on the development, Paul Harrison, Case IH Business Director UK & ROI, said: "We're delighted that KFS is joining our dealer network. The dealership is a wellrespected business working with strong independent brands, covering an area of the UK that was previously open for Case IH. "From the legendary Farmall to the renowned Axial-Flow harvesting range, Case IH is committed to supplying marketleading agricultural solutions and is wellplaced to meet the needs of the farming community in this area.

"We look forward to working with the KFS team as they grow sales of our products in the years ahead."

"The addition of the CASE IH franchise, further strengthens our position of providing specialist machinery solutions to our customer base"

Eddie Caulfield, General Manager at KFS commented:

"Since moving to the area 2 years ago, we've seen our customer base grow as the

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Krone and Lemken brands become established. The addition of Case IH to our line-up, means we're now in a position to offer a wide range of tractors and combines, to complement our forage harvesting and seed establishment offerings".

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Machinery

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äderstad has launched the Spirit 600C InLine combination high capacity seed drill for the UK market, complimenting the Nordic and Fix fertiliser application systems already in the Spirit range. The InLine-version of Spirit places a low fertiliser rate together with the seed in the seed furrow, providing the

Farming Monthly | October 2021

plant quicker nutrient uptake and shortening the time of emergence.

Separated airflow ensures fertiliser is distributed independently from the seed. The intensity of the airflow is easily adjusted, ensuring that both the seeds and fertiliser are placed with optimal precision. The InLine system is www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

highly beneficial when working with moderate levels of fertilisers.

rotor and an angled exit from the metering unit, efficiently prevents any pulsing and ensures that all plants have the exact same access to fertiliser.

The fertiliser is metered with the Fenix electric metering system, which is the same unit used for the seed metering. It is both highly precise and non-corrosive. Split cells in the

The new Väderstad Spirit 600C Inline is available from now.

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October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 63

| Machinery

New 4.20m wide DISCO 4400 CONTOUR A

new 4.20m wide rearmounted mower, the DISCO 4400 CONTOUR, has been added to the CLAAS DISCO range. It features central pivoting and ACTIVE FLOAT, plus an innovative vector folding system.

Rear-mounted mowers with large working widths used in front-rear combinations can be an effective alternative to triple combinations, depending on the application. CLAAS has responded to customer demand for a rear mower with a working width of more than 4.0 m with the launch of the new DISCO 4400 CONTOUR. The mower features innovative diagonal 120° folding for safe, vertical road transport at a height of less than

especially useful on wet or soft ground as it avoids driving on the forage.

The mower bed on the DISCO 4400 is pivot-mounted at its centre of gravity. An adjustable spiral spring ensures that the mower bed comes down evenly during lowering while two vibration dampers stabilise it as it is raised. Two pivot points on the arm at right angles to the direction of travel ensure optimum ground-contour following on uneven ground and when mowing banks.

Mower bed for single or double swaths

ACTIVE FLOAT suspension, tried and tested over many years, allows the ground pressure of the mower bed to be adjusted from the cab by spool valve while on the move. A gauge on the headstock shows the currently set pressure. In parked position a mechanical latch disables the suspension system so that pressure is maintained in the circuit. Alternatively, the pressure can be reduced so that the mechanical lock is not required.

With its 4.2m working width, the new DISCO 4400 CONTOUR becomes the flagship model in the DISCO range. As with other mowers in the DISCO range it features the well proven MAX CUT mower bed for which there is a double-swath laying option. This is achieved by placing two swath drums on the 4th and 5th disc (from the inside) to create one narrower and one wider single swath. This is

The DISCO 4400 CONTOUR is equipped with the unique hydraulic non-stop collision protection as standard. In the event of a collision, the mower bar swings back and over the obstacle thanks to a rotating pin inclined at an angle of 15 degrees. Oil from the collision protection system is forced into the suspension ram to further depressurise the mower bed. This provides effective protection from serious damage. Once past

4.00m and a space-saving storage position combined with powerful performance.

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

the obstacle, the mower bed automatically swings back to its working position due to the oil pressure.

New 120° vector folding

A unique feature of the DISCO 4400 CONTOUR is its vector folding system which allows the mower to be folded vertically to 120 degrees for transport. The unique part is that the mower can then be folded backwards slightly using the hydraulic break back ram, which then allows the mower when folded for transport to lean backwards slightly to reduce the transport height. So, despite having a working width of 4.20m, the mower unit achieves a transport height of less than 4.0m for road travel. At the same time, it is positioned diagonally behind the tractor and supported by the headstock, thereby shifting the centre of gravity to the tractor’s longitudinal axle.

Compared with mowers that pivot to the rear, this solution reduces the load on the tractor front axle by around 50 percent, which has a positive impact on the steering behaviour. Furthermore, in transport position the DISCO 4400 CONTOUR hardly swings back at all and so does not endanger other road users when turning or negotiating tight bends and makes it easier to get into the field gate from a narrow road.

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| Machinery

New equipment features for CLAAS JAGUAR 900 forage harvesters T

he forage harvesters of the JAGUAR 900 model series now benefit from a raft of new features associated with the feeder unit, the corncracker, and the silage additive dosing system. Further new developments are also available for the ORBIS and PICK UP front attachments.

Consistent crop flow and higher throughput with new front attachment drives

The most significant new development for the JAGUAR 900 model series is the expansion of the options for the front attachment drive. In addition to the allmechanical drive and the variable drive for the PICK UP grass and ORBIS maize headers, it is now possible for customers to specify a twin hydraulic drive which offers particular benefits when working with the PICK UP. With this option, the intake auger continues to be driven via the quick-release coupler, and can adjust its speed in accordance with the length of cut; the pick-up reel, however, is provided with an all-new hydraulic drive which allows it to be driven with variable speed adjustment independently of the intake auger. The principal objective of enabling the pick-up reel speed to be varied is to allow it to be adjusted automatically to the forager’s ground speed, so the faster the forward speed the faster the pick up reel speed.

Important advantages associated with this functionality include efficient raking action at all ground speeds with extremely low wear; if the ground speed or the set length of cut is changed, the rotational speeds of the auger and reel are adjusted automatically to the prevailing conditions. If necessary, both speeds can be adjusted to the requirements of the harvesting situation manually by the operator from the cab. It is therefore possible to respond to changing harvesting conditions either automatically or manually from the cab. The result, especially in changing conditions, is even more accurate crop feeding and a more consistent crop flow overall.

Studies of large swaths of whole crop silage harvested using the PICK UP conducted in California with a JAGUAR 990 have shown increased throughput levels of up to 13.7% in extreme conditions compared with an all-mechanical constant drive. These major advantages always come into their own when very high yields are harvested at low ground speeds or low yields are harvested at very high ground speeds.

Wear-resistant BusaCLAD coating for MCC MAX A new, wear-resistant coating is now available for the MULTI CROP CRACKER

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MAX which provides a fourfold increase in service life length. In field testing, MCC MAX CRACKER units with the BusaCLAD coating have to date been able to process over 3,100 hectares of maize, with some units now entering their fourth season.

The outstanding resistance to wear not only reduces the actual wear costs significantly, but also the set-up times. Farmers and contractors alike can count on the 30 ring segments of the MCC MAX to provide reliable grain and residual plant processing over several campaigns. The design of the MCC MAX is unique in the market and allows operation across an extremely wide range of cut lengths and processes the crop not only with friction and crushing, but also with cutting and shear forces.

Together, these factors maximise the processing effect, even at the highest throughputs, such as those attained by the 925hp JAGUAR 990.

New: Silage additive app for precision dosing and water injection at up to 800 l/h Farmers and contractors are increasingly relying on silage additives when confronted with high dry matter levels in the grass harvest.

In order to simplify dosage preparation for the factory fitted silage additive system, CLAAS has developed a practical app. This helps the operator to find the appropriate dosage and the correct setup on the basis of the crop, the yield, and the information provided by the silage additive manufacturer. In this way, both underdosage and excess dosage of valuable silage additive can be avoided.

The following key data are entered in the app to allow the correct dosage to be calculated for a given job: •

Expected yield per hectare

•

Size of area to be harvested

•

Working width

•

Expected working speed

•

Recommended dosage specified by silage additive manufacturer

•

Size of silage additive container

operator can implement the recommended settings using the CEBIS terminal. The first decision in the course of this process is whether the silage additive should be dosed from the ACTISILER 37 tank or from the large 375 l water tank. The operator can also decide whether the dosing is to be performed in l/t or in l/h. The key data can be adjusted at any point while chopping is underway, for example if the machine is operating faster or slower than originally anticipated. The app is available for Android and Apple via CLAAS connect.

With a second, optional dosing pump, silage additive injection can now be doubled, taking it to quantities of up to 800 l/h. Control of the system is integrated in the corresponding menu in CEBIS. This will help high capacity forage harvesters apply additive in excess of 2 l/tonne if required.

Also new for the JAGUAR 800 and 900 is a water injection system for very difficult harvesting conditions such as grass with a

very high sugar content or lucerne. This system automatically injects water into the feeder unit, guide plate area, accelerator and discharge chute whenever there is no crop flow – at the headland, for example, or during forage trailer changeovers. This effective measure helps to prevent the build-up of material in the crop flow and helps to keep the dry matter sensor or NIR sensor clean and accurate. The water tank has a capacity of 375 l; the system is controlled via the CEBIS terminal.

PREMIUM LINE for ORBIS extended

Once the data have been entered, the

All ORBIS maize front attachments are now equipped as standard with wear-resistant steel guide strips which until now were only available as an option. Effective immediately, the ex-factory PREMIUM LINE range for ORBIS maize front attachments is enhanced with extended wear coatings on existing wear parts. In addition, other machine parts are protected against wear by new, replaceable wear parts.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 65

| Machinery

Taylor & Braithwaite’s 1000th Hyundai machine sale results in £10K charity donation aitings Ltd, an industry leading civil engineering company located in Penrith, have been working with Cumbrian based machinery dealer, Taylor and Braithwaite Ltd for over 30 years, initially purchasing agricultural machinery and working on agricultural projects together.

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In 2010 T&B started the transition from selling agricultural machinery to construction plant, it was then the company took on the dealership for Hyundai Construction equipment and the very first of the -7A machines were making their way to the heart of the Lake District from the Hyundai factory in South Korea.

we are able to help. I would estimate that we have donated in excess of £100k to various charities to date.”

Adrian added, “Waitings and Taylor and Braithwaite will donate £2,500 each to Brain Tumour Research and the Eden Valley Hospice respectively.

Ian Burton, Sales Director, Taylor and Braithwaite commented on the milestone and the charity element to the sale, he said “With selling our 1000th machine we are

continues to invest in Hyundai. They have bought a varied cross section of machines from across the range, and I believe we have helped each other grow. Waitings is a well-respected company and with them investing in us at the beginning – it gave other businesses the confidence to buy machines from us and we got traction within the construction sector.

Adrian added, “T&B are fantastic – from a customer service and after sales service perspective the back-up is second to none.

It was Waitings that bought the first ever Hyundai machine sold by T&B back in March 2010 which was a R170W-7A wheeled excavator.

To date the company has purchased in excess of 40 Hyundai machines, ranging from mini excavators through to 50 tonne machines, also wheeled loaders.

Waiting’s have invested towards £4M in the Hyundai brand since 2010.

The very latest machine bought by Waitings is a HX220AL, a 22 tonne crawler excavator which is adorned with a bespoke black and pink livery, in support of various cancer charities. This new machine also represents a milestone for T&B as it is the 1000th Hyundai that Taylor and Braithwaite have sold since it began trading with the Hyundai brand.

To celebrate this milestone Waitings and Taylor and Braithwaite will be donating a total of £10,000.00 to charities.

Waitings Ltd, Director of Operations, Adrian Ash has been with the company for 32 years he explains the significance behind the striking black and pink livery on the new HX220AL machine and also about his longstanding relationship with Taylor & Braithwaite.

Adrian said, “As a business we work very closely with our chosen charities, and we do a tremendous amount of work with these aid organisations. Various charities are close to our hearts, but particularly cancer related charities, as in 2016 my fellow director, Victoria Waiting, died from a brain tumour aged just 44, this was very hard hitting for us all at Waitings as Victoria was a fantastic person and is sorely missed, the business today is steered by Victoria’s brother, Robert Waiting and myself.

Adrian Ash (Waitings Operations Director, left) and Ian Burton (Taylor & Braithwaite Sales Director) pictured with their presentation cheques in front of Waitings bespoke black and pink livery Hyundai HX220AL. Inset: The commemorative logo to celebrate the1000th Hyundai machine sold by Taylor & Braithwaite.

There is a thread of pink running through our company and we have one excavator in particular that is entirely pink, which represents the charity work we do. The work is so well received, and we are glad

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

delighted to contribute to local charities and team up with Waitings. We have had the support of the local community and many local businesses, therefore it’s good to be in a position to give something back.”

Adrian went on to talk about the affiliation with T&B, he said “The relationship works really well on a business level because there’s loyalty and transparency which is very important.

Ian added, “Waitings were the first local blue-chip company to support buying the Hyundai brand back in 2010 and 11-years later Waitings remain loyal to both T&B and

I really could not fault the service they offer.

Also, the Hyundai machines have improved dramatically over the years – they have always been a good machine, but they have evolved and are certainly more aesthetically pleasing to the eye!

The driving of the machine has also progressed with an outstanding level of driver comfort. The brand has elevated itself to compete with the top brands on the market – their reliability, and from a user perspective the Hyundai’s are every bit as good.”

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| Machinery

KUHN ADDS COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT OPTION TO VENTA DRILL RANGE

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UHN has added a new lighter weight and compact drill to its Venta range of pneumatic seeders.

Available initially as the 3 metre Venta 320, this new 100 series machine is designed for tractors in the 120 to 150 horsepower range. With an 850-litre hopper as standard, the drill has the option of an extension that increases capacity to 1,150 litres.

The Venta 320 can be used in combination with KUHN’s HRB 302, HRB 303 or HR 304 power harrows. In combination, the seed drill is mounted on the power harrow frame, with the seeding bar guided by the roller frame. This means seeding depth is independent of the working depth of the power harrow and excellent ground following is maintained.

Centralised adjustment of depth and pressure makes machine setup simple and easy.

The seed bar comprises 20 or 24 rows of single disc elements, each with an internal cast iron coulter positioned at the front of the

disc. This proven concept provides constant cleaning of the disc whilst ensuring precise placement of seed in the furrow. Seeding unit pressure of up to 32kg is applied.

The seed blower on the Venta 320 is driven by the tractor hydraulic circuit and is therefore independent of the PTO driving the power harrow. Improved fan design on this drill, with turbine rotation optimised in line with seed size, results in oil requirement being reduced from 35 litres/minute down to 26 litres/minute.

Electrically powered volumetric metering on the drill helps to facilitate a wide operating range of between 1.5 to 430kg/ha and ensures all seed sizes are handled with precision. With the QS2 control unit, seed rate can be adjusted from the tractor cab.

Calibration is easily accessible and simple to carry out.

The Venta 320 has a spacious loading platform that provides safe access to the hopper from the side. A covering harrow with universal tines is fitted as standard, and the basic model comes with integral lighting and signalling kit.

DUO-LINER PRESS MAKES IN-FIELD UK DEBUT

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UHN’s new integral furrow press has been on show for the first time in the UK at a cultivation demonstration event in Shropshire.

Available currently for the 4, 5 and 6 body models of the company’s Vari-Master L in-furrow ploughs, the Duo-Liner operates totally independently of the primary cultivator to offer the possibility of a drill-ready seedbed in a single pass.

Key to the design are two independent hydraulic parallelogram systems that attach the row of dual 600mm diameter press wheels to the plough. Using KUHN’s Steady Control automatic pressure regulation system, the Duo-Liner imparts up to 90kg of pressure at each pair of wheels to achieve optimum conditioning of the ploughed ground.

The Duo-Liner comes with KUHN’s KTS 10 control box, enabling

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the lift and positioning of the Duo-Liner from the tractor cab.

Turnover control is fully automated and therefore requires no additional action from the operator at the headland.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 67

| ATV

Polaris Off Road welcomes all-new RANGER models for 2022

ollowing a year that saw more consumers engaging in outdoor activities than ever before, Polaris Off Road has unveiled its 2022 model year line-up for Europe, Middle East and Africa, with new models, colour options and upgrades across the RANGER, RZR, GENERAL and Sportsman brands.

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Headlining the 2022 range is the all-new RANGER SP 570 and RANGER Diesel Deluxe, taking the industry’s No.1selling utility side-by-side vehicle to the next level with user-inspired innovations and advancements.

cargo and maximize utility.

Punching well above its weight, the proven Prostar 570cc double-overheadcam engine packs class-leading power along with a new CVT system, twotimes longer belt life and an upsized and re-tuned clutch system for improved low-speed drivability. The all-new suspension provides 25.4 cm of ground clearance, a tighter turning radius and a compact width of 144.5 cm, giving the 570 a best-in-class combination of maneuverability and capability.

RANGER 570 has been the top choice for farmers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts for more than a decade, and now, with rider-inspired features to deliver enhanced capability, comfort and drivability, the new mid-size RANGER SP 570 works harder and rides smoother than ever before.

POLARIS RANGER DIESEL DELUXE

New for 2022, Polaris introduces the RANGER Diesel Deluxe, combining the same durability, dependability and capability, with premium upgrades.

“Our customers lead a busy lifestyle and they don’t want to compromise on the two things they care most about: doing good quality work and enjoying time with the family,” said Chris Judson, Vice President of RANGER, GENERAL and ATV, Polaris. “The RANGER SP 570 was designed so they don’t have to make these tradeoffs; it’s great for work, fun to ride and the perfect fit.”

With nearly 75 litres of onboard storage, including a mobile phone holder, enclosed storage bins, a map or tablet pocket, and a massive sealed glove box, riders can take everything they need for the ride. The cab is built around the user: The dash has been moved back to provide more knee space and there is a new quieter exhaust system so riders can enjoy a conversation while the vehicle is running.

Redesigned from the ground up, the RANGER SP 570 features a bold, updated style along with a host of riderinspired improvements. The redesigned cargo box is nearly 30 percent larger, delivering class-leading volume with a single-handle tailgate for quick and easy access for loading and unloading cargo.

Integrated tie-downs, slots for cargo dividers, and Lock & Ride attachment points allow users to easily secure

Polaris is also offering 40 all-new accessories for the RANGER SP 570, along with four new accessory collections: Landowner, Farm, Hunt and Trail. Riders now have more options than ever for customization based on how they use their vehicle. With the launch of the RANGER SP 570, comes the introduction of Polaris Pro Shield cab components to the lineup. The tightest-sealing cab system from Polaris

Farming Monthly | October 2021

The RANGER SP 570 comes in three colour options for Europe, Middle East and Africa, including Sage Green, Hunter Edition in Polaris Pursuit Camo, and Nordic Pro Edition in Black Pearl with an in-cab heater and winch.

Developed and launched specifically for markets in Europe, Middle East and Australia in 2019, the RANGER Diesel introduced refined performance with the all-new diesel engine, enhanced ergonomics, an upgraded chassis and class-leading capabilities.

POLARIS RANGER SP 570

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reduces noise, water and dust from the cab for maximum rider comfort.

Additionally, riders can enjoy their favorite songs wirelessly through the JBL® Trail 4.0 audio system.

Jenika Bishop, RANGER Product Manager at Polaris, said: “The new Diesel Deluxe model is focused on providing our customers the value and key features they want in a vehicle, standard from the factory.”

Delivering a premium look and feel, the RANGER Diesel Deluxe is available in a sleek Matte Titanium finish, along with striking LED headlights. The LED lights deliver 60-percent more output than the traditional halogen lights for improved visibility in low-light conditions, allowing riders to stay outside for longer to get the job done. The standard steel wheels have been upgraded to new 12-inch black aluminium wheels with 27-inch 6ply Maxxis tyres.

It’s not just the exterior changes that make the new Diesel more deluxe.

Inside, riders will find an upgraded steering wheel with accent trim and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

premium branding and all-new seats with a contoured fit offering premium refinement, additional bolstering, and next-level comfort.

Fitted directly at the factory, the Ranger Diesel Deluxe comes with a pre-installed 8 vent in-cab heater, an under-seat box for enhanced storage, and a noise reduction system to create a more comfortable, quieter cab.

THE WORLD LEADER IN OFF-ROAD

POLARIS RANGER In addition to the all-new RANGER SP 570, the full-size RANGER lineup receives several upgrades for 2022. Polaris is always listening to its riders and dealers, and the new full-size lineup includes improvements that are a direct result of their feedback.

More comfort and capability are critical for utility side-by-side customers.

For 2022, RANGER adds all-new seats. Redesigned seats offer next-level comfort thanks to upgraded cushioning and more premium material, while enhanced bolstering keeps riders more securely seated when traveling over rough terrain. Available on all XP 1000 models.

New colours have been introduced to the RANGER model lineup, RANGER XP 1000 Premium available in Matte Titanium (3-seat and crew models), RANGER XP 1000 Premium ABS in Ghost Grey. New for 2022, Polaris welcomes the RANGER CREW 1000 in Stealth Grey to the EMEA market.

POLARIS RZR New colours have been added to the Polaris RZR Pro XP platform for 2022, with the RZR Pro XP Sport now available in Cruiser Black, whilst the Pro XP Ultimate model is now available in a Super Graphite option.

THE BEST MEMORIES ARE MADE OFF-ROAD Never at rest, we are always moving, searching and pushing beyond. Our shared passion for the outdoors is what drives us, and determination and inventiveness are what defines us as we pursue new off-road experiences.

POLARIS GENERAL Polaris GENERAL, the all-around adventure side-by-side that offers more performance, comfort and versatility than anything else in its class, sees new upgrades and options available for 2022. GENERAL 1000 Deluxe ABS two-seat model and GENERAL 4 1000 Deluxe model are now available in Steely Blue, and come with an upgraded synthetic rope with a new blacked-out, forged hook, aluminum fairlead and rubber isolator.

POLARIS ATV Polaris Sportsman, the No.1-selling automatic 4×4 ATV, and Polaris Scrambler, the pure performance ATV, are now available in new colours across the utility, touring and sports line-up. The Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 is now available in Black Pearl, whilst the touring XP 1000 model is available in Navy Bue. The Sportsman XP 1000 S model also has a colour change to Super Graphite. For the Scrambler line-up, the Scrambler XP 1000 S now comes in Radar Blue for 2022.

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0% FINANCE

TWO YEAR

WARRANTY

Subject to terms and conditions and credit approval.

Keep up-todate on our socials 0330 041 5141 www.polarisbritain.com

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 69

| ATV

What’s on your UTV ‘wants’ list? alancing loads on front and rear racks, sitting astride a saddle, having no room for a passenger and being fully exposed to the elements – while the ordinary ATV also has its benefits, there are plenty of downsides to the ‘quad bike’ design. So the side-by-side utility vehicle (UTV) alternative, with its full load bed, conventional seating for more than just the driver, and either cab frame or full cab, offers many advantages. But with a number of machines on the market from which to choose, selecting the right UTV for farm use can be a difficult task.

Separating out the models with design features clearly built to withstand the rigours of agriculture is a worthwhile exercise.

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A diesel engine that offers both power and economy is a given on most lists of ‘wants’, saving trips to the fuel station for petrol and providing the torque needed to climb hills and clamber over tough going. With Kioti’s K9, the successor to the popular Mechron, a three-cylinder powerplant, built by the same manufacturer as the machine itself, provides efficiency and energy in equal measure, along with the reliability for which South Korean engineering has become synonymous. Minimal fuel stops are another prerequisite for any agricultural vehicle, and with 37 litres of diesel capacity, the K9 is capable of long days without refuelling.

Surefooted traction and a decent turn of speed with a comfortable ride are also on the agricultural ‘wants’ list, and the K9 meets the bill here with a twin-range CVT transmission that provides smooth take-off and slow-down. There is also quickly-selectable 2/4wd and a locking rear diff, plus a helical spring/stabiliser arm suspension arrangement that cushions the driver/passengers and the load in rough going. And for smoother terrain, the K9’s top speed is a rapid 40km/hr (25mph).

A UTV engine also needs to provide the

guts to shift a full payload with ease, and the K9 doesn’t disappoint here. The 1.0-litre powerplant produces 24hp, more than enough to shift the machine’s 0.5-tonne load capacity with ease, meaning it is competent and capable of handling typical agricultural loads of fencing stakes, spare parts, slug pellet bags and more. A urethane coating ensures long-term bed protection, while options include hydraulic tipping – mechanical tipping is standard. For additional items there’s an optional storage box under the hood.

Of course, one of the most important features of a UTV is its ability to carry more than one person legally, safely and in comfort. The Kioti K9 features two full seats with an optional smaller mid-seat, all with safety belts. A full rollover frame with roof is standard, while options include a windscreen, half-doors and, for maximum weather protection, a full cab package with heating. Full road lighting and mirrors are standard, as is front bull-bar protection to guard against the knocks and scrapes that are unavoidable in agriculture.

A vehicle aimed at satisfying the demands of agricultural buyers needs to be universal in what it can carry, and to

• 3 cylinder 24 hp economical diesel engine • Room for 3 persons to sit comfortably • Various options cabin sun canopy etc • High ground clearance 31cm • Urethane coated load space for long lasting protection • Homologated for road use

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Farming Monthly | October 2021

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| ATV this end the K9 is available with a wide range of rear fitments, such as a galvanised livestock canopy ideal for transporting lambs.

There are also hitch hooks at both the rear and the front of the machine, making it possible to not only pull a variety of trailed implements, but also manoeuvre equipment around the yard. Meanwhile, on the options list is an external hydraulic outlet, for even greater versatility – powering a tipping trailer, for example.

The K9 has a maximum towing load of 590kg, helping to more than double its carrying capacity.

Stability and manoeuvrability are also essential factors for an agriculturallytargeted UTV. With a width of 1,590mm, the K9 can squeeze through tight door-, passage- and gateways, while ground clearance of 304mm ensures it rides over rough terrain with ease.

For all their uses off-road, UTVs are often also called upon to travel on the road between tasks in different fields, and for this, of course, road

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Think carefully about what’s on your ‘wants’ list before choosing a UTV, suggests Kioti. homologation is a must. With the Kioti K9, that’s not an issue, as the machine is fully homologated for road use. And like every machine on the farm, reliability is critical to ensure uninterrupted work. Kioti UK, which recently moved to brand new premises in a central and accessible location

close to Huntingdon, and has a dealer network of more than 80 outlets, now provides a full two years’ warranty for the K9, with unlimited hours. Along with a specification that more than matches agricultural needs, that’s another factor in favour of the K9 on many farmers’ UTV ‘wants’ lists.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 71

| ATV

T

he Honda Fourtrax TRX420FA2 was chosen by International showjumper Alicia Page to replace a competitor brand ATV which had proved unreliable.

Its primary task is maintaining a large outdoor manège using a variety of attachments as well as transporting water and other supplies to horses in the paddocks.

Trading as P&S Equestrian and based at Badwell Ash near Bury St Edmunds, Alicia has six of her own horses on site of which two compete at the highest Grand Prix level, and she provides competition livery for owners from across East Anglia. She has represented England at Under-21 level and regularly competes at European shows. Riding tuition is offered at her yard by instructors who rent the facilities, and Alicia also instructs children who bring their own ponies.

Premium training site “We relocated from a previous smaller site several years ago with the objective of creating a professional stables and training centre,” she explained. “Our small sand manège became slippery and muddy each winter, so one of my main priorities for the new site was to invest in a large arena made from the best material and suitable for all-weather use.”

The new manège is 60 x 40 metres with a silica sand and fibre surface. “We maintain it well, and keep the surface level and in good condition,” Alicia continued. “As well as using it ourselves we hire it for riding club clinics, so everything has to be perfect.”

Local dealer A compact tractor was considered for manège maintenance, but Alicia wanted a lighter machine which wouldn’t compact the surface even in wet conditions. A side-by-side UTV or a conventional ATV were both considered, but in the end the ATV was chosen for its smaller size and better manoeuvrability. “The first ATV we bought was better suited to recreational use, and it struggled to pull the grader and often overheated,” she explained. “We needed something more reliable that could 72 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

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| ATV The new Honda ATV was delivered late last year and is used most days. As well as pulling the manège grader, its work includes towing a heavy 2.2m flat roll and transporting containers of water to horses in the fields. “It’s ideal,” Alicia confirmed. “The low ground pressure tyres grip well without leaving ruts or compacting the surface, and the tight turning circle and light power steering make it easy to work right into the corners. It’s quiet and doesn’t bother the horses at all, and it uses very little fuel.”

Excellent package

quickly repair the surface in the short periods between riding sessions and having heard good things about the Honda range we visited our local dealer, MKM Agriculture Ltd.” Honda’s market-leading range of conventional ATVs includes models with 420 and 518cc petrol engines and a wide choice of specifications to suit all types of application.

There are also two side-byside UTVs in the line-up including the Pioneer 700 with two or four seats, and the new compact Pioneer 520 with two seats which was added this summer.

TRX420 series and comes with dualmode automatic and manual transmission, and power steering. “The 420cc petrol engine is quiet and smooth with plenty of power, and selectable automatic and manual transmission modes make it really easy to use,” Keith explained. “The electronic power steering is great for low-speed operation in confined areas such as an arena or

Honda Fourtrax TRX420FA2 • Engine - 420cc, liquid-cooled with electronic fuel injection • Transmission – 5-speed mechanical drive with auto and manual modes • Drive – 4wd Direct drive-shafts with TraxLok® switchable 2wd/ 4wd and locking front differential • Tyres and wheels – Frt 24-8-12 / Rr 24-10-11

Powerful and manoeuvrable The Fourtrax TRX420FA2 was recommended

by MKM sales manager Keith Collins. It is the top-specification model in the

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Alicia says she is delighted with her ATV. “It does everything we hoped it would and has proved totally reliable which is what we expected of a Honda.

It’s used all year around and has no problem pulling the manège grader even when the silica sand is wet and heavy in conditions when a heavier tractor would do a lot of damage. It saves us time too and for jobs such as delivering water to horses in the fields it’s very convenient. We have used the team at MKM for routine servicing and they have been brilliant. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the same machine again.”

• Rack load capacity – Frt 29.9kg / Rr 60kg • Towing capacity – 384kg stable yard, so I was confident that this model would suit Alicia well.”

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| ATV

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.

T

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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Farming Monthly | October 2021

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

•

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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| Motors

• Agriculture facing unprecedented challenges that require technology-driven solutions • Groundwork for full autonomy in our fields has already been laid • Precision Agriculture can build on well-proven systems to make farming more productive, environmentally sustainable abour shortages, a growing global population, and unprecedented levels of connectivity mean now is the time to deploy full autonomy in our fields, according to software pioneers VNC Automotive.

Modern tractors are bristling with more processing power than it took

be individually treated with either a targeted pesticide or fertiliser.

Known as Precision Agriculture, rather than farming a field as a single unit, this approach allows decisions to be made about individual plants. This isn’t just better for the crop, it’s also more cost-effective, and better for the environment. Instead of spraying an entire field with chemicals that risk running-off into the waterways, precisely metered doses can now be delivered directly, and only to the 76 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

to fly to the moon, and are now so advanced that much of the groundwork required to enable autonomy has already been laid.

The popularity of Clarkson’s Farm has lifted the lid on the challenges of modern farming, and there’s a dawning realisation that our farmers could really use a helping hand.

plants that need them.

This approach generates vast amounts of data, much of it stored in the cloud. Once there, it can be used to support a growing wave of new functionality, from mapping crop yields and soil conditions within a field, to performing crop simulations to select the best planting strategies.

With most tractors already equipped with the hardware necessary for full self-driving, and a permanent data

“Farming, to most people, is something that happens on the other side of a hedgerow,” said Tom Blackie, Founder and CEO, VNC Automotive. “The reality is the journey from seed to supermarket is a long and tortuous one, and with demands to both increase productivity and work in more environmentally sustainable ways, it’s only going to become more

connection providing access to the computational safety net of big data and experience-based decisionmaking, it’s a short step from here to the world of full autonomy.

“We’re already having these conversations with our clients,” Blackie continued, “and recent acquisitions by some of the biggest players in the industry point to this happening sooner rather than later.”

“While there’s understandable reticence surrounding self-driving www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

challenging. We believe autonomy is key to the delivery of that.”

As providers of the technology that has connected hundreds of thousands of tractors globally, the company is a crucial part of the increasingly technological direction the agricultural sector must take.

Autonomy in our fields Automation in the agricultural sector is nothing new. GPS-enabled automated steering systems, such as John Deere’s AutoTrac™, have been guiding tractors and selfpropelled farm machinery for almost 20 years. Their ability to follow the

same optimised paths through a crop time after time, all season long, reduces plant damage, increases crop yields, and reduces pesticide use.

“These systems have come a long way since their inception two decades ago, and now offer accuracy down to just a couple of centimetres. Their widespread adoption across the globe means they’ve earnt the trust of farmers everywhere, and today more than 70% of the crop acreage in North America is farmed using these systems. In Australia, it’s more than 90%.”

passenger cars, if a tractor gets lost in a field it might end up in a ditch or a hedge, not driving the wrong way up the M1. Many of the challenges for autonomous cars stem from the need to map the precise location of every obstacle, some of which, particularly other cars, are constantly moving. But in agriculture we already know where everything is, even down to the pinpoint location of each individual plant.”

Intelligent machines that can accompany a lone worker or even deploy themselves, perhaps in response to a weather report, free up the farm owner to attend to other matters. In some areas of the country where a planting window might last only a few days, the ability to get the job done quickly and precisely can have a major impact on an entire year’s productivity.

However, agricultural autonomy isn’t about replacing the farmer.

“Hundreds of thousands of connected machines out there,

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Systems such as Implement Automation allow towed machinery to communicate with the tractor, with a baler automatically stopping the tractor when it’s time to wrap and unload, for example, while Machine Sync allows a combine harvester to control a field full of tractors to co-ordinate unloading, even positioning the following tractor precisely so as to achieve the optimal load distribution.

Recent developments in machine learning and vision systems have led to technologies such as See & Spray™, the ability to automatically distinguish between weeds and cultivated plants so that each can

collecting data day in, day out for more than 20 years means there’s a tremendous amount of learning that’s already been done. Now it’s time to capitalise on that investment.”

For an interview with Tom Blackie, Founder and CEO, VNC Automotive, please use the media contacts below.

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| Motors

4X4-CAPABLE AND LUXURIOUS GRAND CHEROKEE YET he Jeep® brand continues to climb to new heights as it celebrates its 80th year, introducing the first electrified Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe along with the ultimate off-road Grand Cherokee, the new Trailhawk.

From the moment Jeep introduced the Grand Cherokee in 1992, by literally driving the SUV up the steps of Cobo Hall in Detroit and through a glass window, signifying the breakthrough premium SUV, it set a new industry benchmark and quickly became synonymous with upscale design and uncompromised capability.

This fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee builds on its legacy as the most awarded SUV ever, bringing an all-new architecture, new plug-in hybrid powertrain, all-new exterior design, and all-new interior with world-class craftsmanship and first-to-market technologies to the global full-size SUV segment. As the most capable SUV brand pushes toward its future of “zero emission freedom,” the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee will be the most technologically advanced and 4x4capable Jeep Grand Cherokee yet.

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee is our global flagship and will be leading the Jeep brand into a new era of premium refinement, innovative technology, advanced 4x4 capability and electrification," said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer.

“With a perfect balance of on-road dynamics, 4x4 capability and 4xe performance, the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most technologically advanced, luxurious and 4x4-capable Grand Cherokee ever.”

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee will arrive in Jeep retailers in North America in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Jeep 80 |

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Grand Cherokee 4xe is scheduled to arrive in North America early in 2022 and in global markets later that year.

Active Driving Assist •

More space and versatility – with 144.6 cu. ft. of total interior passenger volume (+4.1 cu. ft. over previous generation) and 37.7 cu. ft. of cargo space (+1.4 cu. ft.), the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers enhanced levels of comfort and spaciousness, including accommodating a set of golf clubs transversely in the cargo hold

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More innovative features – with an all-new architecture, all-new exterior design, all-new interior with front passenger screen and Amazon Fire TV, independent front and rear suspensions and classexclusive Quadra-Lift air suspension with electronic semiactive damping

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More world-class craftsmanship – resulting in the most luxurious Grand Cherokee ever, including the Summit Reserve trim with Palermo leather interior and 950-watt, 19speaker McIntosh audio system

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More safety - with more than 110 advanced safety and security features, including Active Driving Assist with hands-on automated driving, plus 360-degree surround view and night vision cameras

Setting the Standard After more than seven million in global sales, the most acclaimed SUV ever continues to set the standard among all SUVs. “Customers have come to depend on and enjoy their Grand Cherokee for four generations,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President – Jeep Brand North America.

“We have taken their input into making the most-awarded SUV of all time even better for the fifth generation.”

The newest iteration has been designed and engineered to deliver even more of what has made this Jeep a true global icon in the premium SUV segment.

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More powertrains – with 4xe (PHEV) technology targeting to deliver an estimated 25 miles of allelectric range, 57 miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) and a combined driving range of more than 440 miles (708 km). This is the most 4x4-capable and sustainable Grand Cherokee yet and a further sign of the Jeep brand’s commitment to “zero emission freedom”

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More legendary capability – the most 4x4-capable Grand Cherokee ever, the new Trailhawk 4xe has conquered the Rubicon Trail in fullelectric operation; New classexclusive sway bar disconnect allows for improved articulation and traction over rocks and rough terrain

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More technology – Uconnect 5 with a segment-first front passenger screen, new high-definition rearseat entertainment system and

The state-of-the-art Grand Cherokee is designed inside and out to deliver unmatched capability and composed driving dynamics. Its renowned 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II), Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction management system instil Grand Cherokee with the Jeep brand’s legendary 4x4 capability.

The all-new architecture and sculpted aerodynamic body style combine to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors improve vehicle performance, safety and reliability, while significantly reducing vehicle weight, noise, vibration and harshness. Designed to maximise overall passenger safety, comfort and convenience, Grand Cherokee packs a powerful punch with next-generation features and technologies that make it a stand out in the full-size SUV segment.

First-ever Grand Cherokee 4xe The all-new 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe is the first Grand Cherokee to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. Its introduction signals the continued growth of the Jeep brand’s electrified mission of “zero emission freedom,” as the brand explores the future mobility during an anniversary year that celebrates 80 years of achievements, insights and innovations.

The 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology enhances the fun, freedom, and adventure that the Jeep brand is known for, while providing unprecedented performance, fuel economy and environmental friendliness: •

Targeting an estimated 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric range and 57 mpge

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375 hp and 637Nm (470 lb.-ft.) torque

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Quadra Trac II 4x4 system with two-speed transfer case and 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio

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47.4:1 crawl ratio

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2,720 kg (6,000 lbs) 4xe max towing capability

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe driver can tailor its hybrid powertrain to suit each trip, from daily commuting in pureelectric mode to extended road trips with no range anxiety, allowing owners to explore nature off-road in near silence,” Meunier added. “This is another important step toward achieving

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our global vision of zero emission freedom. By 2025 we plan to offer a fully electric Jeep vehicle in every SUV segment" Available in the Grand Cherokee Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve, the 4xe propulsion system combines two electric motors, a 400-volt battery pack, 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission for maximum efficiency and capability.

combined torque from the 2.0-litre engine and the e-motor flow through the automatic transmission. A variable clutch mounted behind the e-motor manages engagement with the transmission to improve drivability and efficiency.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe carries a 400-volt, 17kWh EV battery. The battery units and controls mount underneath the vehicle, packaged under the floor and protected by a series of skid plates.

Overall, the 4xe system delivers 375hp (280 kW) and 637 Nm (470 lb.-ft.) of torque. The Grand Cherokee 4xe, targeting an estimated 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric range, returns an estimated 57 mpge and has an estimated total range of more than 440 miles (708 km).

The battery pack system includes a dedicated heating and cooling circuit to keep the battery at its optimum temperature for best performance. The system includes a dedicated heater unit and a chiller that uses the Grand Cherokee’s air-conditioning refrigerant to reduce coolant temperature when needed.

The fuel-efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged I-4 engine is part of the Stellantis Global Medium Engine family. The high-tech, direct-injection engine uses a twin-scroll, low-inertia turbocharger mounted directly to the cylinder head. Efficiency is enhanced via the use of electric power steering and an electrically driven air conditioning compressor, removing those loads from the engine.

The 4xe system in the Grand Cherokee also includes an Integrated Dual Charging Module (ICDM) that combines a battery charger and a DC/DC converter in a single, compact unit and a Power Inverter Module (PIM) that is reduced in size. These are mounted under the body and protected with steel shields.

The conventional alternator is replaced with a high-voltage, liquid-cooled motor generator unit. Connected to the engine crankshaft pulley via a belt, the motor generator spins the engine for nearly seamless, fuel-saving, start-stop operation and generates electricity for the battery pack.

A larger high-voltage motor generator is mounted in the transmission, replacing the torque converter. Two clutches manage power and torque from the emotor and engine.

A clutch is mounted between the engine and the motor. When the system operates in electric-only mode this clutch is open so there is no mechanical linkage between the engine and the emotor. When the clutch is closed,

All high-voltage electronics are sealed and waterproof. The Trail Rated Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is capable of water fording up to 24 inches (61 cm).

The charge port is beneath a pushopen/push-close cover on the left front wheel arch for convenient nose-in parking at charging locations. The charge port includes LED indicators of charging status. An LED battery level monitor sits on top of the instrument panel, making it easy to check battery state of charge at a glance during charging.

4xe E Selec Modes With E Selec modes, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe driver can tailor the hybrid powertrain to best suit each trip, whether it be commuting, off-roading or

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| Motors The Selec-Terrain system offers five available terrain modes (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Mud/Sand) to provide optimised calibrations for any given driving scenario.

New for the 2022 model year Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 is front axle disconnect. If the vehicle senses that road conditions do not require all-wheel drive, the front-axle disconnect automatically places the Grand Cherokee in two-wheel drive, reducing drag on the driveline and improving fuel economy. Four-wheel drive automatically re-engages when the vehicle senses it is needed.

Grand Cherokee boasts class-leading 3,265 kg (7,200 lbs) max towing with its 5.7-litre V8.

Trailhawk – the most capable Grand Cherokee

long-distance travel.

The driver selects the desired powertrain mode via buttons mounted on the instrument panel, to the left of the steering wheel: •

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Hybrid: Blends torque from the electric motor and petrol engine.

The powertrain will optimise battery and engine power to deliver the best combination of fuel efficiency and performance Electric: Operates on zero-emission electric power only until the battery reaches the minimum charge or the driver requests more torque (such as wide-open throttle), which engages the engine eSave: Prioritises the engine, saving the battery charge for later use. The driver can also choose between Battery Save and Battery Charge during eSave via the Hybrid Electric Pages in the Uconnect 5 system

Regardless of the mode selected, the Grand Cherokee 4xe operates as a hybrid once the battery nears its minimum state of charge.

The driver information display and main touchscreen include Eco Coaching Pages. The Eco Coaching Pages let owners monitor power flow and see the impact of regenerative braking, schedule charging times to take advantage of lower electricity rates and view their driving history with a detail of electric and petrol usage.

Regenerative braking is part of the 4xe system. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, the powertrain control engages the maximum available regenerative braking, up to 0.25 g, from the electric motors to slow the vehicle, augmented with the traditional friction brakes on the Grand Cherokee.

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maximising the energy recovery.

Electricity from regenerative braking is fed to the battery pack to maintain or increase the state of charge.

A driver-selectable Max Regen feature deploys a more assertive regenerative braking calibration when the vehicle sees zero throttle input from the driver (coasting). Max Regen can slow the Grand Cherokee 4xe faster than standard regenerative braking and generate more electricity for the battery pack.

Legendary Jeep 4x4 Capability The Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers unrivalled capability along with composed on-road driving dynamics.

That legendary off-road capability begins courtesy of three 4x4 systems – Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II with rear electronic limited slip-differential (eLSD). All three systems are equipped with an active transfer case to improve traction by moving torque to work with the wheel with the most grip.

The class-exclusive Jeep Quadra-Lift™ air suspension, now with electronic semi-active damping, delivers up to a class-leading 11.3 inches (28.7 cm) of ground clearance and 24 inches (61 cm) of water fording. The system automatically adjusts the shock tuning to changing road conditions for enhanced comfort, stability and control, or may be controlled manually with console controls, and features five height settings for optimum ride performance.

The class-leading Selec-Terrain™ traction management system lets customers choose the on or off-road setting for optimum 4x4 performance.

This feature electronically coordinates 4x4 torque split, braking and handling, steering and suspension systems, throttle control, transmission shift, transfer case, traction control, stability control, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and steering feel.

The all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk elevates the 4x4 capability of the Grand Cherokee even further.

The new Trailhawk features standard all-terrain tyres, integrated off-road camera, Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11.3 inches (28.7cm) of ground clearance, improved approach, departure and breakover angles and the Quadra-Drive II active transfer case with rear eLSD and Selec-Terrain.

The most capable model in the new Grand Cherokee line-up also features: •

Class-exclusive sway bar disconnect to allow for improved articulation and traction over rocks and rough terrain

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Selec-Speed®Control for managing vehicle speed in 4LO while traversing off-road terrain. On steep inclines/declines or when traversing obstacles Selec-Speed Control automatically applies engine torque and/or brake pressure to maintain a consistent and safe off-roading speed without requiring the driver to control the throttle or the brake

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High-strength steel skid plates

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Red tow hooks

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8-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres

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Class-leading traction, ground clearance, manoeuvrability, articulation and increased water fording capability of up to 24 inches (61 cm)

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Glare-proof black-and-red matte ‘Trailhawk’ bonnet decal

Trailhawk 4xe – Trail Rated, nature approved For the first time ever, the fifthgeneration Grand Cherokee will offer the electrified Trailhawk 4xe, which combines 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric “zero emission freedom” and 57mpge www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

with the legendary 4x4 capability of the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. In fact, the all-new Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe conquered the formidable Rubicon Trail and did so under all-electric power using eSave.

Highlights for the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe include: •

Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system with 2speed transfer case and 2.72:1 lowrange gear ratio

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Rear electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD)

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Selec-Terrain traction management system

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Selec-Speed Control

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10.9 inches (27.8 cm) of ground clearance

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24 inches (61 cm) of water fording capability

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47.4:1 crawl ratio

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Targeting an estimated 25 miles (40 km) of all-electric range and 57mpge

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Blue tow hooks

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Blue-accented 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres

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Glare-proof black-and-blue matte ‘Trailhawk’ bonnet decal

Award-winning powertrains In addition to the technologically advanced plug-in hybrid electric powertrain of the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, the 2022 Grand Cherokee line-up offers buyers a choice of two powerful, fuel-efficient and refined engines with proven performance for any driving situation. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Standard is the all-aluminium 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, rated at 293hp and 352Nm (260 lb.-ft.) of torque. Lauded for its power and refinement, the 60-degree angle between the Pentastar V6’s cylinder banks make it inherently smooth running, augmented by accessories that bolt directly to the engine block. A seven-time winner of the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems award, the Pentastar V6 engine is compact, with features such as exhaust manifolds integrated into the cylinder heads.

Chain-driven dual overhead camshafts include two-step variable valve lift and variable-valve timing (VVT). This combination quickly tailors the engine output to the demands of the driver for the best balance of performance and fuel economy.

Fuel-saving engine start-stop (ESS) technology is standard on the Pentastar V6. The ESS system has been upgraded and refined for the Grand Cherokee. Changes include a pressure reserve element in the eightspeed transmission, which provides dedicated transmission fluid to the shift elements at engine restart for a quick launch. Refined powertrain controls and new starter technology minimise early engine restarts from minor movements of the driver’s foot on the brake pedal.

Restart noise, vibration and harshness have been reduced via revised controls and switchable engine mounts.

The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine is rated for a towing capacity of up to 2,812 kg (6,200 pounds) and an estimated class-leading driving range of more than 500 miles.

VVT with dual-independent cam phasing enables better fuel efficiency across a wide torque band in

the Pentastar V6 engine. Nearly 90 per cent of the engine’s peak torque is available from 1,800 to 6,400 rpm – an important consideration when towing or hauling.

Buyers who want more power can opt for the award-winning 5.7-litre V8, rated at 357hp and 528Nm (390 lb.-ft.) of torque delivered over a broad power band.

The V8 delivers performance and efficiency with VVT and Fuel Saver Technology (cylinder deactivation). With Fuel Saver Technology, the engine control computer turns off fuel and spark and closes the valves to four of the engine’s cylinders during light-load operation, such as highway cruising, when full power is not needed. The system immediately re-engages the deactivated cylinders when the driver presses on the accelerator pedal.

The 5.7-litre V8 has a class-leading towing capacity of up to 3,265 kg (7,200 pounds).

The V8 engine in the Grand Cherokee uses cylinder shut-off technology that deactivates four cylinders during light acceleration or cruising situations on the highway. The system is active in an expanded region with respect to the previous generations and is unnoticeable to the driver. It provides V8 power for acceleration and heavy loads and four-cylinder operation when the torque requirement is less than the maximum available from four cylinders.

Depending on the driving scenario, cylinder shutoff can increase fuel economy from five to 20 per cent.

Fuel economy is further enhanced with VVT technology that reduces the engine’s pumping work by closing the intake valve later and by increasing the expansion process of the combustion event. This allows more energy to be transferred to the wheels instead of being lost out of the exhaust as heat.

VVT also improves engine breathing, which improves engine efficiency and

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| Motors power.

Each engine mates to the durable, robust TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, which enhances fuel economy and delivers crisp and smooth gear changes. The widespread of gear ratios helps keep

the two-row Grand Cherokee has a 116.7-inch (296.4 cm) wheelbase compared with the 121.7-inch (309 cm) wheelbase of the Grand Cherokee L, 5.0 inches (12.7 cm) shorter. In overall length the two-row is 193.5 inches (491 cm) compared to 204.9 inches (520.4 cm) of the Grand Cherokee L, an 11.4inch (28.9 cm) reduction. Without a third

A wider and larger iconic seven-slot grille and new front fascia conceals a long-range radar and other advanced technology features. An elongated, level-set bonnet and bold headfirst stance deliver visual strength and the aerodynamic body style allows for design flexibility, improved fit and finish.

New active grille shutters, front wheel spats, air curtains, bonnet aero flick, lowered roof line (10 mm decrease) and rear vertical-pillar spoilers improve onroad performance and fuel efficiency.

A gloss black roof is available for the first time on the Overland models and comes standard on Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve.

A widened track (36mm/1.4-inch increase) provides superior handling and nimble manoeuvrability and there are eight wheel options with signature Jeep geometry and up to 21-inch diameter wheels offered for the first time.

All-new interior

the engine rpm in the ideal range for the task – whether it’s cruising on the highway or exploring off-road trails. Onthe-fly shift-map changing enables the transmission to quickly adjust its shift strategy to match the driver’s demands based on inputs, such as engine torque changes, hill detection, temperature and longitudinal and lateral acceleration New for the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4x4 is front-axle disconnect. If the vehicle senses that road conditions do not require all-wheel drive, the front-axle disconnect automatically places the Grand Cherokee in two-wheel drive, reducing drag on the driveline and improving fuel economy. Four-wheel drive automatically re-engages when the vehicle senses it is needed.

All-new flexible architecture delivers world-class 4x4 capability, driving dynamics and durability, and first-ever electrified 4xe The all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is built on an all-new architecture that was mission specific for the fifthgeneration Grand Cherokee. It’s a purpose-built, flexible architecture engineered for both three and two-rows as well as electrified 4xe capability.

The new unibody construction and chassis of the Grand Cherokee facilitate electrification, while three available best-in-class Jeep 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II), Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction management system instill the entire Grand Cherokee lineup with legendary Jeep capability.

The flexibility of the new architecture allows for two different wheelbases and lengths as well as electrification. While the two-row Grand Cherokee and threerow Grand Cherokee L share the same overall width of 84.6 inches (215 cm), 84 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

row, the fifth-generation two-row package size was optimised to support Jeep capability and 4xe electrification without any customer compromise.

The luxurious, next-generation interior of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has evolved to feature handcrafted materials and modern amenities.

The two-row Grand Cherokee – the most 4x4-capable Grand Cherokee yet – is the second vehicle in this family of capable Jeep SUVs to be built on the new architecture, following the first-ever three-row Grand Cherokee L launched earlier this year. Early in 2022, the third and final phase will begin when the firstever electrified Grand Cherokee 4xe launches in North America, followed later in the year in global markets.

The front panel features new slim HVAC vents, a re-aligned centre stack for greater driver accessibility and 10.1-inch digital screens (digital cluster and touchscreen radio), as well as segmentfirst available 10.25-inch front passenger interactive display and a new high-definition rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV.

Dynamic and capable model line-up The new Grand Cherokee line-up consists of Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve trims.

Standard on all models is the allaluminium 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine.

The award-winning 5.7-litre V8 is available on Overland, Trailhawk, Summit and Summit Reserve.

The all-new 4xe powertrain, with 2.0litre turbocharged I-4, two electric motors and eight-speed automatic, is available on Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve New exterior design The all-new slim, sculpted exterior of the Grand Cherokee delivers a more modern and updated premium appearance to the most luxurious Grand Cherokee ever.

A lowered, tapered roof improves the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance and efficiency without sacrificing cargo spaciousness and utility, while the lowered beltline and expansive glass allow more light into the cabin and increase outward visibility.

The all-new Jeep seating architecture features a length adjustable cushion for the front row passengers. The new 16way adjustable front seats have power lumbar and memory and higher specification versions offer new front driver and passenger seat back massage. Heated/vented seats are available in the first two rows, with three-level configurable controls.

The centre console layout now has updated switches, more storage space in the front bin that can hold two wireless devices and a wireless charger.

An all-new premium, full-suite of customisable LED lighting with daytime/ night-time settings is standard on all trim levels for the first time on Grand Cherokee, and true ambient lighting with a five-colour selection is available on Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve models.

Advanced, high-tech safety and security features The state-of-the-art Jeep Grand Cherokee ushers in an array of more than 110 advanced safety and security features, including innovative applications of technologies that refine the connection between driver, vehicle and the road.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors Standard safety features across the line-up include:

Android Auto

displays to watch together

•

New digital rearview mirror

Full-Speed Collision Warning with Active Braking and Pedestrian/ Cyclist Detection

•

New full-colour, 10-inch (25.4 cm) windscreen head-up display (HUD)

•

Rear Cross Path Detection

•

New wireless charging pad in front centre console

•

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go

•

Greater connectivity with two Bluetooth-enabled phones paired simultaneously

•

•

Active Lane Management

•

LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist

•

Advanced Brake Assist

•

Blind-spot Monitoring

•

ParkView rear back-up camera

•

ParkSense rear park assist sensors with stop

•

Switch-activated electric park brake

•

Tyre-pressure monitoring

•

Fire TV connects to Uconnect 5 so rear seat passengers can adjust individual climate settings and see destination ETA

•

Front seat controls for Fire TV: Monitor content or apps used in the rear seats, select favourites to quickly start a movie on the rear displays, or you can pause or stop the content for family chats

•

Includes two Voice Remotes with

Additional available safety features include: •

New Night Vision Camera with pedestrian and animal detection

•

New Intersection Collision Assist

•

New Drowsy Driver Detection system

•

Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist and new Traffic Sign Recognition

•

•

Enhanced Amazon Alexa virtual assistant functionality

•

All-new Uconnect mobile app

•

SiriusXM 360L platform with personalised stations powered by Pandora

Alexa. Just press and ask Alexa to easily find, launch, and control content. Check sports scores, play music, or see your live camera feeds (compatible smart home device required and sold separately)

New 360-degree surround view camera system with front and rear washers

•

Tom-Tom navigation with predictive search, natural speech and live traffic updates

New Active Driving Assist (L2) handson-wheel and eyes-on-road automated driving is also available.

•

Maps over-the-air updates

•

4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot to connect up to eight devices

Most technologically advanced Grand Cherokee ever The new fifth-generation Grand Cherokee has the most available technology features in its history. The suite of features available includes: •

Uconnect 5 – the most advanced Uconnect system ever offers up to three 10.1-inch and two 10.25-inch digital displays in the cabin and an intuitive user experience

•

A segment-exclusive front passenger screen offers co-pilot assistance with navigation, camera viewing and visual entertainment

•

Wireless Apple CarPlay and

Amazon Fire TV is available for the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, allowing passengers to stream videos, play games, listen to music, get information, and watch downloaded programs – all while on the road.

•

Connect Fire TV through in-vehicle 4G Wi-Fi hotspot or mobile device hotspot

•

Watch Prime Video without connectivity while on the road with 16 GB of included built-in storage for each rear display

•

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Watch content individually on each rear display or mirror across both

A new, state-of-the-art McIntosh audio system is available and features 19 custom-designed speakers (including a 10-inch/25.4cm subwoofer), 950-watts of power and a 17-channel amplifier.

The Jeep brand is currently the only automotive manufacturer in the world to carry a McIntosh sound system.

With an unsurpassed blend of refined sophistication, dynamic performance, cutting edge technologies and unsurpassed levels of elegance, the new Grand Cherokee carries an attractive presence and capability that is uncommon in its class, unquestionably Jeep, and unmistakably world class.

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee is built at the new Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack Plant, the city’s first new manufacturing facility in nearly three decades.

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee will arrive in Jeep retailers in North America in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is scheduled to arrive in North America early in 2022 and in global markets later that year.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 85

| Motors

Landrover Defender 110 D250 Hard Top aving watched for some time with eager anticipation for the arrival of the New Defender I was very much looking forward to having a week with one and as it rounded the corner on its delivery with its domineering stance and wing mirrors nearly touching each hedge on our lane I was soon to get that chance.

Obviously it has taken a while for it to become available, but the delays have certainly not been wasted with an outcome that is very much desirable and most certainly exciting to drive.

The model tested came with the D250 3.0L Engine with a reported output of an impressive 250hp, which when unleashed and driven in sport mode certainly has plenty of beans!

The defender can stretch its legs to a not too shabby 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds and therefore despite its size it’s certainly no slouch. Therefore you can imagine that given the need to press the button and fold down the tow hitch and attach a large trailer the Defender will eagerly follow your command and pull away like a train.

This being a commercial spec the rear 86 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

had lots of lashing points and some super floor lockers with two by the rear doors that could be accessed from the side and therefore not affect the ability to leave a load within.

The rear view mirror is a camera which was a touch difficult to make use of at first but you can switch this off and make use of those large wing mirrors, which are of course fully adjustable and fold in to avoid being rubbed off by an inquisitive bovine or a narrow gateway.

All round cameras make manoeuvres a doddle and they certainly maintained the farm cats 9 lives as it would have not been seen without them! So the cat lives to fight another day and all because of the clever folk at Landrover!

The dash and controls are simple and offer multifunctions which is great, the steering wheel now has control buttons for various tasks which when coupled www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

with the 10in touchscreen infotainment system really does give you the feeling that you are in a high end Landrover product.

The rear door carries the full size spare and just inside the door there is a cool switch for checking that all your trailer lights are working in sequence so there really is no excuse for not running compliantly.

A heated front screen wasn’t of much

use this week as temperatures touched 30C, but I can imagine being called out at Lambing time to find a frost on the screen and being fairly chuffed that it was there and that it gave you the greatest visibility possible. The heated seats work well and the adjustment of both the seats and the steering wheel allow for the best driving position to be attained easily.

Fitted with a must have front middle jump seat, Electronic Active Diff with

Torque Vectoring by Braking, Metallic Paint, electronically deployed tow bar, rear view mirror camera all go to bumping the price up and whilst the Defender 90 will be cheaper the 110 starts at just over £41k plus VAT with the vehicle as tested coming in at near Discovery money at just over £60k But, despite that minor blip the new Defender is epic, you can be as broad shouldered as you like and still drive it with the window up. It’s a big beast of a thing and it does get a lot of attention, it drives lovely, its comfortable and gives you an air of confidence that whether its tarmac or mud you’ll definitely arrive in style.

Pros: •

Looks

•

Power

•

Specification

•

Name/Brand ranking

Cons: •

Price

•

Fairly small load area

•

Shorter warranty than others

Review written by: Chris Johnson www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 87

| Motors

Land Rover Discovery SE R-DYNAMIC D250

he Land Rover Discovery has been around since the Industrial Revolution, or so it would seem but since its launch on 16th December 1989 it has seen many changes. Changes in the World, Changes on climate, Changes in technology and Changes in who buys them and for what purpose.

Today’s buyer is particular, they know what they want and they aren’t afraid to spend their hard earned money on a practical and useable luxury vehicle and the Discovery doesn’t disappoint.

With an on the road starting price of

complemented the R-Dynamic gloss black exterior styling. The electronic deploying tow bar looks like a right shin banger but it’s a great asset being able to fold it away.

It would seem that wireless charging is the way forward subject to a compatible phone and the rest of the car is stacked full with technology some of which you will need some of it you won’t but none the less this car is capable and its looks have grown on many of us over recent months.

The doors are deep, barn like you might say and upon closing you feel wrapped in safety. The driving position is high (Not nose bleed high) in 18 way heated memory seats giving easy access to the steering wheel controls and the excellent touchscreen command centre where the entire tech comes alive.

The engine is quiet and responsive with superb effortless gear changes giving you complete confidence that the vehicle will go exactly where it’s pointed.

£59,605 and with the addition of a modest option list the vehicle as tested was £64,650 and for that the car gained the stunningly beautiful Lantau Bronze Metallic Paintwork which really 88 |

Farming Monthly | October 2021

As with any Land Rover the 4x4 capabilities remain almost untouchable with a terrain response gear for most situations and an excellent wading depth should the need arise.

The ride is comfortable and having the Electronic Air Suspension the Discovery gives you the perfect sitting height should a tailgate picnic be on the cards.

The ability to lift and lower the suspension is also very useful for coupling up to a trailer as you can let the car take the strain instead of banging your knuckles on the jockey wheel.

The sliding roof blinds were a nice touch and the over feel within the cabin area was luxurious and yet still remarkably functional with large carpet mats fitted to take the dust off your shoes.

The Discovery has always had a presence and this latest model is no exception, you feel enthralled on both long and short journeys and there aren’t many cars that can offer that.

Pros: •

Style

•

Brand status

•

4x4 capabilities

•

Extensive dealer network

Cons: •

High Price, yet high residuals so once you are in your in!

•

Reliability (Great dealer network)

•

Waiting list.

•

Shorter warranty than others

Review written by: Chris Johnson www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

ennessey Performance Engineering (HPE), the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and highperformance vehicle creator, has revealed new details of its VelociRaptor 600 package for the all-new, third-generation, Ford F-150 Raptor.

Adding a substantial 150 bhp – a 33 percent increase in power – to Ford’s range-topping performance truck, the Hennessey team is targeting a 4.2 second 0-60 mph time and a 12.9 second ¼ mile for the 600-hp off-roader.

Hennessey’s engineers will enhance the twinturbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine by adding an upgraded air induction system, high-capacity intercooler system with blow off valve, and upgraded enginemanagement system.

All work is covered by a comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty.

Hennessey has established its position as the world’s largest producer of modified F-150 Raptors. Over the past 10 years, the company has built thousands of highperformance VelociRaptor trucks for customers all over the world. Based on the popularity of the previous models, the Hennessey team is confident that the 3rd-gen VelociRaptor 600 will become the company’s best-selling model yet. Orders are being taken now for customer deliveries starting in early 2022.

John Hennessey, company founder and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

CEO: “The VelociRaptor has been a cornerstone of our production for years with our customers queuing up for the truck’s surprisingly nimble handling, great practicality… and of course, the horsepower! The popularity of this truck presented the opportunity to create a family of VelociRaptors including the SUV, 6x6, V8, and Bronco variants going to customers across the country and around the world.”

The all-new, third-generation, F-150

Raptor is already a high-performance vehicle boasting five-link rear suspension, 24-inch coil springs, and sport-tuned shocks to ensure performance is maximized on- and offroad. The Hennessey modifications retain all the manufacturer driving modes to enable comfortable cruising or high-power performance at the flick of a switch – enhanced engine management software is even capable of maximizing off-the line performance by sending

more of the VelociRaptor’s 622 lb-ft torque to the rear wheels.

VelociRaptor owners may enhance their truck even further with a full range of optional upgrades including rugged VelociRaptor front and rear bumpers with integrated LED lights, 20-inch Hennessey wheels, up to 37-inch offroad tires, suspension levelling kit, plus Hennessey and VelociRaptor badging.

Customers may also opt for massive six-piston Brembo front brakes to increase stopping power. With most owners opting for the performance upgrade plus the enhanced offroad package (bumpers, wheels, and off-road tires) the total price paid is typically in the region of $110,000 (which includes the stock Ford F-150 Raptor).

Hennessey’s three-year warranty on the VelociRaptor 600 allows customers to properly enjoy their truck and be confident about retaining the Raptor’s rock-solid resale values.

VelociRaptor 600 production will be limited to 250 units per year and will be individually numbered with Hennessey interior and engine bay plaques.

The 2021 VelociRaptor will be available for global shipping starting early 2022.

Orders may be placed immediately through authorized Ford retailers, or directly with Hennessey, by calling +1 979.885.1300 or visiting HennesseyPerformance.com.

October 2021 | Farming Monthly | 89

THE ALL-NEW ISUZU D -MAX

WORK LOADS FOR LESS BUSINESS CONTRACT HIRE FROM ONLY

£249

† MONTHLY RENTAL PLUS VAT INITIAL RENTAL £2,241.00 PLUS VAT Followed by 35 Monthly Rentals.

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.

Model pictured is a DL20 including optional special paint finish from £260.91 +VAT a month plus Initial Rental of £2,348.19 +VAT

SMARTER. STRONGER. SAFER.

DRIVEN TO DO

Jeffries Of Bacton Stowmarket, Suffolk Tel: 01449 781131

jeffriesofbacton-isuzu.co.uk

Startin Tractors Ashby Road, Twycross Tel: 01827 880088

startintractors-isuzu.co.uk

Culverwell Cars Robertsbridge, East Sussex Tel: 01580 880567 culverwell-isuzu.co.uk

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 30.09.2021. 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 10.40p 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.