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NEWS, STORIES INTERVIEWS, EVENTS, MACHINERY AND MUCH MORE
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PAGES INSIDE - ALL ENERGY EXPO, WELLY GIVEAWAY, FARMING VS CROFTING , BREXIT, BEEF AND ADVICE FROM THE VET
'DAIRY ISN'T SCARY'
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Young farmers
Can we profit from small scale farming?
Solar fencing
4 pages of handy tips from Voss. PLUS Brand new discount codes
Farmers voice
Rob Cowgill, Kate Morris, Rachel Challoner & Will Evans
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NEWS
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issue.
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Connect. twitter.com/ farmlanduk
April 2017
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top tweets
Farming News.
Advert suggesting the man is apologising for working late with a Quorn bolognaise. Probably more likely to end in divorce than work hours..
Poultry Ban lifted, Farmers outraged at Dairy claims, Harper Adams scoops university of the year. Plus must attend events for Spring
04.
facebook.com/ farmlanduk
@georgielmgm I pull a dangly thing and milk comes out #badlyexplainyourjob
Special Features.
“Like the farmer version of Lego"
@Cesca_Beswick
Could payment by results be a future model for agri-environment schemes? UK to NZ and back again. Overseeding existing grass leys, Soil and Drainage with Yara. Perfect Farm Wife or Pretty Woman with Lorna Sixsmith.
@TomVickers7
Contributors Alex Heffron.
Beef & Dairy
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Alex is a first generation farmer who lives with his fiancée in North Pembrokeshire producing 100% grass-fed Jersey raw milk and Dexter beef as well as free-range pork and eggs. Tweet @Alexheffron88
UK Consumers urged to back British beef. Monitoring cows in Nairobi from Dumfries, Maximising Bull performance with Towcester Vets, Dairy isn't Scary.
Ben Eagle. Ben is an Agricultural writer at www.thinkingcountry.com and runs the regular #Meetthefarmers podcast. Tweet @Benjy_Eagle
Rural Crime. Meet the Dorset countryside cop determined to stamp out rural criminals. Also, Cybercrime advice from McClarrons and Fly tipping. (Pages 8 - 9)
Hollie-Ella. Her first piece for Farmland. Equestrian, Country & Agricultural lifestyle blogger Hollie Ella discusses the differences between the UK & NZ dairy farming practices. Tweet @iacluk
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Other Features.
NEXT time.
How can AD help farmers profit today whilst protecting tomorrow? What makes a good permanent apiary site. Sheep worrying, The Levelling Movie - Interview with Hope Dickson Leach.
09. Legal Clinic 13. Farm finance 19. Farms and Land 23. Show guide 26. Conservation special 28. Young farmers 30. Grassland 33. See you next time
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NEWS
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SEE MORE NEWS AS IT HAPPENS AT FARMLANDMAGAZINE.COM APRIL FOOLS
Known as the 'worst holiday of the year', April Fools day certainly made us laugh. Here's some of our favourite pranks.
"Well we did it. Had the farm sale yesterday, sold all our sheep and now have 900 goats!" #WhatDateIsIt" Hilarious effort from @Katebeavan
"Introducing our brand new range Organic Swan milk." A pretty obvious hoaxe from @yeovalley but the play on Cygnet is brilliant.
Anger over 'shocking' Farmers and their unions have come together to codemn a recent article which descibed the Dairy industry as a practice of 'systematic cruelty.'
A Corker from the Daily Record. 'A new breed of sheep, the Arbez seen at a farm in Scotland Credit @Dailyrecord / @amacmediapix
Working with AHDB Dairy, the NFU, the NFUS, NFU Cyrmu, the RABDF, RUMA and the CLA, Dairy UK addressed serious concerns about false allegations peddled against the industry in a brilliantly crafted reply. A series of bogus claims were made sparking nationwide fury amongst farming communities who were determined to speak out to set the facts straight Angered dairy farmers took to social media to share their upset, "Articles
like this do their very best to destroy the hard work and dedication of our British farmers" one user commented. Another said "where do they get these statements from? We have £1000's invested in our stock, the last thing on anyones mind is how to ruin it". Although the paper has since released a countering opinion, many still feel let down that it was published in the first place and continue to stick together and overcome these malicious attacks.
Images of housed calves shared by 'Animal E
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Harper Adams scoops university of the year...again After a nationwide student vote, Harper Adams has won the University of the year award for the second time in a row at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards in London. The first University ever to win the award.
named the Whatuni Student Choice Awards University of the Year. This is a tremendous vote of confidence from our students and we greatly appreciate their support".
Over 27,000 students took part in the vote with over 127 universities involved. Vice-chancellor of Harper Adams Dr David Llewellyn commented "We are thrilled to be
Gold – Courses & Lecturers, Student Support, Job Prospects. Silver Accommodation, Giving Back Bronze – University Facilities, Clubs & Societies, SU.
Other Awards
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The Newport University was finalist in nine out of 12 categories and was presented with four gold, two silver and three bronze awards by comedian David Mitchell. They also came top in three other award categories: Job Prospects, Course and Lecturers and Student Support. As well as University of the year, Harper Adams also came top in three other award categories.
Harper Adams are the only Uni to win the award twice
NEWS
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Poultry housing order lifted by Chief Vet Following updated evidence on the risk posed by wild birds, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has confirmed that from 13th April 2017, poultry in England are to be allowed outside . The requirement to keep poultry in Higher Risk Areas of England housed or completely enclosed in netting will be lifted. However, all keepers in England will continue to be required to comply with strict biosecurity measures and the imposed ban on poultry gatherings remains in force until further notice. Nigel Gibbens said: “We continually review our disease control measures in light of new scientific evidence and veterinary advice. Based on the latest evidence on reduced numbers of migratory and resident aquatic wild birds we believe that kept birds in the areas we previously designated as Higher Risk are now at the same level of risk as the rest of England and may now be let outside. “However, all keepers must still observe strict disease prevention measures to reduce the risk of contamination from the environment, where the virus can survive for several weeks in bird droppings. “This does not mean business as usual: the risk from avian flu has not gone away and a Prevention Zone remains in place, requiring keepers across England to take steps to prevent disease spreading. We continue to keep measures under review and keepers should check GOV.UK for regular updates.” Artwork by Sarah Mckenzie
claims
"The lifting of the ban does not mean business as usual, the risk from avian flu has not gone away" The ban , imposed since December 2016 saw the culling of over 110,000 birds across various sites. Lifting the housing requirement in Higher Risk Areas means free range birds across every part of England can now be allowed outside again.
What's On? April Broadlands Country Show Takes place at Hampshire’s historic Broadlands Estate during the bank holiday weekend of Sunday 30th April and Monday 1st May 2017. Adults£15, Under15's go free. broadlandscountryshow.co.uk
Wonderwool Wales The 12th annual Wonderwool show returns to The Royal Welsh Showground. 22 - 23rd April. Day Tickets available £10 / Weekend £18 wonderwoolwales.co.uk East Riding Country Fair 29th - 30th April. Packed with entertainment and under 16's go free. Held at the Driffield Showground in Kelleythorpe. driffieldshow.co.uk
May North Somerset Show The 158th 'All weather' Show takes place on 1st May at Bathing Pond Fields, Wraxall, BS48 1NE Tonnes of different attractions, demonstrations and shows. Tickets from £13 online and under 5's go free. Event by The North Somerset Agricultural Society
Equality UK' sparked widespread fury
www.nsas.org.uk
Ayr Country Show 13th May brings the Fantastic family day out with lots to see such as Tug O’ War, trade and craft stands, food marquees and much more. 9 - 5pm Adult Tickets are £12 on the gate. Ayrcountyshow.co.uk
Grassland & Muck The 2017 show will be bigger and better than ever before. Showcasing the latest machines in action. 24th - 25th May at Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire grasslandevent.co.uk
June Royal Welsh Show 3rd - 4th June at Clay House Farm, Knutsford. The show gives a real taste of the countryside. Tickets from £17 online. cerealsevent2017.com
Royal Cheshire Show 20th - 21th June at the Royal Cornwall Showground. There's something for everyone at this event. Ticket prices TBC www.royalcornwall.co.uk
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Warning as farm gate thefts on the rise Workshops A warning has been issued to farmers across the UK to stay extra vigilant since there has been a recent increase in the theft of farm gates nationwide. Recently there have been incidents in Dorset in the Marchwood Vale area where cattle hurdles and gates were stolen on three different occasions. The thefts occurred over a number of days as officers from Dorset Police rural crime team explained. Please lock up all unused gates and hurdles, mark them with paint or weld
the farm postcode on. Remove them from view of main roads and areas where the public have access. “The loss of equipment, metal and livestock may not be noticed immediately, and its detection can often be difficult and it has an impact on people’s livelihoods,” Sgt Gareth Jones, of Dyfed Powys Police. He also commented that rural crimes tend to be planned in advance and has asked the public and farmers to be on the lookout for anything suspicious including vehicle movements.
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Agroforestry 2017 22nd June, improving productivity for farmers and foresters. Cranfield University.
Rural Entrepreneurship Conference 15th - 16th June Newcastle University. www.ncl.ac.uk
TotalDairy Seminar New Venue - Keele University. 14th - 15th June. Register at www.totaldairy.com
Get listed Feature your upcoming workshop here. Get in touch via mail@ farmlandpress.com
CONSERVATION farmlandmagazine.com
The fourth big farmland birdcount
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Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, February saw the fourth annual Big Farmland Bird Count. A record number of 970 farmers participated and recorded 112 species across 900,000 acres of farmland. Farmers, gamekeepers and landowners are crucial in the survival and protection of many farmland bird species.
What did Farmers see? There were 112 species, 240,000 birds, across 783,314 acres recorded by 975 farmers. A total of 112 species and 22 Red List species were counted across the UK. Fieldfare, starling, house sparrow, song thrush and yellowhammer were all counted in the top 25 and appear in the Red List species. The most abundant of these, fieldfares and starlings, were seen on over 40% of the farms taking part. For the third year the top four most abundant species were woodpigeon, starling, rook and fieldfare with chaffinch coming in fifth.
What makes a good permanent apiary site? Commercial beekeepers fall into different categories, firstly there are those that keep their colonies on fixed sites and run them for their honey crops from those sites. We also have migratory beekeepers that keep their bees for paid pollination work, these colonies usually have little or no honey therefore their income comes from 'Managed and Targeted' pollination work, this is work organised by The Bee farmers Association Pollination Secretary, this service is unique and matches growers with colonies of bees for accurate and efficient pollination of specific crops. What makes a good permanent apiary site? •South facing so that colonies get sun most of the day. •Placed in sheltered sites but not frost pockets. •Ease of access with four wheel drive and trailer, not disturbing normal farm operation. •Away from Public Rights Of way •Free from overhanging trees. •Free draining and not likely to flood. •Relatively secure.
Contrary to popular belief bees are doing better on farms now than they have for many years due to EFA's and many other positive moves that farmers are making to encourage pollinators. If you have a permanent apiary or apiaries on your farm you will benefit from improved quality and quantity of any crops that require pollination, it has been proven that even the self pollinating crops still have an improved yield, with better quality in the crop, as a result of insect pollination.
We have always worked with farmers and enjoy good working relationships with them, its a symbiotic relationship in which the farmer has better quality crops and our bees have a variety of forage, from the main farm crops, to the hedgerows and wildflower meadows that are appearing all over the country. Kevin Horner is a commercial bee keeper running up to 150 colonies consisting of Apiaries of between 12 - 20 colonies of bees on a single site. If you are a farmer and would like to have bees on your farm whether for professional pollination or for a permanent apiary site, please get in touch. sarumbeesupplies.co.uk @Kevinhorner4
Kathryn Smith RSPB Agricultural Communications Manager
How can your farm support wildlife? For many of us, spring heralds the promise of new life. Hedgerows are greening up, birds are singing and the first flush of growth is well underway after winter. Our outdoor working environment suddenly becomes revitalised, with warmer weather and longer days increasing activity levels for farmers and wildlife alike. With this renewed momentum, you might be thinking about how your farm is supporting wildlife, and whether there are any improvements
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that you could make. If that’s the case, advice on the best approach is available. Farm Wildlife has been developed by a partnership of some of the UK’s leading conservation organisations to provide best practice guidance on how to help wildlife on farmland. What Next? Visit www.farmwildlife.info for practical guidance on how to provide these measures, and see what will work on your own farm.
The partnership consists of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts. By working together, the partnership has developed an agreed approach to wildlife conservation on farmland, distilled into six key measures that wildlife needs to thrive. The advice is applicable to any farm, anywhere in the UK.
CONSERVATION farmlandmagazine.com
Could payment by results be a future model for agri-environment schemes?
The Pilot aims to restore species rich hay meadows and establish better habitats
Ben Eagle @Benjy_Eagle thinkingcountry.com
Last month I put together our countryside stewardship package (applying for next year) which involved trawling through hundreds of options and weighing up the relative benefits and drawbacks both in terms of conservation and the practicalities of farm management. Anybody who has gone through a similar experience will know the rigidity of the requirements for each option. In essence, so long as the management and evidence criteria are fulfilled, there shouldn’t be any problems but the system is very paperwork heavy and seems to be more about process than results. Interestingly, a new format of agrienvironment scheme is currently being trialled in North Yorkshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and it has the capacity to revolutionise the way that farmland conservation is undertaken. The key characteristic of this experimental model is that there are no defined management requirements, unlike the existing model. Farmers are free to manage the land however they think is most suitable and are purely judged on the results they achieve. They are relieved of the current rigidities, the extra paperwork and record keeping. Further, they are not completely in the dark, as advice and training are provided if they wish it.
The trial is being coordinated by Natural England and consists of two different pilots: One for grassland and the other arable. The grassland pilot is being delivered in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and involves 19 farms. The principal aims for these are to restore species rich hay meadows and establish good habitat for breeding waders such as curlew, redshank and lapwing. The arable pilot, which involves 15 farms in East Anglia, is focused on providing winter bird food and establishing pollen and nectar mixes.
"The more plant species that are found, the greater the payments will be" All of the sites will be self-assessed annually against an agreed set of indicators and it will therefore be easy to see improvement year on year. Payment levels will depend on the parameters and success rates indicators, but in general, the greater the success of the project, the more money is paid. For example, with meadows, the more plant species that are found, the greater the payment will be (anything between £112-£371/ ha). For winter bird seed mixes there are six tiers of payments ranging from £0-£842/ha depending on the number of plants that set seed.
It should be said that these rates are for the pilot only and should not be taken as a clue regarding future rates. It is only a pilot at this point in time but I think it has great potential as a model. After all, farmers know their land better than anyone, and will know the site specific conditions that each area of land entails. It is an example of a true partnership between farmer and advisor, and puts the power back into the hands of the farmer. In addition, it provides greater incentive to do a good job. The pilot will run for three years, after which it will be decided whether to roll it out more widely. As Brexit negotiations commence, thoughts turn to policy reform. Agrienvironment schemes will surely be changed to fit within the new British Agricultural Policy (whatever form that takes). For me, payment based on results seems like a sensible way forward.
The new format could revolutionise the way farmland conservation is undertaken.
We now have to wait three years to see the outcomes of the pilot.
***From May, We are delighted to welcome Ben as our Conservation host, bringing you an exciting range of interviews, features, expert advice and much more. Don't forget to subscibe at farmlandmagazine.com
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<<Ben is an Agricultural writer at thinkingcountry.com and runs the regular #Meetthefarmers podcast.
CRIME
farmlandmagazine.com
Impact of Cybercrime on the Rural Community CHARLIE GUNDRY
C
ybercrime and fraud was the most reported offence in England and Wales last year – and farmers are increasingly falling prey to these international perpetrators. Last year nearly six million cases of fraud and cybercrime were committed in England and Wales, costing small to medium-sized businesses an average of £4,200 a year. While the rural community may not seem the most likely target for cyber criminals, there is plenty of evidence that suggests farmers are at risk. Firstly, due to the large BPS payments they receive, as well as online fraudsters being able to use Defra data to help them carry out their crimes. Like the rest of the country, farmers are increasingly moving to online banking and carrying out more transactions on the internet. They are therefore just as vulnerable to cybercrime and sadly the evidence backs this up.
Just recently, McClarrons insurance brokers were involved in a case where a farm secretary received an email from a farming client, asking her to pay an invoice. Everything looked legitimate but it was actually a fraudulent email, which cost the business £11,000. In other cases, criminals pose as bank fraud departments asking for personal data to dupe victims, or send emails containing genuine invoices which are diverted and forwarded with new bank account details. There is a commonly held myth that banks will recompense customers for fraudulent activity – but this isn’t always the case. It’s therefore vital that individuals take steps to protect themselves, and that can include getting insurance cover for cybercrime and fraud. Insurance cover is available that typically covers loss of data, cost of rectifying a breach, ransom, loss of revenue, privacy costs and third party liability.
Dorset are taking on rural criminals
PCSO Tom is intent on targeting countryside criminals across the county
Hello, my name is Tom Balchin from Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team (RTC). I have a passion for the countryside and farming as they are both a big part of my life. My brother, cousins and close friend have all been farming for many years. I grew up in the countryside, trained as a gamekeeper and countryside manager at Sparsholt College, which led me to work on and around farms for eight years before joining Dorset Police. I worked as a Police Community
"Due to a significant rise in reports, the RCT's current focus in Poaching." Support Officer (PCSO) in Weymouth for two years before taking up my role in the Rural Crime Team in August. As Rural Engagement Officer, I aim is to raise confidence and strengthen links with rural communities and businesses so we can work together to report and reduce rural crime across the county. Additionally, I work with and support local rural
However, the voluntary release of information to fraudsters is often not recovered under standard policies. As crimes evolve, so does the insurance market, so we recommend you seek independent advice to ensure you have appropriate protection.
For more information, you can contact McClarrons on 01653 697055 or by emailing farm@mcclarroninsurance.com
neighbourhood policing teams, speak at local NFU events, attend sheep group meetings and engage with young farmers among other things.
The team consists of a dedicated Rural Crime Team Co-ordinator, Rural Engagement Officer and Rural Crime Analyst.
Recently, I have been working with students at Kingston Maurwood College, a local agricultural college near Dorchester, to inform them and make them aware of the important work the RCT does to disrupt all manners of rural crime across Dorset.
It also includes nominated officers for each of Dorset’s five rural sections: Bridport, Dorchester and Sherborne, Purbeck, East Dorset and North Dorset. These officers work within neighbourhood policing teams and are Wildlife Crime Officers
The RCT launched in August 2016. The new team forms part of Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill’s, first 100 Days in Office Pledges of his second term.
Due to a significant rise in reports, the RCT’s current focus is on poaching. The RCT is increasing patrols of hotspot areas and advising the public to report any suspicious incidents. The team has been running planned operations, utilising support from Special Constables, and in partnership with Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime Team to disrupt any recent activity.
“My commitments upon taking office were focused on providing the best possible service to all the communities in Dorset. The launch of the Rural Crime Team reflects that commitment. I know from the many rural residents and business owners I have met in Dorset that the fear of crime is high in rural areas. I also know the severe impact rural crime has on victims and their livelihoods. Introducing a dedicated team will ensure that more proactive work is done to target this type of criminality, and that we can make people living and working in Dorset’s many rural areas feel safe. It also introduces consistency across intelligence, investigation and crime prevention.”
Ben Eagle FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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Victim of Cybercrime? Contact the police on 101
If you have been a victim of rural crime contact the police on 101. If you suspect a member of the public is involved in criminal activity you can report this anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
GET IN TOUCH @RuralCrimeTeam dorset.police.uk
SEE MORE NEWS AS IT HAPPENS AT FARMLANDMAGAZINE.COM
30% of Rural Businesses suffer poor broadband Businesses across the UK, particularly in rural areas, are still without reliable broadband connections, despite companies claiming that the availability of fully functional broadband is extremely important to their operations, according to the results the British Chambers of Commerce Digital Economy Survey, released in late March.
Waste scams and fly tipping - more needs doing NFU Cymru has welcomed Welsh Government proposals to introduce Fixed Penalty Notices for small scale fly-tipping in Wales, but says more must be done to stamp out the problem. In response to the recent Welsh Government consultation, the Union identified that Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have the potential to be a fast and efficient method to tackle crime and ensure the ‘polluter pays’. However, to be effective the Fixed Penalty Notice needs to be significantly more than the cost of disposing of the waste legally. NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman Hedd Pugh said: “Whilst FPNs are a welcome step forwards in tackling fly-tipping, their usefulness may be undermined by the fact that there is no statutory duty on local authorities to investigate fly-tipping on private land. We believe that
fly-tipping is a crime irrespective of where it occurs and authorities should afford the same level of priority to private land as publicly owned sites. “We remain extremely concerned that the onus of clearing the site following fly-tipping remains the responsibility of the landowner - it is grossly unfair that the cost and burden should fall on farmers who are the victims of crime
"The PCN needs to be higher than the cost of legal disposal"
NFU Cymru has highlighted, through the consultation, that the receipts from Fixed Penalty Notices must be used to support farmers with the clear-up costs where the crime has occurred on farmland. The strategy to tackle fly-tipping in Wales should be considered in the context of diminishing public resources at local authority level; this is leading to closures or changes to
the opening times of local recycling centres, for example, and anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that fly-tipping is increasing as a result. together with the impact of increasing regulation and expense associated with legal waste disposal in Wales in the future means that fly-tipping may become an increasingly difficult issue to tackle going forward.” Have you witnessed fly tipping? Responsibility for the clearance of smaller scale fly tipping problems and the investigation of related offences falls to the local authority for the area where it has been deposited. Where the tipping has taken place on private land it is the responsibility of the landowner to arrange clearance of the waste. Any such matters should be reported to the police on 101 for investigation and advice.
Out of all the companies surveyed, 99% said a reliable broadband connection is important, (82% say extremely so), yet nearly one in five (18%) suffer from unreliable connections (11% not very reliable; 7% not at all reliable). The findings also show that firms in rural areas are at least twice as likely to have unreliable connections (30%) as those in towns (15%), inner cities (13%), and suburban areas (12%). The survey found that firms in both sectors, particularly in manufacturing, are facing pressure to raise prices, principally as a result of the cost of raw materials and other overheads.
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SHEEP
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Don't Miss Sheep Centre at the Royal Ulster Show 2017 Sheep breeds, trade exhibitors, commercial companies. 10th - 13th May 2017. NSA Sheep Centre at the Royal Ulster Show Balmoral Park, Maze Long Kesh, Lisburn BT27 5RF Next Generation Shepherds Training Day Perfect for all aspiring shepherds.14 May 2017. Carswalls Farm, Upleadon, Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1ED. hannah@nationalsheep.org.uk Highland Sheep Scotland’s biennial sheep event 31 May 2017. Hosted by the Clark family at Kinnahaird Farm, Contin, Strathpeffer. www.nationalsheep.org.uk North Sheep 2017 An event for everything sheep. 7 June 2017. West Shields Farm, Tow Law, County Durham DL13 4HN heather@nationalsheep.org.uk Sheep South West 2017 Trade exhibitors, competitions and much more. 20 June 2017. Held at Ayshford, Westleigh, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 7HL suem@nationalsheep.org.uk
No need to heighten animal welfare laws Concerns have been raised by the House of Lord’s Committee that once the UK leaves the EU farm animal welfare standards will subside. The National Sheep Association spoke out and disputed this on the 5 April 2017 to the committee. They raised the point that the UK is pioneering the way when it comes to welfare standards and approaches.
"The UK is already renowned for its high levels of welfare and sound regulatory platform" “Recent comments from Mr Eustice suggest we are destined for higher welfare standards and even tougher legislation after we leave the EU. But if we look at sheep, there are few concerns over welfare conditions and where we can make gains is in the area of improving health – something that would increase efficiency and welfare at the same time. The UK is already renowned for its high levels of welfare and sound regulatory platform – and NSA has long made the case that improvements to flock health and disease control will work to maintain this reputation
more so than introducing any additional legalisation could. In areas like this, the sheep industry needs help and encouragement, not further red tape.” Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive.. The NSA’s vision after CAP for farm support is to enhance the involvement of experienced sheep vets to increase business and environmental sustainability. This would also secure welfare standards by supporting flock health planning. Capital investment is being encouraged into farms for fences, handling equipment and other areas to maximise efficiency and sheep health.
Comfort - the boots include a removable cushioned foam footbed which creates extra room a more snug fit. A little more comfortable than some more expensive alternatives.
Construction - The Derwent II is nice and sturdy with a really neat finish. No excess glue around the seals make for a clean finish.
Durability - Reinforced toe cap, ankle, thick rubber upper and outsole give maximum durability.
Grip A deep tread cleated sole gives better grip than other styles in the range.
Style - It does matter to some, smartly designed and pretty stylish on or off farm.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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He added "There is absolutely no doubt that if sheep are profitable they are valued more highly, and if they are valued they will be (and can be) invested in.” See more at farmlandmagazine.com
REVIEW
TRIED AND TESTED - Derwent II Muckboot Derwent II. The latest in the range brings a solid and comfortable boot which offers increased durability than it's predecessor.
“As we exit the EU, if we are serious about raising the health and welfare of sheep there are two key areas to concentrate on. One is a new approach to Government/public support to incentivise health, welfare and efficiency, and the other is ensuring enterprise profitability. Individual businesses obviously have a role when it comes to enterprise profitability, to reduce costs and increase efficiency. But the Government and our levy bodies have a massive responsibility to ensure viable trade agreements, market access and product demand post-Brexit.
Warmth - Waterproof for as long as you're wearing them and well lined to keep those toes nice and toasty.
Overall - A comfortable and well built boot with decent grip that doesn't weigh you down. Can handle the gunk that comes with lambing and calving. Not bad on the wallet either. £75 | muckbootcompany.co.uk
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SHEEP farmlandmagazine.com
NSA sheep worrying survey
Imported sheep meat decline
SHARE @FARMLANDUK The second annual survey by The National Sheep Association (NSA) is encouraging sheep farmers to share their experience of sheep worrying. The feedback they receive will be invaluable when used to minimise the number of incidents by sharing the problem with dog owners who make the most of the countryside. This is the second year running where the NSA is collecting sheep worrying information through it's survey. The basis of this years review is to find out positive and negative influences on a dogs behaviour. Last year it revolved around the human impact of dog attacks and revealed that 85% of farmers affected by such incidents experience stress and 78% fear of any future attacks. 46% of farmers revealed they had suffered anxiety when spending time away from the
Last years survey revealed 60% of participants experienced up to 5 attacks per year. Picture credit David Harrison
farm with 24% considered giving up keeping sheep altogether. “The issue of sheep worrying by dogs continues to be a real concern for sheep farmers across the UK. Recent media coverage of the problem may have raised awareness but this has not necessarily translated into a reduction in cases of dog attacks. This survey will enable NSA to identify further methods to help dog owners enjoy the countryside
responsibly and ultimately improve the situation for sheep farmers. We urge all affected sheep farmers to spare a few minutes to share their views, as it is invaluable to our work.” Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive. Victims of sheep worrying are urged to report all attacks to the police. Visit nationalsheep.org.uk to take part in this years survey.
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In February, when imports are normally on the rise, there was a further decline in the volumes of sheep meat imported into the UK. There was a decrease of 36% on last year’s 5,800 tonnes making it the lowest level since 2012. This has been caused by a 42% decrease in shipments from New Zealand, 4,200 tonnes in total. Production in the UK is higher and a weaker pound has meant that New Zealand products couldn’t stay as competitive on the UK market. Mimicking this trend saw the volumes received from other major suppliers such as Australia and Ireland which were also down by 13% and 4%. The overall value of imports dropped 27% to £26.7 million due to there being an average import price increase of 14%. After a fall in imports, exports rose by 10% on last year to 5,600 tonnes. Higher production in the UK and the weaker pound makes UK exports more competitive. The UK’s largest market is France despite a 7% decline in volumes exported there. This has however been counterbalanced by an increase to markets in Germany of 34%. Exports to Ireland increased to 62% and Belgium increased by 6%. In total the overall value of exports saw a 11% rise to £23.0 million.
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BEEF
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Beef Shows 2017 Beef Expo 2017 The National Beef Association’s 2017 Beef Expo is the number one event for the British beef sector. Held at The NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 18th May. Machinery demos, seminars and trade Tickets £40 inc VAT nationalbeefassociation.com
Scotland's Beef Event 2017 Biennial event by the Scottish Beef Association . 8 June 2017. Hosted by the Stewart family at Fans, Earlston, Berwickshire. natalie.cormack@btconnect.com
Great British Beef Week Ladies In Beef organise this yearly event that takes place around St George’s Day 23 April 2017. The event is designed to promote British Beef and give the industry a much needed boost. www.ladiesinbeef.org.uk
Scotland's Beef Event 2017 Biennial event by the Scottish Beef Association . 8 June 2017. Hosted by the Stewart family at Fans, Earlston, Berwickshire. natalie.cormack@btconnect.com
UK Consumers urged to back British Beef UK consumers have been urged to fully support quality locally produced beef and lamb in wake of the huge beef scandal that has hit Brazil. As China, Chile and the EU place bans on importing Brazilian beef there is a desperate scramble within Brazil to highlight its beef is safe. Brazil is the world’s biggest exporter of red meat but criminal proceedings are underway against two of the country’s major meat processors who bribed inspectors to ensure rotten meat was certified as fit for sale. Claims have also been made that the two companies, JBS and BRF, used cheap products like water and manioc flour to blend in with meat before sale. It has also been found that rotten meat, possible laced with chemicals to make it appear fresh, was fed to schoolchildren in the southern state of Parana. Tension is currently high within Europe as four containers of the rotten meat were sent to the EU from the processors and only one has been identified in Italy which tested positive for salmonella. LMC chief executive, Ian Stevenson, said: “The reports coming out of Brazil are very alarming and the authorities must act immediately to clamp down on the actions of those sub-standard operators who have been identified by investigators as illegally using chemicals to improve the appearance and smell of expired meats and bribing officials to allow placement of these products on
These actions aren't enough, we need a blanket ban on all Brazlian meat domestic and export markets. Brazil is a certified exporter of poultry and beef into the UK and in 2016 delivered over 30,000 tonnes of beef and veal product, of which 26,000 tonnes were corned beef." Ulster Farmers’ Union, president, Barclay Bell says the European Commission’s response to the Brazilian meat scandal does not go far enough. He says tougher action is needed to protect European farmers and consumers.
At the Vets with...
Commenting after the EU health commissioner met farm ministers and MEPs this week, the UFU president said; “This remains a major concern for farmers here and across Europe. It is deeply concerning that Brazil, a major meat exporting nation, has companies being investigated over meat treated with uncertified chemicals. This meat has gone to both home and export markets. I am alarmed by allegations that these companies bribed Brazilian government officials to secure hygiene certificates. These actions do not go far enough. We need is a blanket ban on all Brazilian meat,” The Commission has banned imports from the meat plants involved and checks on all Brazilian imports have increased. Chris McCullough
Katie Goodfellow, MRVCS
MAXIMISING BULL PERFORMANCE If a bull makes up half of the suckler herd then surely his performance should be one of the first things to consider before the start of the next breeding season. Body condition score and nutrition should be monitored over the year, and the bull should be in peak condition 10 weeks prior to service, as the semen produced in this period is the semen that provides the next calf crop. The stock bull should always be included in routine herd health treatments – vaccinations, parasite and fluke treatments are just as important as in the cows. A lame bull will struggle to mount bulling cows and lameness can also result in reduced body condition score and poor sperm production for up to 2 months after the problem is treated. Bull breeding soundness examinations are recommended within the month prior to service, they include a general health assessment as well as checking the scrotum and testicles – both in terms of size which correlates well to likely sperm output and by palpation to ensure no infection or atrophy of the testicles. Assessment of the penis – which can be difficult to do without the use of an electroejaculator can detect penile deviation, warts or corkscrew defects. A semen sample is collected allowing an assessment of sperm motility and percentage of normal sperm within the sample. Poor results in these tests often lead to poor pregnancy rates in the cows. It is well worth taking the time to watch the bull and cows together during the service period, observing a mating can provide useful information on poor bull libido and early pregnancy diagnosis should help avoid a surprise poor pregnancy rate when there is no time left to correct the situation. Remember - A bull who worked well last year will not necessarily do so every year – and it can be a costly mistake to assume he will!
TowcesterFarmVets
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BEEF
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Quick Picks Improve suckler genetics Suckler producers with over 30 breeding females are being offered 50 per cent funding towards the cost of DIY Artificial Insemination (AI) courses from the organisation. By using AI it allows producers to pick the bulls that are most suited to their herd’s breeding programme. Sexed semen is available and producers can choose sires for both maternal and terminal traits, enabling them to breed their own replacement heifers. This method also replaces the need to replace stock bulls every two years.
Bridget Muasa in Kenya beside a cow wearing an IceQube device
Monitoring cows in Narobi from Dumfries Dumfries based researcher Dr Mizeck Chagunda is using his mobile phone to compare cow activity from a Kenyan herd with cattle on SRUC’s Chrichton Royal Dairy Research unit using the power of IceQubes! Dr Chagunda is an internationally recognised animal scientist and agricultural development expert who is a Reader at SRUC in Dairy Science. Alongside his PhD student Bridgit Muasa, together they are studying how widespread technologies used by farmers in the UK can be adapted to aid livestock keepers in the developing world. IceQubes are pedometers which have been put on cows legs on a University of Nairobi’s Kanyariri Farm alongside three separate groups on SRUC dairy farms in Dumfries that have been fitted with the same kit. “By monitoring the IceQube signals we build up a record of what 'normal behaviour' is for each cow and from that we can be alerted to abnormal
abnormal behaviour as well. For example a cow coming in to heat ready for mating starts to move around more, while a lame cow will have started to move less a long time before she begins to limp,” explains Mizeck.
The research carried out is to primarily help African farmers to detect when their cows and in heat and when they are ready to be inseminated. This comes in useful when farmers do not own their own bulls or when artificial insemination in being used to improve herd genetics.
“In the extensive pastoral systems or indeed in many UK beef herds the job of detecting when a cow is ready to serve is left to her and the bull to sort out. There are also subtle signs anyone working with cattle will spot. But on typical African dairy smallholdings farmers usually have many other jobs to get done and cannot spend the time watching their livestock. We are trying to adapt the technology used here on larger dairy herds to help the African smallholder farmers. It will enable them to get their animals into calf more regularly, which means more milk for the community and more income for the farming family,” Mizeck adds. Cleverly, Mizeck is able to track the movements across both continents using his mobile phone regardless of where he is in the world. He concludes “This is just one small example of how modern communications and data handling can help make farmers more productive.
“Having the ability to perform AI themselves enables producers to serve cattle at the correct time and reduces service costs. When used alongside a synchronisation programme, calving blocks can be tightened and cattle can be calved in groups, making them easier to manage.” Amy Fawcett, AHDB Beef & Lamb knowledge transfer officer.
Easter Show and Sale 87 Prime Cattle were sold at the Harrison and Hetherington Easter Show and Sale. Messrs R.Neil & Partners were awarded the champion by Judge Mr J McKirdy of Linton Butchers. The award was for a Lim.x Heifer of 594kg and was sold for £1633.50 (275p per kilo) to the judge. A Limousin Heifer was the Reserve Champion from W.B Hamilton & Sons and scaled 588kg and sold to £1470 (250p per kilo) to Edinburgh Ltd's Michael Malone.
Injunction against sexing tech A permanent injunction has been granted to global pioneer in animal genetics Genus ABS against Inguran LLC operating as Sexing Technologies (ST). The U.S District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin announced the injunction on 31 March 2017. Now implemented, the injunction prevents ST from enforcing certain research, marketing and noncompete restrictions under the 2012 Semen Sorting Agreement between ST and Genus ABS.
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It also means that other bull studs in the U.S. can terminate their ST sexed semen processing agreements on 12 months’ notice, without damage or penalty. The injunction will stay in place for five years and ST is required by the Court to give prompt written notice of the Court’s decision to the other bull studs. In August 2016, the jury found that ST had deliberately held monopoly power in the market for sexed bovine semen processing in the United States since July 2012. This is why Genus ABS have sought the injunction.
BREXIT farmlandmagazine.com
JAMES SMALL Third generation livestock farmer James Small from Somerset has a family partnership running 120 single suckler beef cows, 1400 breeding ewes and has diversified into a Glamping/ tourism business.
W
hen asked to write an opinion piece for this publication I couldn’t help feeling like a rabbit trapped in headlights; what to choose? Well, in the end I’ve decided to have a stab at the ‘B’ word, yes Brexit. Sadly I don’t have a crystal ball so I won’t make many predictions save this one; in two years’ time we will be heartily fed up with hearing about Brexit! It no longer matters if you were a leaver or a remainer, the political landscape has changed and after over forty years of being within the EU we will all be facing a future outside. Will UK farming be better off outside the EU and its CAP? Well, given that a pretty large number of farmers voted to leave, I can only assume that we weren’t overly happy with the CAP and all that came with it! We cannot escape the fact that UK farming has been financially supported in one form or another from the public purse for many decades. This has led to the public becoming used to plentiful and cheap (in real terms) food on the shelves but has, I think, broken the link of the consumer understanding the true value of the food they purchase. UK farming now has a huge job ahead of it, engaging with consumers and explaining about
the great job that UK farmers do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whatever the weather. We provide healthy, wholesome, fresh, safe, assured food for the consumer every day. We have short, safe and assured supply chains that mean, if the consumer demands it, produce can be traced back to the farm. Farmers all over the country are willing to open their farms for people to visit, to show and explain all they do, and why they do it! We farmers are the bedrock to the food and farming sector, worth over £108 Billion to the UK economy, employing around 3.9 million people. We all need to make our voices heard more; building on the trust that the UK public has placed in us, working with the greater supply chain to achieve this.
We need to lobby our MPs, they now have great power in the creation of policies, and they can no longer hide behind the ‘it’s from the EU’ defence. Policies will be made here and all MPs are accountable to us, we must ensure they understand the full ramifications of their decisions. When our farming representative organisations, such as the NFU ask for help we must act - if we all do a little, we can achieve a lot. I believe that UK farming can have positive, bright and profitable future outside of the EU and its CAP, but it isn’t just going to fall into our laps, we’re going to have to work for it!
@doitinwellies
Westminister must recognise farming contributions' Farming provides a vital contribution to Northern Ireland’s economy and Barclay Bell the Ulster Farmers’ Union president urges for politicians at Westminster to fully comprehend how crucial it is for the environment and wider society. When preparing for Brexit this must be considered, he says “We punch above our weight when it comes to agriculture. Farming is a core industry in Northern Ireland and it drives the local economy. Support, in particular, is a major issue. The market still does not deliver for farmers, and it is unlikely Brexit will solve this problem. With more than three-quarters of farm incomes coming from the CAP, Westminster must ensure adequate support continues after Brexit. This is about getting funding and delivery measures right. The alternative would
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be a financial crisis on farms. That would hit not only the agri-food industry, but the wider economy in Northern Ireland.” The comments were expressed after a meeting with the UFU and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee chairman, Neil Parish MP. Key issues to be addressed and highlighted by the UFU are the border, trade, regulation, labour, availability and direct support. “We made clear to the EFRA committee chairman how important it is that that local and national politicians fully understand the importance of agriculture and the unique challenges Northern Ireland will face as we leave the EU. There can be no mistakes – the government must get it right for agriculture,” says Mr Bell.
DAIRY farmlandmagazine.com
Perfect Farm Wife or Pretty Woman? ne of the challenges of O living on a farm can be keeping your garden safe from
marauding livestock. We’ve had a few goats in the past and they were often caught munching away in one of the flower beds. They never seemed to appreciate the grass in the garden, much preferring whatever flowers were in bloom at the time. As dairy farmers, our fencing was never quite up to the adventures of the pet lambs we’d occasionally buy and rear for the freezer so they travelled widely too.
Semex renew sponsorship deal
I
nnovative animal genetics company, Semex, is investing in the future of young dairy breeders by renewing its sponsorship of Holstein Young Breeders . Semex has been a professional partner of HYB for four years and has made a significant contribution the advancement and success of the youth organisation. Not only do they provide a substantial monetary contribution as part of their sponsorship, they also pay for the three HYB President’s Medal
finalists to attend the Semex International Dairy Conference and also fund a trip for the winner to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Michael Dennison, UK National Sales Manager for Semex said “We are delighted to support HYB again, As a business, we invest significantly in trying to take the present day industry forward with our annual conference, which we have run for 27 years now, and our sponsorship of HYB helps to build a solid platform for tomorrow’s sector too.”
he added With current market challenges and Brexit around the corner we need to ensure we have not just great dairymen in the sector but business people too. Semex is committed as a business to playing a part in ensuring that, and we are delighted to continue supporting HYB in its efforts to achieve those goals.” Miriam Bagley, Holstein UK, said, “HYB is hugely thankful for the funding from industry partners. Their sponsorship enables us to carry out numerous events, awards, activities and learning experiences for our members.
Meadow slash milk price
I eventually got in front of them and they realised that their little adventure was going to be short lived. However, as they turned back up the hill, they saw a chance for more fun. About forty headed in through the open gate to the garden. Brian eventually arrived with the dog so they weren’t in there long but forty of them, with four hooves each, made plenty of deep marks in the soft ground. I now have the fun of imagining that I’m acting the part of Julia Roberts (in Pretty Woman) when replacing the divots in the lawn – although I’m not sure that anyone else would see the similarity.
PRICE CUTS
M
ilk processor Meadow Foods have announced it is to cut its milk price by 0.4ppl from May 1 taking the overall standard A litre milk price to 27.15ppl.
About
The company said markets had been weakening on the back of increased spring milk volumes, particularly across Europe where some member states have already applied to put skimmed milk powder (SMP) into intervention. 350,000mt of SMP were in intervention, which Meadow Foods said ‘overhangs the market’. Executive chairman at Meadow Foods, Simon Chantler said “We had hoped to be able to maintain our milk price over the spring flush period, however, due to weakened market conditions we have announced this reduction.
One morning recently I was feeding calves and came out of a calf shed to see the herd of one hundred cows trotting down our laneway. It’s about 400 metres to the road but judging by their enthusiasm, it wasn’t going to take them long to get there. What I should have done was let the dog out and let him round them up but he doesn’t always obey me – a dog only has one master and all that. I climbed over a gate to try and race down the field to cut them off. I’m one of those people who believes the only purpose in running should be to catch cattle but I was a bit out of practice after the winter!
Lorna Sixsmith is the author of Would You Marry A Farmer? How to be a Perfect Farm Wife and An Ideal Farm Husband. She blogs at www.lornasixsmith.com @Irishfarmerette
He added "On a more positive note, Dairy Futures suggest that milk prices should improve again over the summer as milk volumes tighten, We will keep producers fully appraised of developments in the market as they occur and look to return any improvements as
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soon as we are able." Ending 8 months of consecutive rises, Meadow foods are the third major processor to announce a price decrease, Arla Foods and Barbers recently announced a similar price cut.
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DAIRY farmlandmagazine.com
UK to NZ and back again Hollie-Ella
>> RETURNING from a stint in New Zealand, self confessed Farmaholic Hollie-Ella, 21 currently lives on a 600 acre arable farm in West Sussex.
The grass is greener...No, It really is Having spent 7 months working on a few dairy farms within the beautiful Canterbury district of New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breathtaking South Island, I learnt a thing or two about the kiwi way of dairy farming. This prompted me to consider the difference between the New Zealand and British approach, after I arrived home and whether or not us, British farmers could take a thing or two from this and apply it to our own dairy farming practice.
Overall I feel like New Zealand are ahead of the game with Dairy Farming
The most obvious differences are the sheer number of dairy farms and milking cows in New Zealand compared to here in the UK. Then there is also the land space. People often describe NZ as England about 50-60 years ago, before all this mass house building and road expansion that we have seen here which unfortunately resulted in some farmers being forced to sell up, or diversify into livery yards or arable land to survive and keep the farm afloat. Just like my partner's family farm in Sussex which diversified from a traditional dairy farm into a large livery yard, retail and office space, allowing them to keep farming but on a smaller scale. We are also faced with a different climate, which has a huge impact on the way we manage our cows and farmland. Whilst the majority of British farmers will graze their cows as much as they can to take advantage of the natural nutrients within the Spring/ Summer months, before housing them in large ventilated barns during the colder, harsher Winter months when the grass stops growing. They then feed subsequent concentrates
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to help promote higher yields of milk. An increasing number of dairy farms in the UK are beginning to house their cattle all year round, and control their diet extensively, monitoring milk yields and cell counts in a much more intensive way of dairy farming. Whereas in New Zealand about 98% of dairy herds are housed outside in rotated paddocks all year round. Due to the extensive use of irrigations; a method of applying water and effluent to grass paddocks to promote growth. This is an expensive method of paddock management and requires a large amount of work and space to set up and utilise effectively. However perhaps this is something which could benefit British farmers as the irrigation system can be tailored to fit paddock sizes and pass over fencing without breaking to cover the entire paddock space. One hugely important factor for me, and one which I think requires attention, is the amount of support for British dairy farmers compared to the support available in NZ, in terms of organisations, apps for your phone, events/seminars and even the attitude of the community.
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During my time in NZ, I took advantage of a number of apps on my phone, which were a godsend to help with the day to day life on the farm. A couple that I found particularly useful were 'On Farm' which allows you to monitor milk production data and view information on cell counts etc. There are also loads of brilliant apps for herd management such as 'Minda' which is great for monitoring cows during breeding season and calving, but also comes in handy when herd testing or drafting cows. Over all, I feel New Zealand are ahead of the game with dairy farming, and although we farm on a smaller scale there are a number of methods, concepts and tools we could benefit from utilising in this country. I could go on forever but we would run out of pages, so if you want to know any more about my dairy farming experience in New Zealand or have any questions, please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to get in touch. Hollie-Ella
@iacluk @itsacountrylifeuk itsacountrylife.co.uk
OPINION farmlandmagazine.com
"If a cow does not want to be milked, it won't be" Kate Morris
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amers and their Unions have united to condemn a recent article in The Guardian that made several 'distorted' claims about practices within the dairy industry. Pembrokeshire Vet and Writer Kate Morris shares her views. The Truth. Written after the publication of a video by 'Animal Equality' the author used sensationalism and emotive language to blast UK dairy farmers. It portrays them as cruel individuals, hellbent on using and abusing animals for vast financial gain. In attempt to counter the views expressed in that piece I’ve addressed some of the salient points with fact and the thoughts of a dairy farmer. The video the article references shows calves on a rearing unit, housed in individual hutches. The author claims they are too old for the accommodation, and that it is a cruel way of keeping them. He is correct that calves over 8 weeks are not permitted to be housed individually, this is a legal requirement. However, there is no proof that the calves shown are over this age limit. Trading standards officers visited the farm and found no issues. Hutches are specifically designed to ensure the calves stay healthy and happy and, when used appropriately, are high welfare accommodation. According to the article, dairy cow reproduction is a brutal event. Not so. Artificial insemination does play a role in the dairy cow life cycle, but not in the way the author suggests. Semen is not extracted ‘mechanically’. Electroejaculation or a teaser animal and artificial vagina are used to collect sperm for use in AI
The average monetary value of a young bull going to stud is £20,000. When you have this much financially invested in an animal would anybody not want to make sure they have the best care available? Insemination is not a brutal procedure, no farmer will attempt to 'impregnate' a cow before they are ready, it just doesn't work. A cow can only become pregnant for a short time during her 'reproductive cycle'. During this period she will show behaviours that are a cue to her fertility. Once she shows this, an AI specialist will inseminate the animal. The cow will naturally stand still to allow the procedure to occur. The author also makes reference to cattle crushes, saying they are cruel devices. A crush does not harm cows, but helps to safely restrain them. Crushes are used when a cow needs veterinary treatment or procedures that require them to stand still. I doubt the author has ever had to care for a bull or cow that was ill and grumpy. Weighing between 500kg to a tonne they are capable of doing serious damage to a human just by moving. Milking isn't easy. Any dairy farmer who gets up at stupid o clock in the morning every day of the year to do so will tell you this. At the same time, no one steals milk from a cow. If a cow does not want to be milked, it won’t be. Milk let down requires oxytocin, a 'happy' hormone. Sad, mistreated cow = no oxytocin= no milk. Happy, content cow=oxytocin=milk. Each day on our farm, we call the cows to milk & they get up from their bed or come in from the field. No dog, no sticks, they come voluntarily. In some dairy herds milking is done via robotic machines.
"Sad, mistreated cow = no oxytocin= no milk. Happy, content cow=oxytocin=milk."
These allow a cow to decide when she is milked. On average, a cow will go to the machines 2.8 times a day. Voluntarily. The article also states that UK dairy farmers need to rely on antibiotics and hormones to boost milk production. This is illegal. As an extra measure, milk is tested in milk factories to make sure it is safe. The author says lameness is caused by large udders. In fact it is usually due to poor food, bad conformation, infection, trapped stones or bad surfaces. Lame cows don't produce milk. If a cow is ill for any reason her milk production will decline, sometimes to the point of none at all. He also blames cases of mastitis on milk yield. Mastitis is caused by bacteria, yeast or other environmental or infectious pathogens. The article says calves and cows 'bellow for days' when separated. This is incorrect. Our cows return to their herd mates within 24 hours of giving birth. Modern cows are not always cut out to be good mums. Some will actively try and hurt their calves, and can turn violent towards a human that tries to intervene. It seems to be a popular belief amongst vegans that male calves are shot at birth and 'binned'. Some farms may have to euthanize calves if they are prevented from moving them due to TB movement restrictions. Other farms keep their bull calves to be raised for rose veal,
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where they go to abattoirs at 10 to 12 months of age. One phrase in the article really annoyed me. It referred to cows being 'dragged off by a tractor' when they are too old to be milked. Incorrect. Any cow going to an abattoir must be able to walk soundly onto a lorry. It is not legal to transport a cow that is so poorly it cannot walk let alone stand. If a cow has become very sick or has had an accident on the farm, a vet will be required to perform an emergency euthanasia. I do agree with the other that consumer choice is important. We are lucky that we are able to choose. Choices should be based on fact not fiction. My support of the dairy industry is based on fact and personal experience, both mine and my partner who is a 7th generation dairy farmer of over 40 years. Caring for cows is quite literally in his blood. His family have farmed the same area for 243 years. Safe to say he understands a bit about cows.
Kate Moris @farmuponthehill
FARMERS VOICE farmlandmagazine.com
Farming VS Crofting "What's your profession?" "I'm a Crofter."” "Crofter....crofter,……I don't have that on my list. What exactly is a crofter?" "Well, I have sheep and..."… "Oh so basically you’re a farmer?" "Well, not really, but...” "We'll just put you down as a Farmer then." Cursing myself for not giving my job as ‘admin assistant’ when I had to open a new bank account recently, it got me thinking – is there an obvious difference between crofting and farming, or is it merely a difference in terminology? Growing up in rural Lincolnshire, surrounded by farms and farming families, crofting’ wasn’t a term I ever heard.
It was only coming to Fair Isle three years ago, at the time to take on a seasonal cooking job at the Bird Observatory, that I came into contact first-hand with a crofting community; a year later I had my own croft. Crofting is carried out on a much smaller scale than farming, but is it enough to say that a croft is merely a small farm? Discussing it with my friends and neighbours, the main difference that kept being suggested was the fact that farming is typically fulltime employment in its own right, whereas crofting is done in addition to other jobs Here on Fair Isle the majority of crofters have several other part-time jobs within the community ranging from social care, administrative work and fire crew, to boat crew, knitting and teaching. Two other differences also became apparent: Firstly, a lot of farms due to their size rely on multiple employees or contractors – a croft is typically run just by the tenant and their family. Secondly, there is a big community aspect to crofting – here on Fair Isle all crofters have a share of the hill
‘common grazing’, which entails participating in several round-ups of the hill sheep each year, everyone helping to clip, dose, lamb, etc. In addition to this we participate in community events such as fencing, silage cutting and baling. The websites of the Crofting Commission, Scottish Crofting Federation and Scottish Government expound further on the definition, adding the following more clinical refinements: -It is a system of landholding which is unique to Scotland, specifically the Highlands and Islands. -A croft is normally held in tenancy and which may or may not have buildings or a house associated with it. -Crofts range in size from less than ½ hectare (ha) to more than 50ha, but an average croft is nearer 5ha. Whilst there are similarities between the two professions, it’s not enough to say that crofting is merely small-scale farming – for us it is the glue that holds our community together!
Education has proved essential
ETHAN KINNEY
Schools need to address Agriculture
ROB COWGILL
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hird generation Dairy Farmer Robert Cowgill farms with parents David and Linda on a 220 acre farm near Clitheroe, Lancashire. The family are currently milking 130 registered pedigree Holsteins under the Heygill prefix with 80 youngstock. I took the decision when leaving school that I wanted to be an electrician, I saw this very useful trade to have and i've learned a lot working outside of farming. After 7 years I took a week off to help with milking while my mum and dad went on holiday and I quickly realised how much I enjoyed it. In May 2012, a year after that holiday- with me working nights and weekends to help out on the farm, the opportunity came up to work full time at home.
Follow Rachel's life on Britain's most rem
Realising that I had a lot of catching up to do I enrolled on a level 3 NVQ three year apprenticeship at Myerscough college to develop my basic knowledge of dairy farming. This has definitely been a good experience for me and has influenced several changes around the farm.
I believe that it's important to actively improve my knowledge of farm system, management and the financial running of the farm if I'm to have a future in agriculture.
I've recently enrolled on a Level 4 farm business management course provided by Dart training. This is a work based and allows me to fit it in around farm work.
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With an unpredictable marketplace and plenty of people wanting to get into the sector it's more important than ever to show competence to bank managers and landlords.
@Rob_Cowgill
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Education in schools today pays little or no tribute to farming in my opinion. I think this is an injustice to not only the students but the industry in general. Farming in this country should be talked about, praised, and encouraged nationally as they are the ones who put the food on the table. Growing up in a city and not being from a farming background doesn’t mean you can’t be a farmer. I can vouch for that as that is my background and I am currently pursuing a career in agriculture. In my primary school, farming was never discussed. This is what made me contemplate what our education system is lacking. There is a huge divide and disconnect in cities with rural life and more shockingly some wouldn’t know first-hand what wool feels like. This needs to change, there is so much to learn about the industry and how fascinating it is. High school was where I first realised my passion for farming. A school farm was made when I started, this is what opened my eyes to what it was. Any chance I got, I spent time there, whether that was during holidays
FARMERS VOICE farmlandmagazine.com
WILL EVANS
No panic on the streets of London Will Evans farms a 500 acre diverse enterprise near Bangor is y Coed. He also runs the fatherandfarmer blog and recently launched the 'Rockandrollfarming' podcast. Wednesday 22nd March 2017 is like any other busy day on our family farm during the late Winter/ early spring time, my Dad has taken four steers to our local livestock auction, I am cleaning out cattle sheds and taking the muck up the fields ready to be ploughed under in a few weeks time, and my Mum is packing the eggs from our free range laying flock. Uneventful, routine, peaceful.
ote inhabited island - barklandcroft.wordpress.com | tweet @Barklandcroft
or at weekends, I couldn’t keep away. Without the school farm, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn about the industry and would sadly still today not know much about it. I know it’s not viable for all schools to have school farms due to the expense but they should invest in teaching our younger generations what farming is and what it involves. Going on school trips to local farms and engaging with the countryside would be a great experience. Young people should have the right to decide whether it is an industry they want to be involved in and given the right knowledge and understanding to make their own minds up.
More doors need to be opened to students in agriculture as a whole and it should be considered an important choice as much as other academic courses. To do this the educational system needs a complete revamp to give younger generations broader knowledge about issues not taught in todays’ schools. Schools need to keep in line with the times and teach the facts generations to come need to know not just what they want them to know.
@futurefarmer365
But then we hear the news on the radio. There’s been a terror attack in London. In Westminster, where my younger Sister and Brother in Law, who both live and work in the City, both regularly attend meetings. Not much is known at that stage, other than that are multiple casualties, and at least one Police Officer has been killed. It’s being reported that the whole of Parliament is in lockdown. It’s an eerie and frightening feeling when you hear something like that. You feel far away and helpless. It feels strange to carry on with what you’re doing, not knowing, except that these things need doing. The animals need feeding. But your mind isn’t really on the job, and you just want your loved ones to be home. On the farm. Safe. Finally we hear from them both. They’re ok, and were thankfully nowhere near the area at the time. My Sister hasn’t even heard much about it and seems nonplussed as to our worry. My Mum has tears in her eyes. I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I love the fact that they live and work there and have made it their home, but right this second, I just want them back here. I read more about the attack as reports come in, and find out it was on Westminster Bridge, and three innocent civilians have been killed. Just last month I walked over that bridge with my Wife, four young Daughters, and my Sister and Brother in Law.
Follow my Journey from 'Townie' to Shepherd at futurefarmer365.com
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
We stopped half way across so our 3 year old could count the boats and our 5 year old could take pictures
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of the palace of Westminster on the camera that Father Christmas brought her, to take to school the following week. I shiver when I think about what might have been.
"You just want your loved ones to be home, on the farm. Safe"
We tend to think we’re protected from these things living in the country, that only the urban population are affected. But that’s not true, we all are. Each and every one of us knows someone, or has family or friends that live in large Cities. But the thing is, that this is nothing new to us here in the UK. We’ve lived with it for decades, and unfortunately will continue to do so. Will it stop us visiting again though? Absolutely not. We’ll be back there again soon for a few days in our incredible, courageous and resilient capital city. The people of London aren’t afraid and were back to going about their daily business the next day, with their usual humour. Terror will never win, the people of this great country, whether rural or urban, won’t let it. Tweet @Willpenrievans
YOUNG FARMERS farmlandmagazine.com
@ALEXHEFFRON88
Can we PROFIT from small scale Farming? Just this week I was I was taken aback when I heard a local organic dairy farmer was spending £1 million on a new dairy set-up. It’s an investment being made for his son who wants to take on the dairy, and it’ll be him who’ll repay most of it. It is a big risk to take being that much indebted to the bank. What do I know? Maybe that’s what’s needed to stay in the dairy business — though I find it hard to work out. How long does it take a rotary parlour to repay itself over time?
B
ut if like me you’re a first generation farmer not from a family farming background how do you go about starting your own farm? Access to land, and to capital are probably the two biggest hurdles — with both being difficult to get hold of, affordably, in the UK. Given that most farms are upscaling in size, can it still be realistic to farm on a very small scale? For sure I still realise it requires a substantial amount of money, but farming on say 20 acres instead of 200 acres is certainly more in reach. We’re starting out with 15 acres which we’re very fortunate to own in North Pembrokeshire. In reality 15 acres is a smallholding, but what differentiates a farm from a smallholding? Can I call it a small farm, and can I call myself a farmer? I struggle with using those definitions, but force myself to do so because to me farming is more about the attitude you take, and about whether you produce food and make your living from it. The locals I know view us curiously, it’s almost ludicrous to suggest we can support a small family on such a small scale. It goes completely against the grain — most farms we know are upscaling to squeeze out as much earnings as possible in an increasingly difficult commodity market. I’m in absolutely no position to tell, or even suggest, that anyone does differently, but I will present at least another option to consider that might work for some. I can’t help but sometimes wonder whether some farms, particularly livestock, couldn’t make more money on a smaller scale than they do on a larger scale? However, I realise that farming needs to be individualised to the context provided by numerous factors such as the land, the farmers and their family, starting capital, and even less substantial things such as what you enjoy doing. There is no one-solution fits all.
We considered for a while what are the potential ways we could make enough money on a small scale to support us. We opted for selling 100% grass-fed Jersey raw milk as our main enterprise, with free-range eggs, pork, beef and high value salads and tomatoes, as supporting enterprises to give diversity and security and to make the most of our small scale. We plan to sell via the Saturday market in Cardigan, a Food Assembly in Carmarthen, (similar to a farmers’ market but customers pre-order and pay for their produce online the week before), direct via our own list of customers (which we aim to slowly build over time), and via local restaurants.
Alex operates his country smallholding alongside his family
I have to write some disclaimers here; We are still in our first year. This is just the plan. We have just started selling. None of what we’re doing is our own ideas, it’s all taken from talking to, studying with and reading about many approaches to farming. What we’ve done is taken the key principles they all apply and put them into our own context. Hopefully in a year’s time I can write a follow up saying that our first year of trading went more or less as planned! We plan to be earning the equivalent of one small full-time wage within the first year. The average mixed farm made £18,400 for the 2015/16 financial year, including BPS, we are projecting to be nearly making this in our first year of trading, without BPS.
"Our main enterprise is 100% grass fed, Jersey raw milk"
Direct Selling I think direct selling is too often dismissed as a niche market for the few. It’s obvious but the great thing about selling direct is you can sell for the same price as a supermarket or a butchers shop,
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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mium june
YOUNG FARMERS farmlandmagazine.com but secure yourself the full retail value, taking away the uncertainty and volatility of global, commodity markets. Is there really another way on the small scale? There is currently considerable opportunity for more farmers to embrace direct selling, and why not? The additional costs are more than made up by the extra income. When farmers are being paid such a paltry price for their hard-worked produce, why not demand a better return? Why be paid 25p/L for milk, when you can get £1/L, selling direct? People are already showing it’s possible — and on a far bigger scale than us. Marketing and sales shouldn't have to be that complicated. It’s about building a good story, with a good product and telling people about it. We are already finding word of mouth is selling our milk for us. We have a waiting list of people, and we haven’t yet launched a website or social media page, produced any leaflets, or advertised in anyway. We’ve just chatted to local people, and the word has spread.
and dad john and friends
Of course on top of that you could also consider adding value. Ice-cream, cheese, a burger stand, cider — the options are vast. Arguments that not everyone can go into direct selling and added value are irrelevant. There is considerable opportunity there, for a vast number of farmers. This doesn’t have to be done alone either, cooperatives are another model for this approach, to share costs. Stacking This is a term I’ve 'borrowed' from Joel (Salatin). If you’ve got an acre of grazing, why not add a couple hundred laying hens too? They benefit the soil, reduce the need for fertilisers, and give you extra income off the same acreage. The hens can be ‘tractored’ across the grass, moving behind the cattle, with the cow manure providing habitat for extra protein for the birds — works perfectly with the mob-grazing system we use. You can do the same with meat birds. We currently have 100 laying hens, that we are about to start selling at around £1.50 per half dozen eggs. If we’re selling people beef and milk, why not sell them eggs too? Within marketing, they say it’s easier to sell more products to one person, than it is to find brand-new customers. Can you make use of marginal spaces? Can you get a grant to plant trees that can offer another small income from the sale of fruit or firewood, whilst also providing other services such as improving grass growth, providing shelter, protecting against wind, improving drainage, and providing forage. We are planning on planting along pathways and fencelines — places that currently offer nothing.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
Low Input Costs
Diversity of Incomes
We’ve gone for 100% grass-fed (no concentrates at all) cows because it fits with our beliefs, keeps input costs low and makes it simple. There are two ways to make a profit, sell for more, or produce for less, but it’s not an either/ or.
This follows on from the principle of stacking. It helps to not to be too dependent on one stream of income. Diversification has now become a buzzword.
For the pigs and chickens we are about to start sprouting wheat and peas. By sprouting it you reduce the amount of feed you need by half because you increase its nutrient density. Again from talking to other farmers this is a system that works, and takes little time. It’s nothing new, my copy of The Farming Ladder by George Henderson talks about doing this in the early 20th century. For the cattle, from this winter they’ll be out-wintered, with the Jersey’s being out in the day, and in at night (of course during very wet or cold periods they’d stay in). We’ll achieve this by practising Holistic Planned Grazing (mob grazing, with extended rest periods and prior planning). We’ll have to buy in some hay to supplement, but it will reduce our hay costs by nearly half. We won’t need fertiliser. Mob-grazing, chickens, and the spreading of farmyard muck being our fertilisers of choice. High Quality, High Value Producing high quality produce is at the forefront of what we do. We sell our pork for the same price as local butchers — and even though we could charge more, we’re happy with the price — it seems fair for us and the consumer. We have gone with a traditional breed (Berkshire) that slowly matures with a proper layer of fat, being described by a local chef as how pork 'used to taste'. With the beef, the quality of a traditional breed reared slowly off grass is hard to beat. Our price for the beef is again the same as local butcher’s, or comparable to the premium supermarket lines, so it’s not out of reach of most people’s budgets. This is high value as well as high quality produce. We sell raw milk, because people will pay more for it than pasteurised milk (and it’s personally what I prefer to drink). Also it’s simpler to produce. Nationwide there is increased demand for raw milk and unhomogenised milk — we’ve found it exceptionally easy to sell so far, without doing any marketing. When we start our market garden we won't sell potatoes, carrots and onions — there’s no way we can compete with large farms — we’ll focus on things like salad, tomatoes and cucumbers. There’s already a good price for those items in local shops and markets. If we can secure a market for it too ,we’ll rear free range poultry.
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If we go down with TB, we’ll sell pasteurised milk as a backup, but we’ll sell it for a bit less. That means we may need to scale up one of the other enterprises to make up for the shortfall in income. By at least having those enterprises there, it will take less work to scale them up slightly if needed. Pork may only be worth a few thousand pounds a year to us at the moment, but we could probably double our output without too much more work. The markets are there and the brand is already in development. There are also other potential revenue streams such as tourism and courses. Diversity in an ecosystem leads to resilience, and it’s the same with farms, from what I have seen. This is nothing new, it’s how farming always was. Small, mixed, traditional farms. They’re resilient, and the waste of one enterprise can feed another. This is old-fashioned farming. There you have it then. That’s the plan, based on what we’ve learned works for others. By the end of this year I think we’ll have a good idea of whether this plan will work or not. I’m not saying it will work for everyone, but perhaps these principles can be taken by others and applied to their own context? Perhaps it’s a possible model for more farms than most realise? Many farmers might be incredulous at this. Surely it can’t be possible to earn a living from farming on 15 acres. 50% of that income will come from the dairy — with just about 6 or 7 cows! I realise it’s almost an affront to say it, and I’m hesitant to put these thoughts out there, particularly as we’re only just starting! However, we know that if our plan works out we can support a small family this way. I’m not saying we’ll always stay at 15 acres, maybe one day we’ll ‘scale up’ all the way to 40 or 50 acres! But we’ll always be small, very small and perhaps one day we’ll be able to show that it can work. Wouldn’t it be nice to once again have a tapestry of small farms populate our countryside?
ALEX HEFFRON
FARMERS VOICE farmlandmagazine.com
@GEORGIELMGM
Is this the new age of farming literature? As someone who grew up devouring any books I could get my hands on, until a few years ago, I’d always been disappointed by the lack of accessible farming-related literature. Throughout my life, if I’ve wanted to know about something, I’ve always bought a book about it. As such, my collection of sheep books is pretty expansive! However, I always struggled to find books about people who were actually farming. My shelves are filled with books about all kinds of people, men, women, children, doing all kinds of different things, but the closest I could get to farming was James Herriot (not that his tales weren’t a fantastic representation of the chaos of farming!) Then came people like Amanda Owen, Gareth Wyn Jones, James Rebanks writing about their lives and experiences. Cheshire based New Entrant Georgie is on twitter @Georgielmgm - you can tweet us@FarmlandUK
For someone who didn’t grow up on a farm, this was like gold dust. I got to sit and read about everything I wanted to do, appreciate the many different perspectives, learn about hill farming, and really enjoy the stories told by these people. As important as these books have been to me, I think they’re even more important to those that have no connection to agriculture whatsoever. Amanda’s first book, The Yorkshire Shepherdess, was a Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller. James’ book, The Shepherd’s Life, was a Sunday Times #1 Bestseller. It’s not just eager-tolearn young farmers reading these books. It’s the general public, and I think that’s absolutely priceless in terms of getting British farming out there, and explaining to people what we do, how hard we work, and how brilliant, and difficult, it can sometimes be. Over the past decade or so, as supermarkets have developed and support for local butchers has dwindled, there’s become a sense of disconnection between farmer and consumer.
Neither side is sure what exactly the other wants. Books that tell farmers’ stories and give an insight into their lives and the industry can surely be nothing but good for the promotion of British agriculture? There’s now a variety of farming memoirs and autobiographies on Amazon’s cyber-shelves, and I’m excited to see how this renewed age of farming literature develops, with farmers writing and the general public reading. The support for British agriculture lies in many different forms, but if we can start to educate the public through literature, and gain support for what we do through being honest and open, telling our stories, and describing traditions, people and farming practices that had previously been kept within rural communities, then perhaps that will ignite the interest and support of more members of the public? Georgie
Sheep Farming Post Brexit
KATIE SMITH
It's a tough job feeding the world
DAYE TUCKER
F
rom the perspective of a Non LFA Scottish sheep producer with a passion for integrated land use. Brexit is the Max Strength Perfect Storm for sheep farmers in the UK but dramatically so in Scotland due to its geology. 85% of its soils are unproductive Upland and Hill ground only suitable for native sheep, cattle and trees. Sustainable numbers of sheep can turn rough grasses inedible to humans, into protein and wool. The Upland and Hill flocks should be the guardians of sustainable genetics which cascade downhill to the more meat productive lowland flocks. However, we can add value to how we manage our sheep systems and our businesses by integrating sheep and trees. Sheep numbers have increased across the UK due to Dairy & Beef farmers either giving up or spreading their risk.
Lambing season is well upon us and for some, it’s nearly over. This year I have done my first proper bit of lambing and so far, I have absolutely loved it! I've also learned a lot, some of which I feel could be transferred to the public to make farmers lives so much easier. Lowland Sheep Farmer Daye is passionate about rural affairs.
Oversupply of any commodity is always a threat at any time, regardless of Brexit and Investing in technology and improved genetics to suit systems to ride the storm may not protect from farming’s Achilles heel, over production.
we will have to support Government Policy.
Sterling bouncing about will affect inputs particularly Oil. Abattoirs reliant on foreign vets & skilled cutting plant operators, have already lost staff.
Daye Tucker. West Stirlingshire Sheep Farmer.
Integrated Land Use whether on the hill or on the low ground is a clear opportunity to ride both Brexit and 2020 storms, whether in or out of the EU.
If we want Government support,
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@Ruralleader
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I was nervous and excited before I got there on my first day, as I had never met the farmer and all I had to go by were my instructions for getting there which rather mysteriously included “follow the music”. Anyway, I rocked up in my waterproofs and wellies ready to get stuck in and within five minutes of being there, I had seen three lambs born and was already getting my first job on the yard. It had soon become very clear what this mysterious music was as they had the radio blasting out over the lambing shed. I spent the next two days lambing, filling water buckets, bedding down, moving ewes and lambs and
FARMERS VOICE farmlandmagazine.com
assisting with injections. By the end of my second day I had delivered over a dozen lambs, a good few of them solo and I was feeling much more confident. However, I have noticed that most people outside of the farming community have a very limited idea about what goes on during these crucial months in the farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar. There is a limited amount of reliable information available about lambing time unless people venture into the wealth of farming journals and websites which they might not even know exist! The agricultural community on social media provide a great insight into the world of farming, especially at this time of year. Although it could be considered subliminal messaging, all the cutesy lamb photos provide
provide a first-hand look in at lambing that many people may not get otherwise.
WOMEN IN FARMING
My lambing experience really brought home how important it is to educate people about farming as it really does impact the whole world. Things like keeping dogs on leads when walking through the countryside and closing gates to fields could make our lives easier if people were aware of the benefits.
NETWORK
With the use of social media, we can educate more people to make lambing time easier on everyone. To quote the girl I was lambing with - It's a pretty big job feeding the planet.
Come and join us on an Evening visit to the Award Winning Cross Lanes Organic Farmshop, Nr Barnard Castle DL12 9RT
Katie @woesofwellies
(by kind permission of the Coverdale Team)
Wednesday 10th May 2017 From 6pm for presentation and walking tour of the site, followed by supper (event to close at 8.30pm)
ÂŁ15 per head Please contact Kate Dale on 07912 495604 or at kated@yas.co.uk to book Regional Agricultural Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ Maximum numbers 35,so please book early to avoid disappointment
Grateful thanks to our supporters and sponsors:
17 year old young farmer and aspiring vet Katie runs the woesofwellies.com blog
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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What's Trending?
Hot Podcasts When it comes to inventive storytelling and news sharing, these podcasts are a treat for the ears. Read on for some essential farm listening. Meet the Farmers Ben Eagle | The series aims to highlight the realities of running a farm in the UK. Favourite Episode | Episode 5 Herons Green Farm. North Somerset Beef Farmer Luke Hasell.
Agri Blogs to Bookmark
The blogosphere is robust with hundreds of emerging writers highlighting their thoughts, journeys and experiences aswell as a whole host of practical and useful information to help you in your own journey. Here's a few that we have enjoyed recently.
thinkingcountry.com/meet-thefarmers-podcast Rock and Roll Farming Will Evans| Weekly interviews with mixed farmers and celebrating diversity, Favourite Episode | Episode #2 James Robinson A lighthearted interview with the 5th generation organic dairy farmer rockandrollfarming.libsyn.com Farmerama Abby Rose & Jo Barratt | Monthly podcast. Favourite Episode | #20 Halal meat, growing in harsh conditions. farmerama.co/listen
Solway Shepherd by James Baylis
Life and the Cows by Emily Hickman
Farmer Ruth
The bearded welshman brings a selection of top interviews, reviews, life stories, the popular #followafarmer series and a couple of rants thrown in for good measure. Nicely written work and definetley one to add to your favourites.
Run by 21 year old Harper Adams Student Emily. Life and the cows explores various farming practices and interviews through the #PeopleinAgUK series. Interesting and original content from a young aspiring journalist.
Enjoy some fantastic posts This blog covers all things life, farming and food.
Good Reads
Favourite Post | Spring - April 3 farmerruth.wordpress.com @farmerruth_ Want to write for us?
Favourite Post | 'Got (local) Milk?'
Favourite Post | 'Keep calm & carry on dairying'
www.solwayshepherd.co.uk @SolwayShepherd
lifeandthecows.wordpress.com @Lifeandthecows
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We are always on the lookout for new writers, if you've got something you think we'd love. Get in touch mail@farmlandpress.com
TWEET US @FARMLANDUK
An ideal farm husband - Lorna Sixsmith. Hilarious and witty, and a perfect Father's Day Gift.
CINEMA farmlandmagazine.com
THE LEVELLING
RELEASE May 12 CERT PG DIRECTOR Hope Dickson Leach PRODUCER Rachel Robey CAST Ellie Kendrick, David Troughton, Jack Holden and Joe Blakemore PLOT After the 2014 Somerset floods, a young woman returns to the family dairy farm following the tragic death of her younger brother. The Levelling hits our cinema screens this May, ahead of the release, we catch up with film director Hope Dickson Leach. Aside from the horrific floods, what inspired you to do a farm / rural themed film? I grew up in a city but had relatives who lived on a farm, and I was always fascinated by the demands of the life. They couldn’t go on holiday, they had to get up every day, no matter the weather, and look after the animals. Their livelihood depended on things that were out of their control. It was strange and scary to me - but they loved it, and still do. When I started writing a & family drama I thought it would be a great place to locate the family. They work together, they work hard, and there is very little escape. Of course when I read about the floods, and saw all the pictures, it added another dimension to the story. Not just about the vulnerability of certain rural communities, but about the way they all came together to solve the problems they were facing. Seeing farmers driving tractors full of fodder to farmers on the other side of the country was an incredible image of solidarity that made me determined to tell a story that did justice to the farming community.
What for you, was the standout scene? There’s a long scene in the attic where the father and daughter (Aubrey and Clover) are looking for something and start talking about their past. This is a massive turning point in the story, it tells us a lot about who these people are, what they’ve been through, and why they’ve go to this point where they aren’t able to talk. We spent a whole day shooting it and I think the actors really have a chance to show us how talented they are. You fall in love with the characters in this scene, everything changes, and you just want them to find their way back to each other. I also love the milking scenes - when father and daughter milk the cows together without talking. Strangely I think it is just as eloquent about their relationship. Who was the most difficult character to cast?
He has done lots of stage acting (he was the young boy in War Horse for a long time) but this is his first big screen role. He is incredibly talented and I think this is the beginning of a huge career for him.
What was the films budget?
We’re big fans of Aubrey, David Troughton plays a fantastic part. How did you come to work with him?
Not big enough!
Finding the perfect actor for the role of Aubrey was so important as he had to be both commanding and fragile, he had to frighten us and make us feel sorry for him. He needed to be larger than life and give us the tiny moments that closeups would capture. Finding David during the casting process was a total delight and I learnt so much working with him.
What are the next steps for you?
In one word, can you sum up The Levelling? Reconciliation.
I have a few other projects that I’m writing and hope to make soon. One is set in Hong Kong, where I grew up, so there will be a lot less mud and fewer cows, but I couldn’t bear not to have any animals so there’s a dog in it! The film launches with a Somerset Premiere at Strode Theatre on 21st April followed by a regional
"HONEST and HEARTFELT PERFORMANCES from THE START"
There are only really 3 main roles in this film, so each one was so important. I knew I wanted Ellie Kendrick to play Clover almost immediately, so I was over the moon that she was just as keen to play the part. I think casting James - the brother’s best friend - was a challenge. There are so many young actors we met who were all so talented, but I wanted to find someone who would break our hearts. Clover is jealous of this man, his closeness to her beloved brother, so he had to be very special. And Jack Holden is just that special.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
He is a generous and talented actor and a wonderful man. Did anything go wrong during filming? The day when we shot the final scene of the movie it felt like nothing went right. We were shooting with a herd of cattle who we didn’t know and they were more curious than we were used to. We were shooting a very emotional scene, so the actors were anxious to get that right. We had a live gun, which meant we needed a certain level of safety and technical management.
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preview Q&A tour across the country with some of the cast & crew in early May. It’s then on general release from 12 May but will be in select cinemas, so please do check the distributor site for details! www.peccapics.com
OUR VERDICT The Levelling is a fantastic portrayal of a very real tragedy. Emotive and moving performances from all the cast make this picture a must see. Leach has paid meticulous attention to detail in its creation.
solar energisers In this issue we will touch upon solar systems and batteries as the two are seamlessly intertwined. Solar panels are seeing more frequent use with electric fences. Newer and better technologies are also making them economically advantageous. Using solar panels you can enjoy environmentally friendly, low-maintenance and low cost operation of your energiser. The operating principal is: during the day the solar panel converts the power of the sun into energy, which in turn recharges the battery; at night the energiser relies solely on the battery. Next day the cycle starts over. Thanks to solar panels 9 V batteries may last twice as long and 12 V - the whole grazing season and beyond.
Solar energisers are of 2 types: standalone units, where the battery is built in into the energiser, and solar systems, where the solar panel, battery and energiser are separate items put together. 9 or 12 V standalone units are not very powerful, only suitable for short fences and easy-to-keep animals, but are highly transportable and lightweight. 12 V solar systems, on the other hand, are quite bulky, but offer higher power and fence security. This year we are bringing our own range of 12 V standalone units. Be on the lookout for Sunny 200 (Art: 42082) and Sunny 800 (Art: 42088). In our solar systems solar panels are conveniently mounted on the metal boxes, which offer extended protection against weather elements and are easy to carry thanks to a convenient handle (Art: 43660, 43665, 43670) or offer additional anti-theft security (Art: 43680, 43685, 43690) by means of electrifying the box. There is a choice of 5–50 watt solar panels depending on the charging current required. You can enjoy maintenance-free operation throughout the grazing season. We created some solar system sets based on our experience and they cover all possible needs. All 12 V energisers can be paired up with a solar module, if done through the battery. Some energisers can be connected directly to the Solar Panel, however, this somewhat defeats the purpose since at night or in bad weather the fence becomes unsecure. Each secure box in our store fits each and every one of our 12 V energisers and 12 V batteries (of course, not all at the same time). So, if you have a special energiser preference just pick a suitable solar system, a 12 V battery and any accessories you require and ask us for a quote.
electric-fence.co.uk
0145 234 62 04 (Mon - Fri 8am - 4pm)
shop@electric-fence.co.uk
solar energisers 12 V Batteries
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
Article
34435
34437
34439
34460
34461
34462
Capacity
50 Ah
85 Ah
120 Ah
65 Ah
85 Ah
120 Ah
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Acid required
2.4 L
3.1 L
4.2 L
3.2 L
4L
4.5 L
Rechargeable
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
8.4 kg
12.7 kg
15.6 kg
8.8 kg
10.8 kg
16 kg
205 x 175 x 190
240 x 175 x 190
355 x 175 x 190
205 x 175 x 190
240 x 175 x 190
350 x 175 x 190
Type
Weight "Dimensions L x W x H, mm"
What do you need to consider before buying a 12 V battery? 1. Purpose 2. Capacity 3. Size 4. Weight 5. Energiser Firstly, you may, but should not use car batteries as they are not suitable for frequent charging and discharging – they quickly lose their capacity and become unusable. In our shop you will find 2 series of batteries: Power and Special Purpose battery. The Power series are particularly suitable for solar systems. We recommend the Special Purpose series for non-solar systems. These special batteries from VOSS.farming have been specially developed for use with energisers. The reinforced grid plates in the battery housing allow for more charging cycles and have increased reliability and longer lifespan. The other three reasons are directly correlated: the higher the Capacity, the larger the Size, the heavier the Weight. If you have to carry your battery back and forth to where your fence is installed than you’d want a lighter option, but if you can get there easily with your car, then larger battery is best, you also don’t need to worry about recharging it as often. The energiser also influences the required capacity, since more powerful energisers will drain your battery much faster, and if you do not want to recharge your batter every 3 days then make sure the battery capacity matches the energiser’s power consumption. The final step is to charge the battery. Our 12 V batteries are pre-charged and ready for use as soon as they are filled with proprietary battery acid - 60% charge. We recommend that you charge the battery fully once again before use. Please note: some 12 V car batteries need to be topped up with distilled water, therefore, if you decided to give your battery to the garage to charge, make sure to warn them to use only acid - sulphuric acid 37 % = density 1.28. Using distilled water makes our batteries inoperable and voids the warranty. Battery acid is not something you can buy at Halfords, B&Q or most garages; however, it is available in various online shops.
electric-fence.co.uk
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solar energisers 9 V Batteries First thing you should know about 9 V solar systems is that 9 V electric fence batteries are not rechargeable. So if you are looking for a rechargeable unit look for a 12 V device.
9V
9V
9V
9V
9V
Article
34400
34420
34451
34453
34455
Capacity
55 Ah
130 Ah
75 Ah
120 Ah
175 Ah
Zinc-Carbon
Zinc-Carbon
Alcaline
Alcaline
Alcaline
Acid required
-
-
-
-
-
Rechargeable
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
1.8 kg
3.9 kg
2.1 kg
2.8 kg
3 kg
165 x 110 x 110
190 x 125 x 163
165 x 110 x 110
165 x 110 x 110
190 x 125 x 163
Type
Weight "Dimensions L x W x H, mm"
One of our 9 V Solar energisers (Art 42035.UK) has been modified to carry a 12 V 12 Ah AGM battery, hence it carries a 10 W solar panel. AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat, which means the same as lead-acid. Unlike conventional electric fence batteries, the AGM battery has no liquid that could leak out, its passive discharge is low and capacity does not diminish even if it is not used for an extended period of time. An AGM battery has also longer lifespan. Unfortunately at the moment this technology is rather costly, and we do not see it making it into the 9 V battery market any time soon. You could use a rechargeable 12 V battery with any of our 9 V energisers, however, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit into the energiser casing, wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be charged by the Solar module, would require protection from the weather and moisture and you would require a set of connection cables (Art: 44173). Zinc-carbon vs Alcaline The difference between zinc-carbon and alkaline batteries is that the latter hold the ideal voltage much longer, whichguarantees optimal andstable output from the energiser.
Important: Batteries MUST NOT be disposed of in normal household refuse. They contain harmful substances which damage the environment or your health.Batteries contain important raw materials which can be recycled. Dispose responsibly at garages, scrap metal facilities and recycling centres. In the next issue we will look at different types of conductors.
electric-fence.co.uk
0145 234 62 04 (Mon - Fri 8am - 4pm)
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43662 Green Energy
43667 AVi 8000
43672.UK AVi 10000
-
-
-
10 W
30 W
12 / Mains
Stored energy (J) Output energy (J)
43855 AURES 3
42011.UK Extra Power 9 V
42025.UK BV 2600
42035.UK BV 3900
not rechargeable
not rechargeable
not rechargeable
9 V 55 Ah
9 V 12 Ah rechargeable
50 W
5W
5W
5W
10 W
12 / Mains
12 / Mains
9 / 12 / Mains
9 / 12 / Mains
9 / 12 / Mains
9 / 12 / Mains
2
5
7,6
0,28
0,22
0,32
0,48
1,5
3,5
5
0,16
0,15
0,23
0,39
Voltage in open circuit (V)
9.000
9.700
10.000
9.600
10.000
10.500
10.800
Voltage at 500 Ohm (V)
5.000
7.200
7.200
2.500
2.500
2.900
3.300
5
14
18
0
0
0
2
Optimal. lab (CEE 1500V) (km)
48
110
150
7
4
8
15
No vegetation (km)
15
33
40
3
3
5
7
Light vegetation (km)
4,5
12
15
1
1
3,5
4,5
Heavy vegetation (km)
2
4,5
5,5
0,3
0,3
0,8
1,2
Horse
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Pony
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Battery Solar panel
9 V 55 Ah
9 V 55 Ah
Technical Specification Power source
Number of connectable nets
Fence Length
Farm animals
Galloway Cattle
x
x
x
Sheep
x
x
x
x
Goat
x
x
x
x
Pig
x
x
x
Poultry
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Dog
x
x
x
x
Cat
x
x
x
Rabbit
x
x
House pets
Wild animals Buck Deer
x
Wild boar
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Fox
x
Raccoon
x
x
x
x
x
Badger
x
x
x
x
x
Marten
x
x
x
x
x
Heron
x
x
x
x
x
electric-fence.co.uk
0145 234 62 04 (Mon - Fri 8am - 4pm)
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ENERGY farmlandmagazine.com
How can AD help farmers profit today whilst protecting tomorrow? Ollie More, ADBA Head of Policy Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a naturally occurring process that recycles organic material into a range of products that can help farmers boost their incomes and diversify their business. AD systems are able to treat almost any organic material – slurries, crops, chicken litter, vegetable offcuts, outgrade crops, animal by-products and more. Integrating AD into a farming business to treat farm waste, food waste, or purpose-grown crops can provide a lucrative additional revenue stream and save farmers money on energy generation, fertiliser production, and waste management. Here are some of its key benefits.
Renewable heat and electricity
The biogas produced by the AD process can be put through a Combined Heat and Power unit or boiler to produce reliable renewable heat and electricity that can be used directly on a farm to tackle the rising cost of heating and powering on-site operations.
Organic biofertiliser
The organic solids and liquids left over by the AD process can be de-watered and turned into digestate, which can then be used as a natural fertiliser to apply straight to agricultural land as a replacement for expensive and carbon-intensive artificial fertiliser. This helps to provide vital nutrients to the soil and increase crop yields. As the digestate market develops, this could become a profitable product and a further revenue stream for farmers in the future, with the market having a potential value of well over £200m.
The AD Plant at Reaseheath can process 5,900 tonnes of agricultural feedstocks per annum
Biomethane
Biogas can be upgraded to biomethane, which can be used as a green transport fuel for tractors and other types of farming machinery or injected directly into the gas grid in exchange for a renewable energy payment from the government.
Supporting
the
environment
Farmers are currently under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint while increasing output and using fewer resources. AD can help support climate-smart farming through reducing emissions from waste and producing low-carbon products that can displace their fossil-fuel equivalents. For example, while the production of a tonne of nitrogen
fertiliser requires a tonne of oil and 108 tonnes of water and emits seven tonnes of carbon dioxide, digestate offers a low-carbon alternative that also builds organic matter in soils.
Profiting and diversifying
AD gives farmers a diversified source of revenue from selling energy. It can make break crops profitable by turning them into energy, along with other farm wastes such as vegetable offcuts and outgrade produce, improving overall yields from food crops.
What are your AD options?
There are a number of different options available for becoming involved in AD, depending on the size of farm, feedstock used,
type of land owned, knowledge of AD, and how much time the farmer is able to dedicate to their AD business. You can build your own plant, lease land to an AD developer, grow and sell crops for AD, join an AD co-operative, or go with a combination of these options. You can find out more about what AD can do for your farm by visiting adbioresources.org, or get in touch using the contact details below;
020 3176 0503 Ben Eagle
adbioresources.org @adbioresources
Easy reporting adding value to biomass fuels The Sustainable Fuel Register (SFR) is a new online system designed to prove the environmental credentials of non-woods biomass fuels allowing producers and users to make more money and make their lives much easier. SFR was developed by leading consultants (C4E) and FEC Energy. The system provides sustainability reporting for growers and users of a range of non-wood fuels who need to prove to Ofgem the provenance of their material to allow them to claim the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidy which is paid when material is burned in accredited equipment. Being an online system SFR allows producers and users to register
fuel in high amounts meaning the greenhouse emissions and land criteria requirements associated with the recorded amount can be traced accurately. A traceable history can be gathered from this as fuel can be added at all stages of production providing proof of the sustainability of the fuel.
Kevin Lindegaard, Director of C4E said SFR will raise the bar for sustainability reporting with greater accuracy, transparency and reliability. Our methodology will make life simpler
Before this system was created, users had to record their sustainability through a self-reporting system which was very time consuming. Due to difficulty, many would just bypass their subsidy on non-wood fuels. Registration costs £125 per year and 1 tonne fuel ‘lots’ charged at 50 pence per tonne after the first 125 tonnes registered.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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and less worrisome for consumers as all their fuel records will be in one place and easily accessed in the event of an audit.”
PLANNING farmlandmagazine.com
R
A
VED AP O R P PP
Polytunnels - Negotiating the planning system Beth Watts AssocRTPI, Planning Consultant at Bloomfields
Fortunately, the benefits of polytunnels are beginning to be given recognition by local planning authorities who are conceding that the agricultural justification for the polytunnel working practice will outweigh their previously perceived harm. In order to establish their acceptance, it is important for any
VE
RO
The planning system can be something of a minefield in relation to polytunnel erection with issues such as their visual impact, impact on surface water run-off, flooding and their appropriate management being high on the list of concerns for the local planning authorities and local residents alike.
planning applications for polytunnel development to be robust and contain supporting information to allay any concerns. This information should consider the impact of the polytunnels upon the landscape and neighbours, as well as any local habitats or protected species.
APP
Polytunnels are now a frequent feature within the countryside and form the backbone of the British soft fruit industry. Their benefits are well documented; from extended growing seasons and crop types, increased productivity and profits as well as the associated benefits to the environment in terms of reduced pesticide use and a significant reduction in food miles.
A consideration of any potential flooding impacts should also be documented. Ideally, early engagement with local residents and the Council should occur to explain the requirement of polytunnels and the benefits of siting them in a chosen location. If in doubt seek professional advice.
D A PROV P
The recent Rural Planning Review Call for Evidence specifically notes the benefits of polytunnels, demonstrating the importance of them at a national level. We are pleased to see this recognition and hope that this review will further improve their standing for British farmers.
@BloomfieldsPlan
Planning systems should fit modern agriculture To reflect the needs of modern agricultural businesses, permitted development rights should be extended to larger farm sheds. This is what NFU Scotland expressed in it submission to the Scottish Government’s planning review. Key issues surrounding Scotland’s planning system have been identified by the Union’s membership in response to the consultation. Jamie Smart, Legal and Technical Committee Chairman said
“The Union has extensively consulted with its membership on this matter, and it is clear that the current allowance of 465 sq. metres for farm sheds allowed under permitted development is no longer reflective of agricultural needs of today. We have asked Scottish Government to consider extending this to 1,000 sq. metres to help provide resilience to the farming sector, and to ensure the legislation is reflective of modern machinery sizes. Members also reported they encountered issues with planning officers who have an urban focus
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
32
and do not appear to understand agriculture. The continuing application of Section 75 occupancy restrictions on farmhouses has also been raised as an issue. Once these are in place they are very difficult to remove, and as properties tied by these cannot be borrowed against they can have a real effect on the farm businesses’ ability to raise finance. They can prove a substantial hurdle for farm succession too, precluding the younger generation from coming back to farms where there is limited accommodation. We have also raised the grey area of
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polytunnels in this consultation. NFU Scotland has been working with Scottish Government to try to protect its soft fruit growers from a requirement for full planning permission. This particular aspect is subject to the current review being carried out by Heads of Planning Scotland, and once they report back on their findings, the Union anticipates further discourse on this particular issue.”
E
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We are an experienced heating company that has evolved within the renewable energy sector, gaining an unrivalled reputation. Our customer-focused approach makes Ecosmart the ideal company for your installation and ongoing maintenance.
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Team of highly qualified, reliable engineers. We are a certified Innasol Partner. Full support service. Servicing, maintenance and repairs available. MCS approved and industry certified suppliers.
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SPONSORED farmlandmagazine.com
Greenhouses - Making the right choice for your smallholding If a smallholding is defined as a farm of under 50 acres growing vegetables, fruit and breeding livestock, then every square foot must be productive throughout the year, and a greenhouse is definitely necessary to maximise productivity whatever the season. Free standing or lean to, greenhouses are available in various styles, made from a number of materials. What they all have in common is that they allow you to grow a wider variety of plants throughout the year. Budgets naturally constrain your choice but however much you can afford will turn out to be a smart investment. If the greenhouse is well planned and managed, depending on its size there will be enough for domestic consumption, and more to sell at a profit.
Lean tos can be accommodated on the side of your house or against a sturdy wall that will retain heat and can also be used to support climbing plants. The smallest ones can be a useful place to over winter plants or grow vegetables for the kitchen, but don't be under the impression that they are all modestly sized. The largest Swallow Heron lean to is 20ft long by 8ft wide and is built from unique heat treated timber that won't warp or decay and is easily maintained as it doesn't need treating with preservative. A high quality structure, staging and automatic vents are included. An Elite Titan lean to is also very well appointed, the largest version is 20ft long by 8ft 5ins and in theory this can be extended even more, it's a very strong structure that benefits from innovative engineering.
Gardensite supply a wide range of Greenhouses. Model shown is the Palram Bella Greenhouse 8ft x 16ft
For easy access, the Eden Bourton 20ft x 10ft boasts zero threshold technology and is designed by one of the UK's oldest established greenhouse manufacturers with a reputation for quality and value for money. All these ranges of course contain a large selection of smaller greenhouses built to similar excellent specifications. Aesthetically, the appearance of timber greenhouses is thought to be more pleasing than metal but there are many other considerations that a small holder must take into account. It's true that timber offers superior insulation and lower heating costs, but aluminium is more affordable, lighter, easier to assemble and will let in more light.
Predictably there's a huge choice of free standing greenhouses, ranging from 6ft x 4ft to the mighty 37ft x 13ft Swallow Falcon which is again built from thermally treated timber, includes staging and no less than 12 automatic vents.
Nowadays both offer excellent weather resistance, timber can be heat, pressure or dip treated, on the other hand aluminium that has been powder coated or anodised is very corrosion resistant.
Other impressive greenhouses include the 19ft x 12ft Juliana Gardener. Then there are the 20ft 6in long Elite Classique and Supreme models which are British built with an imposing list of features and options including the opportunity to extend their length even further.
Positioning and glazing are also important considerations. Clearly the amount of light received by a greenhouse is vital, so don't locate a free standing greenhouse adjacent a building, on the other hand it shouldn't be in an exposed position or frost pocket.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
The longest side should face south and the door away from the prevailing wind. Your greenhouse needs to be sheltered from high winds, easily accessible, away from trees that block light and may cause damage, and preferably near a water source. Light transmission is governed by the type of glass that is installed. Standard Horticultural glass is the clearest for maximum light however it is easily broken into dangerous splinters. Toughened safety glass is also very clear and disintegrates rather than forming shards while twin wall polycarbonate transmits around 85% of light but filters out UV rays, diffuses the light better, and offers superior insulation and durability. To extend the growing season, increase the variety of plants and achieve all year round production, you'll need heating. Electricity will probably need professional installation, however it's reliable, efficient, accurate, and clean, with a thermostat limiting expense. Butane and propane gas cylinders are simple to use but condensation and fumes may be a problem. Paraffin is cheap but temperature control is difficult and daily maintenance essential,
35
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fumes and condensation are also a negative. Solar energy and wind turbines will be future alternatives. Vents that control high temperatures and allow good air circulation during the summer are an essential design element. Other features such as integral guttering, glazing systems, double or single doors, zero threshold etc depend your individual requirements, as do the accessories that you choose including staging for sowing seed and potting plants, water butts, blinds and bubble wrap insulation. A large greenhouse is certainly a gift that keeps on giving. With everything in place, you can look forward to growing large quantities of cucumbers, aubergines, peppers and grapes, exotic produce such as yams, okra, even bananas as well as extending the season for staples such as salad leaves, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes.
Halls Gardensite @Hallsgardensite gardensite.co.uk
GRASSLAND farmlandmagazine.com
Overseeding existing grass leys T
here is a direct link between the quality of grassland and the productivity of stock that feed on it. This could be milk yield on a dairy unit or daily weight gains in beef and sheep. Because of this link, correct grassland management is vital to ensure stock are feeding on highly nutritious, sustainable grass as often as possible. A well selected grass ley mix can serve a farm well for many years if managed correctly. However, over time it will lose vigour and require attention to remain viable. Long term trials have shown that over a period of five years, the typical length of a long term ley, the original perennial ryegrass based mixture that was sown may now only make up 50% of the total grass area. The remaining 50% usually consists of undesirable and unproductive meadow grasses and other intrusive weeds. A grass ley is considered to be becoming unproductive when the content of perennial ryegrass falls below 55%. This is often the trigger for many grass producers to consider reseeding. A full reseed is a costly and time consuming process, often involving several passes with a tractor before and after drilling. Grassland taken out of production for a full reseed may
remain out of production for several months in order to allow new grass time to fully establish. This, in many cases, is not practical and an alternative method of breathing new life into leys is required. What is overseeding? Over-seeding is the process of introducing new grass seed into old, tired or worn out grass leys without first removing the existing grass. Many producers opt for this method because it allows them to keep costs down and productivity up. When over-seeding a grazed sward it is not necessary for it to be taken out of production as it would be when ploughing and reseeding. Instead, stock can continue to graze the ley and need only be briefly removed when the new seedlings are at their most delicate. This allows producers far greater flexibility when managing grazing rotations. Methods There are several methods of establishment that can be used when over-seeding. The two most popular are either an aggressive spring tine harrow fitted with an electric disc spreader or shallow drilling using a light disc drill. Both methods have positives and negatives.
Philip Cosgrave, Grassland Agronomist
For example, aggressive spring tines are ideal for removing thatch and shallow rooting annual grass weeds and opening up the base of a sward, allowing new seeds to fall exactly where they are needed. This method of establishment is, however, very dependent on rainfall soon afterwards so careful planning is needed. Drilling, unlike broadcasting, is much less reliant on rainfall as seed is sown directly into existing soil mixture.
This often leads to better establishment rates particularly in early autumn sowings when rainfall can often be sporadic. Unlike the tine harrow, however, thatch removal is not as vigorous with a disc drill and over time, particularly in permanent pastures, this can become an issue. Drills are also often larger and heavier than tine harrows so there can also be soil compaction issues on wetter soils.
On Farm with Yara SOILS AND DRAINAGE
Soils need to be well drained and free of compaction. Poor soil structure will inhibit the flow of air, water and nutrients. It will also lead to a reduction in the productive species in the sward. Compaction down to 8-10cm generally indicates poaching or over-stocking. For near surface compaction, slit aeration may help to restructure the soil. General compaction at a greater, 10-15cm depth is likely to be due to machinery damage. If the zone of compaction is in a more discrete layer at ploughing depths, this is more likely to be due to repeated cultivations. Deep ploughing, subsoiling or moling will help to alleviate any deeper compaction of this nature. Impeded drainage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as evidenced by gleying or mottling of the soil â&#x20AC;&#x201C; leads to reduced grass production, shorter grazing seasons, increased poaching and poor nutrient use efficiency. High levels of yorkshire fog or creeping bentgrass are also indicative of poor drainage. Where poor drainage occurs, it may be possible to use mole drains to help take water to permanent field drains; cleaning or jetting existing drains, especially at ditch outlets. In order to optimize soil conditions and avoid local compaction and/or impeded drainage, stocking rates need to be sustainable. Farmers also need to plan farm layout with areas of hard-standing, adequate permanent roadways and multiple entrances to paddocks which will prevent cattle compacting or poaching regularly trampled areas. Maintaining soil pH through the application of lime will also improve soil structure and provide an environment to improve soil biological activity. Worms and microbes help rebuild poor soil structure. The optimum soil pH for continuous grassland is 6.5 for mineral soils and 5.5 for peaty soils. If reseeding is intended this spring, use this opportunity to identify and address compaction. It is important that soils are dry before any field work is carried out to alleviate compaction or poor drainage. Have a go at identifying poor soil structure. It starts with digging holes approximately 20 x 20 cm and 30 cm deep in areas where it is likely and unlikely to find compaction and using these as reference points to help familiarise yourself with identifying the problem in other areas.
Yara UK
www,yara.co.uk
@YaraUK
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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Sound Advice Excellent Customer Service To ensure good establishment with either method, timing is key as grass seed requires a soil temperature of eight degrees centigrade or above to begin germination and plenty of soil moisture to establish well. Overseeding in the spring has shown to be most productive throughout March and April and equally best results are had with autumn sowings in late August to September. It is important when deciding to over-seed that the mixture used contains suitable grass species that will germinate quickly and are able to establish fast. For this reason, slower growing grass species such as Cocksfoot and Timothy are not commonly used. It is also important to bear in mind what the ley will be used for in the long run and how long it will be kept. For example, if rejuvenating a medium term cutting and grazing pasture that is burning out, over-seeding with Italian ryegrass
would work well, offering a quick one to two year fix. For longer term leys or permanent pastures, it is far better to use perennial ryegrass as this will establish quickly and continue to yield well for five years plus. Over-seeding is also the perfect opportunity for introducing nitrogenfixing clovers into the sward. For shorter term leys, adding just 2kg of red clover seed can significantly increase protein levels. If the ley is to be kept, or regular silage cuts are to be taken, a hardier large leaf white clover would be better suited, again at a similar rate. Whatever the components of the mixture, rolling is highly recommended immediately after over-seeding, this helps ensure the new seed is firmly surrounded by soil moisture and will give it the best possible start.
Specialising in making cover cropping work for you
• Fodder Crops • Cover Crops • Enviro Mixtures • Wildflowers • Grass Seed • Game Cover Other services include - Soil health audits, In depth soil analysis, Plant tissue analysis, Waste nutrient analysis, advice and action plans
Call us on 01673 308492 info@shepherdseeds.co.uk
Shepherdseeds
@Shepherdseeds
Shepherdseeds.co.uk
MACHINERY farmlandmagazine.com
Keeping it brief. Machinery News Tractor sales up 27%
According to figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association, the number of newly registered UK tractors is at the highest level since 2015. The number of newly registered tractors in March was 1770 compared to just 1236 in 2016, an increase of 43.2%
'Not so' Great Plains
Early 2018 willsee tillage and drainage manufacturer Great Plains of Sleaford, Lincolnshire close it's factory doors. The company is ceasing it’s UK production as the result of a prolonged decline in worldwide machinery sales even after 40 staff were made redundant in 2016. Great Plains encompassed the Sleaford site in 2010 alongside designs for Simba’s range of orange- liveried cultivators which Kubota bought last year in a $430m deal.
OPEN DAY Ellis Machinery Open Day The third exciting event at the Ellis Machinery Yard. 3rd May at Gaydon Farm, Warwickshire CV35 0EP www.ellismachinery.co.uk
John Deere at Grassland and Muck In May, John Deere’s new 6250R tractor that features the awardwinning CommandPRO joystick, premium C441R wrapping baler and Manure Sensing system will all be making their UK public working demonstration debut at Grassland and Muck 2017. The 6250R tractor is Equipped with John Deere’s triple mower conditioner (TMC), consisting of a front-mounted and two rearmounted units. To achieve the maximum cutting width of 9.9m, an F350R 3.5m wide front mowerconditioner can be combined with the largest available R990R rearmounted units. The combination of the smaller F310R front-mounted mower with either the R950R or R870R rear mowers reduces the cutting width to 9.5 or 8.7m respectively.
Other features are an AutoPowr transmission that develops up to 300hp with Intelligent Power Management. It is fitted as standard with JDLink telematics, including remote display access (RDA) and wireless data transfer (WDT) linked to the MyJohnDeere.com website portal. To enable drivers to view and complete tasks in real time using their mobile, users have the option to include a new connectivity package that includes MyJobsConnect and MyJobsManager apps. John Deere is also the first full-line agricultural manufacturer to introduce a navigation and logistics optimisation system specially designed for farm use. Developed to meet the high-
capacity requirements of contractors and larger livestock farms, the new C441R premium wrapping baler incorporates a heavy-duty drive system rated at up to 210hp with 1000rpm pto. The new 18-roller bale chamber has also increased in width, from 117 to 121cm. The baler features a number of other enhancements designed to improve the machine’s overall durability and performance in both heavy, wet grass crops and dry straw, so it is now a true all-rounder when it comes to producing bales with consistent density and shape in all crop types. Grassland & Muck takes place on 24-25 May at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. See grasslandevent.com for info.
UK Exports of Agricultural Engineering up 3%
A
EA analysis of HM Revenue and Customs data has shown UK exports of agricultural and outdoor power products increased by 3.1% last year to £1.76 billion. Agricultural equipment dropped slightly to £1.53 billion due to a sharp decrease in exports of tractor engines. Rising by almost a third to £229 million were exports of outdoor power products. This is due to increased shipments of nonagricultural mowers. Our main trading partner is the EU who take 62% of exports, a 2% increase from 2015. Other EU destinations grew by 7% whilst there was a 17% decline in North America’s share of exports.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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Germany over took America in becoming the leading market for UK exports for the first time. Previously the USA has been the leading market for seven of the last eight years. (2016 % Total of Trade) Germany 13.3% U.S.A 12.9% France 11.6% Irish Republic 9.5% Sweden 4.8% Canada 4.4% Italy 4.4% Australia 2.9% Spain 2.8% Netherlands 2.7%
MACHINERY farmlandmagazine.com
Landini goes back to basics
Offering Quality and Choice ATVs, Garden Tractors, Lawnmowers, Chainsaws, Brushcutters, Hedgecutters & Rotavators.
The Landini 2 Series brings three power outputs of 43hp, 47hp and 54hp Landini has added a new tractor to its range - perfect for yard scraping. The Landini range covers multiple uses with its simple-spec machines. The compact 2 Series, new 4-075D cabless model and open or cabbed 4-075C tractors bring diversity for users with all different needs. “Any dairy farmer looking at the Landini range for their next scraper tractor is certainly not short of options. The choice will be influenced by different yard and building layouts and whether the tractor will predominantly work outside or under cover – either way, we like to give them every option.” explains Ray Spinks, general manager and sales director at AgriArgo UK. Replacing the favoured Mistral- the new-look Landini 2 Series brings three power outputs of 43hp, 47hp and 54hp from Yanmar four
cylinder engines driving through a 12x12 or 16x16 creep transmission with synchro shuttle and four-wheel drive. Being smaller built, models 2-045, 2-050 and 2-060 are as small as 1.3m wide on a 1.76m wheelbase. This allows them to nip in and out of cubicle buildings with great ease and be directed through narrow passages accurately as the driver has less equipment blocking his view.
Scots Gap, Morpeth NE61 4DT Tel: 01670 774603 & 774676 @robsonandcowan_ Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 5pm
If the user requires a sand dispenser or another rear mounted implement, the new Landini 4-075D is a good fit and it is available in both two and four-wheel drive forms. It is able to go down to 1.67m wide and sits on a 2.1m wheelbase and axles making it an ideal scraper option for dairy farmers. Find out more by landini.agriargouk.co.uk
Biodynamic Agricultural College
visiting
Somerset to host British Ploughing Championships The British National Ploughing Championships and Country Festival will draw champion ploughmen and women from all over the country this Autumn. The event takes place on the 14 and 15 October on land near Bishops Lydeard in Taunton. Every year the event takes place in a different location in the UK and is returning this year to Somerset courtesy of landowner Ken Coles and family who are providing 200 acres of their prime arable land to host the annual meet. Visitors are expected from all parts of the country and will be able to see around 250 ploughmen - and women - taking part including past World and European champions.
Newly appointed Chief Executive of the Society of Ploughmen, Sue Frith, said “The interest and attention we have at the moment is fantastic after holding the World Ploughing Contest in England last year. The support we have in the south-west of the country is fantastic and clearly the decision to come back to Somerset is a good one.”
SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND GARDENING. WORK BASED & DISTANCE LEARNING
The two days will see competitions for many different styles of ploughing from reversible and conventional ploughing through to many types of vintage tractors. More information can be found on www.ploughmen.co.uk or from the Society of Ploughmen on 01302 852469
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
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MACHINERY farmlandmagazine.com
DEALER FOCUS AGRIPLUS Limited
Unit 9, Rosedale Court, Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley Business Park, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, TS9 5GB www.agriplusltd.com | 01642 712965 | agriplusltd@hotmail.com
NEW X7 EFFICIENT AVAILABLE FOR DEMONSTRATION McCormick X5 READY FOR DEMO
McCormick X4 60 - 107 hp. "Revolutionizing McCormick’s low- and mediumpower range."
The new X5 tractor series offers a fully revamped four-post cab with flatdeck platform and rear hinged doors that provides ease of access to the driver’s seat and unequalled all-round visibility. Designed with painstaking attention to detail. Contact Dave Trewhitt on 07870 400 505 to arrange a demonstration.
WE'VE GOT THE BRAND NEW X4 SCRAPER RANGE
FULL MCCORMICK X6 RANGE NOW IN STOCK
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MACHINERY farmlandmagazine.com
WANTED - MCCORMICK TRACTORS, DEAD OR ALIVE Sales and servicing of most makes and models. Contact Rob on 07870 400 507 New & Used Sales. Contact Dave on 07870 400 505
NEW AND USED SALES OF MACHINERY, TOOLS AND PARTS SO
McCormick GM Series 35-54 hp. restyled design and ergonomically improved controls
LD
McCormick CX95 Extrashift Powershuttle, Only 4600 hrs, Grab not for Sale. 16.9x34 GY 30% Rears. SOLD
McCormick X5 Range 85-113 hp. offers a fully revamped four-post cab. 4 Models available
FEATURED
NEW
FRONT lOadERs
McCormick X7.650 Efficient 2017 150hp 6cyl, Manual spools, 50k. DEMO IN STOCK £POA
SO
LD
X4 West Trailer 2017 Full range of Grain Trailers, Silage Trailers, Tipping Trailers £POA
Teagle 8100 Tomahawk 2017 8100 Tomahawk Straw Shredder/Bedder. Demo in Stock £POA
McCormcik Front Linkage Zuidberg 3.9t Front Linkage. Ex Demo, Hardly Used. £1,850
McCormick Front Loaders BRAND NEW IN STOCK
View entire stock range online at www.agriplusltd.com
Vicon Bale Wrappers Turntable wrapping. Available in 3 models. BW 2100, BW 2400 and BW 2600.
Vicon Sprayers 85-113 hp. offers a fully revamped four-post cab. 4 Models available
Maschio Power Harrows Strong, powerful and exceptional build quality. 1.5m- 4m
Combination Drills Turntable wrapping. Available in 3 models. BW 2100, BW 2400 and BW 2600.
FARMLAND MAGAZINE 2017
Vicon RV5216 ROUND BALER New Focus 3 Screen, Supercut Rotor, 14 Knives Can Be Retracted. Finance Avaialble
Vicon Spreaders Full range of rear mounted disc spreaders from Vicon. SAVE £££'S
Vicon precision drills Internally filled precision drill for normal and mulch sowing with Seed placement monitor
Maschio Rotary Cultivators 1.05mtr - 3.12mtr. Synonymous with the name Maschio
Flail Mowers 45 - 200hp. Maschio offer one of the largest Mower ranges available on the UK market
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LAKELAND LIVESTOCK CENTRE, COCKERMOUTH, CUMBRIA, CA13 0QQ
Tel: 01900 822016 www.mitchellslivestock.co.uk Dumfries Mart, Huntingdon Road, Dumfries, DG1 1NF
APRIL FRIDAY 21st Store, breeding and feeding cattle, stirks and calves, and ewes with lambs at foot Also Collective dairy sale including the 1st part dispersal of fresh calved heifers and cows from JA Nanson & Son, Sorrowstones, Gosforth, Cumbria MAY
Monday 17th April - 11am Sale of Organic Satus Store Cattle, Followed by Conventional sale of Store Cattle Young Calves and Stirks - 10:15am Saturday 29th April Horse and Pony Sale, Also 350 lots of Tack. Monday 1st May Store Cattle, Young Calves and Stirks Monday 15th May Store Cattle, Young Calves and Stirks Special Spring Sale of Beef Breeding Cattle. to include Bulling Heifers. Please contact our office or website for information and entry forms Tel. 01387 279495 Fax. 01387-251456 Email – dumfries@cdauctionmarts.co.uk Website - www.dumfriesmart.co.uk Find us on Facebook ‘Dumfries Auction Mart’
FRIDAY 5th Store, breeding and feeding cattle, stirks and calves, also ewes with lambs at foot FRIDAY 12th Special sale of breeding cattle cows/heifers with calves, incalf cows/heifers, bulling heifers and breeding bulls. Special show and sale of ewes with lambs at foot classes for mule and continental hoggs and shearlings, competing for the David Westgarth Memorial Trophy Special sale of Herdwick and Swaledale ewes with lambs at foot WEDNESDAY 17th Show and sale of Single Prime Lambs FRIDAY 19th Special show and sale of 800 store cattle competing for the Johnny Skelton Memorial Trophy Also feeding cattle, stirks and calves FRIDAY 26th Sale of ewes with lambs at foot
SOUTH EAST MARTS Ardingly Showground Sussex Collective Auction of AGRICULTURAL & GARDEN MACHINERY, BUILDERS’ & CONTRACTORS’ PLANT, TOOLS, ETC. Dates this spring SATURDAY, 25th FEBRUARY SATURDAY, 18th MARCH SATURDAY, 22nd APRIL and HERSTMONCEUX COLLECTIVE - SATURDAY 13th MAY
WEEKLY
For more information visit our website
WEDNESDAY PRIMESTOCK SALES Cast Cows, Prime Bulls, Clean Cattle at 11.00am. Cast Ewes at 12.30pm Prime & Light weight Lambs at 1.30pm
Tel: (01323) 844874 or
For further details on any of our sales or to request a catalogue contact the office on 01900 822016 or the auctioneer John Wharton 07912 946549
www.southeastmarts.co.uk Email us - info@southeastmarts.co.uk
MART FINDER farmlandmagazine.com
Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart Ltd LEEDS ROAD, OTLEY, LS21 3BD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We are pleased to be associated with Farmland Magazine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- SEE YOUR STOCK SOLD AND COLLECT YOUR PAY ON THE SAME DAY AT OUR “FRIENDLY” YORKSHIRE LIVESTOCK MART - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- MONDAYS (Weekly from 9.30am) Prime Pigs and Sheep, Cull and Prime Cattle THURSDAYS (Aug - Nov at 11.30am) Special Sales of Breeding & Store Sheep FRIDAYS (Fortnightly from 10.45am) Store Sheep & Pigs, Dairy Cattle, Calves & Stirks, Feeding Bulls, Breeding & Store Cattle SATURDAYS (Monthly - Next Sale Sat 10 June 2017) Farm Equip, Machinery, Timber, Tools, Sundries, etc at 10am and Fur/Feather 12noon Also inc. Bi-monthly Sales of HORSE TACK on Sat 10 Jun, 5 Aug, 30 Sept & 25 Nov 2017 and Inc. Special Section for Vintage Equip & Machinery on Sat 28 October 2017 ON-FARM SALES, LAND & PROPERTY SALES - VALUATIONS AND CLAIMS CONDUCTED
_________________________ Telephone: (01943) 462172 Fax: (01943) 461135 Ian Smith FdSc FLAA (Market Manager) 07738 043771 www.wharfedale-farmers.co.uk
email: wfam@auctionmarts.com
Clitheroe Auction Mart
SKIPTON AUCTION MART Gargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1UD
Lincoln Way, Clitheroe, Lancs BB7 1QD www.auctionmart.co.uk
Tel: 01756 792375 www.ccmauctions.com
2017 Plant, Diggers, Tractors, Farm Machinery & Equipment Sales
Auctioneers: Jeremy Eaton - General Manager 07747 780481 Ted Ogden - Farmstock Sales 07855 958211 & Sam Bradley – Auctioneer 07538 539077
Saturday 28th January* Saturday 25th February Saturday 29th April Saturday 25th March* th Saturday 24th June Saturday 27 May* Saturday 26th August Saturday 29th July* Saturday 23rd September* Saturday 21st October Saturday 25th November* No Sale in December Sale commences 9am in the Bottom Shed with tools etc, followed by Machinery & Plant outside at approx 10.45am. *also this day Rural & Domestic Bygones, 10am
A fast, friendly & efficient service PLUS.... Low commission rates • Un-loading ramp Loadall facility • New look website Catalogue listings • Large compound/storage facility Extensive pre sale text alerts to over 5000 customers Collection service by arrangement
Weekly Monday Sales of:Primestock, Cast Cattle & Sheep, Rearing Calves & Crop Fortnightly Sales of:Beef Breeding Cattle, Young Feeding Bulls & Store Cattle Pedigree & Commercial Newly Calven & In-Calf Dairy Cattle & Dairy Young Stock
Vintage Tractors & Associated Parts
Major Seasonal Sales of:Breeding Sheep and Store Lambs Inc: NEMSA Mule Gimmer Lambs & MSBA Masham Gimmer Lambs Swaledale Gimmer Lambs & Dales Mule Gimmer Lambs Mule & Continental Gimmer Shearlings & Ewes Swaledale Draft Ewes & Shearlings Pedigree Sheep & Cattle
Saturdays 13th May & 16th September Sale commences at 9.30am in the shed with Parts, followed by Associated Machinery & Tractors
Specialist Sales inc:Poultry & Waterfowl, Working Sheep Dogs, Agri Trader inc 4x4, Tractors, Vintage, Reclamation etc. Farm & Flock Books, Border Fine Arts
Find us on
On-Farm Stock Sales, Dispersals & Valuations Undertaken
www.ccmauctions.com
T: 01200 423325 • Joe: 07970 221354 • Jeremy: 07815 727993
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Regton Ltd
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