South East Farmer September 2021 by KELSEY Media

Est 1982

September 2021

A CLAAS OF HIS OWN KENT FARMER LOOKS BACK ON HALF A CENTURY OF COMBINING

PLOUGHING MATCH PREVIEWS HOOK & SON

An organic dairy and raw milk producer is turning a corner after TB setback Farming is changing like never before. The opportunities are out there. CLM offers new ideas with traditional values.

FRUIT FOCUS REVIEW

Reconnecting with friends

• Farm business & estate management • Subsidies & grants • Land sales & acquisition • Planning & development • Natural capital & ecology 01892 770339 www.c-l-m.co.uk

& WINERY SHOW

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Dairy herd set to be axed Grant funding opportunity launched. Highly-organised gangs plague farmyards. Revised Red Tractor standards revealed. Ernest Doe & Son’s grass demonstration day.

MONICA AKEHURST

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NEWS & REPORTS

22 Cover picture: Court Lodge Farm ©Martin Apps, Countrywide Photographic

CONTENTS

PRINTING Precision Colour Print

SEPTEMB ER 2021

Dogs that lunch.

ALAN WEST

STEPHEN CARR

LEGAL

48 57

NIGEL AKEHURST VISITS...

Nigel visits Hook and Son to meet father and son team Phil and Steve Hook, organic dairy and raw milk producers.

MARKET REPORTS Vitifruit Equipment Sales and Hire

& WINERY SHOW 24th November 2021: Kent Event Centre, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF

Be proactive, not reactive.

ANITA HEAD

LAND AND FARMS

FEATURES

FRUIT FOCUS REVIEW

COURT LODGE FARM

PLOUGHING MATCH PREVIEWS

NICK ADAMES

It is amazing how fast vineyard equipment develops.

ADVICE FROM THE VET

Many took the opportunity to get back in the mix, catch up with the latest technology and assess the latest offerings. Martin Boulden has been driving combines for half a century. Ploughing match season is here! We look at upcoming events in the South East.

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OP IN IO N

It’s the rest of the world we need to reach

One of the few benefits of the Covid-19 pandemic – although it came at a distressingly high price – was the resurgence of interest in buying local produce, particularly food and drink. Farmers’ markets and farm shops saw strong sales as consumers sought out produce with a reliable provenance. The science was arguably flawed – buying sausages from the local farm shop was probably neither more nor less safe than buying them from the nearest supermarket – but farmers weren’t complaining and many responded by going the extra mile to meet the demand, adding service with a local smile to what was on offer. Those relationships have hopefully continued and been strengthened over the past 18 months. Much has been written and said since about the need to build on this renewed interest in shopping locally and on a better understanding of the food chain. I’m not convinced by the argument that most people still think their milk comes from the supermarket rather than from cows – they aren’t that stupid – but anything that strengthens the link between field and fork has to be a good thing. One way of doing that would surely be to raise public awareness of the many ploughing matches due to take place across the region in the coming weeks and which provide an insight into farming life in a colourful, fun and family friendly way. A look at the ploughing match feature in this month’s magazine highlights the range of events on offer, while the sheer number would come as a surprise to anyone outside the industry – and that’s the point. Those of us inside the industry know how it works – and we know what superb occasions these events are; it’s the rest of the world we need to reach. In a world dominated by social media, it must surely be worth spreading the word amongst non-farming friends and family members – and the general public – to ensure a broader cross-section of the public attends these celebratory events and learns more about food and farming. Everyone loves a day out, and the sight of shire horses ploughing a sunlit field must be one of the most magical there is. With the range of attractions on offer, certainly at the larger matches, these are days out with a difference and would further cement that strengthening bond between consumers and producers. This isn’t to suggest that ploughing matches are necessarily in need of bigger crowds. Many of them have been going for decades and are already very successful, but actively inviting the townies to see what goes on in the rural community would surely boost farming’s profile as well as giving them a day out to remember. And with many of the events raising money for charity, more people would equal bigger donations. Jeremy Clarkson’s recent series on farming, loved by virtually everyone who watched it, has surely pushed further open the door that was left ajar by Covid-19. The South East’s ploughing matches could swing it wider MALCOLM TRIGGS - EDITOR still.

EMAIL YOUR VIEWS, LETTERS OR OPINIONS TO: sef.ed@kelsey.co.uk or write to the address on page 3 ®

HELP WITH DIRECT PAYMENTS CHANGE

Around three-quarters of arable and livestock farmers have not yet planned their response to the loss of direct payments, according to research by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Steve Dunkley, AHDB Head of Business, Insights and Skills, revealed: “76% of beef and sheep farmers and 67% of cereal growers are not planning on making changes in the face of current policy changes or are adopting a wait-and-see approach.” In response, the board’s support service has introduced a new farm business review tool aimed at helping around 4,000 grazing livestock producers and cereal and oilseed growers in England plan their way through the change – together with the funding to match. It has secured £3.9 million of funding which it has pledged to use “to help thousands of farmers and growers navigate the fallout of the loss of direct payments and help future proof their businesses”. Steve Dunkley explained: “We are delighted to have secured funding to help farmers and growers who are affected by the phasing out of direct payments work towards securing a prosperous future for their business.” He said the £3.9m would “enable us to help 4,000 farmers and growers take a proactive approach to the biggest policy shift that they will face in their careers”. The tool is aimed at helping farmers and growers understand the implications of direct payments disappearing and what they can do to replace that lost income. The AHDB believes it will help them identify how, where and when they may need to adapt their business model, access tailored support and become more resilient, competitive, innovative and productive. The service will be delivered via a network of local agricultural advisers and consultants working directly with farmers and growers in their respective parts of the country. Further one-to-one tailored support will be given to around 600 farmers and growers on a first come, first served basis. Farmers can register their interest by calling 02475 189300

AHDB TO CUT

COSTS BY £7.8M The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has announced cuts of £7.8m in its annual staff and overheads budget of £29m as part of plans to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency over the next two years. Reductions of around £6m will come from winding down the horticulture and potato sectors, while the number of senior managers is set to be cut from 20 to 14. The AHDB is also reviewing the use of its office space at its Stoneleigh headquarters and may sublet some of the space.

NEWS

Hadlow College’s decision to axe its dairy herd and replace it with a beef cattle enterprise as part of “a wider regenerative farming strategy” has come in for criticism. The college has confirmed to South East Farmer that the dairy herd will go as the result of a review of its current farm enterprises and “an assessment on the level of investment that would be required over the next five years to maintain industry standards”. Students will continue to learn about dairying thanks to a partnership with Bore Place, an organic dairy farm at Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge that already has a strong focus on education as well as on providing opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. South East Farmer columnist Alan West, who began his farming career milking 120 Friesians and lectured at the college for many years, was disappointed with the decision to abandon the herd. He said it would “leave a big hole in what the college is able to offer students”. Alan explained: “Dairying is still a popular choice amongst students. It appeals to young people and there are some good jobs out there in dairy units. Dairy farmers who are doing the job properly are still making a margin and good herdsmen are in demand and can command a decent salary. “Beef doesn’t have the same appeal, but the proposal will at least maintain some sort of cattle presence at the college. They have already lost pigs and poultry and this will again impact on the learning experience.” Although Alan felt the switch to Bore Place, around half an hour away from the college by car, would make it more difficult for students to get involved in early morning milking duties, the college was quick to dismiss that particular concern. A spokesperson pointed out: “The college operates sites throughout West Kent, North Kent and South East London and is very used to transporting students around, so therefore it is not an issue.”

DAIRY HERD SET

TO BE AXED

Hadlow College Principal Lindsay Pamphilon’s earlier statement had pointed out that the college had been reviewing its enterprises over the past year “as part of its plans for the future”. It went on: “The decision to conduct a review was motivated by the changes to the domestic agricultural policy following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union and the impending loss of direct payments (subsidies). The global pandemic and shifts in environmental perceptions have further hastened the College’s need to review the focus of the farm. “We have considered all the farm enterprises collectively and individually. The review has sought to identify if an enterprise is financially effective, environmentally well prepared and delivering an industry standard experience to students.” The statement said the beef herd would be “integrated with the sheep enterprise and form part of the College’s wider regenerative farming strategy that will help improve the environmental credentials of the farm and provide excellent learning for students. “Sheep numbers will be increased and will be managed more extensively across the college farm using cover crops. The arable enterprise will introduce a greater breadth to its rotation with land freed by not producing as much forage. There will be a focus on integrating grazing regimes within the arable land.” Ms Pamphilon’s statement said the college

would explore innovative crops, “integrate technology to enhance student experience” and develop plans for field scale fruit production and viticulture. The changes, she said, would “allow the college to ensure our student experience is well prepared for the future changes in agriculture … and enable us to develop new learning experiences with an expansion of our cropping offer”. After starting his career in dairying, Alan West studied for a National Diploma in Dairying and was involved with dairy cattle on a research farm when working in Saudi Arabia. As part of his role as extension and liaison officer for the project, he was consulted, and advised on, the design and establishment of several dairy units for local Sheiks and expatriate companies. He questioned the college’s plans and was particularly concerned at the idea that suckler cows would be put into the existing dairy cubicles, which he said would be too large, resulting in the cows laying forward in the stalls and dirtying their sleeping area. “The existing cubicles are designed for Holsteins and anyone who has ever had beef cattle wouldn’t think of using the same housing,” he said. “They will also have calves to care for, and I’m not sure where they are planning to put those.” Asked about the housing issue, the college spokesperson said Ms Pamphilon would respond on her return from leave. South East Farmer will report on that response in a future edition.

> Animal Manegment Unit at Hadlow College TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

NEWS

GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY LAUNCHED

The first tranche of research and development (R&D) funding being made available through the Growing Kent & Medway programme – amounting to £3m – was announced at Fruit Focus. Grants of up to £250,000 will be made available to help fund projects that aim to develop green technologies, processes or products for horticultural food and drink businesses across Kent and Medway. Businesses that apply for funds will be expected to commit to delivering social value back to the region either through community engagement or by raising awareness of career pathways in horticulture, food production or agri-food technologies. The grants were announced as part of Growing Kent & Medway’s official launch and offer businesses operating in food production, packaging or processing or enabling agri-food technologies the first opportunity to benefit directly from the programme. Programme director Dr Nicola Harrison said: “The large-scale collaborative R&D grants we are making available will be awarded to projects that will help to establish the Kent and Medway area

as a world-leader in climate-smart, sustainable horticultural food and drink production. “These grants are an important part of our wider programme to build on the region’s reputation and international gateway status. We are investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure and research facilities, scientific expertise and enterprise growth to make this region one of the most dynamic, competitive and successful horticultural and agri-tech locations in the world.” Priority innovation themes set out for the grant funding include: • minimising waste and maximising recycling • improving resource use efficiency and sustainability • increasing productivity • resilient food production, such as supply chain resilience and nutritional security

Professor Mario Caccamo, currently deputy director of the UK crop science organisation NIAB and managing director of NIAB EMR at East Malling, has been appointed as NIAB’s new chief executive and will take over from retiring CEO Dr Tina Barsby in October.

JOINING FORCES AM Fresh Group has acquired a controlling interest in Avalon Produce Limited. Avalon, which will be rebranded Avalon Fresh, is a UK top fruit supplier to the retail sector. AM Fresh is a major supplier of fresh produce in other categories to UK supermarkets. The pooling of these resources will provide significant opportunities to develop and further consolidate the top fruit relationships throughout the supply chain. The existing management team at Avalon will remain in place.

> Professor Mario Caccamo

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

• precision technologies, including sensor technologies, artificial intelligence or robotics • solving the challenge of access to labour. Oliver Doubleday, chair of East Malling Trust, said: “Funding for research and innovation to support the horticultural industry has been at the heart of the Trust’s work for more than a century. “Growing Kent & Medway’s grant scheme will ensure the sector can make an even greater contribution to the development and sustainability of the local economy through the commercial application of science and research.” Growing Kent & Medway is supported by government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund. Applications open on 6 September 2021. See www.growingkentandmedway.com for more details.

PROMOTION

NEWS

GOOD NEIGHBOURS A Surrey primary school has just completed its 14th year of growing vegetables on fields belonging to a neighbouring farmer. Year three pupils of St Joseph’s Primary School, Dorking, are each given a 2m x 1m plot by farmer Hugh Broom, of Sondes Place Farm, and use the plots to grow a mixture of salad vegetables and wildflowers. Farmer Hugh, a former chairman of Surrey NFU, said: “The children visit once a week during the summer term and walk the 600 metres from the school to tend to their plots. By the end of term, they’ve started to harvest what they have grown. “Not only does this help teach the youngsters where the food comes from, it also helps them understand the challenges involved in growing things, whether that is no rain, or, in the case of this year, too much rain.” He added: “I would encourage any farm within walking distance of a primary school to do this. From a farming perspective, once land has been ploughed and power-harrowed, the kids do all the work. It gives them so much educationally, with virtually no impact on your farm business.” Tozer Seeds and Brights Seeds donate seeds for the project each year.

HIGHLY-ORGANISED GANGS

PLAGUE FARMYARDS

While the Covid-19 pandemic helped keep criminals out of the countryside, it also sparked a big rise in other crimes such as dog attacks and ﬂy-tipping, insurer NFU Mutual has revealed. Its Rural Crime Report points out that rural theft cost the UK an estimated £43.3m in 2020, the lowest annual cost recorded in five years and a fall of 20.3% on the previous year. In the South East, a slightly lower drop saw the impact fall by 18.6% to an estimated £7.1m. Although the pandemic kept some criminals away, highly-organised gangs continued to plague South East farmyards, stealing tractors, quad bikes, tools and expensive GPS equipment – not just costly to replace but leaving some farmers unable to work. NFU Mutual saw the UK-wide cost of claims for GPS almost double last year to £2.9m. And while thefts fell, other crimes increased during lockdown. Fly-tipping in fields, gateways and country lanes reached epidemic proportions as waste recycling centres restricted access, while increased pet ownership and more visits to the countryside saw the value of sheep and cattle attacked by dogs climb 10.2% in the year to £1.3m. The situation continues to worsen, with NFU Mutual claims data already showing that the cost of attacks rose 50% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Colin Campbell, NFU Mutual Regional Manager for the South East, said: “Coronavirus restrictions,

beefed-up security on farms and more effective rural crime policing provided a welcome fall in rural thefts last year. “But while lockdown may have locked some criminals out of the countryside, rural crime hasn’t gone away. Thieves are now returning armed with new tactics and targets. As the economic impact of the pandemic bites, we are very concerned that rural theft may escalate significantly.” Mr Campbell said organised criminal gangs continued to target farmyards for high-value GPS systems, quad bikes and tractors, with the UK cost of agricultural vehicle theft remaining at over £9million, just 2% lower than in 2019. “There’s no doubt that when we work together with police, farmers, communities and other rural organisations to tackle rural crime it can make a real difference. That’s why we’re investing over £430,000 in carefully targeted rural security schemes this year. The extra funding will help police join forces with local farmers, set up covert operations and recover more stolen machinery from countries across Europe. “We believe this is vital support because rural crime isn’t just about money to replace stolen tractors. It causes disruption, seriously affects farmers’ mental well-being and destroys the trust which enables rural communities to flourish. “With more and more people using the countryside, we are urging the public to support farmers and rural communities by reporting

suspicious sightings and crimes to the police.” Over the past two years, NFU Mutual has invested more than £850,000 in the fight against rural crime, including funding a police-led, UK-wide agricultural vehicle crime tracking and recovery unit. The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) coordinates farm machinery theft intelligence between NFU Mutual, police forces, Border Force and Interpol. The full report can be downloaded from www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/ruralcrime

THE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES Rural Crime Report 2021

LATEST TRENDS

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LATEST FIGURES

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“FROM SIMPLE BEGINNINGS”

STANDARDS

REVEALED Revised Red Tractor standards have been revealed after a consultation the food assurance scheme says involved more than 3,000 pieces of feedback. The organisation this year opened the process to its 46,000 members and the entire food supply chain, describing it as “the biggest and most transparent consultation ever”. Red Tractor’s CEO Jim Moseley said: “Our standards need to achieve two key objectives – first to meet the needs of consumers who expect high standards but shop keenly on price, and second to provide farmers and the supply chain with manageable standards. Getting that balance right then also satisfies the needs of food businesses and government.” South East Farmer asked frontline farmers in some of the affected sectors what they thought of some of the more significant changes…

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• REMOVED A requirement to leave livestock buildings for five weeks between cleaning them and using them to store grain. • NEW All farms with workers must have a written Health and Safety policy; this is a slight advance on the legal baseline which only applies to businesses with more than five employees (this change also relates to other sectors below). • REVISED Many of the requirements of vermin control standards align with the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) Code of Practice which aims to minimise the exposure of wildlife to toxic rodenticides. It means Red Tractor members can continue to buy rodenticide they would otherwise be prohibited from purchasing without additional training. • CLARIFIED Moisture meter calibration can be carried out on farm using reference samples. Charlie Edgley, whose family business is based at Kensham Farms, High Wycombe, is, on balance, a fan of the Red Tractor scheme. “Most of their standards are pretty good though some can be tedious. These changes seem sensible to me, though,” he commented. “The first doesn’t apply to us, but it makes sense. If you are going to get any contamination it will be for putting grain into a building previously used for livestock. “Making the health and safety focus relate to all farms has to be a good thing, but there is more we should be doing on health and safety as farming remains very dangerous. We pay the NFU Mutual a lot of money for our policy and they do a good job, but we end up with a lever-arch file holding a three-inch stack of paperwork. What farms really need is a simplified, cut-down version of that policy that all staff should have with them at all times.. “I also think the industry needs to think about third party accreditation. It’s easy to insist on a health and safety policy but someone needs to check it is fit for purpose. “Any change that makes sure people use rodenticides carefully and stops them spreading to other wild animals has to be welcomed. Although we have two members of staff qualified in pest control, we are moving more and more towards trapping rather than poisoning as we find it is a much safer approach. “Allowing moisture meter calibration on farm will no doubt be welcomed by many farmers, but personally I enjoy the opportunity to take my equipment to a clinic and meet and chat to other farmers. I also like having a certificate from an external body.”

NEWS BEEF AND LAMB • NEW Tethered housing systems, for stock of any age, will not be permitted on Red Tractor Farms. In the short term, derogations will be offered, and visits will be made to the small number of members still tethering their cattle. • NEW Farms will be asked how they are taking action to eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). This needs to be documented and implemented. This new recommendation will become a full standard from October 2022. • NEW Efficient and meaningful health planning builds on management techniques for continuous improvement and encourages proactive management. The health plan now needs to be signed, dated and reviewed annually by a nominated vet who should visit the farm at least once a year. • UPGRADED At least one person on farm must have undertaken medicine training to help raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance and drive medicine use best practice. Frank Langrish, who farms near Rye in East Sussex, is less impressed with the changes and questions the need to continually uprate the standards, “especially,” he added, “as the government is doing trade deals with countries that could never comply with our existing standards”. He added: “Red Tractor was set up by the NFU at a time when many supermarkets and retailers were in a race to differentiate their suppliers. To give farmers the opportunity to supply these retailers a code of practice was agreed, together with the Red Tractor standards. It has always been voluntary and only farmers who sell direct to the retailers bother to become members. “Most small outlets, local butchers/wholesalers aren’t assured and have no need to be, possibly because people tend to trust local suppliers more than large supermarkets. Red Tractor inspections have become increasingly arduous and pernickety and the new standards are in the same vein. On tethering, Frank commented: “Large numbers of cattle are still tethered in Europe. In my distant youth we kept milking cows in a cowshed where they were chained up all the winter; they were the happiest and best looked after cows I can ever remember!” He went on: “Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) needs to be eradicated but I am not sure this is the way to do it as many of the breeders will be selling store cattle and have no need to be with Red Tractor. Financial help with testing and drawing up an eradication plan would be more useful. “Health plans are a positive idea, but the issues affecting the production on a farm need to be accurately identified. Nutrition and blood tests to check trace element deficiencies and an overview of calving intervals etc are all important, but having a vet review the plan annually will achieve very little. It will probably be the student vet who is sent out to do the farm review, sign off the health plan and charge several hundred pounds for doing so. “Medicine training may well be a good idea but will presumably be another cost. Would it not be better for the vet who signs off the health plan to train the farmer or appointed person in the correct use of antibiotics as they will be having to provide the prescription anyway?” South East Farmer correspondent Alan West was even less impressed by the changes, commenting: “There seems to be little in the new Red Tractor standards that will impact on the majority of lamb producers. For many, particularly smaller producers, the benefits accruing from scheme membership simply do not justify the additional costs and time commitment involved, and these proposals do nothing to alter that situation. “There is significant anecdotal evidence from some producers that the scheme is becoming an increasingly bureaucratic, box ticking exercise, and this does nothing to allay those concerns.”

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DAIRY • NEW Tethered housing systems, for stock of any age, will not be permitted on Red Tractor Farms. In the short term, derogations will be offered, and visits will be made to the small number of members still tethering their cattle. • NEW In 2020 Red Tractor consulted on proposed standards to ensure the industry delivers on a commitment to eliminate the routine euthanasia of calves by 2023. A new standard is focused on a written breeding and management policy. • NEW A health plan now needs to be signed, dated and reviewed annually by a nominated vet, who should visit the farm at least once a year. Monica Akehurst, South East Farmer correspondent and mixed family farmer on the edge of the High Weald, pointed out that animals were rarely tethered in the UK outside agricultural shows. On eliminating routine euthanasia of calves, Monica said: “Morally, this has to be right, and it is already a requirement from some milk buyers, but in certain circumstances it could be tricky, for instance if your farm is placed under TB restrictions and you are unable to move animals. “It may also be necessary on welfare grounds, because of a lack of food or space or in the case of dairy farms located on, say, the Isle of Wight, with limited access to markets. There may be a strong economical case, and while it could be argued that sexed semen is available, this is at a cost.” While Monica pointed out that most farmers already produce a health plan in conjunction with their vet, she added: “Perhaps these officials that dictate the mountains of paperwork farmers need to complete should consider a ‘farmer health plan’, since the extra pressure of getting the paperwork right takes its toll.”

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NEWS

> John McAuley

PRACTICAL GRASS DEMONSTRATIONS

With this summer’s weather leading to seemingly unstoppable grass growth across the South East, there was no shortage of interested visitors to Ernest Doe & Son’s grass demonstration day last month. As a stiff breeze helpfully dried out the grass at Plashett Park Farm, Ringmer in East Sussex just in time for the demo machinery to take to the fields, Ernest Doe’s area branch and sales manager David Bush said he was delighted with the success of the event. An estimated 200 farmers and contractors from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex took the opportunity to look at, learn about and see practical demonstrations of, machinery from the Ernest Doe Power stable. The kit in action or on display included Case IH tractors and balers, together with a telehandler and high-tech combine harvester with Harvest Command automation, plus SIP mowers, tedders and rakes and equipment

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from KRM and Marshall trailers. Centre stage was Case IH’s new Puma 240 long wheelbase tractor. As well as boasting a facelifted bonnet, the new model can take a camera to simplify hitching up front-mounted equipment. On this occasion the tractor was attached to a SIP 300 Disc mower with steel conditioning tines, something SIP UK Director Martin Holden said many farmers preferred over the more usual plastic variety. Also on display, and later put through its paces on an adjacent field by

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NEWS

> David Bush

> Thomas Atkin

> Ed Watson

> David Wagstaff

> Martin Holden

permission of farmer Mark Peters, was a SIP Spider 1300/12t, a new 12 rotor trailed tedder with an impressive working width of 12.9 metres. The Slovenian manufacturer with a 65-year history was also showing off a Spider 915/8 with hook tines, a Star 850/26t trailed rake and a Silvercut Disc 300 TS FC trailed mower. Case IH Area Sales Manager John McAuley was on hand to talk to potential and existing customers about the range of equipment on display, including an Optum 300 that was hitched to the manufacturer’s impressive LB436 HD baler. UK Field Product Specialist Ed Watson pointed out the packer arms that the new model employs instead of rotors to allow the pre-compression chamber to create high-density 120cm by 90cm bales that hold 500kg a time, whatever the crop. The LB436 also features a two-speed gearbox designed to put less stress on the driveline when starting up the flywheel. “If you can pack more into each bale it reduces transport costs and improves efficiency,“ Ed explained. “These bales are 22% more dense than standard 120 by 90 bales.” Although not put through its paces on the day, the Case IH Axial-Flow 7250 combine was an eye-catching addition to the line-up. Alongside its Harvest Command technology, it features a camera in the clean grain elevator and air pressure sensors on top of the sieve which allow the combine to adjust its forward speed and other functions automatically and continually in order to optimise output, improve the grain sample and reduce losses. “One of the advantages of this sophisticated level of automation is that you can use a less highly trained operator and rely on the combine itself to still produce the best possible results,” Ed commented. Also at the grass demonstration day was Jeff Stephens from RTK, who

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explained the company’s correctional signal technology and its ability to uprate standard satellite technology to an accuracy of 2.5cm. Another demonstrator was David Wagstaff, Area Technical Representative with KRM, which was showing off a M35 fertiliser spreader. He explained that the KRM approach was to source the best products – in this case a Danish-built Bogballe spreader – and import them under the KRM banner. Adding to the comprehensive range of equipment on show was Dalbo Rollers. Thomas Atkin explained that the Maxiroll 630 Greenline rollers were designed to transfer weight hydraulically across their working width to maintain an even pressure across the soil.

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MONICA AKEHURST AT THE KITCHEN TABLE

DOGS THAT LUNCH

I’ve long held an ambition to walk the South Down Way. I mentioned this to our youngest daughter and a plan was hatched and actioned. On 26 September 2020 we started walking from Winchester. One car was left at the start and another car was parked at a calculated day’s walk distance. At first these were 12/13 miles, but after three consecutive days we adjusted to shorter distances at my request. We initially stayed in Chichester with my daughter. Poor Tilley (my spaniel) was freaked out by urban living, constantly alert, shivering, reacting to every strange noise. After we lit the wood burner she started to relax. Tilley enjoyed our adventure; slightly disappointed by the lack of pheasants but delighted by snack times. The combined impact of Covid-19 rules, weather and farm workload meant that walking was slotted in when possible. Finally we completed our goal on Sunday 1 August 2021. Tilley stayed at home for the Exceat to Eastbourne stretch because I was concerned by the proximity of the cliff edge. On Monday 2 August the cliffs were in the news

when part of the access path to the Belle Tout lighthouse crashed down onto the beach below. It’s scary to think that we had walked by less than 24 hours earlier. Apparently the cliffs are eroding at approximately two feet a year, and the Belle Tout is now estimated to be 65ft away from the edge. These days it’s used as holiday accommodation; not one I’d rush to book up. I envisaged that the path would be along the coast, but I was wrong. It’s mostly inland, which shows I didn’t pay attention in my geography lessons. On a particularly busy night shift in A&E I remember thinking: “I wish they’d run the Centurion race in the opposite direction, ie start in Eastbourne, finish in Winchester”. Invariably A&E would end up treating entrants for injuries, exhaustion, hypothermia etc. Walking it was challenging enough so I’m now impressed by those who attempt running it in one hit. If I were going to bike it I’d definitely ‘go electric’. It’s a stunning walk, well worth the effort and, being naturally inquisitive, I enjoyed seeing other farmers’ land, crops and livestock. Time spent

> Cuckmere

> Beachy Head, not far now

> Potential hay made into silage thanks to the weather

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

away from your own farm is always refreshing. I discovered ice cream vans now sell ice cream tubs especially made for dogs, to get their tails wagging. It’s a great idea, cashing in on increasing numbers of dog owners. Apparently the hospitality industry is also catching on and launching dog menus. ‘Ladies who lunch’ are being upstaged by ‘dogs that lunch’. On the dog menu: slow cooked brisket, mashed potato and veg, a cup of tea made with lavender and rose petals or non-alcoholic wine Infused with nettle and black carrot. (I’ve not told Tilley or Brie about this, so keep it under wraps). Thankfully on our walk we didn’t observe any ‘out of control’ dogs and leads were in use where livestock were. The increase of livestock worrying by dogs is a major concern for farmers, incurring welfare and income implications. When Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine discussed farmers shooting dogs, someone commented: “Farmers don’t care for their animals because they raise them to be murdered”. Clearly farming as an industry still has much work to do to build up better public relations

> The end, totally recommend this walk

and education regarding the realities of healthy food and caring for the land. My garden is looking shamefully neglected right now; some leeks have gone to seed, and actually look quite pretty. We’ve had an amazing crop of rhubarb, raspberries and blackcurrants. I’ve just started unearthing enough potatoes for a meal; you simply cannot beat that freshly harvested taste. Tomatoes are starting to ripen, courgettes are doing well and my onions have grown huge. We’re eating our last jar of 2020 plum jam; 2021 plums will be precious as the crop doesn’t look good. Some local social functions have been held again this year and that’s been especially appreciated after our Covid-19 enforced isolation. Our grandchildren entered the local flower show. Such fun creating animals out of a vegetable, paintings, flowers, rice crispy cakes etc. There were some amazing ‘gardens in a seed tray’, one with an Olympic theme, so cleverly done. We went to a local fête, sitting out drinking shandy, listening to the band, watching the fun dog show with a delighted daughter when her terrier got a red rosette for happiest dog. I also ventured out to watch the action at the Southern Shears competition, well hosted by the Gingell family. The commentary was entertaining and I’m full of admiration for the talented shearers. I’m tentatively looking forward to more socialising this autumn. On the farm, things are a little fraught on the hay-making front. The combines are working when conditions allow; I think grain driers will be busier this year. Beef and sheep prices are good. Our lambs are weaned and now munching on the clover in our new ley. Scald in their feet has been a problem due to long grass and humidity. The ewes have their fleeces off. Pulling out the culls and choosing replacements from the ewe lambs is next on the agenda. After two years reduction, I’m intending to keep numbers static. Cattle on the marsh are content. Water flowed over the top of my wellies when I was walking over to check them, reminding me of winter lookering not midsummer. I had to treat a lamb for fly strike yesterday, which is disappointing. We applied Clik Extra 10 weeks ago and it’s supposed to give 19 weeks’ cover. Sheep are frustratingly annoying, particularly when you’re trying to help them. This lamb was proving evasive. Brie was a superstar and managed to catch and hold onto the lamb until I could get there. No mean feat, because they are a fair size to hold. I was so pleased with her I nearly offered to take her out for lunch. But maybe not, she’s a bit of a hooligan, lacking social graces. After all, she is a working collie. The first week in September is ‘love lamb week’; hoping it’s on your menu.

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> Belle Tout lighthouse

> We discovered ice cream for dogs

> Action at Southern Shears competition

> Brie having cooled off in the stream after working sheep. Expects me to sit beside her > South Downs Way starting from Winchester

> Water in the wellies, summer lookering > Nap time, Tilley watching over me

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

LETTERS SEND YOUR VIEWS OR COMMENTS: SEF.ED@KELSEY.CO.UK twitter @SOUTHEASTFARMER facebook-square SOUTH EAST FARMER

REACT TO FARMERS, DON’T IGNORE THEM

Dear Sir, In February this year Matt Carlton of ADAS wrote to inform me that “Southern Water had identified elevated nitrate levels in raw water” and that they, ADAS, were keen to work out sources. After I wrote A study of Nitrates in 1993 as a member of the Thanet NFU Nitrates Sub-Committee and briefed the Minister of Agriculture Lord Tom Boswell (a farmer’s son) and his technical adviser Dr Gavin Strang, the Government recognized Southern Water`s flawed methodology and took Thanet out of the nitrate vulnerable map of the time. Along with Southern Water`s own reports in 1983, I sent a sizable volume of published nitrate information back to Matt Carlton, copying in George Ashby of Ashford (the nearest NFU office to Thanet) NFU. I have had no reply from either to date. On 28 July I received another letter from Tom Ormesher, Southern Water/ ADAS, wanting us to clean up the water harvested at no cost from our farms. The maps for my area included a mile of underground water collection tunnels under Manston Airport runway with a known pollution problem, but the map marks Manston Airport as “not eligible”. Nitrates travel through chalk at about half a metre a year and the local pumping station well is 40 metres deep, so the nitrates appearing now started their journey in 1941 when the Luftwaffe was bombing Manston and the whole of the “not eligible” 750 acres of the airfield surface was daily being churned up with a wide variety of pollutants. Coincidence? Southern Water has recently been fined £90 million for historic, deliberate dumping of a colossal 16 million tonnes of raw sewage into the sea surrounding the Isle of Thanet, damaging oyster beds and closing tourist beaches. CEO Ian McAuley is apparently paid over £1 million to run Southern Water and provide shareholders with £200 million profit per year. Perhaps Southern Water should be spending the profits on improving their infrastructure and not wasting 88 million litres daily of the free water they want us farmers to clean up at our cost. It would be nice for the NFU to react rather than ignore the farmers who pay them, and Southern Water – do you read South East Farmer? If so, prove it. David Steed, Manston, Kent

ARE BADGERS SUSPECTED?

Dear Sir, An old friend of mine who is semi-retired keeps a few sheep as a hobby. During this year’s lambing, he lost 20 lambs; two stolen, three from natural causes and 15 which he said were down to a rogue badger. I asked him: “Are you sure?”, as I have never heard of this happening before. He said yes, he had placed two night cameras and caught the badger in the act. I would be interested to hear if other farmers have ever suspected badgers of being a problem with the loss of lambs. On a lighter note, I put bird food on the floor in our garden and also use a night camera. A family of foxes comes in to feed nightly. I have tried putting out chicken wings and the foxes ignore them. Surely I have not got vegan foxes? I don’t believe it. Paul Kennett, Bridge,Kent

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

FARM SAFETY’S SOBERING STATISTICS

Dear Sir, The farming industry has a woeful safety record which stubbornly shows little sign of improvement, with sobering statistics presented each year. Agriculture has the worst rate of worker-fatal injuries of the main industrial sectors. It is 18 times as high as the average rate across all industries. Statistics for 2020/2021 show there were 34 deaths in agriculture, forestry and fishing, an increase of 13 from last year. The five-year average for fatal injuries in this sector is 28. There is no getting away from the fact that farming can be dangerous. The most common causes of death include falling from a height, being struck by a moving vehicle, being trapped by something collapsing/overturning and contact with moving machinery. Farmers are often short on time, rushing from one job to the next, which can lead to shortcuts or the neglect of safe practices. Some farmers can also be guilty of taking a perverse pride in the number of overtime hours they work. These factors, combined with what is sometimes a ‘cavalier attitude’ to safety, is a dangerous combination. It is not just farmers at risk; each year there are cattle-related incidents involving members of the public walking on farmland with and without dogs. The impact of the global pandemic, with more people accessing the countryside, has only heightened this risk. Farmers and landowners should look to mitigate the risk of these incidents by carrying out risk assessments when contemplating where to graze their cattle, particularly on fields accessible to the public via a right of way. Signage can help improve public awareness and electric fencing can separate cattle. CLA South East represents thousands of farmers, landowners and rural businesses in Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight. We would like to see safety built into the mind-set of every farmer, so that they continually assess and evaluate the risks they and others are exposed to as they go about their day. The issues were highlighted during Farm Safety Week, but it is not just important for one week of the year. “Come home safe” should be the message all farmers give themselves as they leave the breakfast table. Michael Valenzia, Regional Director of CLA South East

SO I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG...

Dear Sir, Occasionally I feel a warm glow welling inside me – and it’s not as a result of anything poured out of a bottle. It happens at those occasional moments when an organisation or a group of people finally comes round to my way of thinking – and leaves me with a certain satisfaction of having been right all along. The latest glow has been delivered thanks to the South Downs National Park Authority, which in a new policy statement has conceded (a) rewilding alone is

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Soil Sampling Services not the way to restore biodiversity and encourage wildlife and (b) contrary to prevailing opinions, farmers do have an essential role to play in achieving that goal. This rather torpedoes the case for simply halting all farming activities and allowing nature to take its course, as advocated by some of the more extreme (and considerably less well informed) militant ecologists. So the call is now not for rewilding but for ‘renaturing’, to restore wildlife populations to another 31,000 acres of the Downs across Hampshire and Sussex (with the assistance of a £100 million appeal fund – whatever happened to the public funding of national parks?) This has been accompanied by admissions that the current pleasant nature of the South Downs owes much to traditional farming activities and that in the 65% of the national park managed by six farmer-led cluster groups, things are already going rather well. I feel quite flattered that the authority has now quite willingly expressed its appreciation of all the hard work farmers have devoted to keeping the place looking handsome; possibly the first occasion in the 6,000 years since farming started there that a word of praise has been passed their way. More to the point I am delighted that the new campaign is based on a set of principles which vindicates the opinion I have been voicing for a very long time: that simply abandoning the countryside to nature will invite in scrub, brambles, bracken, foxes and badgers and little else. All that is required is the odd gentle tweak to a management regime that has been in place since before Stonehenge was erected as this country’s first tourist attraction. Rewilding, in other words, has had its day before it’s barely learnt to crawl. I find this all very heartening, because it tells me that somewhere out there, besides the armies of anti-farmer, pro-wilding, urban know-nothings who want to populate the countryside they only visit once a year with wolves, lynx and other predator species, are a few people with not merely letters after their names or a high-profile job in television, but real knowledge and understanding of the countryside – and who acknowledge that co-operation rather than confrontation with farmers is the way, indeed the only way, to restore populations of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects to the desired levels. I am now looking to the older, long-established national parks to follow the encouraging example set by the country’s youngest. John Lillywhite, Farmers for Action

twitter INSPIRED BY CLARKSON

My 11 year old has been so inspired by Clarkson’s Farm that he has written to all the farms surrounding us asking if he can come and volunteer until he is old enough for a job. @JeremyClarkson is an absolute hero to him. Hoping to bring him to the farm shop when we can! Natalie @NatStraff

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NATIONAL FOOD STRATEGY – THE INDUSTRY RESPONDS Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy has been broadly welcomed by the farming industry, with its focus on the need for the Government to protect British farming standards being strongly supported. The open letter below has been sent to DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice by a broad range of signatories, while Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) Chief Executive Caroline Drummond has also committed her thoughts to paper.

WIDELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES

Dear Secretary of State, Re: National Food Strategy We are writing to you reflecting widely different experiences and communities within the farming sector, to endorse the recommendations of the National Food Strategy proposed by Henry Dimbleby. There are some you would expect us to support. Dimbleby is forthright about the Government’s duty to protect British farming standards and suggests a practical mechanism to do so. He is clear about the need – in the public’s interest – to ring-fence the current budget for agriculture and the environment. He rightly says that Government should be explicit about the amount of land that is needed for woodland and nature restoration and the best places for this. He says we can achieve the changes that are needed while protecting the rights and interests of all farmers, including tenants and commoners, while supporting rural communities. We are glad to see him get behind your department’s welcome plans to back practical innovation by farmers as the driving force in regenerative, nature-friendly agriculture. He also recommends measures that will, gradually but not insignificantly, rebalance our nation’s food culture and markets, reducing the demand for cheap, high-calorie junk food and boosting it for fresh, high-quality produce with provenance. This can only help British farming and drive the sector’s ambition and capacity to play our full role in reversing biodiversity loss, mitigating and adapting to climate change while producing plentiful, healthy food. Yet there are also recommendations that might make less comfortable reading for us, but which nevertheless deserve our firm backing. They are, of course, about eating less meat. This is such a sensitive issue, especially when UK livestock farmers are already committed to high welfare and reducing climate impacts. But as anyone who has looked seriously at the numbers knows – even those among us who champion reintroducing sheep and cattle into rotations – the

reality is that people in developed countries do need to eat less meat overall, while ensuring that the meat we do eat comes from high welfare systems that support biodiversity, which the UK is well placed to achieve. The switch from industrially produced animal products, often destined for ultra-processed foods and relying on imported proteins that can drive deforestation and land use change, to regenerative systems where animals play their time-honoured role in building soil fertility and sustaining nature must happen swiftly. The debate in farming should not be about whether this is so, but about how to make this transformation quickly and fairly, for both farmers and citizens, avoiding unintended consequences and with the best results for the climate, nature and animal welfare, both in the UK and globally. We welcome the clarity and nuance that Dimbleby has brought to the debate and the lengths he has gone to find ways of achieving this. Specifically, his proposals that schools and hospitals should serve less but better meat and more and better fresh produce, and that the biggest businesses should show leadership by reporting what they sell and how it is produced, are prudent first steps. We urge you to give this report your deepest consideration, and to facilitate a positive government response rapidly. The wellbeing of future generations, and the ability of the NHS to care for society, depends on the leadership your government shows in this fundamentally important space. • Julia Aglionby Trustee, Susan’s Farm and Executive Director, Foundation for Common Land • Helen Browning Farmer and Chief Executive of the Soil Association • Caroline Drummond Chief Executive, LEAF • Jake Fiennes Director of Conservation, Holkham Estate • Peter and Henrietta Greig Pipers Farm • William Kendall Farmer and entrepreneur • Alastair Leake Director of Policy, The Game & Wildlife Trust • Martin Lines Arable farmer and UK Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network • Sue Pritchard Farmer and Chief Executive, The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission • John Shropshire Chairman G’s Group • Craig Livingstone Lockerley Estate

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

LEAF HAS CRITICAL PART TO PLAY Dear Sir, Part 2 of the National Food Strategy is comprehensive, wide reaching, analytical and thoughtful, but most of all it brings together the interconnectedness of farming, food, health, nutrition and nature that we need. It sets out 14 recommendations to achieve four very clear objectives: • Escape the junk food cycle and protect the NHS • Reduce diet-related inequality • Make the best use of our land • Create a long-term shift in our food culture. The complex links between what we produce, how we farm, our wider food cultures, nutrition, health and the climate was the theme of my Nuffield Scholarship. In 2014, I travelled to Canada, Taiwan and throughout Europe and it was evident that the farming sector has a huge role to play in sustainable diets and the health of our citizens. Food and nutrition are the bedrock of society. We need to develop the building blocks that connect health, wellbeing, nutrition, farming and education to drive more sustainable diets and food systems that are underpinned by the need to improve health and nutrition. The investment in reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases will have high returns. As well as feeding our growing population, we must also nourish its people and its precious ecosystems. LEAF has a huge role to play in advancing some of the key recommendations, particularly around land use and creating a shift in our food culture. The report is clear in its support of more regenerative, agroecological practices. It is the roadmap to advance the adoption of such practices and develop the science and technologies required that is needed. LEAF’s network of demonstration farms and innovation centres has a critical part to play. It is by pioneering new sustainable farming approaches, backed up by robust science and, critically, reaching out to the wider farming community, that the changes needed will be delivered. Similarly, we know that any environmental improvements have to make good business sense. The report also places education centre stage. Getting future generations to understand where their food comes from and its links to their own health and that of their planet, is the cornerstone of what we are delivering through LEAF Education and LEAF Open Farm Sunday. The debate in farming is no longer about whether we should be farming in this way or whether we should be building deeper and richer connections with our citizens, but about ‘how’ we are going to make these transformations happen and how fast, and LEAF is well placed to support this happening. Caroline Drummond MBE, Chief Executive Linking Education and Farming (LEAF)

FOCUS ON FRUIT SARAH CALCUTT

INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIP Hutchinsons’ Helios orchard walk.

The storm clouds may have threatened the orchards, before they are visible to the human eye. Helios orchard walk last month, but it was Scab and mildew are the starting point, with the SARAH CALCUTT a faultless demonstration of what good aim of producing an early warning system, aiding Executive Chair, partnerships and a forward vision can really spray programme development. Also as part of this National Fruit Show deliver. project, a novel approach to spore trapping using The Helios orchards seek to explore the potential match sticks (don’t ask) is being evaluated, aimed at of different orchard structures to utilise more enhancing the accuracy of disease modelling. light to increase yields and quality (Helios being the god of the sun in Greek Finally, Rob and Nigel described IRIS (Improving Resilience In Scab control), mythology). In Kent the orchard is hosted by Tom Hulme at Hoaden Court. its objective being to make scab fungicide programmes more resilient. UK It is a beautiful set of trial plots, well maintained by the Hoaden Court team, dessert varieties are annually challenged by scab issues, with our climate with specialist pruning and monitoring being undertaken by Hutchinsons getting warmer and wetter, fungicide options reducing and the new product agronomists Bob Little and Ivan Valesco. pipeline limited. There are six planting configurations and rootstocks under trial, the results Product approvals restrict the number and frequency of applications from which will become more interesting as they mature. Of more immediate and several fungicides are within the same FRAC groups, further restricting interest were presentations about the technology being developed with the applications. Protection is often needed every seven to 10 days (definitely in same objective – to increase yield and quality. the season we are enduring) and there is the potential to run out of permitted At the first technical stop Nick Strelczuk spoke about Terramap. The system applications before the season is over. can map 21 soil parameters at a resolution of 800 points per hectare. The sensor Bio-stimulants improve the ability of trees to withstand disease and fill the is mounted on a lightweight vehicle such as a quad bike and measures the ‘gaps’ in programmes by triggering systemic acquired resistance (SAR). This can natural radioactive decay of four isotopes, from which the soil map is derived. take time to become activated but reduced susceptibility (though not immunity) Importantly, it’s not just mineral content that is measured and mapped but also is possible. organic carbon content, this organic matter being crucial for soil health. The evaluation plots have been replicated in a commercial orchard; robust At the next stop Rob Saunders outlined the POD project (Precision Orchard protection applied from bud burst, bio-stimulants then deployed and support Dosing – an Innovate UK project managed by Rob, and partnered with from protectant fungicides only deployed when RIMpro predicts infection NIAB EMR, Outfield, The Acclaimed Software Company, Plumford Farm and pressure above a certain threshold. It’s going to be really interesting to see the Worldwide Fruit). We all know that even the best orchards can be variable; data from this season, which has got to be the most pressurised test they could the same rate of thinner or growth regulator applied to the whole orchard will have imagined. over-dose some trees and under-dose others. Orchard performance could be improved, and spray use optimised, by treating trees as individuals. How do you treat a tree as an individual? Initially, a LIDAR scan of the trees, Grubbing, timber & groundwork services then a UAV scan of the orchard to map blossom intensity and AI to interpret • orchard grubbing • land clearance the images, feeding into an algorithm to create a prescription map which is • windbreak removal • excavations delivered through a variable rate sprayer using GPS. • timber extraction • cultivations Next Nigel Kitney explained his RED-APPLE project – remote sensing and • fallen tree removal • pond dredging decision support for apple tree precision management and global traceability • ground contouring • reservoir construction (delivered using a grant from the Newton Agri-tech joint fund). This project W.H.Skinner & Sons centres around using hyperspectral cameras to spot pest disease remotely in 01622 744640 - 07711 264775

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REVIEW

RECONNECTING WITH FRIENDS It was difficult to imagine, while strolling around Fruit Focus on one of the hottest days of the summer so far, that the event had nearly been wiped out less than 24 hours before – by something described by those who experienced it as a “mini tornado”. Staff and contractors had to return to the site at East Malling to reconfigure and rebuild the site after strong winds and torrential rain destroyed the main speakers’ tent, wrecked sophisticated PA equipment and left the organisers grateful that it

had not happened the following day. Instead, the day of the event dawned sunny and warm, allowing visitors who had endured 15 months or so of Covid-enforced Zoom sessions to attend the popular show, hosted by NIAB EMR, reconnect with friends, chat to suppliers and just enjoy a return to something like normality. Organisers Comexposium were careful to make the event Covid-19 safe, although the huge central space designed to ensure adequate social distancing

> Mark Else, NIAB EMR

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

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experts had set up one of their own state-of-the-art structures within which to talk to existing clients and potential new customers. There was plenty of interest, too, in the robotic highways demonstration in progress in the Berry Gardens area, where a robotic strawberry collection system developed in association with the University of Lincoln was being put through its paces by Professor Marc Hanheide supported by Johann Dichtl. Professor Hanheide explained that the GPS-controlled robot helped get fruit into chilled conditions as quickly as possible and also saved pickers having to leave their station to deliver filled trays to the end of a row, something that could produce a 10% to 20% efficiency gain. The robots have been developed in association with SAGA Thorvald, which was also demonstrating its UV-C light treatment system designed to tackle powdery mildew and avoid the use of fungicides. Visitors to the show also took advantage of the chance to visit NIAB EMR’s Water Efficient Technologies (WET) Centre on the site, while there was also considerable interest in the DEFRA stand, where representatives outlined ELMS to a stream of visitors.

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did allow the arena to ‘swallow’ a lot of people, which no doubt contributed to the impression that it was, perhaps not surprisingly, a little less busy than in previous years. That said, those who took the opportunity to get back in the mix and catch up with the latest technology, assess the latest offerings from tried and trusted suppliers and simply enjoy the chance of being at a live event for a change found plenty to interest them. The main victim of the storm that wreaked havoc across the site was the speakers’ tent, which was lifted into the air and then dropped back on to the ground with a frame-twisting crash. It meant the day’s seminar programme had to be moved to the smaller registration tent, causing a bit of knock-on rearranging but making for some wellattended sessions, including NFU Fruit Forum discussions on securing enough labour for this year and beyond and on ensuring the UK’s horticultural sector can boost productivity and remain globally competitive. The seminar tent was busy throughout the day, with visitors also enjoying an update from hosts NIAB on strawberry breeding and varieties and a session led by DEFRA Head of Policy Jonathan Baker on the opportunities being unveiled as part of the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS). Other topics discussed at the seminars included robotics and automation, the effectiveness of biological insecticides and fungicides and the future of fertigation. While many of those who enjoyed the talks in their makeshift home would have been unaware of the last-minute change of plan, Comexposium’s Fruit Focus Portfolio Director Alli McEntyre was keen to ensure their efforts did not go unrecognised. “A lot of the contractors were already on their way home when the storm arrived, but everybody rallied around and people came back to help sort out the damage,” she told South East Farmer. “I have to thank WES, GL Events, National Electric Exhibitions, Total Event Company, Full Vision and STL Production Group, together with some very brave exhibitors and NIAB EMR.” As well as learning about the broad variety of topics discussed in the wellattended seminar programme, Fruit Focus visitors were able to talk to a range of standholders displaying everything from the latest machinery to equipment, growing mediums, robotics, agronomy advice and workforce solutions. Exhibitors included Engage Agri, which has supported the show for the past 10 years and was back with a striking display built around a bright red floor that had been two inches deep in water the previous afternoon but looked no worse for wear by the time the show opened. Commercial director Mark Horner said the company’s move away from traditional chemistry to more sustainable nutritional products was aimed at strengthening the crop’s own defences rather than tackling pests with chemicals after they had attacked. There were equally striking displays of machinery on the N P Seymour, Kirkland UK and Overland stands, while a supply of well-iced Pimms on such a scorching hot day ensured good attendance at the A G Recruitment stand, where Doug and Estera Amesz were able to advise clients on the latest developments in seasonal worker placement. It was a few degrees cooler, too, on the Haygrove stand, where the polytunnel

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

RECRUITMENT

Growers across the South East had the workforce they needed to harvest this year’s crops after a recruitment expert pulled out all the stops to find a reliable source of overseas labour. It was a close-run thing in a high-pressured scenario, helped only by the cold weather that delayed the growing season. Doug and Estera Amesz, founders of A G Recruitment, said they felt there was “a gun at our heads” as they fought to avert a potential crisis caused by late announcements and delayed decisions regarding the seasonal workers pilot scheme. With workers from Bulgaria and Romania less keen to travel to the UK and pre-settled and settled status workers increasingly unwilling to pick vegetables and fruits on British farms, Doug spent several months in Ukraine lining up a reliable source of workers. A G Recruitment was selected as one of two new agencies invited by DEFRA and the Home Office to recruit the 30,000 overseas workers allowed into the country this year – although he wasn’t able to tell anyone, or start working properly, for many weeks while the necessary red tape was untied. Doug’s decision to switch his sights to Ukraine meant he had to set up four new offices and recruit and train 15 new people to staff those offices. “In effect I had to set up what was essentially a new business,” he recalled. Having done so, the news for the UK’s growers is good. “The Ukrainian workforce we are now bringing over is keen, skilled and as good as any we have recruited in recent years,” he told

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RELIABLE SOURCE OF OVERSEAS LABOUR South East Farmer. A G Recruitment has managed to cope with the demand for workers so far this year but is warning that the Government really needs to move quicker ahead of 2022. “We need to know if there is going to be a scheme – and we certainly need one – and how many people we are going to be able to recruit,” Doug said. “We really can’t be left waiting until December again as that simply doesn’t allow enough time to find the right people, organise visas and transport and get them on to the farms here in the UK. We were saved this year by the coldest spring in 25 years, which delayed the growing season considerably, but we really need an earlier start next year.” Demand has been high for overseas workers to help with this year’s harvest, but Doug still has some headroom left within the 7,500 visas he is able to allocate. While the allocation is an annual figure, there is some flexibility at the end of the year, which means horticultural businesses that know they will need help in the first quarter of next year should contact A G Recruitment now. “We can use the last of this year’s visas to recruit workers in December, as long as they travel to the UK early in 2022,” he explained. AG Recruitment, one of just four agencies trusted

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

by the Home Office to bring seasonal workers into the country this year, has developed a strong reputation for the quality of its picking teams and has helped many growers avert a potential crisis this year. Looking ahead, Doug is already lobbying to make sure that the recruitment of next year’s seasonal workforce is less rushed and has stressed that the Government must “get its act together” more quickly this time. The business is also looking to set up another operation in Russia as it broadens its recruitment options. As well as lobbying for earlier decisions ahead of 2022, Doug is looking more broadly at ways of ensuring growers and recruiters work together to deliver the best service to the industry. One suggestion he plans to campaign against is the idea that growers should cover the costs of visas and transport, something he describes as “completely unworkable”. With the numbers of pre-settled and settled status workers prepared to pick fruit and vegetables in the UK dropping sharply and the domestic workforce showing no sign of being willing or able to pick up the slack, Doug said the Home Office needed to allow at least 60,000 seasonal workers into the country next year.

WEST SUSSEX DIARY NICK ADAMES

IT IS AMAZING HOW FAST

VINEYARD EQUIPMENT DEVELOPS The seasons creep up so fast; we are already approaching the end of another ‘farming’ year. Harvest for the traditional cereal crops is all but complete, although there is a little way to go for maize and vegetables. The only crop we grew this year was spring barley, made necessary because, along with a number of local farmers, we were let down by our nearby ‘digester unit’ at rather short notice and needed to seek alternatives. Cereals were never my favourite crop to grow and this was the first since 1969 on the home farm. Yet on other land, with no cattle now for coming up to two years, there has been constant activity. The block of arable land, a bit north in the Arun Valley, is let, mainly growing green beans and sweetcorn, both dependent on irrigation, and crops did well after a slow start. Usually in summer the land is busy with irrigators, although this year, with significant rainfall, they were required less. On the downland farm, winter-sown wheat established well, came through the early drought in March and progressed steadily to harvest; the land is now hosting fodder turnips for winter sheep keep. Some 40 acres of the land is into maize and again, after a very dry start, looks excellent as it approaches harvest. Comfortably exceeding “Knee high by the fourth of July”, it looks set for a heavy crop for cutting later this month. On the higher chalk land, the vineyard is now starting to take shape and is appearing better organised; the deer fences were erected in July and have given the vines a chance to establish themselves, free of nightly visits from the growing herd of, mainly, fallow deer that had been attracted by easy access over the past year. Our old dairy ‘liquid disposal’ system remains in place across the farm, but the vines have not needed any help and are now looking very encouraging. Their appearance has been greatly enhanced by Emma, who is on regular secondment to the vineyard for the

NICK ADAMES Former dairy farmer

growing period and has spent many hours with a new ‘roller hacke’ (German inter-vine sidehoe) and flail mower, controlling the weeds between the vines and the grass between the rows. It is amazing how fast vineyard equipment develops, and needs to, because the requirement for scarce labour is huge and the only practical way to keep on top of work is with the new innovations. I don’t think it will be long before they have the whole control system run by robotic, satellitecontrolled machines, driven by batteries, doing all the land work. Although the management of the actual vines will, I think, surely need to be by hand labour for a few years to come, automated grape picking is already developing fast. It is certainly exciting to see all these changes, although the ‘old cattleman’ in me still misses the animals immensely. And yet looking through the pages of recent dairy magazines makes me so pleased we sold the herd and got out when we did, in early 2018. The tables of milk prices today make it really hard to understand why dairy farming continues any more in many parts of the UK. Apart from the abysmal milk prices, the TB situation seems to be getting progressively worse, even more so than it was at the end of the last decade. Testing has become more onerous, culling rates more depressing and the environmental pressures greater. The new Mrs Johnson simply has too much influence on Boris and does not seem to understand the real countryside. If badger numbers are not strongly controlled and/or an effective anti-TB jab for cattle, similar to that for coronavirus, developed very soon, giving

similar results, I fear the dairy industry in the UK is doomed. There is only so much farmers can take; it’s simply been going from bad to worse for too long now. It is somewhat less devastating for beef finishers because when they lose cattle they get compensation and then go and buy in more stores, while dairymen lose their main production and reproductive units, their milking cows. But this isn’t appreciated by the majority of the public because they ‘know’ milk comes from the supermarket shelves. Yet it may not be the case for much longer. Every time one turns on the radio or TV these days one is bombarded with ‘green’ issues, such as environmental concerns, water use, rewilding, loss of ‘flower meadows’ (pretty ragwort and dungweed?) and the like. It is all pretty depressing, the manner in which agriculture is being blamed for things which in many parts of the world would be hailed as success stories. Agricultural development since the middle of the last century has been phenomenal, based on several key areas. Firstly machinery, which replaced traditional horse power from the late forties. Following close behind was the development of chemical sprays to suppress weeds and pests, providing the public with adequate food on local shelves. While many of these sprays have been withdrawn on health grounds over the years, the overall benefits have been astounding. We have been so fortunate. How much would our British systems be welcomed in huge parts of Africa and Asia? The people who constantly complain on full stomachs are far more fortunate than those who complain on empty ones, or quietly die of starvation. In the meantime my recent adventure with cereals draws to a close; spring barley, grown because the local AD plant decided it didn’t want any maize this year, leaving me with a choice of bare land or barley. The crop was wonderful but storms in June flattened it and all the pigeons south of the M4 feasted on it. Never again…

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NIGEL AKEHURST VISITS: HOOK & SON

TURNING A CORNER AFTER TB SETBACK This month Nigel Akehurst visits Hook and Son to meet father and son team Phil and Steve Hook, organic dairy and raw milk producers located at Longleys Farm in Hailsham, East Sussex.

It’s been a turbulent few years at Hook and Son. On Friday 13 April 2018, one of their young dairy heifers tested positive for TB on a premovement test. “We lost our TB-free status and our ability to sell raw milk, all because of 2mm on a skin test,” Steve said. Up until that point their turnover had been pretty high, at just under £1 million, and after costs they made a small profit. Overnight their income crashed and suddenly they were losing £7,000 a week. They successfully crowd-funded to keep going and received generous support from their customers, including donations, private loans and many letters.

“At the same time as incurring massive losses we’ve had to invest in the business to turn it around so we could generate income again,” explained Steve. In the initial aftermath, while unable to sell their raw milk direct, they processed all their milk into butter and ghee while they sourced, financed and installed a pasteurising machine, getting sign off from their local environmental health officer in under three weeks. “All the doorstep rounds switched over to pasteurised and pretty much everyone stayed,” said Phil. “At farmers’ markets sales dropped, but our other products like butter, ghee and dairy beef took

> Steve and Phi Hook

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off,” added Steve. “I feel like we’re turning a corner. We’ve got a fantastic team.” Having spent the past three years getting their costs down and income back up, they are now breaking even, but still have an awful lot of losses and loans to pay off.

BACKGROUND

Phil and Steve Hook have been in partnership since 1991 at Longleys Farm in Hailsham, on the western edge of the Pevensey Levels. They converted to organic in 1998 and became Soil Association-accredited in 2000. After converting to organic they had one or two good years of

FARM FACTS

money and then the price went down and they were struggling again. “The organic milk market was very small back then,” added Steve. With more dairy farmers converting, it didn’t take long for the price to crash. In an attempt to turn things around the Hooks joined forces with seven other dairy farmers in East Sussex to form the Wealden Organic Dairy Company. For two or three years they tried very hard to sell their milk but despite strong branding and provenance, it was all about price and they couldn’t compete against the big boys. The company subsequently folded. In 2006 they decided to have a go at selling their milk direct to the public as raw milk. “We went through the hoops to be licensed and in January 2007 started selling our own raw milk locally. “From our first milk delivery of 12 pints in the back of Phil’s Volvo estate, sales took off and the first three years of growth were impressive” said Steve. In 2009 they managed to buy the farm from the landlord. It was a case of third time lucky, owing to the fact that it hadn’t worked out on the two previous occasions they had been offered the farm. “We were going well enough to be able to

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commit to buy it and that was the best thing we ever did,” he said. The business continued to grow and in 2010 and 2011 they started selling raw milk online and doing farmers’ markets in London. By then they were employing three people. “Then in 2013 the Moo Man film came out and we also had our raw milk machine in Selfridges – so both those things really upped our profile,” said Steve. They gave up their milk contract with Milk Link and were selling 3,500 pints of milk a week online. At the time their raw milk sales represented about 40% of the market, which was beginning to grow rapidly as more dairy farmers switched to selling raw milk. In 2014 around 610,000 litres were sold as raw milk in the UK. By 2018 this had grown to over three million litres, with around 170 producers selling direct from the farm gate and through vending machines. In 2017 they bought a block of 70 acres which came up for sale next door. This extra land gave them more grass on the marsh. A year later, having just committed to an AMC mortgage, they were dealt a devastating blow when a young heifer tested >> positive for TB on a pre movement test.

• Phil and Steve Hook have been in partnership at Longleys Farm since 1991. • Farm 250 acres just north of Hailsham on western edge of the Pevensey Levels. • Converted to organic in 1998. • Started selling raw milk direct in 2007. • Steve and his favourite cow Ida became film stars when the Moo Man film became the surprise hit of 2013 Sundance film festival. • Bought the farm in 2009. Bought an adjoining 70 acres in 2018. • Evolved brand from raw milk to organic grass fed dairy and beef. • Widened range to include pasteurised milk, cream, butter, ghee, yoghurt, kefir, and creme fraiche as well as dairy beef. • Started selling dairy beef direct in 2018 while shut down for TB. Now sell two bodies of beef per month via their farmers’ markets. Cull cows vary from three-and-a-half to 15 years old and are butchered accordingly. • Sell at 14 markets each week; attend Borough Market three times a week. • Employ 15 people full time and five people part time. • Planning permission granted for five glamping units on the farm with help from CLM and Natural England. • Grow cricket bat willow to help sustain their farming business. • Rent a field to Pea Pod Veg market garden.

> Joe Hook making cream

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NIGEL AKEHURST VISITS: HOOK & SON

> Thad Skews of Pea Pod Veg

<< TB REACTOR It had been Friday the 13th, Steve recalled. “The bank manager was here at the time seeing dad and me. George, my son, stuck his head around the corner in the kitchen and said ‘Dad we’ve got a problem – we’ve got a reactor’.” The bank manager made a swift exit, leaving Phil and Steve to make sense of it all. They privately tested the animal, which just about failed a skin test on the immune response, he explained. Convinced the result was a false positive, they sent off milk and blood samples for what was a new test at the time, set up to detect the presence of TB bacteria rather than an immune response. It came back negative. Despite this they still lost their TB-free status, which purely depends on the skin test result and not on any other test. “That’s where the system is crazy, as any cattle that develop an immune response are culled out every year – so the national herd has no opportunity to develop immunity to TB, because it has been continually stripped out. “I appreciate it’s the cheapest test, but if there is a reactor or it is inconclusive then there should be a blood test as well to define if it’s got TB,” said Steve. “Whatever I think about our system, we lost our TB-free status and our ability to sell raw milk all because of 2mm on a skin test,” he added. Suddenly, they were losing vast sums of money every week. “That money is lost, we’ll never reclaim it. It’s gone. It’s that sort of business, but we’ve got a lot of loyal customers,” added Phil. They successfully crowd funded to keep going, with the money raised being used to firefight and turn the business around, explained Steve.

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WIDENING THEIR PRODUCT OFFERING AND REBRANDING Being locked down with TB restrictions and unable to sell livestock off farm, they began butchering their cull cows and selling the dairy beef at farmers’ markets. “Suddenly we were doing one animal a fortnight, which boosted our income,” said Steve. To reflect their widening range they began rebranding their business. “So the Hook and Son brand – which was all about raw milk – is now grass fed organic dairy and beef and that’s working,” he added. All their products are sold direct, via their two local doorstep rounds, 14 weekly farmers’ markets (all of which are in London apart from Lewes) or online.

IMPACT OF COVID-19

I asked how Covid-19 had impacted their business: “Covid-19 has had a positive impact for us,” Steve replied. They had over 300 new enquiries for their local milk round during the first lockdown when supermarkets were struggling with supply chain issues and shelves were empty. Steve thinks it may have made some people reset their priorities: “Better food is a big part of that. You are what you eat and better food is one of the few pleasures you can have in life during lockdown,” he added. Takings at their farmers’ markets are still up 20% on two years ago and last summer’s trade was incredible. “They like the experience of buying from a farmers’ market and being shown pictures of cows calving. People respect food a lot more,” he said.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

The dairy industry is on a hiding to nothing, believes Steve: “Supermarkets only worry about two things – dividends to shareholders and the basket factor, which is the average cost of their weekly shop. “The only thing they can do to control that is to make sure the price of the items you buy week in week out, like milk and bread, are as cheap as possible,” he said. The public don’t want to buy food that is mass produced all around the world, he said. “Whatever we do we never compete on price of product. It’s always on quality and we can then set our prices up there – it doesn’t matter, as customers buy our produce. “People are astounded when I tell them that after rainforest, grassland is the next best carbon sponge, and in the UK we’ve got one of the best climates in the world for growing grass which supports fantastic beef, lamb and milk. “We’ve lost our way but people are beginning to understand local grass-fed meat and dairy is the best you can have for health and climate reasons,” he added.

VEGAN MOVEMENT

I ask what he makes of the growing vegan movement and plant-based milk alternatives like Oatly? “I love the vegans,” he replied with a wry smile. “In January on the stall in Primrose Hill I had a couple of guys come up to the stall and ask if I sold soya milk as it was Veganuary. I replied ‘I’m sorry I only sell milk from lactating mammals – I don’t know of any milk from lactating plants – can you enlighten me?’ They both looked at me and walked away.”

FAMILY FARMS AND HOW TO FUND A MORE REGENERATIVE FARMING FUTURE

Steve worries for the future viability of family farms: “We communicate with our customers monthly and are the last dairy farm in the parish of Hailsham. A lot of people feel connected to us. If this farm and farms like it disappear – we’re in quite dangerous territory at the moment.” With a lot of farms reliant on their annual Basic Payment Scheme payment to keep going he thinks some will be taking the golden handshake.

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The public is crying out for more locally produced food and great access to farms, he said: “What’s missing at the moment is policy on how government is going to support on-farm processing and farm tourism.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Despite all the challenges, Phil and Steve feel their business is in good shape. They plan to continue to diversify to create new revenue streams and build a more resilient business. Steve tells me they launched creme fraiche in London just four weeks ago. “It has blown people away – there are a lot of French people in our Primrose Hill market that know their crème fraîche and they love it and say it’s the best they have ever had,” he said. This year they received planning permission to put five glamping units on their marsh, which they hope to have in place next year, and are also hoping to offer camping under the 56-day rule in the field next to Pea Pod Veg. Eventually they would also like to build a visitor centre to tell the story of the Pevensey Levels and open their own farm shop.

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DEMAND OUTSTRIPPING

SUPPLY 26

This report is being written at the beginning of August; we continue to see an exceptionally good trade for beef cattle in Colchester, with demand outstripping supply every week. Prices are some 20p/kg to 30p/kg above 12 months ago, equating to probably £150 to £200 per head. Let us hope this trade continues throughout the summer. Supply seems to be very tight within all sections, with positive signs being heard from the wholesale meat trade. Retail butchers are still enjoying a strong demand, helped very much by the football and Olympics, and with good weather there is no reason this

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should change. Best cattle are regularly seen around 240p/kg to 250p/kg live weight with averages around 220p/kg for all stock. The cow trade continued firm throughout, with many more wanted to satisfy this demand. This is reflected in the processing meat trade, and at the levels received farmers would be well advised to sell any cows not performing. The sheep trade is on something of a bumpy ride but still at excellent levels for the time of year. We saw a slight fall at the beginning of July which was quickly rectified to very good prices by the end of the month. Some hesitancy was seen towards the absolute end of July, but trade was still at levels above last year, which at the time were reported to be excellent. Best lambs have been seen regularly around 280p/kg to 300p/kg live weight, with heavy lambs meeting excellent demand. Feeding lambs with hard meal does seem to be beneficial at the present time, with buyers willing to pay a premium for well-finished lambs. A word of caution however – fat is not wanted. Let us hope numbers increase; it has been a generally slow start and that may be one of the reasons why the trade has been as buoyant as it has. By the time this report has been read, many store sheep will have been sold and the outlook is promising. Cull ewes are also at excellent levels, with demand generally being greater than supply, and many more could be sold to advantage in the live system. The pig trade has unfortunately not followed the boom of the sheep and cattle, and many producers are still talking about reducing sow numbers or indeed leaving the industry altogether. This is a very expensive product to bring to the market and a substantial increase is required to ensure family farms continue in pig production. The cull sow trade continues unchanged. As harvest is starting at the end of July there are mixed returns from the early barley cuts. This was a general view, with quality not as high as expected, and there is quite a lot of thin grain about. No wheat had been cut in the north east, Essex or Suffolk by the time this report was written. The potential is there, but the crops were looking like they needed dry weather with more sun to fully ripen. There is plenty of grass, with the damp weather ensuring a good regrowth and plenty of straw following the combine. Things look quite positive with regards to winter fodder and bedding for livestock producers.

VET DIARY

COBALT DEFICIENCY

RESEARCH PROVEN

DIAGNOSED REGULARLY

It has been a frustrating summer, with haymaking, silaging and harvesting being somewhat of a challenge with the heavy and frequent bursts of rain. Meanwhile the lambs are growing and will hopefully be nearing, or have already reached, their target weights for slaughter. On the plus side there is now plenty of grass, thanks to all the rain. Over the past month or so we have had cases of Nematodirus in lambs and Haemonchus in lambs and ewes, both of which will affect lamb growth rates. It will also be important to keep a look out for fluke this year, due to the very wet and mild weather that we have had compared to the previous very dry summers. A lot of you will be looking to finish your lambs this month or next. The quicker you can finish lambs and get them off the farm the more profitable they are. The more days they are on the farm the more money they cost you, not only in grass and potentially feed but also in grazing, which could either be rested or kept for the ewes. Causes of reduced growth weights (ill thrift) in lambs include: • Worm burden • Trace element deficiency (cobalt, selenium, copper) • Coccidiosis • Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) • Nutritional (poor grazing).

COBALT DEFICIENCY

Among others, listed above, cobalt deficiency is a common cause of ill thrift in growing lambs post weaning and is something we diagnose on a regular basis at this time of year. Different pastures contain different levels of cobalt and this can vary year on year and from pasture to pasture. Intensively reared, fast-growing lambs have a higher requirement for cobalt and are therefore more susceptible. Symptoms of cobalt deficiency include: • Watery discharge from eyes • Reduced growth rates • Debility and emaciation • Impaired resistance to diseases such as gastro-intestinal worms (high faecal worm egg counts (FWECs)). Diagnosis of cobalt deficiency is achieved by taking bloods from a proportion of the group (generally six to 10 samples). Treatment options available: • A six month, long-acting cobalt injection • Slow-release ruminal bolus • Oral drenching (this must be done every two to three weeks and is therefore fairly labour intensive) • Supplementation in concentrate feeds. Where cobalt is the only deficiency, the six month long-acting injection is the most effective and least labour intensive option. If other deficiencies are present, then it may be that the slow-release ruminal bolus is the best option for treatment. Ruling out other causes of reduced growth rates such as worms, coccidiosis, other trace element deficiencies and poor nutrition is also critical. If you believe your lambs are not thriving or growing as they should, investigate as soon as possible; take FWECs and contact your vet to discuss if further investigation is required.

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ALAN WEST SHEEP TOPICS

CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCE

The UK is officially warmer, sunnier, wetter. oxide and methane in particular. The precise level Sounds ideal for agriculture, but sadly it is the of that contribution is highly debatable and the ALAN WEST way in which this warmer, wetter and sunnier latter has been largely overstated by those with Sheep farmer will be delivered that generates the problem. their own agenda to pursue. Rather than generally being a bit warmer, a We are, as an industry, a relatively soft target, bit wetter and a bit sunnier, nicely spread over although we do have the benefit of a growing the year, delivery will frequently be via some desire from the general public to understand rather more extreme weather events. I’m sure there are producers in some of our problems, and rather than focusing on where blame lies we the South East who consider, after a run of hot dry summers, that this should be looking forward and exploring opportunities to enable us to make season’s weather represents a return to normality (whatever that is). contributions to solving the problem. Sadly, when one considers weather events around the rest of the UK Firstly, we need to dispel the myth that we don’t need ruminant livestock and globally, I suspect that what we are seeing is simply a blip in the as part of our agricultural systems; the increase in external pressure to limit transition towards increasingly hot and dry summers. the range and quantities of artificial chemicals employed within the wider A Met Office study report is predicting that we will, within the next agricultural sector has in reality enhanced the role of grazing (ruminant) decade, be experiencing in some parts of the UK prolonged spells of summer livestock within a balanced agri-ecosystem. We must not, however, fall into temperatures in excess of 40°C. The prolonged spells of temperatures the trap of complacency. Sheep producers still have a function to fulfill as in excess of 30°C that we have experienced over the past few years have producers of quality sheep meat and as contributors to both the reduction of presented significant challenges to both people and livestock (cattle more greenhouse gas emissions and the sequestration of carbon. Moving forward, so than sheep); temperatures of 40°C and above are a completely different sheep producers need to recognise the need to build into their production proposition and represent significantly greater challenges. systems resilience to the seemingly unrelated areas of social, environmental, There are many out there who still seek to deny climate change, but the financial and climate challenges. increasing number and severity of extreme weather events would seem to be Developing resilience is important to individual sheep enterprises, the a strong indication to the contrary. Evidence from the UK alone would indicate sheep sector as a whole and to the climate change debate. The level of this to be the case; we may have had a relatively wet and warm spring and resilience to external challenges of whatever complexion does tend to have early summer in the South East, but in some parts of the North of England an inverse relationship to both specialisation and intensification; closely and Scotland the reverse has been the case, with an uncharacteristically dry integrated mixed farming systems in general having a greater inherent level spring. Just last week (WC 19 July) record temperatures were recorded in of resilience. Some may argue that they are possibly the least financially Northern Ireland and this week (25 July) parts of London suffered flooding as resilient. This may be partially true in the short term, but longer term this a result of more than 50mm (close to two inches) of rainfall in a single storm. argument is not so persuasive. Looking further afield supports this view: record floods in Germany, The level of resilience that may be developed within a system is largely Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy; temperature records smashed in NW a factor of mitigation and adaptability. There is little that we can do, in the USA and Canada (records broken by almost 5°C); flooding in California; above short term, to mitigate climate changes, but there is a lot that we are able to average winter temperatures and severe flooding in May, June and July in contribute to the long term situation. parts of New Zealand; record summer temperatures in Siberia and the Arctic; There are, however, steps that we can take to mitigate some of the the list goes on. impacts, ensuring that sheep always have access to adequate fresh water As an industry we need to recognise the contribution that agriculture has or shade being obvious examples. This may include some strategic tree made towards greenhouse gasses associated with climate change, nitrous planting, providing longer term benefits to stock plus some environmental

> July 2020, July 2021 – July 2022?

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AT ASHFORD MARKET

gain. Rams in particular benefit from shade. Prolonged hot weather can have a significant and detrimental effect on sperm production, and as spermatogenesis is a process that extends over seven weeks or so, it is not yesterday’s weather but what was happening a couple of months ago that will have an impact when they go to work. There is also some considerable scope for mitigation when considering the availability of adequate supplies of grass and forages. Managing grass and forages in a way that helps build soil organic matter has the dual function of building greater resilience into the system, since organic matter retains moisture, and buffering some of the impacts of dry weather. It also locks up carbon in the soil. Incorporating a greater range of forage crops to include deeperrooted types and varieties may also have a significant impact, providing opportunities for extending the grazing season (careful selection can provide for an earlier bite, fill some of the summer gap and provide more forages into the autumn) and reducing the reliance on concentrates (with associated cost saving and reduction of methane emissions). The wider use of forages also has the benefits of improved soil health and enhancing both the image and public perception of sheep production. More considered use of grass and forages also has benefits beyond the obvious impact of a more effective use of a valuable resource; longer rotation paddocks, for example, can help to improve soil health and organic matter. There is a host of areas in which sheep producers may, with a bit of creative thought, devise strategies to help mitigate some of the impact of the changing climate. In addition, greater and more effective use of forages will help reduce costs of production, a key feature in building financial resilience at a time of reducing income. In terms of adaptability, one of the other key elements in building resilience, I suspect that it is producers that will find this the most challenging and not their sheep. Sheep are remarkably adaptable creatures, a key feature in their incredible success as farmed livestock for thousands of years. Somewhere in the genetic make up of our sheep are the genes for heat tolerance, genes inherited from their wild ancestors in the hot and arid regions of the Middle East and Central Asia. Some breeds no doubt have the capacity to adapt rather more readily than others and we may even, if we see summer temperatures rising to 40°C plus, need to consider some adjustments to the breeds we keep; either different breeds or by outsourcing genetic material for heat tolerance. Very young lambs are quite vulnerable in hot weather, becoming hyperthermic just as readily as we now worry about them becoming hypothermic. We may need to adjust lambing times to avoid exposing young lambs to the hottest of weather, but what warmer, wetter and sunnier will not do is alter the seasonality and day length of the UK, and it is the latter which controls the seasonality of breeding for most of our temperate sheep breeds. Non-seasonal breeding may become more important, particularly if we have milder winters, both from the point of view of the impact of high temperatures on lambs and the availability of grass and other forages in the hottest of months. We have recently had a foretaste of the potential impact of climate change. At this point, all we can say with any degree of certainty is that things have changed and will continue to change; the speed and magnitude of that change are speculative. There is the potential for significant and dramatic shifts in weather events and weather patterns; to this end we are moving into relatively unknown territory. The UK lowland livestock sector, including sheep is, as a result of the removal of the support measures, one of the most vulnerable, but in terms of developing resilience to climate change it is probably one of the best placed; we have greater flexibility and more opportunities to adapt than sheep producers in some of the harsher parts of the country where the production environment dictates and constrains production systems.

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MAKING SENSE

OF WEATHER

There is no doubt that the summers of 2020 and 2021 could not have been more different, with the consequence that forage, which was non existent in 2020, is in super abundance in 2021. While hay making is far from over and straw is yet to come in, the prospects for the winter of 2021/22 are far more reassuring, but this abundance of both grazing and forage must be managed with care and attention when it comes to livestock marketing. It is tempting to keep store stock in fields with plentiful grass to the bitter end of the grazing season, only to find that key marketing timings have been missed. This is clearly the case with the demand for stronger yarding cattle which arises immediately after harvest, with straw stacked and as summer temperatures begin to decline. Beef consumption always increases in the autumn and by November processors are putting cuts aside for the Christmas period. Working dates back from that period, fatteners want sufficient time to increase carcase weights and quality on rations far in front of late summer grass. Add in a 90-day residency for non-assured store cattle and the impact of a delay on stronger, aged cattle can be seen. While carcase weight issues have not been to the fore during this latest price rise, it is a factor with the major retailers and producing over sized stores, to produce overweight carcases, to face discounts is not a perfect plan. Of course, we can see the differing pressures that farmers are under postharvest, but regular contact with auctioneers and fieldsmen is well advised to identify the right time and the right sale for specific stock. Circumstances could not be more different to 2020 in the world of South East sheep. There wasn’t a blade of grass to be found last year and big numbers of store lambs had to be sold in July and August. While the rest of the country had grazing, and prices were good, rates did strengthen as the year went on. However, there was no option for most. This year is different, and with more flexibility in producers’ minds there are fewer lambs on the market. But look carefully at early prices this year; at £85/head on average at the first sale, they are up £20/head on 2020. Lambs will be spread more evenly over the season but, once again, consider the market carefully and take advice from those in the market every day and take the best option when it is right for you. Breeding sheep generally revolve around an April lambing in the South East, but there is certainly more talk about earlier lambing for some, brought about by the higher finished prices this spring. Ewe tegs are in better condition this year and breeding stock is certainly not about in big numbers after last year`s dry weather. The strong market saw many ewes and ewe lambs killed when prices were high. Circumstances vary for everybody, but there is no doubt that all cattle and sheep, whether breeding or finishing, are in short supply. Producers, for once, are in the driving seat and competition is keen throughout the country. Use this to your advantage and make the most of your livestock in an auction environment where demand is tangible. Use your market to get the best advice and put your stock in front of hundreds of competing buyers, whatever the weather!

PETER KINGWILL T: 01233 502222

www.hobbsparker.co.uk

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LIVESTOCK

TEXEL SOCIETY WELCOMES

Genes from British Texels could soon be introduced into Paraguayan sheep following export discussions between the Texel Sheep Society and like-minded organisations in that country. Society chief executive John Yates said the Paraguayan interest has been built on the breed’s success in other South American countries including Brazil, Chile and Mexico, where British genetics have already been used to great benefit. “British Texels have proved themselves highly adaptable to a wide variety of environmental conditions and farming systems across the globe, with the breed’s ability to add value to its offspring sought after by many overseas breeders,” he said. “Breeders across the world continue to seek out the best sheep genetics able

PARAGUAYAN INTEREST

Crystalyx have used their 40 years’ experience in UK ruminant agriculture to develop the first range of feed blocks specifically formulated for dairy systems, from calf rearing through to milking cows. For calves in the first 100 days, Crystalyx Calf 100 promotes early rumen development and starter feed intake. If calves are at risk of respiratory problems, Crystalyx Easy Breather contains menthol and eucalyptus to help maintain a healthy respiratory system. Crystalyx Heifer 730 helps improve forage intakes and digestibility to keep heifer growth on target. In trials at Aberystwyth University, heifers fed the blocks grew 15.2% faster than the control group, reaching bulling weight on

to produce high quality, high value lean meat in forage-based systems. The Texel breed is well suited to this and has evolved within the UK to become the country’s leading terminal sire breed and also an important maternal breed too.” He said “extremely positive” discussions had been held with representatives from the Asociación de Criadores de Texel del Paraguay and Asociación Paraguaya de Criadores de Ovinos. “The Society looks forward to helping facilitate further discussions with the Paraguayans and to seeing British Texel genetics delivered to Paraguayan breeders in due course,” Mr Yates added.

NEW LIFELONG APPROACH

TO DAIRY EFFICIENCY average 40 days sooner. In situations where flies reduce grazing behaviour, Crystalyx Heifer Garlyx Grazer helps protect heifers by repelling flies. The range includes two products specifically formulated for use during transition. Transition Dry Cow is fed in late pregnancy, while Transition 100 is formulated to stimulate appetite in fresh calvers through to 100 days in milk.

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“In independent trials conducted by Dr Peter Ball, feeding Transition Dry Cow followed by Transition 100 resulted in eight fewer days to first service, a 21 day shorter calving to conception interval and 25% more cows in calf at 100 days,” said Crystalyx Technical Director Dr Cliff Lister. “The new range offers dairy farmers a proven way for them to do dairy differently and meet the challenges they face head on.”

ADVICE FROM THE VET

BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE

With lambs weaned and cull ewes sorted, it’s time to start thinking ahead to next year’s lambing period. Breeding preparation not only includes the ram MOT, but also protecting the ewes against infectious causes of abortion, toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE), writes Mel Bexon BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS MRCVS, Westpoint Ashbourne First things first… are either of these diseases present in your flock? There are some key things to look out for that may indicate that there is an issue: • Higher than expected barren rate at scanning time • Abortions during late pregnancy, especially around two to three weeks off the due date • Increased number of stillbirths +/- mummified lambs • Weak lambs that struggle to thrive. Keeping a note of all the above will help demonstrate if there is a problem. Even if there are no accurate records of exactly how many ewes aborted or were barren, if >2% of the flock is affected then investigations are necessary. Luckily, there are subsidised schemes to help investigate causes of high barren rates and high abortion rates. These schemes often run from January through to September and help identify the presence of these infectious causes of abortion. Your vet can take blood samples from six to eight affected ewes to see if antibodies are present, indicating exposure to the infectious organism. It is important to investigate via the subsidised schemes in advance of tupping time, as the results may affect the plan of action to benefit the next lambing period. Records can be a real asset to monitoring lambing and overall production in the flock and can influence management decisions for the future after reviewing the data collected with your vet. Key records to keep during the lambing period include: • Number of barren ewes • Number of aborted ewes • Number of stillborn lambs • Number of mummified lambs. An easy way of recording data is conducting a weekly tally on a whiteboard or in a pocket notebook. Of course, there are other performance indicators that can

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be recorded during lambing, but what is important is recording essential data that can impact flock management in the future. When in the thick of lambing, it is important to know what to do if you are presented with an aborting ewe. Firstly, clearly identify her and record her tag, then isolate her from the rest of the lambing ewes. One of the best ways to reach an accurate diagnosis is to submit the dead lamb(s) and placenta for post-mortem examination. If you do submit any abortive material, it is essential that you wear appropriate PPE, especially gloves, as both toxoplasmosis and EAE are zoonotic, meaning that they are able to cause illness in humans, too. It is important to note that pregnant women should not be in contact with lambing ewes. The most commonly diagnosed cause of abortion in sheep is EAE, which is caused by a bacteria, Chlamydophila abortus. This normally causes abortion in late pregnancy and is spread by carrier sheep. Buying in sheep is the biggest risk of introducing this disease into your flock. Sheep often abort the year after exposure and outbreaks can be catastrophic. If an outbreak does occur, antibiotics can be used to try to prevent further abortions, but this is not a sustainable or responsible method of preventing disease. Once infected, ewes are pre-programmed to abort in subsequent years, so ongoing losses can still be a worrying issue. The best way of preventing EAE is vaccination. Ewes can be vaccinated as early as four months before tupping but must be vaccinated a minimum of four weeks before tups are introduced. Vaccination is a small investment in preventing what is potentially a very costly disease. Contact your vet if you want to take advantage of the funding for sampling aborted ewes and to arrange vaccination. If you would like to discuss anything covered in this article contact your local Westpoint practice

ANDY RICHMOND JACK BALKHAM EMILY OZOLS

Westpoint Horsham Westpoint Ashford T: 01306 628086 T: 01306 628208 E: info@westpointfarmvets.co.uk

Westpoint Sevenoaks T: 01959 564383

www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk

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50 YEARS OF COMBINING

TWO COMBINES FOR THE

PRICE OF A SERVICE

A black and white photograph on the wall of Martin Boulden’s Court Lodge Farm office shows a Claas Matador combine harvester working its way steadily through a field of wheat just outside Ashford in Kent. From a desk drawer, the Aldington farmer produces the original invoice, revealing that in April 1962 the family business paid around £5,500 – including an ‘out-of-season discount’ – for not one, but two, Matadors. “It costs me more than that each year to service that one,” he commented, pointing out into the yard, where a Claas Lexion 770 equipped with a 40ft header stood ready to tackle this season’s harvest once it had dried off enough after the previous day’s rain. And he wasn’t joking. On the upside, Martin, who has been driving combines for half a century, pointed out that it would take 26 of the Matadors in the photograph to do the work of the Lexion, which can operate at 70 tonnes per hour, to say nothing of the benefits of air conditioning, GPS and the dozens of other modern refinements. By the time Martin left school in 1972 at the age of 16 he had already been helping out on the family farm for a few years, driving one of the business’s three combines for real while most of his contemporaries were still dreaming of learning to drive a car. The family’s farming connection with Kent goes back a long way, with greatgrandfather David owning Pinn Farm in Bonnington in the late 19th century. Martin’s grandfather George, meanwhile, bought Ruffins Hill Farm in Aldington in 1908, growing wheat and oats on 150 acres of land and breeding horses for the Army, as well as keeping sheep. Three of George’s four sons, Peter, Clive and John, joined the family business,

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and Martin still trades as G L Boulden and Sons in tribute to that heritage. He is Peter’s son and has now been joined in the business by his own son, Paul. Grandfather George was conscripted at the start of the first world war but was soon sent back once the powers that be realised that farmers were too vital to the domestic war effort to be sent overseas. “I sometimes think back to the life my grandfather had,” Martin reflected. “He went through the first world war and the depression in the thirties before then experiencing another world war, and during that time he brought up four boys. People today don’t realise what life was like for that generation.” George died in 1975 at the age of 92, leaving Martin’s dad and uncles at the helm of the business. The family bought Court Lodge Farm in 1950, paying just £13,500 for 350 acres and five cottages, and the business has expanded steadily ever since. Including a considerable amount of tenanted land, G L Boulden and Sons now farms 3,500 acres spread over 13 parishes in and around Aldington. The land is used to grow wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, linseed and oilseed rape, while livestock includes 1,000 Romney ewes, 85 suckler cattle in three herds, together with youngstock, and a herd of some 20 Blonde D’Aquitaine cattle at Swanton Farm, Bilsington. The business got rid of its dairy herd about 30 years ago, as did most of the other local farmers. “There were once 13 dairy herds in and around Aldington, but now there are none,” Martin said. The arable operation is essentially mintill, with a limited amount of ploughing and no direct drilling as the land is not suitable and blackgrass is a persistent problem.

FEATURED FARM: COURT LODGE FARM

Support That Lasts a Lifetime

Bell Agricultural Ltd Support That Lasts a Lifetime

MAIN DEALER Unusually, the business has yet to diversify into business units or solar energy, but Martin and Paul are thinking of converting a barn alongside neighbouring Aldington Church into holiday lets, one of the options under consideration as they think through the implications of the end of basic payments. The subsidy cut is one of the reasons dad voted against Brexit, which has left him unimpressed. “People thought they were escaping from European Union red tape, but those regulations have been replaced by even more complicated rules because we are determined to show we have the highest possible standards,” Martin said, pointing to a recently delivered leaflet highlighting new Red Tractor accreditation requirements. “The paperwork is getting worse not better and we are about to see increased imports of beef, lamb and sugar from Australia. We don’t use foreign labour, but the fruit growers who do rely on it are having problems. Brexit really hasn’t done anything for farmers.” While the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t have an immediate effect on G L Boulden and Sons, it has made haulage more difficult. It also meant the farm had to find other shearers for their Romney flock since the usual New Zealand crews were unwilling to come over because of possible quarantine restrictions on their return. >>

PLEASED TO KEEP COURT LODGE FARM FARMING

Ivychurch, Kent TN29 0AW www.bellag.co.uk 01797 344 688 TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

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LEXION – Exemplary performance.

MANNS proudly supporting G L Boulden & Sons MANNS Saxham Tel: 01284 777700

MANNS Essex Tel: 01376 345875

MANNS Market Harborough Tel: 01858 466660

MANNS Norfolk Tel: 01328 878071

MANNS Halesworth Tel: 01986 834600

MANNS Kent Tel: 01622 892572

MANNS Spaldwick Tel: 01480 890269

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FEATURED FARM: COURT LODGE FARM

50 YEARS OF COMBINING

<< The lack of diversification to date reflects the size of the farming operation and the dedication that has made it such a successful enterprise. “We’re just too busy farming,” Martin admitted. The father and son duo is helped by Martin’s sister Ginny (who “puts a thousand hours a year on a tractor and is very good with sheep”), Steve Noblett, who looks after the yard work, hedgecutting and the like, and recent arrival Alex Comey, who has been with the business around 18 months and takes care of drilling, haymaking and fertilising. Martin does all the spraying using a trusty Bateman parked outside the farm office on the day South East Farmer visited. Once harvest arrives, Martin is back in his element at the controls of the Lexion 770, the latest in a line of combines he has driven over the past 50 years. “When I started, we were using three machines to do less than 1,000 acres,” he said. “Now I do roughly 2,700 acres with one – and the yield has virtually doubled over the same period. It’s a totally different process these days.” >>

> Martin Boulden TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

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50 YEARS OF COMBINING

<< While the process is different in terms of the efficiency of the machinery and the fact that the operator is sitting in relative comfort helped by more computing power than it took to land the first man on the moon, the job remains similar. “Combining is essentially the same as it’s always been,” Martin said. “Except that you aren’t sitting in the dust these days. It’s a bigger machine but it works in essentially the same way – and things still go wrong. Driving this one isn’t much

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FEATURED FARM: COURT LODGE FARM

different to driving the one I helped dad out with in the early seventies.” Martin and Paul have stuck with the Claas brand for 14 years and are impressed with the way it performs. They began their relationship with the brand when they bought a second hand Claas 600 with a 30ft header, later replacing it with a new 600 before buying their current Lexion 770. Before that came a string of John Deere combines that increased steadily in size. “We had a John Deere 730 with a 16ft header for two years followed by a 970 with an 18ft header for ten, a 1085 with a 20ft header for another 10, an 1188 with a 20ft header for five years and then two 2266 machines with 25ft headers,” Martin recalled. Martin, now 65, and Paul, 42, sell the majority of their grain through Frontier and Openfield, with the current high price helping to offset the rising costs of inputs. “Nitrogen is about £130 a tonne up over the year,” Martin pointed out. The current healthy grain market is also a comfort when thinking about a future without basic payments, although there is no guarantee how long that cushion will be there. “Losing the single farm payment will certainly prove to be a challenge, but I’m sure we will make things work,” he added. “We have always relied on hard work to make the business a success; Paul and I certainly spend more time on the farm than anywhere else and that isn’t going to change,” he said, while paying tribute to the support provided by wife Jean, another integral member of the team. Cattle and sheep reared at Court Lodge Farm are all sold through Ashford Market, which Martin said served the farm’s needs very well, and he has recently sold Blonde D’Aquitaine bulls for a healthy price. Certificates highlighting success at Ashford Cattle Show line the walls of the office. The biggest change Martin has seen in the past 50 years is in the numbers of people working the land. “There used to be 15 farm workers here; we once had five shepherds,” he recalled. The weather is a continual challenge, although Martin is not persuaded by the climate change argument. “We get good years and bad years,” he said. “We have always had wet years. It’s just one of those things.” A former parish council chairman, and still a councillor, Martin also served as a part-time fireman for 32 years, giving back to the community with which his family has been associated for so long. That association could continue for many more years, too, with Paul and his wife Kristina having two children, Oliver and Sophia, and Martin and Jean’s daughter Caroline and husband Ben also having two, Rupert and Beatrice. One can only imagine how impressive the combines will be when they are old enough to help with the harvest.

PLOUGHING MATCHES

Entries wanted for crawler tractor class at the Weald of Kent ploughing match Cash prize for best work TEL: 07872 501951

D OF KEN EAL

Ploughing match season is here! We look at upcoming events in the South East.

Date: 18 September 2021 Venue: Honey Farm, Munday Bois Road, Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0SU Gates open: 9am with free car parking Entry costs: Entry £7.50 (online) £8.00 (on the gate) Under 12s free Web: www.wkpma.co.uk

There will no doubt be an extra special spring in the step of visitors to the annual Weald of Kent Ploughing Match as rural life gets back to something like normal after the disruptions of 2020. The annual Weald of Kent match, sponsored by BTF Partnership, has a history stretching back 74 years, and last year’s cancellation because of Covid-19 was deeply disappointing. This year’s event will take place on Saturday 18 September at Honey Farm, Munday Bois Road, Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0SU by kind permission of Mr D Gwillim. Alongside the vintage, steam-plough, horseploughing and conventional ploughing classes, there will be a full range of activities for all ages to participate in, including a: • gymkhana – classes for children aged up to 14 including showing classes, show jumping, fancy dress and novelty classes for young or novice riders • fun dog show with classes for all shapes and sizes • dog agility competition with classes for all sized dogs both new to and experienced at agility, plus have-a-go fun agility

THE LARGEST RURAL EVENT

IN THE WEALD OF KENT • clay shoot competition with six classes. The main show ring will feature a full programme of events to entertain spectators throughout the day. It will include: • birds of prey flying display • tossing the sheaf competition, open to all visitors • hounds parade • gun dog demonstration • gun dog scurry competitions • terrier racing • tug-of-war. For food and drink lovers there will be a large farmers’ market to browse, with local producers selling a range of delicious produce and gifts. The match will also be home to an extensive trade show with around 80 stands, a bar area and catering. This year’s event will be run according to the latest government guidance on Covid-19 and ticket

numbers will be restricted. People are encouraged to book an early bird ticket online from 6 August. Seth Nesfield, Chairman of the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match Association, organisers of the match, commented: “Sadly we had to cancel the 2020 match due to Covid-19 and this year we will also be restricting the numbers. “We have a large site this year which will be set up to allow people plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the events. This is an important event in the Weald of Kent farming diary, which brings the rural community together, and it will be a fantastic opportunity for people to get out and see friends after a long period of lockdown.” Entries for all classes, (ploughing, gymkhana, dogs and clay shoot) are welcome and details of how to enter and entry dates can be found at www.wkpma.co.uk along with how to buy tickets.

CHAIRMAN 50 YEARS LATER

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> Alan Piper, Fred Redman, Edwin Hull, Barry Penn, Brian Foster, John Seale, Arthur Adams feature in a 1971 newspaper cutting

GR ST

INSTEA

Brian Foster first took part in the East Grinstead and Three Counties Ploughing Match half a century ago. Fifty years on, Brian is now Chairman of an event that has been run by a thriving local association for more than 70 years and is well supported by many of the area’s well-known farming families. The 73rd East Grinstead event is being held on 11 September at Home Farm, Wallage Lane, Rowfant, appropriately enough the venue for Brian’s first match. The venue has been provided by Mr and Mrs N Penn. This year’s event features eight main ploughing classes and a hedge cutting competition, together with the third year of the Vexour Cup, which is open to ploughmen and women under 26 years of age and offers a cash prize of £100. The match features tractor and trailer rides, a bar, hot food, ice creams, a bouncy castle, a family fun dog show and more.

Date: 11 September 2021 Venue: Home Farm, Wallage Lane, Rowfant Entry costs: £5 per car

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PLOUGHING MATCHES

SEE WHY WE PLOUGH AND HOW

ST S U S S E X

Date: 25 September 2019 Venue: Priesthawes Farm, Pevensey, BN24 5BL Gates open: 9.30am Entry costs: £5 Free parking, children under 16 go free Web: www.espms.co.uk

This year’s Petworth Ploughing match will take place at Bignor Farms, West Burton, by permission of the Tupper family and Bignor Park Estate. The association promises to stay true to its roots and is a traditional ploughing match with hard fought farm and crop competitions throughout the year. This year’s match day on 25 September will feature ploughing classes from vintage to reversible world style and is set to see great support in each class. Winners have the opportunity to represent the association at the Sussex Championship or even the National Finals. Some of the association’s ploughmen have gone on to represent Petworth at the Sussex Championship, with William Tupper and Neil Dallyn going on to plough at the Nationals on three occasions. In 2019 William, Neil and Zak Fermor represented the area in the Ferguson heritage class. The association has a bursary scheme for young people to learn to plough, sponsored by R A Dallyn & Sons. The aim is to make ploughing accessible to more people and help keep the art alive.

and in 2015, the year of the 50th anniversary match. The match has nine classes, mainly vintage tractors and ploughs with a sprinkling of modern equipment. There are usually at least two teams of horses, a domestic section, a popular fun dog show and trade and craft stands. The society was known as the Battle NFU Ploughing match before 1965, having been set up to generate money for the Red Cross. It then became the East Sussex Ploughing Match Society and now holds matches in a variety of different locations across the area. In 2019 the society welcomed one ploughman, Colin Young, who had taken part in the event every year for the previous 50.

TRADITIONAL PLOUGHING MATCH

PE T

WORTH

Date: 25 September 2021 Venue: Bignor Farms , West Burton

WONDERFUL CHARACTERS

ON & DIST

While ploughing matches are making a welcome return this year after the pandemic forced them off the calendar in 2020, societies and associations are still taking every precaution to keep exhibitors, competitors and visitors safe. The Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins & Burford Ploughing Society is one of those that has decided to make this year’s event ticket only, although the rest of the popular show, including a full range of trade stands and main ring events, will take place as normal. The match will take place on Saturday 25 September at Manor Farm, Hatford in Oxfordshire by permission of Mr and Mrs John Baylis. It will be the show’s fifth visit to Manor Farm in the show’s 72 years. On the last occasion, in 2012, John’s father Bill, then 102, was reunited with the family steam engine that he could remember arriving at the farm as a child. The society is hoping for more than 100 ploughing entries, both old and new, including steam and a good ORD, FARI IRF display of horse teams.

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Date: 25 September 2021 Venue: Manor Farm, Hatford, Oxfordshire SN7 8JH Web: www.ploughingmatch.co.uk

B U R F OR

Date: 15 September 2021 Venue: Stud Farm, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0EF Web: www.laughtonagriculturalsociety.com

DON, FILKIN NG

TICKET ONLY EVENT

RIC

LAU G

Ploughing matches are well known for their local characters, and the event organised by the Laughton & District Agricultural Society is no exception. “We have some wonderful characters who plough with us each year, and two in particular,” commented show secretary Shauna Fenner. “Colin Young and Eric Swain have been ploughing for 50 years and 65 years respectively.” Those two old hands will be joined by many other competitors when this year’s Laughton Ploughing Match takes place at Stud Farm, Newhaven, on Wednesday 15 September by kind permission of James White. As in previous years the show will also feature a family section with classes for cookery, handicrafts, flowers, fruit and veg and the like. The society is also very proud of the work it does with local primary school children thanks to the efforts of the society’s education section, run by Liz Rea.

Younger visitors are being encouraged to attend this year’s East Sussex Ploughing Match, which takes place at Priesthawes Farm, Pevensey, on Saturday 25 September by kind permission of Mr Chris Wadman. The East Sussex Ploughing Match Society described the day as “a wonderful way to promote a craft that is being used less in today’s modern farming” and added: “We would like to see more young people taking part and carrying on the skills, so come along and see why we plough and how.” The society donates money to the host’s chosen charity each year, and Mr Wadman has chosen the Huntington’s Disease charity. This will be the society’s third visit to his farm, which hosted the event in 2005

Weald Granary There’s a better future in store More and more farmers are seeing the real beneﬁts of co-operative centralised storage and marketing. AT COST DRYING CHARGES, PROBABLY THE LOWEST IN THE UK.

RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY

Grain conditioning and blending facilities adding up to £3/t

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas

Weald Granary Ltd Seven Mile Lane, Mereworth, Nr. Maidstone, Kent ME18 5PZ Tel: 01622 814458 Email: john@wealdgranary.co.uk Web: www.wealdgranary.com

SHOWCASING THE BEST

Weeding out problems, encouraging growth

This year’s Ongar Ploughing Match on Saturday 25 September will also play host to the Essex County Ploughing Match, showcasing the best ploughmen and women from across the county. The event, being held at Hatfield Regis Grange Farm, Hatfield Broad Oak, near Bishops Stortford, the home of Robert and Elaine McGowan, will offer a much-needed chance for ploughmen and local people to get together for a catch up and chat after a difficult 18 months for everyone. Entrants from all over Essex and some from Hertfordshire will be competing in seven classes, six of which are competitive. There is also a beginners’ class that will include a little tuition. The local hunt will be parading with the hounds, while shire horses from Audley End will be turned out in their usual splendid style and showing off their ploughing skills. Visitors may even be able to have a go, although the organisers warn that they will need hang on tightly and almost run behind the plough. Caterers Ragmarsh Farm will be providing a range of refreshments, while the bar will be open from 10am. The non-profit making event is funded by a raffle, so visitors are asked to ONGAR support it generously.

A leading practice, rooted in the agricultural sector in the South East. Our lawyers provide peace of mind to generations of farming families and businesses. Visit our website page on the agricultural & rural affairs sector for a full overview of our experience www.ts-p.co.uk/agriculture • • • • • •

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Date: 25 September 2021 Venue: Hatfield Regis Grange Farm, Hatfield Broad Oak

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Date: 5 September 2021 Venue: Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet, Kent Gates open: 9am Entry costs: Entry costs £5 per head or £10 per car Web: www.romneymarshploughing.org.uk

The Romney Marsh Ploughing & Cultivations Society Annual Ploughing Match and Fun Dog Show is being held on Sunday 5 September at Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet. The match, one of the first of the autumn calendar, can trace its history back to the fifties and restarted after a break in 2008. It is one of a number of matches that focuses on raising money for charity as well as providing a popular family event, and currently supports Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance and the local RNLI stations at Dungeness and Littlestone. This year’s match will be attended by ploughmen and women from Kent and Sussex and, along with the fun dog show, will feature the Romney Marsh Hounds, heavy horses, sheep shearing demonstrations, local craft stalls and other attractions. Ploughing starts at 10am and bookings for the fun dog show will be taken from 11am. NEY MA

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04/08/2021 11:58

COME AND SEE US AT PLOUGHING MATCHES: Edenbridge and Oxted Show Romney Marsh Weald Kent West Grinstead East Kent Hurstpierpoint

2021 PLOUGHING MATCH FIXTURES Saturday 5th September Romney Marsh Ploughing & Cultivations Society Annual Ploughing Competition Ham Mill Lane, Hamstreet, Romney Marsh TN26 2QW phone-alt 07821009693 envelope-open romneyploughing21@gmail.com

Saturday 5th September West End, Windlesham & District Agricultural & Horticultural Society Manor Farm Stoke D’Abernon KT11 3PU phone-alt R Goff: 01483 475645

Saturday 11th September Swale Area Ploughing Match

Greenway Court, Hollingbourne, Kent ME17 1QD phone-alt Secretary: Chris Hildwaird at George Webb Finn 01795 470556 or Andrew Mew 07759 320496

Saturday 11th September East Grinstead & Three Counties Agricultural & Ploughing Match Association

RVEST

Home Farm, Wallage Lane, Rowfant RH10 4NH phone-alt Kate Lewis: 07811 202493 envelope-open eastgrinsteadploughing@gmail.com

Sunday 12th September NVTEC Thames Valley

Paul Caldwells Farm, Drayton, Barrow Road, Drayton, Oxfordshire OX14 4SU phone-alt Roger Hannnigton 0118 983220 envelope-open franceshannington@gmail.com

East Kent Steve Day – 07885 708177 North & West Kent Trevor Sacree – 07966 338676 Romney Marsh & East Sussex Marcus Glover 07971 781285 *Terms &–conditions apply.

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Tuesday 14th September South Berks Agricultural Association

Mayridge Farm, Englefield, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5JU

Wednesday 15th September Laughton & District Agricultural Society

Stud Farm, Seaford Rd, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0EF By kind permission of James White envelope-open Shaunafenner6@gmail.com

Saturday 18th September Weald of Kent Ploughing Match

Honey Farm, Elvey Road, Pluckley, Ashford TN27 8SU

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

Saturday 18th September Greenstead Green Agricultural Club

Petersfield Farm, Petersfield Lane, Gosfield, Halstead, Essex CO9 1PU phone-alt Ken or Janice Vince 07850 579413 envelope-open janicebodger@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 18th September West Grinstead and District Ploughing and Agricultural Society Priors Byne Farm, Bines Road, Partridge Green RH13 8EQ By kind permission of John & Allison Ford envelope-open secretary@westgrinsteadploughing.co.uk

Saturday 25th September Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins and Burford Ploughing Society

Manor Farm, Hatford, Nr Faringdon SN7 8JH

Saturday 25th September Gravesend & Rochester

Malmaynes Hall Farm, Malmaynes Hall Road, Stoke, Rochester, Kent ME3 9FG By kind permission of J Castle (Stoke) envelope-open ashley.kenyon@btfpartnership.co.uk

Saturday 25th September Petworth and District Agricultural Association Bignor Farm, Bignor, Pulborough RH20 1HG envelope-open goringlee@aol.com

Saturday 25th September East Sussex Ploughing Match Society

Priesthawes Farm, Drockmill, Glynleigh Road, Pevensey BN24 5BL By kind permission of Mr C Wadman

Saturday 25th September Essex County Ploughing Match

in conjunction with Ongar Ploughing Match Hatfield Regis Grange Farm, Broad Street, Hatfield Broadoak, Bishops Stortford, Essex CM22 7JZ

Saturday 25th September Ongar Ploughing Match

Hatfield Regis Grange Farm, Broad Street, Hatfield Broadoak, Bishops Stortford, CM22 7JZ By kind permission of Robert and Elaine McGowan phone-alt Helen McTurk 01279 87615 / 07831 138403 envelope-open opmsecretary@btinternet.com

Sunday 26th September Royal East Berkshire Ploughing Match Church Farm, Waltham St Lawrence By kind permission of David Philp and Partners Location-Arrow www.rebaa.co.uk

Wednesday 29th September

East Kent Ploughing Match Association Upper Venson Farm, Eastry, Kent CT13 0JH By kind permission of the Ledger Family Entries close 31 August 2021 Location-Arrow www.ekpma.co.uk phone-alt Secretary: 07538 547010

Saturday 2nd October North Kent Ploughing Match

Wested Farm, Eynsford Road, Crockenhill, Swanley, Kent BR8 8EJ phone-alt 07549 450961 envelope-open Liz Webb: liz.webb@btfpartnership.co.uk

Saturday 2nd October Hurstpierpoint and District Agricultural association

Old Erringham Farm Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FT By kind permission of The Grantham Family

your Send us nd a results the s for picture ssue: i Octodb@ekrelsey.co.uk

Saturday 2nd October Basingstoke and District Agricultural Society (BDAS)

UCKFIELD - 01825 841100 WROTHAM - 01732 880880 GREAT CHART - 01233 822205

Down Farm Dairy, Wield Road, Preston Candover, RG25 2ER By kind permission of Moundsmere Farming Company phone-alt 07734 742288 / 07788 411686 envelope-open bdassecretary@gmail.com

Sunday 3rd October Henley and District Agricultural Association Frizers Farm, Sonning Eye, RG4 phone-alt 01491 413619 envelope-open info@thehenleyshow.co.uk

Sunday 3rd October Newbury Ploughing Match

Fishers Farm, Shefford Woodlands RG17 7BP Starting at 9am envelope-open judithmarcham@icloud.com

Wednesday 6th October South Bucks Agricultural Society Pennlands Farm, Farnham Common, SL2 3JH envelope-open Jo Short: secretary@rsbaa.co.uk

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October British National Ploughing Championships

Mindrum Mill, Mindrum, Northumberland, TD12 4QL By kind permission of D Harvey & Son

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*Finance for business purposes only. Subject to acceptance and affordability checks. Applicant must be 18+. UK only. Promotion valid until 30.09.2021. Available on new equipment only. Payment profile of 1+4 annual payments at 0%, 4+44 monthly payments at 0%. The finance product offered under this promotion is Hire Purchase. 1st payment, full VAT and a doc fee of £100 are all due on signing. An option-to-purchase fee of £100 (+ VAT) will be collected with the final payment. You will own the equipment when all payments have been made. Alternative finance options are available. T&Cs apply. Annual admin fee of £40 (+VAT). Images are for illustrative purposes only. Finance provided by BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions Limited, Northern Cross, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4HL. Registered in England No. 901225. As funder we may pay a commission, fee or other remuneration to credit brokers who introduce business to us, please contact them if you require more information.

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JOIN US ON OUR STAND AT THE EAST KENT PLOUGHING MATCH September 29, 2021

PLOUGHING MATCHES

COMPETING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS One of the competitors at this year’s East Kent Ploughing Match has been heavily involved in the event for more than 30 years – and she’s still only 47. Mo Ovenden, a director with the Kent-based tipper, haulage and plant hire company, began helping her father, company founder Robin Ovenden, at the company’s trade stand in her teens. “The company originally hauled grain, so we have always been involved in agriculture, and the ploughing match was dad’s favourite day out of the year,” Mo explained. “He died 15 years ago but I like to keep tradition going and so I now compete in the ploughing match, driving dad’s old David Brown 950 in the vintage and classic > Mo Ovenden

T KE EAS NT

sections. I only plough once a year, but I have won ‘best turned out’ and I once finished third in the actual event, although I suspect that was out of three!” The David Brown acts as a good promotional tool for Ovenden as it is already in the company’s colours of red and yellow – and there’s a good reason for that. “Dad had David Brown tractor paint in the shed when he first set up the business, so he used it on the lorries,” Mo explained. Robin’s brother and business partner Adrian is well known to show visitors and will be looking forward to meeting old friends at the 76th East Kent Ploughing Match, which takes place on Wednesday 29 September at Upper Venson Farm, Eastry. Six or seven other members of the family also take part in the vintage ploughing competition each year. “We could almost have our own class,” Mo pointed out, and while the company’s reach is now much broader than just agriculture, support for the show highlights the ongoing connection with the industry. Ovenden still has a trade stand at the show and Mo and the rest of the team enjoy meeting customers, friends and all the other visitors to the event. “I particularly like the fact that the schools come along and learn a bit about farming and get to touch things,” she explained. Mo, the longest-standing regular female competitor in the vintage and classic ploughing sections, is likely to be too busy to man the stand for long at this year’s event, though. As well as taking part in the competition she has new responsibilities as a committee member, having been asked to join this year. Date: 29 September 2021 Venue: Upper Venson Farm, Eastry CT13 0JH Entry costs: Adult £7.50, Children free Web: www.ekpma.co.uk

A key question for English farmers is how to fulfil the requirements of the Agriculture Act 2020 after 2028, when Direct Payments are phased out, and still remain profitable. The answer, according to the Government, is twofold; to cut costs and improve yield, especially by investing in new technology, and secondly by participating in the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS). ELMS is divided into three parts, the first of which, the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot scheme, starts in October 2021. Information on the Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes will be available later this year. A Sussex farmer has anticipated the changes needed for his arable business to participate in ELMS. He estimates it will require him to take 16% of his arable land out of production in order to introduce measures to improve his farm’s natural capital by: • creating linear habitat to encourage beneficial insects • bringing blackgrass under control using overwinter cover crops • using fallow crops to improve soil health on the poorest land • establishing areas of wild bird cover on unproductive land to balance the scheme. DEFRA has indicated that farmers who are unwilling or unable to transition to ELMS are likely

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

SUSTAINABLE FARMING POST-2028

to be offered the chance to take a lump sum exit payment in 2022 to make way for other farmers who are, which may mean accelerating succession planning. Farmers, though, would be wise to consider the tax implications of these proposals, not least because it is not known whether or not the lump sum payment will be subject to Capital Gains Tax. In addition, environmental schemes do not

currently qualify for Inheritance Tax Agricultural Property Relief (APR). If too much land is taken out of agriculture and placed into ELMS, a claim for APR on the farmhouse and buildings may be at risk. The Balfour tax test requires no more than 50% of the business to be non-trading, so involving tax consultants alongside expert lawyers when planning your future business is crucial.

We regularly advise farm and landowners on succession, estate and tax planning. Our dedicated agricultural team includes expert lawyers and accountants. Please get in touch by emailing for more information.

KATE CAIRNES

Solicitor, Thomson Snell & Passmore T: 01892 701179 | E: info@ts-p.co.uk | www.ts-p.co.uk

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

Entry £7.50 (online) £8.00 (on the gate) Under 12s free Free Car Park

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match

BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER Attractions throughout the day: 9 Modern & Vintage Ploughing Classes • Horse Ploughing • Gymkhana Fun Dog Show • Trade Show • Terrier Racing • Steam Ploughing Dog Agility Competition • Hound Parades • Birds of Prey Flying Display Tossing-the-sheaf Competition • Farmers' Market • Clay Pigeon Shooting

www.wkpma.co.uk

Date: 26 September 2021 Venue: Church Farm, Waltham St Lawrence Web: www.rebaa.co.uk

15OTH YEAR It will be a special match at West Grinstead, where the West Grinstead & District Ploughing and Agricultural Society will be celebrating its 150th year. The 2021 match will take place on Saturday 18 September at Priors Byne Farm, Partridge Green, by kind permission of John and Allison Ford. There is an impressive line-up of challenge cups to be won, plus a range of attractions for all the family, including terrier racing, an open clay shooting competition, a tug of war, poultry displays and ferret racing, as well as a fun fair, cattle and sheep shows and a licensed bar. To commemorate West Grinstead’s 150th anniversary, South East Farmer will be publishing a special feature on the society, looking back at the history, the people involved and the charitable donations the match generates. Published within the October edition, it will be out just ahead of this year’s match (published 13 September). To advertise within T GRINSTEA the feature, please telephone 01303 233883. ES

johnbourne.com SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

Date: 18 September 2021 Venue: Priors Byne Farm, Partridge Green Web: www.westgrinsteadploughing.co.uk

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RA L A S S O LTU

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TION CIA

Saturday 18th September 2021

Ploughing is set to return to the Royal East Berks Agricultural Association's Annual Show on 26 September after two years' absence. In 2019 the tractor ploughing was abandoned because of rain, although the horse ploughing went ahead, and last year the Covid-19 epidemic saw the event cancelled along with virtually everything else. This year, though, the association is back with its 168th show, one the organisers claim will be “bigger and better than ever”. The show at Waltham St Lawrence near Maidenhead will feature tractor classes for all tastes, including high cut and a new classic reversible class, along with the horse ploughing that remains a firm favourite with visitors. A new attraction this year will be a display of vintage farm machinery which anyone is welcome to enter. There are domestic classes for young and old, an ever-popular dog show, a falconry display and a chance to try metal detecting and be entertained by Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band. KS AGRICU See www.rebaa.co.uk for the schedule ER and entry form.

PLOUGHING MATCHES

PLOUGHING AHEAD AFTER

CHALLENGING TIMES The Weald of Kent Ploughing Match represents a time in the farming year when we can meet old chums, take stock and make time to chat about the harvest just gone while looking forward to what lies ahead. While this year has certainly been a mixed bag weather wise, yields and quality overall appear good across the board after what has been a fairly tough season. Looking ahead, change is always on the horizon, and something that all farm businesses need to start planning for (if they haven’t already) is the reduced tapering of the Basic Payment Scheme subsidy. All landowners and rural enterprises really should be looking at alternative funding options and diversification opportunities. BTF Partnership and Kent Wildlife Trust Consultancy Services have launched a new environmental reporting service for farmers and landowners to help them navigate their way with Natural Capital Grants and subsidies including nature-based solutions, biodiversity net gain and carbon capture schemes once the Basic Payment Scheme is phased out over the next few years. It is never too early to start looking at the options, but the BTF Partnership is also advising landowners and farmers to be open-minded and cautious when accessing future grants, subsidies and what appear to be lucrative nature-based solutions. As well as the potential for replacing income it is important to balance both the legal responsibilities

and the implications of a lengthy and onerous agreement for the business, succession for future generations and how it can affect the capital value of your land. The land supply for sale across the UK as a whole has been higher so far this year, after low stock in 2020. However, availability of land and farms in the South East remains stable and generally on the low side, possibly due to the Covid-19 effect. Nevertheless, we have had considerable interest in several large parcels of land which have been marketed this spring and summer across the region including: • The Franks Farmland at Horton Kirby, Nr Swanley, 164.29 acres of mainly arable land which was available as a whole or in two lots. A sale has been agreed in excess of the guide price of £1,500,000. • The Moat Farmland, Benenden, Kent, a ringfenced parcel of 87 acres of mainly Grade III arable land with woodland shaws and classical Wealden Ponds sold in June. The guide price was £650,000. Smaller parcels of land and woodland are also attracting interest, and might be an indication of the market’s response to natural capital. Two examples sold recently are the 46.67 acre Post Wood near Ashford, guided at £280,000, and the Harris Copse at Wouldham, extending to 27.7 acres, which also sold at around the £100,000 guide. This interest may impact on value and availability

in the longer term. While interest rates remain at their historic low, and fears about the UK’s post Covid-19 economic recovery and the impact on rising inflation appear to be temporary, we are confident that the wider land market here in the South East will remain upbeat. For farmers who might be considering retirement – (what’s that? I hear you cry) – the lump sum exit scheme announced in this year’s budget will no doubt be a catalyst for some families, especially where there is no succession. It is likely there will be more AHA tenants taking advantage of this scheme than those who own/occupy land and this could create more opportunities for a new generation. A new generation may also be inspired by the recent publication of the National Food Strategy, which puts an emphasis on the whole food chain and on supporting farming and local producers. We saw support for buying local during the pandemic and it is hoped this interest can be developed and grown further. The rural community has a great opportunity to engage with a wider public interested in both the quality and provenance of their food, while shorter supply chains will of course help us reach climate goals more quickly. We look forward to chatting about these and other issues as we see you at ploughing matches and other events this autumn. Don’t hesitate to get in contact with our teams at Challock and Heathfield before then. > The Franks Farmland at Horton Kirby

RICHARD THOMAS

Director, BTF Partnership T: 01233 740077 E: richard.thomas@btfpartnership.co.uk www.btfpartnership.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

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SEED

FERTILISER

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T: 01264 321 595 www.openfield.co.uk

ELVED PHILLIPS ARABLE NOTES

So, since last time my statement that “the trade can run, but it cannot hide from certain facts” has proved to be correct. The Russian wheat crop is getting smaller. The North American spring wheat crop ratings have been downgraded by 40%. The Brazilian maize crop has also been reduced to 93 million tonnes from its starting point of 109 million, and some South Americans think it could be as low as 80 million tonnes. A lot is hanging on the USA having a big maize crop. Well, that may be the case in the east, where they have had wet weather, but in the west, where there are big producing states like Ohio, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, it’s been mostly drought. This ‘maize story’ has been going on for a few months. I doubt if the USDA will address global maize until September. There have been so many ‘statisticians’ forecasting ‘trend’ yields for the next five years (for trend read record) that it’s a bit of a climb down to start talking about “real” yields at this stage. I think the world wheat story has gained more traction than maize since my last report. The UK wheat harvest had hardly started at the end of the first week in August. France and Germany have started harvesting, but that is not good news for them. First the pre-harvest talk of above average yields stopped, then the low bushel weights in French barley have continued into their wheat and so have lower protein and hagbergs which I forecast last month. Parts of Germany are in the same boat as they have reduced their wheat crop from 24 to 21 million tonnes. They say they will have enough milling for their own use and for small boat export, but by early August half was still in the field, as it was in

WHEN YOU KNOW YOU

HAVE THE QUALITY, SELL France. Futures markets based on milling quality are nervous to say the least, from Minneapolis to the MATIF. I would not want to be selling milling wheat or premiums just now. The UK winter malting crop, which is not big, has been disappointing in the south. The early cut lots were low in retention, bushel weight and high screenings. As before, the lack of sunlight hours at flowering was the main problem. This led to low proteins (nitrogen) which are ok to a point for malting barley but would be disastrous for milling wheat. Early spring barley in the south is encouraging, with some good Planet variety samples. We expect some fine weather in the second week of August which could see a large proportion of the springs cut, but we cannot assume anything. Bearing in mind the ‘statisticians’ are saying we could have half a million tonnes of surplus spring malting barley to dispose of from the UK, the

ELVED PHILLIPS Openfield

premiums are high. But, we haven’t got it yet! Merchants who were confidently predicting a UK wheat crop of 15.5 million tonnes have suddenly gone very quiet. Maybe it’s because the AHDB new farm survey is suggesting there could be 80,000 fewer hectares planted than was thought. I will stick to my circa 14.5 million tonnes at this stage. In my view low bushel weight (if that’s what we get) does not equate to big yields. When you think about it, you are really harvesting radiation in your crops, so the lack of ultraviolet sunlight would be significant. My parting shot last month was: “You have already had some opportunities to sell at good prices and you will again”. Well you have, with wheat having been £15 up on the November futures since then. Spring malting barley is getting its turn now but our big competitor, Denmark, has started a good-looking spring barley crop. Forward values for malting barley are currently at market highs, so when you know you have the quality sell some, just in case we do have a half million tonnes surplus. Last thought. Still crops like oilseed rape and linseed are best sold when you know what you have combined. My advice to my committed group members this year for all grain was to manage your risk by pooling and use a market tracker, but don’t sell your hoped-for surplus until it’s in the barn. I reckon that’s up there with my average of ‘three out of five decisions being right’.

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STEPHEN CARR

LAST YEAR AS A CONTINUOUS

CEREAL GROWER STEPHEN CARR Arable farmer

The can of WD40 is empty. The putty repairing the holes in the pan beneath the grain sieves on my increasingly ancient John Deere combine harvester has set. So my harvest is under way and – in stark contrast to last year – bountiful. But as the grain store fills up, my joy is tempered by the knowledge that this year represents the last year of my long-cherished status as a continuous cereal grower. Other, braver souls have gamely taken the plunge with a variety of break crops ranging from peas and beans to oilseed rape. For the past 40 years, I have mostly plugged on with a continuous cereals policy. This determination to stick with wheat and barley was imbued in me by my splendid ADAS crops advisor of the 1980s and 1990s. He and I stuck doggedly to continuous cereals in those days, even though it was already becoming increasingly less fashionable in combinable crop circles. As he used to remind me, as we surveyed problems with wild oats, blackgrass and other invasive grasses like sterile or soft broom, their impact on cereal yields was limited. Okay, my crops looked a bit messy but, provided I wasn’t thinking of entering my local ploughing match best farmed

farm competition (no chance of that), it took a very bad infestation of weeds to knock yield below 2.5 tonnes an acre. Very often we edged towards three tonnes and in 1984 we even exceeded it. That yield range provided a perfectly reasonable profit and avoided all the risks associated with break crops. Oilseed rape establishment was difficult then (even before the recent neonicotinoid insecticide ban), and varieties in those days also had an alarming habit of shedding in high winds (common on the Downs close to the sea) or heavy rain or hailstorms once the crop ripened. Although field winter and spring beans were easier to establish, they were also notorious for being unreliable yielders. The thicker the stand of crop, the more likely it was that only the top of the stalks would provide pods. Peas were rather similar in that less growth in a dry summer could provide a higher yield and a better quality crop than in a wetter summer when there were many more pods but many of which simply rotted off. There were other, even more risky, break crop options like

linseed or lupins but we avoided them as well for similar reasons. Geoff has long gone, but I have stuck doggedly to his advice. Until now. Were he still alive I hope that even he would agree that I now have no option but to break from cereals on much of my acreage. In some fields, the blackgrass threat is building to an ominous degree and the array of permitted herbicides to tackle it is ever more puny. I also seem to have imported an unwelcome new insect guest in one field that goes by the name of ‘zabrus’, whose larvae look like leatherjackets on steroids. These little beasts take cereal seedlings and drag them underground to eat them. The only way to rid the field of them, apparently, is to grow something other than a cereal crop. My crop consultant has therefore become ever more strident in her advice that my continuous cereals days are over. So, as I survey the generous pile of wheat in store, I have to accept that riskier times lie ahead. Expect my columns to become even more grumpy as an old dog attempts to learn new tricks.

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ANITA HEAD ORGANISED CHAOS

GRASS, GRASS

Summer 2021 has been a blast and I have to confess to feeling rather sad about returning to some sort of normality. Pony club camps, harvest, show jumping, bale carting, packed lunches galore, stay away shows, four children in four diff erent places, combining, a quick dip in the pool at the end of a long day harvesting, sleepovers and so much more. Ted’s bedtime used to be quite religious at 7pm, but since the school holidays began it uniform as soon as the children finished school. ANITA HEAD could be 6pm or 10pm. I struggle to know what Unfortunately, I am still awaiting the arrival Farmer day of the week it is and “Sunday roast” could be of most of my order. Many factors have been on any day of the week now. blamed for this, Covid-19 being number one, As we turn our thoughts to going back to followed by the Suez Canal blockage – and every school and the end of harvest, it always feels industry would appear to be short of staff. that September is the start of a new year. Well, While researching for this article it would a new growing season at least. This year seems appear that plenty of people are looking for to be about grass, grass and more grass; it just keeps on growing. We have work but not many have the necessary skills or are willing to learn a new enough grass baled to see us through to silage season 2023! It really is trade. Is this because we are stuck in our old ways? amazing after last year’s yield. The price of good quality hay will be good, Making way for a new generation of farmers seems to be a very difficult although I fear a lot of sub-standard hay has been made. thing to do. Some farmers seem to make the transition seamlessly, while After a very stop/start harvest and the weather being its usual others cling to the purse strings for as long as possible. The Government’s unhelpful self, we seem to have completed most of this years harvesting. “retirement” scheme uptake has not been as popular as expected. Taking Looking back to the 2020 harvest, we were completed by 4 August and this a lump sum of up to £50,000 and then not receiving any Basic Payment year we hadn’t even started by that date. The yields seem to be down a income doesn’t seem to appeal to the majority of farmers. little, but the straw is of good quality. Traditionally farmers don’t retire; it’s a way of life. They may have a Supplies still seem to be an issue even down to taking delivery on school slower pace of life but continuing to walk the crops or check the cows is uniform. In my attempt to be super organised this year I ordered school a habit that is hard to let go. The younger generation has new ideas and needs to be allowed to make mistakes (this is a way of learning). In this day and age many children have everything they need/want in life without having to work for it. Is this why we seemingly have a labour shortage? We Why dig when we can trench it? all strive for a better life for our children but is this our downfall? I’ve always explained to the children that “if you work hard, you must play hard”; a work/life balance is essential in maintaining a happy life. Looking back, I may have partied rather hard in my youth, possibly too Trencher with operator for installing: hard, and I’m sure my children will do exactly the same. After a long day • Irrigation and water pipes harvesting, a trip to the pub with your friends and a pint of beer, or orange • Utility cables and ducting juice in some cases, is the best tonic to get you up in the morning to do it • Repairs to water pipes all again. • Impact moling School is about to begin and I have one little boy who is adamant that school doesn’t start for another 380 weeks. Wish me luck on getting him to Enquiries FieldWaterInstallations@gmail.com school on time. 01580 891728 or 07768 626131 Until next time take care and I’ll see you at the pub!

AND MORE GRASS

Est 1993

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AGRONOMY 2018 saw the launch of Omnia’s Connect app – a cost-effective solution designed to simplify and streamline precision farming by connecting growers to their machines to enable variable rate control, streamlining precision farming operations, providing greater control and improving efficiency. The iPad app allows the user to send variable application maps created in Omnia seamlessly and instantly to the field, and also controls the spreader, sprayer or drill. There is no handling of data and maps can be sent by any user to anywhere. It’s really cost-effective in that it is one system that can be used across multiple machines and operations. Robert Sullivan of GSC Grays, and farm manager of Raby Estates, has been looking at how to introduce variable rate applications across the two farms that make up the estate in Durham and Shropshire. “We had already started using Omnia on our Shropshire farm and were impressed with it, and had confidence in the system, so it made sense for us to look at how we might be able to make it work in Durham,” he said. “On a more strategic basis it would also allow us to record and share data across the two farms and make well-informed management decisions accordingly. “One of the challenges we faced was the logistics of our Durham farm; the 2,800 acres of

CONNECTING GROWERS

TO THEIR MACHINES Ease of connectivity makes transition to variable rate applications smoother than ever before. combinable arable cropping is spread out, with 16 miles of road between the most eastern and westerly fields. “Hutchinsons agronomist George Robson introduced us to Omnia precision expert Lewis McKerrow, who talked us through the Connect app and how easy it would be to generate and share variable rate plans across the machines on the farm – irrespective of geography. “Lewis made the initial set up very straightforward and, importantly, in a language that a farmer could understand and interpret. “The first step was to bring across data from our earlier soil sampling service into Omnia, to which we also added yield maps. Being able to use historical data was a real advantage, saving both time and money. “Once all the data was inputted into Omnia and variable rate plans developed, all we had to do was plug in the iPad. Using Connect, the plans were

downloaded straight onto an iPad in the tractor cab - and then it’s all systems go. “We don’t have to worry about downloading the plans onto a memory stick and then doing the same again in the cab. The whole process is very intuitive, logical and simple to use.” Robert had initially planned to concentrate on variable rate phosphorous and potassium applications, but he has also used it to produce variable rate drilling plans. “We have now drilled variably for two years – and this year all of our combinable crops will be variably drilled,” Robert said. “The benefits of this approach are without doubt more consistent crops, which was particularly noticeable in last year’s spring barley. We started on this journey thinking our main savings and benefits would be in variable fertilisers, but we have actually seen more value from the drilling in terms of yield benefits in the end.”

JAMES SHORT

Regional director, Hutchinsons T: 07721 567083 E: James.short@hlhltd.co.uk Canterbury: 01227 830064 www.hlhltd.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

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FROM THE FRONT LINE

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

SEASON OF CRAZY WEATHER

“The climate is definitely changing, but how do we change with it?” asks Nick Ottewell, production and commercial director at Laurence J. Betts Ltd, Church Farm, Offham. Our farms are spread across a 12-mile diameter in the middle of Kent and we are having a season of crazy weather. Since the middle of June, the farms have been more wet than they have been dry. Large rainfall events, and very localised. One day we had 30mm at one farm in the space of one hour, 15mm at the farm one mile away and 3mm at the farm five miles away. Twice we have lost significant amounts of crop either to torrentially heavy rain or a hailstorm. Baby leaf crops like spinach, rocket and chard do not cope with this weather. Our whole-head lettuce like iceberg and cos was severely damaged in one weather event (by far the worst I have ever seen in a whole-head crop). So, our climate is changing and it is a much riskier scenario now, as a field scale salad grower, than it has ever been in my lifetime as a grower in Kent. Apparently Kent’s average temperature has increased by 0.9°C in the past 30 years, which I am sure will be the same across the whole of the South East. This has created generally hotter summer conditions, which in turn cause more evaporation of moisture into the atmosphere, making the risk of thunderstorms and significant quantities of high rainfall events much higher than they used to be. A perfect storm – pun definitely intended.

This summer, when people have asked me how we are getting on, on the farms, my stock answer has been that we are “muddling away”. We have to plant and drill almost daily to have crops available daily for our customers, so any rainfall that makes it too wet for us to plant and drill, even for one day, is compromising what we do. We have been planting and drilling into semi-dry ground since the last week of June, the whole of July and now well in to August. Somehow we have just about managed to get the crops planted and drilled. The only way that we have managed to achieve this is to make ground ready for planting and drilling at any dry opportunity – not necessarily when it is needed. It is what I refer to as a “stale seed bed system”. Luckily we have been exploring this approach as a way to try to flush weeds before the crop is planted or drilled and to try to negate the impact of a reduced armoury of herbicides. Inadvertently it has also proved to be a good technique for coping with too much rainfall. Once the crop is in the ground the problems are only really just beginning. We have then had poor quality crops that have looked ok leaving the farm gate but have little or no shelf life because they have had too much water during their life. The plant cells give up in the end from being too full of

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water all of the time, and the crop loses any shelf life post-harvest. We have been sending crops off the farm in good faith and then had a lot of customer complaints as their iceberg lettuce has turned brown before its use-by date. This is my guide as to how we can give ourselves (as field scale salad/veg growers), the best possible chance of dealing with extreme weather: • Don’t force winter combinable crops in following another wet late September/October. It’s far better to put a good spring crop in than an average winter crop. • Get the organic matter in the soil as high as possible. Cover crops, compost, farmyard manure, ploughing in stubbles. A healthy soil copes better with too much weather than an over-farmed one. • Make salad/veg ground ready as soon as you can. Don’t wait until you need it (the stale seed bed approach). • Try to adapt and evolve the planting and drilling techniques and machinery so that you can do the work in damp or even slightly wet soils rather than needing to rely on dry conditions to get on with the job. In the meantime we are just going to keep “muddling away”!

£7m investment to further enhance facilities at the farm and yond to ensure students are exposed to the latest cutting edge chnologies, including robotics in the dairy and a brand new state of e art high welfare and RSPCA assured pig unit. Coupled with this, e college’s new farm shop and café open in Brighton this summer, oviding the perfect opportunity to demonstrate and educate udents in every aspect of the supply chain relating to British oduce.

Up to £35k per annum

PUTTING THEORY

INTO PRACTICE

whether your area of expertise is livestock, arable, machinery or ri-business, we’d like to hear from you.

nd out more & apply: plumpton.ac.uk/our-college/vacancies

Alan Johnson, curriculum manager for Agri-Food & Environment, reports You don’t have to be from a farming background to study agriculture at Plumpton College. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and locations. Not only do our agriculture and land management courses give students the practical skills to manage livestock and crops, they also develop knowledge and understanding of agriculture as a bigger picture – exploring the environmental impact of farming and improving farming techniques for the future. We have invested heavily in our agriculture and food resources across the campus. We offer students the opportunity to put theory into practice and gain valuable experience in livestock, crops, and machinery to embed into work experience and employment opportunities.

• initiative • organisational skills • ability to plan and conduct research • communication, including influencing and leadership • teamwork • ability to manage projects. An increasing number of students progress on to higher education. Some progress to a Master’s or other postgraduate qualification in a related area such as crop science and management, animal technology or agricultural technology. Others may go on to a different undergraduate degree course, such as veterinary science. There are many different ways to gain a qualification in agriculture.

WORK EXPERIENCE

STUDENT DIARIES THIS MONTH – ISAAC ADAMS

Our students have all gained invaluable work experience while studying at Plumpton College. It has increased their chances of getting part-time work and, more importantly, a job after they graduate. Students have the opportunity to complete a placement day as part of their course or a sandwich year at Level 3, which involves working on farms, taking part in as many activities as possible and shadowing the farm manager to understand farm management. Students get involved in voluntary projects such as agricultural and environmental work; other options include volunteering abroad on agriculture projects in farms, forests and nature reserves. The significant employment opportunities within agriculture are not just in farm management; students can find careers with commercial ancillary companies in the UK and abroad.

“After a few wet and winter-like months, summer has finally arrived. The combination of damp and hot conditions means that the grass and other crops at my workplace are growing and thriving. My employer has said that he can’t remember when we have had

such green and lush grass in July. “We have successfully completed the first cut and now we are cutting hay and making haylage. The cattle are taking the heat quite well in the fields. They are grazing in half-shaded spots; the cows appreciate those in the day’s heat, which shows me first-hand the need to work hand in hand with the natural environment. “The calves are growing well on the grass and do not seem fazed by the constantly changing weather. For me, this has demonstrated how reliant farming is on the weather and the effects of changing weather patterns.”

FAYE PEARCE

“The last month has been one of the busiest months of the year for me, and was made a lot harder with the very wet weather at the start of July. There are many vital tasks to complete in July, consisting of completing shearing and hay, haylage, and silage making ready to feed all the livestock throughout the winter. I have learned many new skills over the past month, such as hay tedding, topping, worming cattle and weighing and grading bullocks for market.”

> Isaac and Faye

SKILLS FOR A CV

Students develop a broad mix of technical skills and knowledge throughout our agriculture courses, including land use, farming practice and food production alongside an understanding of the scientific, ethical and business principles which underpin the agricultural industry. Students confirm that employers are particularly interested in transferable skills such as: • numeracy and IT Visit www.plumpton.ac.uk to study a range of fantastic land and environment courses

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

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& WINERY SHOW

For viticulturists in Great Britain 24th November 2021

Kent Event Centre, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF

In association with

Vitifruit Equipment Sales and Hire

ELITE WINE REFRIGERATION ANNOUNCED 52

AS OFFICIAL WINE STORAGE SPONSOR

Seminars Elite Wine Refrigeration are our official wine storage sponsor ensuring that all wines for tasting at the Vineyard & Winery show will be served at the correct temperature. Elite Wine Refrigeration will store all of the show’s wines in five or more specialist wine fridges on their stand, which will include the 100 wine tasting hub wines, the wines for Matthew Jukes’ tutored tasting, as well as wines that other stands will be bringing to the show – there is space for around 800 wines. Elite Wine Refrigeration is a Cheshire based wine fridge and wine cabinet distributor, set up by Callum Dooley and Cherry Yung in 2016. Elite Wine Refrigeration have grown and now have small

showrooms around the UK distributing some of the most well-known brands of wine cabinets and fridges, such as: Climadiff, Avintage, Artevino, La Sommeliere and Dunavox. Many of the wine cabinets and fridges are able to sync with the well-established Vivino app, which is used by millions to access information about wine. Elite Wine Refrigeration are hoping to bring the new wine fridge from La Sommeliere to the Vineyard & Winery show, that not only records the wines stored, but has a unique light that illuminates the wine so that it can be easily found. This will be an especially useful feature to enable the organisation of so many wines at the show. Callum Dooley commented: “We have been

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

◆ Planning to plant a vineyard ◆ Malolactic fermentation: when, where and how ◆ Enhancing your tourism offer ◆ High achievers: yield and quality

championing English wine, specifically, since we started. By working with vineyards around the UK we can offer our customers discounts on their wines or free bottles with their orders. Acting as the Vineyard & Winery show’s wine storage sponsor will allow us to expand our reach across the country so we can work with more vineyards, on a larger scale, to help support the industry with reliable, cost effective, accessible wine storage.”

DR GREGORY DUNN AND DR ALISTAIR NESBITT

TO SPEAK AT THE SHOW > Dr Alistair Nesbitt The Vineyard & Winery Show is proud to announce two international experts who will host seminars on the day. Seminar sessions will take place throughout the day, in affiliation with WineGB, and will cover viticulture, winemaking and marketing topics, along with a dedicated session aimed at new entrants to the industry. Yield and quality are always a hot topic in viticulture and Dr Gregory Dunn will share his expertise during the seminar session titled, ‘High achievers: yield and quality.’ Dr Gregory Dunn is the head of the wine division at Plumpton College, training oenologists and viticulturists at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Greg completed his PhD in the Botany Department at the University of Melbourne in the 1990s. For the last two decades Greg has acted in a range of positions in research, education and training in the Australian wine industry, including for DPI Victoria, the University of Melbourne and the National Grape and Wine Industry Centre in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Greg is currently deputy editor for the Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research. Greg has contributed to and led a range of research and development programmes into yield forecasting, yield development and yield management in vineyards. Dr Gregory Dunn commented: “Securing profitable and reliable vineyard yields underpins a successful wine industry. However, yield is very much a multi-faceted

GET YOUR FREE

TICKET TO THE SHOW The Vineyard & Winery show will be an unmissable event for anyone working in viticulture and wine production in the UK. The new ‘expo’ will take place on 24 November 2021 at the Kent County Showground. Organised by Vineyard magazine and supported by WineGB, it will be an invaluable opportunity for all viticulturalists, winemakers, suppliers and the trade to come together. There will be a packed programme including technical talks from WineGB, tastings of the UK’s top wines, lots of machinery and equipment to see – as well as a long overdue chance to network with peers. Purchase your ticket on Eventbrite via the Vineyard & Winery show website www.vineyardshow.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

> Dr Gregory Dunn issue involving, among other things, the weather, vine spacing and management, how the site interacts with the cultivar, management of pests and disease and abiotic stresses such as frost. In a marginal climate like the UK it is doubly important that all of these factors are considered and managed appropriately.” Dr Alistair Nesbitt will look at the future climatic conditions for grape growing in the UK in the semina, ‘Planning to plant a vineyard’, aimed at both existing vineyard owners and those considering a vineyard. Dr Alistair Nesbitt, from VineScapes, is a Viticulture Climatologist with significant expertise in how weather and climate interface with wine production, globally. He holds a PhD in viticulture and climate science and a BSc and Master’s degree in Viticulture & Oenology. Alistair lectures internationally on viticulture – and consults with new vineyards, governments and the global wine industry, drawing on 20-years’ experience to help UK wine production businesses establish and operate sustainably. Dr Alistair Nesbitt commented: “The UK viticulture and winemaking sectors are developing rapidly and the climate in which they operate is also changing fast. I am really looking forward to talking with attendees about both recent and projected future climate change and what it may mean for UK growers over the next 20-30-years. For those thinking of establishing vineyards in the UK looking to the future has never been so important.”

Don’t miss out

◆ Network with the key players in the UK wine industry ◆ Meet with industry experts ◆ Learn the cutting-edge technology and see demonstrations of the latest machinery ◆ Take part in the Matthew Jukes tutored wine tasting. The world-renowned wine writer and columnist Matthew Jukes will present 6 still and sparkling wines. Tickets are £20 and the proceeds are donated to the Drinks Trust charity. (Numbers are limited to 120 – so book early!) ◆ Visit the Wine Hub and taste some the UK’s best wines – up to 100 different wines available to try on the day ◆ Attend the WineGB seminars – Expert speakers will cover viticulture, winemaking and marketing topics – aimed at new entrants to the industry as well as those already established ◆ Join some of the biggest names in the industry such as CLM, Hutchinsons, Vitifruit, Bruni Erben, Royston labels – and many more

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

Legal services for farmers & rural businesses Call us today or visit our website:

01227 763939 furleypage.co.uk

PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY 54

CLAIMS INCREASE

An increase in the number of claims for new public rights of way based on historical evidence has been highlighted by land and property professionals Robinson & Hall. Both the Ramblers and the British Horse Society (BHS), along with other rights of way groups, are encouraging members to identify previously unrecorded public rights of way so that they can be submitted to the relevant local authorities as Definitive Map Modification Order applications in the hope that they will be permanently added as public rights of way. Robinson & Hall say the groups are trying to beat a deadline of 1 January 2026, the date by which any public rights of way which have not been formally registered on the Definitive Map will be lost. Members of the public can make claims for a route to be recorded as a public right of way if there is evidence that a route existed historically. They must provide evidence, usually historic maps, to prove their claim, which can still be made if the route is no longer used by the public, or even if the route itself no longer exists on the ground. Robinson & Hall believes this increase in applications could have a significant impact on landowners as the BHS alone is looking at hundreds of unrecorded routes. If their applications to modify the Definitive Map are successful, there will be many new registered public rights of way crossing landowners’ property.

Supporting the rural community for over 230 years We have a real commitment to the rural sector, providing responsive and accessible legal advice to farmers, producers and their suppliers.

If your business needs help with: • Contracts and transactions • Diversification • Property purchase and lease negotiation • Equine law • Employment If you would like help with: • Family law and divorce • Residential conveyancing • Tax planning and trusts • Wills and estate administration

HOW TO OBJECT

Landowners looking to object to claims will need to be able to demonstrate that the historic evidence produced by the claimant is inaccurate or unreliable. Alternatively, landowners can produce their own evidence showing that a route was not historically a right of way. There are deadlines for submitting objections and it is important that these are adhered to. While Robinson & Hall recommends clients use a deposit under Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 to prevent members of the public claiming a new right of way because the route has been used continuously for at least 20 years, this approach cannot be used against claims for historic routes.

Contact us today Canterbury 01227 643250 Maidstone 01622 698000 Tenterden 01580 765722 enquiries@whitehead-monckton.co.uk www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered in England & Wales. Registered office 5 Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3EN Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 608279.

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LEGAL

RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF FARMING

UNDERSTANDING NATURAL CAPITAL

AND ITS OPPORTUNITIES Natural capital is a term we will become far more familiar with in the coming years. It refers to the world’s stock of natural resources and was defined by the Natural Capital Committee as that part of nature which directly or indirectly underpins value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, soils, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions. With an increasing focus on natural capital as part of the wider sustainability agenda, what should landowners be aware of and what opportunities does this create?

ADOPTING A NATURAL CAPITAL APPROACH

The Government’s policy document A Green Future: Our 25-year plan to improve the natural environment incorporates a natural capital approach into decision making and the development of policies, which will impact on land owners. Examples of this approach in practice can be seen in the government’s Environmental Land Management scheme, which is intended to support the rural economy while achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan. Through the scheme, farmers and other land managers will be rewarded for farming sustainably and benefiting the environment. For example, they may enter into agreements to be paid for delivering clean water or thriving plants and wildlife. The first of the schemes, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, is being piloted from this year. This will reward farmers for managing their land in an environmentally sustainable way and will require them to achieve certain standards for certain types of land, such as grassland, farm woodland or

hedgerows. Alongside the approach set out by the Government, the British Standards Institute (BSI) introduced a Natural Capital Accounting standard in June this year. This new standard provides organisations with a better understanding of how their operations impact on and depend on natural capital and how to ensure this is maintained sustainably for the future. This knowledge can then inform future decision making to ensure natural capital is included as part of the business planning process.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES NATURAL CAPITAL CREATE FOR LANDOWNERS?

Alongside the obvious environmental benefits of adopting a natural capital approach, there are also monetary gains to be made. As subsidies are phased out post Brexit and replaced by other payment schemes, landowners may look towards capitalising on the natural resources available on their land. In doing so it is important to consider any legal implications. One opportunity that is intrinsically linked with natural capital is diversification, where landowners branch out from traditional farming methods to create other streams of income. Diversification may

LEE MAY

Partner, Brachers LLP T: 01227 949547 E: leemay@brachers.co.uk www.brachers.co.uk

involve looking at the natural resources available and seeing how both the owner and wider society can benefit from these resources. For example, woodland and trees are a key natural element which can be capitalised on. From an environmental perspective, they absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flooding and provide natural habitats for wild animals and livestock. However, they could also provide an income stream through a diversification project which would not only have direct financial benefits but may in turn provide employment in the local area or other benefits to the public. Legally this could require planning applications and the relevant permissions, as well as health and safety and insurance considerations. Tenant farmers may need the landlord’s permission for diversification projects and for the lease to be reviewed by a professional, so they understand what steps need to be taken and to identify whether there are any restrictive covenants in place that prevent this type of development. As you begin to consider how you can create value from your land’s natural capital, we would advise you to seek professional legal advice, particularly if changes are being made to the land which could require review of documentation or legislation, consent or permissions.

SARAH WEBSTER

Partner, Brachers LLP T: 01622 776458 E: sarahwebster@brachers.co.uk www.brachers.co.uk

Legal services which deliver long-term solutions to support the future of farming Proud sponsors of the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match and East Kent Ploughing Match Call us on 01622 690691 Visit us at brachers.co.uk

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FINANCE

START YOUR SUCCESSION

CONVERSATION SOONER

RATHER THAN LATER 56

There is a saying that one generation earns the wealth, the next maintains the wealth and the third generation spends the wealth. Breaking this cycle is important, and as custodians of “the wealth”, one of the biggest responsibilities for the family is to plan for succession. Reasons for succession planning vary from family to family, but common triggers are: • too many generations in a business, making it unwieldy to manage • a desire to provide for non-farming adult children • younger family members joining the business • a family member wishing to retire or leave the business • a family member marrying or starting a new family • illness • high levels of conflict • dealing with a frustrated family member. It is easy to find reasons to avoid succession planning. Fear of conflict, too difficult, don’t know how, bad experiences from the past, not their job and, fear of what next, are all good reasons for doing nothing. However, the earlier a plan is made, the more options there are available; it is a longterm strategy that requires thought and buy-in from all parties involved. There are many tax implications related to the transfer of assets and these can have a large effect

on those inheriting assets and businesses, especially those not covered by agricultural property relief. Decisions on the division of assets within a family have long term implications. The aim is to have good communication with all parties to minimise the risk of expensive family conflicts and division which can occur many years in the future. It is useful for families to openly discuss the issues in order to reach an equitable or practical solution. Once the business and family issues are understood, the starting point is often to look at the financial statements to establish who owns what, how much it is worth, whether the farm is on or off the balance sheet and ultimately assess what each family member’s shares or capital account are actually worth. Because financial statements record property at historic cost, there is usually a need to re-value farms to market value. What stage the succession journey is at influences whether an informal estimate of value is sufficient or whether a professional valuation is required. Accountants are not valuers, and while we have knowledge of potential values, in order to be independent in our role it is often a good idea to have the farm properties professionally valued. An independent valuation is very useful when considering division of assets; it is also helpful in assessing the tax implications of any restructuring work. Additionally, it is important to consider any

If you would like to discuss succession planning and the options available, please speak to your usual Azets contact or email rural@azets.co.uk

HAYLEY KINGSNORTH

Director of Accounts & Business Services at Azets, Ashford Office E: hayley.kingsnorth@azets.co.uk www.azets.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

partnership or shareholder agreements in place, as these often specify the process and timescale for paying out an exiting family member. After real values, pension funds and potential tax liabilities are established; the next stage is to consider the income requirements of the different generations. Review existing bank debts and assess the capacity of the business to repay existing or potentially take on new debt and consider the options for creating separate businesses to allow family members control of their own destiny. Once all these facts are assembled, formulating the plan and getting it written down in black and white for review and revision is the second hardest part - following the trickiest element, which is actually starting the process. The written plan may contain a series of different options setting out the pros and cons of each. Encouraging all parties to discuss and build the plan will assist with buy-in. Some families feel the pressure is relieved by having input from their trusted advisers, and we are happy to be an integral part of the process. We are working with many farming and estate clients to assist them with tax and succession planning. Integral within succession planning is the review and update of Wills for all parties involved. Inheritance tax is considered by some to be a voluntary tax, but charged at 40%, mistakes can be expensive. Death is a certainty; inheritance tax we can plan for.

Laughton 15th September Weald of Kent 18th September Petworth 25th September Hurstpierpoint 2nd October

We are looking forward to seeing you at a

Ploughing Match

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ARABLE REVERSION

OPPORTUNITY WITH LAND HORSHAM | WEST SUSSEX

GUIDE PRICE: £475,000

A block of 59.84 acres of bare land in Horsham has been brought to the market, with interest expected from arable farmers and environmental investors. The land, which is situated on the edge of Sedgwick, lies about four miles south of Horsham and comprises four good size fields bordered by shaws and mature hedgerows. With 1.56 acres of woodland, the land is currently fallow despite being cropped in the past and has been put up for sale with a guide price of £475,000. Chris Spofforth, head of Savills South East rural agency team, whose team is handling the sale, said: “The availability of this land presents a number of exciting future uses. In recent times a new environmental tier has emerged in our market which encompasses natural capital, carbon offsetting and personal pursuits such as re-wilding. This land is not only suitable for this type of market but also for arable reversion or grass leys.” Analysis by Savills rural research shows that, on the supply side, there are early signs that the theme of low supply, which has dominated the farmland market in the past couple of years, is beginning to ease. Putting things into context at a regional level, Chris added: “Average

For more information, contact Chris Spofforth at Savills on 07812 965379 or cspofforth@savills.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

59.84 ACRES farmland values in the South East remain at the upper end of values across all regions of the UK. While one would perhaps expect this in the residential and commercial sectors, given the affluence of the region and accessibility to London, our farmland, with the exception of a few notable pockets, is generally and technically less productive than other regions.” Land to the East of Sedgwick Lane is being marketed by Savills.

Chartered Practice

Rural and Agricultural planning, Barn Conversions, Listed Buildings, Extensions, Equestrian Facilities and Building Regulations. Please contact us on 01622 884373 janeelizabetharchitects@gmail.com www.janeelizabetharchitects.co.uk

Develop and utilise your redundant farm buildings or Listed barns WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

LAND AND FARMS

COMPETITION FOR FARMS

AND ESTATES HOTS UP England’s farmland market is busier than it has been for some time, with many farms and estates attracting multiple bidders and selling for more than their guide price. Matthew Sudlow, head of estates and farm agency at land and property specialists Strutt & Parker, said the market was more active than it had been for four years, with demand, in general, outstripping supply. “It is not only the housing market that is busier than it has been for years, our agents involved with selling and buying farms and estates are also seeing strong demand. We are currently seeing multiple buyers for most of the farms we are selling, with some prime properties sparking bidding wars and selling for well in excess of their guide price. We have even seen some examples of gazumping, which is something we have not seen in the farmland market for the past five years. “One farm recently marketed by Strutt & Parker, being sold in lots, attracted bids from 31 bidders and went under offer for £1m more than its guide,” he said. “Another went under offer within a week of it being put on the private market. In fact, our analysis shows that over 70% of farms and estates that have sold in recent months have exchanged hands for more than their guide. One of the factors behind this is the wide range of buyers currently looking for land, with farmers, private investors, lifestyle buyers and green investors all in the mix.” Strutt & Parker’s Farmland Database, which records the details of all farms, estates and blocks of publicly marketed farmland in England over 100 acres in size, shows 30,400ha of farmland came to the open market in Q2 2021, which was well

TH & Co

up on the 5,800 acres marketed in Q1, although cumulatively the first half of the year is still below the five-year average. In total, 110 farms have been publicly marketed during the first half of the year, which is just below the five-year average of 120. However, there is also a significant amount of land being marketed privately, with private sales now estimated to account for as much as 50% of the land being sold in some regions. This does mean that supply is higher than it first appears, although in historical terms total volumes are still low. The range of prices paid for both arable and pasture land remains large, with the land achieving the highest prices tending to be in areas popular with lifestyle buyers or private investors, such as the south east of England and the Cotswolds. The proportion of farms bought by lifestyle buyers and private investors rose to its highest level on record – accounting for 45% of transactions, in 2020. Non-farmers are now the main type of buyer

in the south east and south west of England. Arable land has sold for between £6,800 and £15,800/acre across the first six months of 2021 (H1), with a Q2 average of £9,000/acre. The feeling among agents is that this average will have crept up by next quarter. Pasture land has sold for between £3,000 and £10,000/acre in H1, with an average of £7,100/acre. Mr Sudlow said 2021 was the year when cuts to farmers’ direct payments, paid through the Basic Payment Scheme, would start to bite, but as yet this is not having a major impact. “There is also still a considerable amount of rollover money to be invested and buyers driven by environmental objectives are starting to bid on more properties. There also remains strong demand for prime residential estates. All of our agents are currently very busy, handling viewings of recent new launches, negotiating on sales launched in the spring and dealing with upcoming sales.”

TED HANDLEY & Co Ltd PROPERTY CONSULTANTS AND ADVISORS

ESTATE OFFICE • HIGH STREET • MAYFIELD • EAST SUSSEX • TN20 6AB TELEPHONE: 01435 692058 MOBILE: 07483 108078 EMAIL: th@tedhandley.co.uk

AUCTION - 22ND SEPTEMBER 2021

A. 15.21 Acres Grass & Buildings MOUNTFIELD, BATTLE B. 26.12 Acres Grass, Woodland & Buildings JOHN CROSS, ROBERTSBRIDGE

C. 5.72 Acres Woodland, WESTFIELD D. 2.00 Acres Amenity, FAIRLIGHT E. 6.53 Acres Amenity, FAIRLIGHT

Joint auctioneers: Emson’s

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

WATSONS COUNTRY PROPERTY AGENTS AUCTIONEERS

CHARTERED SURVEYORS VALUERS EST. 1873

ETCHINGHAM

BLACKBOYS

Grade II Listed Farmhouse

LD ROBERTSBRIDGE

60 Acres

WANTED URGENTLY

Buyer with funds available is keen to purchase 30 – 100 acres of grassland in these areas to replace rented ground that is no longer available. Quick decision.

(Usual commission required)

The Estate Office - Burwash Road, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 8RA www.watsonsestates.co.uk

Tel: 01435 865077

Bespoke Planning Advice

for your planning journey

www.therpp.co.uk CRANBROOK 01580 201888

CIRENCESTER 01285 323200

office@therpp.co.uk

TO APPLY FOR

NEW GRANTS

HEATHFIELD/MAYFIELD AREA

About 17 Acres

FARMERS URGED

Chartered Town Planner

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET

Farmers and landowners throughout the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North Wessex Downs are being encouraged to apply for a grant that offers funding for farms and land in protected landscapes. The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which opened for applications in July, has been developed with the support of a group of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Park staff from across the country. The competitive scheme, open to all farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England, or the Broads, is centered around four key themes: 1. Supporting nature recovery 2. Mitigating the impacts of climate change 3. Increasing public access 4. Supporting nature friendly farming businesses. Successful projects will need to meet at least one of these. Farmers and landowners operating in the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North Wessex Downs are being urged to consider applying. The scheme will run from July 2021 to March 2024. Funds will be awarded to the projects delivering the best value for money. Projects that will deliver no commercial gain to the applicant will be 100% funded. Forming part of the Agricultural Transition Plan, which between 2021 and 2027 will see a gradual reduction and eventual end to untargeted Direct Payments, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme will work alongside – not in competition with – DEFRA’s existing and new schemes, “adding value where it is most needed”. It is understood that the programme could also support activity on other land, where a project will benefit a Protected Landscape or its body’s objectives or partnership initiatives. As part of the Agricultural Transition Plan’s aim of paying for sustainable farming practices, the funding of this programme will be for one-off projects and not agri-environment schemes. Farmers who take part in a project funded through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme can also take part in one of the three Environmental Land Management schemes when they open. In the long term, it is expected that these three schemes (the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery scheme and Landscape Recovery scheme) will play an important role in the region’s Protected Landscapes. Tom Cackett, an associate director in the food and farming team for Savills Oxford, said: “This is the first of the new rural grant schemes and, going forward, we expect a significant proportion of rural funding to be delivered via schemes such as this. It is another way for farmers and landowners to secure funding before the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is phased out in 2028 and, unlike Countryside Stewardship Schemes and other recent grant schemes, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to a wider range of projects. Applications are expected to open imminently so, as is the case with most funding initiatives, we would encourage applicants to act sooner rather than later.” Farmers and landowners interested in applying for funding through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme should contact their relevant protected landscape body.

LAND AND FARMS

Rarely a week goes by without headlines reporting on our housing crisis, but these are often equally matched by calls to “keep our Green Belt green”. Is this a battle in which there will always be a winner and a loser? Can housing be delivered while maintaining the integrity of this long-standing designation? The 1947 Planning Act formally introduced the planning system as we know it, together with the Green Belt classification. It now accounts for 12.5% of the country’s land mass, an area greater than that currently developed. It is often celebrated as the greatest success of our planning system, but with an ever-growing housing crisis there is increasing pressure to revaluate the role of Green Belt and whether it delivers the social and environmental benefits quoted. There are often misconceptions about what Green Belt land is. Its main purpose is preventing urban sprawl and maintaining openness. It is not a designation which recognises landscape quality or environmental significance. While there is land classified for its landscape value and ecological significance which is within the Green Belt, this is not the reason for its classification and this land is subject to its own policies which protect its important status. Statistics from CPRE, the countryside charity, actually indicate that more than half of Green Belt land is considered to be either diverging or neglected. There are often claims that the Green Belt plays a vital role in providing outdoor recreation and access to open countryside. It is true that 7% of London’s Green Belt is given over to golf courses, but two thirds of Green Belt is in agricultural use and largely inaccessible. Only 3.4% of Green Belt is designated open access land, and while the policy encourages opportunities for public access and environmental improvements, there are no powers to secure this.

GREEN BELT VS OUR HOUSING CRISIS There is also the assumption that Green Belt is in fact green. This again is a slight misconception; while many hectares are managed countryside, more than 110,000 hectares are developed, equating to nearly 7% of all Green Belt. The perceived threat to our Green Belt comes largely from the need to find a solution to our long-standing housing crisis. There are an unacceptable 1.6 million families on housing waiting lists and more than 80,000 households trapped in temporary accommodation that costs the taxpayer an estimated £1 billion per year. A recent survey undertaken by Shelter indicates that one in three people does not have access to a safe or suitable home. There is an undisputable need for a significant boost in the supply of housing but an ever-decreasing amount of land available to achieve this. There is no doubt that Green Belt policy has been overwhelmingly successful, and nobody can deny the vital importance of protecting our environment and ensuring communities can access high quality, green open space, but have we become blinded to the reality of what today’s Green Belt is, and can we imagine an alternative role? Could Green Belt policy be more sophisticated? A policy which provides effective protection of land which has genuine environmental or recreational purpose while releasing suitable land for much needed homes? There are already numerous land classifications

which councils could use to provide meaningful protection such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Parks and Metropolitan Open Land. These could be extended, or new classifications created to protect those areas that local people feel are significant to their community. At the same time, councils would need to remove the disproportionate weight given to the protection of Green Belt land. Of course we need to protect our green spaces, but this should not mean that low quality land is safeguarded at all costs. We need our councils to judge land on its suitability in terms of best meeting social, economic and environmental aims. Housebuilders also have their part to play by delivering high quality developments which provide the range of homes needed in attractive and sustainable environments that are seen to provide tangible benefits to both existing and future communities. It’s time for a well-informed debate on the subject, but we need to avoid assuming the standard positions of Green Belt protection verses housing development. There is an alternative way, but it will require a significant change in policy from central government. Despite the commitment by all political parties to resolve the housing crisis, a fundamental reform to the Green Belt will take courage.

Could your land have development potential? Find out more about land promotion

VICTORIA GROVES

Associate Planning Director T: 01256 637914 E: victoriag@catesbyestates.co.uk W: www.catesbyestates.co.uk TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

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CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

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WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

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EVENTS

To advertise in South East Farmer telephone 01303 233883

STORAGE TANKS

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of the Forest of Dean Ltd.

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CROSSWORD ®

VINEYARDS

COMPLETE OUR CROSSWORD TO WIN Four bottles of our favourite wine, Ortega

ACROSS

9 10

Crossword by Rebecca Farmer, Broadstairs, Kent

PRIZE ANAGRAM: Rare breed pigs (15,3,5)

To enter, simply unscramble the anagram (15,3,5) using the green squares. Email your replies with your name, address and phone number to sef.ed@kelsey.co.uk Correct entries will be entered into a draw which will take place on 7 September. The winner will be announced in the October edition. TO ADVERTISE CALL 01303 233883

Paper coated in plastic (9) Dwelling (5) Relating to currency (8) Rule (5) Where bords lay eggs (4) Cut into usable pieces (7) Trail from Hampshire to East Sussex (5,5,3) Infatuated, besotted (7) Work day (6) Where a person lives (7) To twist or distort (4) To show focus and take notice (9) Slim (7) Scheme (4)

1 2 3 4 6 7 10 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 23

Citrus fruit (5) Strip something valuable from land (5) Record, jot down (4) Burned (7) Food of flour, water and yeast (5) Quality that people respect (7) Convert fibre to yarn (4) Cattle breed (9) Small amount of whiskey (3) Lucid (4) Hot drink (3) Worker in stone (5) Question (3) Rouse from sleep (5) Feasted (5) Honed (5)

DOWN

19 20

1 5 8 9 11 12 13 16 18 21 23 24 25 27

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: 1

VINEYARDS

While many farmers come to an end of their harvest, ours will soon be in full swing. Enter the crossword to

For more information about the vineyards, please visit www.biddendenvineyards.com or call 01580 291726. *Subject to availability

O M

E A

R U

E 15

C 18

G N

N L

H 22

L P

U 17

P 12

W H

T 11

be in with a chance of winning four bottles of our favourite wine, Ortega.

E D

E E

R A

L 24

H T

R E

L D

Correct answer: Leptospirosis LAST MONTH’S WINNER: Ian Hamilton from Wethersfield, Essex

WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET | SEPTEMBER 2021

Better people Best placed SEASONAL LABOUR PLACEMENT

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| u .e nt

78 0 1 22

06 789

South East Farmer September 2021

Articles inside

NIGEL AKEHURST VISITS: HOOK & SON

COURT LODGE FARM

LEGAL

STEPHEN CARR

ADVICE FROM THE VET

ALAN WEST

FRUIT FOCUS REVIEW

MONICA AKEHURST

SARAH CALCUTT

Highly-organised gangs plague farmyards

Revised Red Tractor standards revealed

Grant funding opportunity launched

Ernest Doe & Son’s grass demonstration day

Dairy herd set to be axed