Agrimart December 2022 Issue

• Special offers available on Cattle & Sheep Hurdles, Gates & Water Troughs •

Suppliers of:

• Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

• Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

Suppliers of: -Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment -Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment -Sheep Portarace

ATV Trailers

• Sheep Portarace

Agricultural Buildings

• ATV Trailers

• Agricultural Buildings

-Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems Large quantity of box section and pipe, Phone for special offers

• Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems

• 9”x3” Timbers & 6”x3” Timbers In Stock

• Big Six Fibre Cement Sheets In Stock

Wooler : 01668 281464

Hexham : 01434 603078

Wooler : 01668 281464

Graeme Wilson : 07971 880275

Email : info@glendaleegineering.co.uk Web : www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

John common : 07981 890999

Bob Clapham : 07954 363979 info@glendaleegineering.co.uk www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

LAND DRAINAGESPECIALISTS

Specialising in drainage works large and small Providing free advice and quotations

LAND DRAINAGESPECIALISTS

Glendinning Ground Works Limited have been specialists in land drainageworks for the last 50 years. We carry out small repairs to existing drainage schemes and install large scale drainage schemes using our trenchless system.

GGW – Upgrade private or mains water supply systems to meet the current legislation

GGW – Construct farm and forestry roads and ground works for new buildings

Glendinning Ground Works Limited have been specialists in land drainageworks the last 50 years. We carry out small repairs to existing drainage schemes and install large scale drainage schemes using our trenchless system. We have just invested in a new Inter-Drain 2040 GP Trenchless Plough which is capable of installing up to 150 mm drainage pipe at various depths. Drainage systems are installed with a gravel infill to underside of topsoil for maximum effect. The Inter-Drain is mainly designed for land drainage but can also be utilised in other sectors such as cable and pipeline laying.

GGW – Carry out all types of flood prevention works

The machine also incorporates a Topcon laser system which allows us to laydrainage systems wheregradientsare flat.

GGW – Are currently involved in the installation of large and small hydro electric power schemes

We have just invested in a new Inter-Drain 2040 GP Trenchless Plough which is capable of installing up to 150 mm drainage pipe at various depths. Drainage systems are installed with a gravel infill to underside of topsoil for maximum effect. The new Inter-Drain is mainly designed for land drainage but can also be utilised in other sectors such as cable and pipeline laying.

Our experienced team offer professional advice and free quotations on all aspects land drainage.

GGW – Build all shapes and sizes of ponds and reservoirs

The machine also incorporates a Topcon laser system which allows us to laydrainage systems wheregradientsare flat.

Our experienced team offer professional advice and free quotations on all aspects of

T: 01896830487 T: 01896831264 E:eileen@ggw.demon.co.uk www.glendinninggroundworks.co.uk

T: 01896 830487 T: 01896 831264

E:eileen@glendinninggroundworks.co.uk www.glendinninggroundworks.co.uk

T: 01896830487 T: 01896831264 E:eileen@ggw.demon.co.uk www.glendinninggroundworks.co.uk

Members

of

Members of

Members of

Haddington

Machinery

Contact a member of our sales team:

Ian Chalmers: 07793 589 678 ic@hendersongm.co.uk

Allan White: 07501 088 177 apw@hendersongm.co.uk

William Smith: 07793 589 661 ws@hendersongm.co.uk

Graham Scott: 07793 589 680 gs@hendersongm.co.uk

● Broughan 33ft box pusher trailer c/w cat walks, x 2

● Broughan 20t dump trailer hydraulic up and over door

● Broughan 16t dump trailer hydraulic up and over door

● Broughan 28 bale trailer with hay ladder, x 2

●

● New KV GEO-SPREAD

HYDRAULIC DRIVE, ISOBUS, 12M-45M, full 1m section control, 24 DISCS IN TWO ROWS

● New KV 6 furrow plough 3300s Variomat, NO 28 bodies, HYDRAULIC FRONT FURROW, MAIZE SKIMMERS

● New M7153 150HP full power shift, 50KPH 4 MECH.SPOOL VALVES

● New Demo Kubota M6-121 full power shift

● New kubota M 4073

● Hisun electric utility buggy 5V or 15v demo available Haddington, Selkirk, Kinross. From £13,000 plus VAT

In early October we attended the Krone UK dealer meeting where we were extremely surprised and proud to be awarded with the Krone UK Dealer of the Year award for 2022. This award reflects our team’s dedication to the Krone brand throughout the past year across all areas of the business. This follows on from winning Krone UK New Dealer of the Year for 2021. We were completely unaware we were in the running for the award, but nonetheless we are extremely proud to have won considering some of the other dealers from across the UK that were finalists for the award.

Huge congratulations to our entire staff. This is a true team award!

There are positives and negatives when a manufacturer decides to make a change to their dealer network. It can be a frustration for equipment owners and create doubt for potential buyers. Hopefully this award reassures that in G Marshall Tractors, the Krone franchise is in committed and capable hands for the foreseeable future! Finally, to all the new and existing Krone customers who have purchased machines, parts or required our technical support, a big thank you for choosing G Marshall Tractors. This award would not have been possible without your business and support.

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Marshall Green’s expert team offer generators for sale to a diverse range of clients through out northern England and Scotland.

We are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to make sure you have all the power you need, when you need it.

IF YOU HAVE FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS PLEASE STAY AWAY

I live in fear of H5N1 - that’s bird flu just in case you didn’t know. It is transmissible and the last thing I need is to catch this wretched virus. Outbreaks around the country are ten times worse than last year and the number of poultry that have been culled are frightening. Turkeys are particularly vulnerable and the traditional Christmas Fayre is going to be an unaffordable luxury for many. Of course my concern is not only my health but my well being. Pulling hen sheds is my ‘raison d’etre’, my bread and butter, that is why I am here. There is already a decline in egg production from mobile hen houses in this part of world as the cost of feed has forced producers to consider whether it is worth continuing financially. I haven’t pulled a newly built shed for 15 years, which is a sobering thought. Fortunately the majority of houses are well constructed and are still in production beyond their expected lifetime. What would I do in a world of no houses to be moved? The chances of a wet harvest and bogged combines seem to be a pipe dream as I have to admit to the reality of a changing climate. I could retire I suppose but I would be bored in five minutes. I love my work and I think it suits me. So please, if you have a cold or flu like symptoms from an unknown cause, don’t rub my bonnet or stroke my spades. The usual nagging problems with my mechanics mean I am never very far from the doctor’s surgery. Most recently my alternator decided to come loose to the extent that the fan was occasionally hitting the pulley. Of course he couldn’t find out where the noise was coming from and young Andrew was called in. He diagnosed missing bolts which, just my luck, are not metric, UNC or UNF but a BSF thread which have to be especially ordered. They should be here soon and I will be back on the road.

Kelso Agricultural Discussion Society

Farming for the Future

Joe Baker: Windshiel Farm

The 650 acre farm near Duns has been organic since 2001, with Joe forming a partnership with his parents in 2013. The farm runs ~740 Lleyn ewes, 200 hoggs and 68 Aberdeen Angus suckler cows. The business has also developed a successful direct sales customer base selling fresh meat monthly.

David Aglen: Balbirnie home farms

The 1,200ha farm near Fife consists of 800ha arable crops and 200 suckler cows. The diverse cropping rotation includes oats, spring barley, winter wheat, spring beans, potatoes, and brassica vegetables. Key areas of focus include regenerative agricultural practices, plant and soil health and reduced inputs.

MOBILE ENGINEERING SERVICES

MOBILE ENGINEERING SERVICES

Fabrication

MOBILE ENGINEERING SERVICES

Fabrication

Fabrication

MOBILE ENGINEERING SERVICES

Machinery Repair  and  Maintenance Plasma  cutting,  arc  welding Mag  drilling  &  threading

Machinery Repair  and  Maintenance Plasma  cutting,  arc  welding Mag  drilling  &  threading

Fabrication

MOBILE ENGINEERING SERVICES

ON-SITE CAPABILITY

Machinery Repair  and  Maintenance Plasma  cutting,  arc  welding Mag  drilling  &  threading

ON-SITE CAPABILITY

Machinery Repair  and  Maintenance Plasma  cutting,  arc  welding Mag  drilling  &  threading

Fabrication

ON-SITE CAPABILITY

Self  contained  mobile  workshop -­‐ Off  road  access

Machinery Repair  and  Maintenance Plasma  cutting,  arc  welding Mag  drilling  &  threading

ON-SITE CAPABILITY

Self  contained  mobile  workshop Off  road  access

ON-SITE CAPABILITY

Self  contained  mobile  workshop Off  road  access

Contact: Gavin  S.  Murray  Threipland Agricultural  Engineer           Hawick

Self  contained  mobile  workshop Off  road  access

Self  contained  mobile  workshop Off  road  access

Contact: Gavin  S.  Murray  Threipland Agricultural  Engineer           Hawick

Contact: Gavin  S.  Murray  Threipland Agricultural  Engineer           Hawick

Contact: Gavin  S.  Murray  Threipland Agricultural  Engineer           Hawick

Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings) Mob:    07802  201 612

Contact: Gavin  S.  Murray  Threipland Agricultural  Engineer

Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings) Mob:    07802  201 612

Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings) Mob:    07802  201 612

Hawick

e mail:   threngineering1@btinternet.com

Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings) Mob:    07802  201 612

e mail:   threngineering1@btinternet.com

e mail:   threngineering1@btinternet.com

Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings) Mob:    07802  201 612

e mail:   threngineering1@btinternet.com

e mail:   threngineering1@btinternet.com

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TRACTORS

John Deere 6110M, 2016 He

John Deere 6110RC, 2014 J

John Deere 6115M, 2013 He

John Deere 6120M, 2017 J

John Deere 6125R, 2013 A

John Deere 6130R, choice 2013/17 Ha

John Deere 6130M, 2016 Ha

John Deere 6140M, 2016 A

John Deere 6140R, 2013 J

John Deere 6130R, 2017 C

John Deere 6135R, 2020 A

John Deere 6150R ,2014 Ha

John Deere 6150R, 2015 A

John Deere 6155R, 2020 A

John Deere 6155R, 2020 choice C

John Deere 6155R, choice 2016/19 Ha

John Deere 6155R, choice 2017 He

John Deere 6155R, choice 2018/19 J

John Deere 6170R, 2012/14 A

John Deere 6175R, 2018 A

John Deere 6175R, 2019 He

John Deere 6195R, 2020 A

John Deere 6195R, 2017 C

John Deere 6210R, 2012 A

John Deere 6210SE, 2002 Ha

John Deere 6220SE, 2003 Ha

John Deere 6215R, 2016/17 choice C

TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS

Matbro TS270 J

Manitou MLT634-120 Telehandler C

Claas, Scorpion (Kramer) 6030 Telehandler S

TRACTORS

John Deere 6215R, 2016 A

John Deere 6215R, 2016 Ha

John Deere 6320, 2002 S

John Deere 6330, 2009 He

John Deere 6430, 2008 He

John Deere 6520, 2006 He

John Deere 6630, 2010 C

John Deere 7310R, 2017 C

John Deere 7930, 2009 A

John Deere 8370RT, 2018 Ha

John Deere 8400R tractor 2018 Ha

Case/IH MXM190, 2003 C

Case/IH PUMA 240 CVX, 2021 C

Deutz-Fahr Agrotron 105, 2003 He

Fendt 828, 2015 A

Massey Ferguson 4215 S

Massey Ferguson 5713 J

Massey Ferguson 6480, 2008 A

Massey Ferguson 6718S, 2017 J

New Holland T5.105, 2019 J

New Holland T6080, 2012 Ha

New Holland T7.210 c/w front loader, 2015 A

New Holland T7.210, 2017 S

Valmet 6300 Tractor, K Reg A

Valtra N121, 2012 A

Valtra N124, 2016 He

TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS

JCB 416S Wheeled Loader He

JCB 526 Telehandler, 2008 He

JCB 531-70 Telehandler, 2006 A

GRASSLAND/BALERS

John Deere 572 Baler A

McHale Bale Wrapper C

John Deere 331 MoCo A

John Deere 1365 MoCo S

John Deere 1360 MoCo A

Kuhn BPR305 PRO Flail Topper Ha

Kuhn FC303YGC MoCo A

Kuhn GA6501P twin rotor Windrower J

Kuhn VB3160 Round Baler C

Claas Volto 770 Tedder A

Claas 880 Twin rotor rake S

Fransguard TI 6000 Combi Rake C

Kverneland KV202 Bale Wrapper A

Lely Hibiscus 855CD grass rake A

New Holland 370 Square Baler S

Major 900T Pro Cut Trailed Topper A

Pottinger NovaCat 301 MoCo A

Spearhead 460 Topper A

Kverneland Taarup 3021 Mounted Topper He

COMBINE HARVESTERS

John Deere T670 combine harvester, 2017 J

John Deere S685i combine harvester, 2017 A

John Deere T550 combine harvester, 2015 C

FARM TRAILERS

Stewart Low Loader, GX22LL C

Bailey 12ton tipper trailer A

Marshall 10 ton tipper trailer A

Marshall S10 ton dropside tipper trailer J

Marston Ace10 tipping trailer, choice 2 Ha

16ft flatbed trailer Ha

Bateson 3536 12ft Trailer A

CROP CARE

John Deere 512 Mounted Sprayer A

John Deere R732, Trailed Sprayer Ha

John Deere M952i Sprayer C

John Deere R962i sprayer A

John Deere M740 Sprayer C

John Deere R4040i SP Sprayer A

John Deere 840i Sprayer C

Kuhn Axis 30.1D Fertiliser spreader S

Kuhn Axis 30.1Q Fertiliser spreader A

Kuhn Axis 30.1Q Fertiliser spreader C

Kuhn Axis 40.1W Fertiliser spreader Ha

Kuhn Axis 40.1 Fertiliser spreader A

Kuhn Axis 40.2 Fertiliser spreader C

Kuhn 1102 Fertiliser spreader C

Knight 3000L trailed sprayer24m A

Knight Trailblazer 6000 sprayer 36m Ha

Lely Centerliner spreader 24m discs C

Sulky DPX1505 fert spreader He

CULTIVATION

Kuhn Espro 4000RC, Seed Drill Ha

Kuhn HR3003D Power Harrow A

Kuhn HR3502D power Harrow A

Kuhn HR4003 Power Harrow Ha

Kuhn HR5004DRC Power Harrow C

Kuhn HR6003 Power Harrow A

Kuhn HR4004DRC, Power Harrow A

Kuhn LC4000 Venta Seed Drill Ha

Kuhn VM122 plough 4f A

Kuhn VM122 plough 5f C

Kuhn VM153 plough 6f Ha

Kuhn Multi Leader semi mounted plough 8f C Kuhn Vari Leader semi mounted plough 8f Ha Kuhn LC302 Combination Drill J

Amazone Cayros XMS V 5 furrow plough Vari-Width J DAL·BO 6.3m 3 section folding rollers Ha Maschio/Sulky 3m combi drill unit He Vaderstad 6.3m hyd vertical folding rollers Ha

MISCELLANEOUS

John Deere 6ft muck fork/grab Euro brackets S Kuhn Euromix 1060 diet feeder A

Front Weights, 450KG Ha

Doughty bucket c/w Merlo brackets Ha DR Road Grader, tow behind J

Foster Bale Spike – single Ha Kverneland Silo king diet feeder A

Logic Multi – electric feeder A

Lucas 20R Mounted bedder c/w electric controls Ha Standen 400/200 Bedformer Ha

ATV/UTILITY VEHICLES & ATTACHMENTS

John Deere XUV855D Gator, 2016 S

John Deere XUV855D Gator, choice 2016 A

John Deere XUV855M Gator choice two 2018/19 A

John Deere XUV855M Gator choice three 2018/19 S

John Deere XUV865M, Gator, 2020 A

John Deere XUV865M Gator, choice two He

John Deere XUV865M Gator, choice 2018/20 J

Can Am 550 Quad Bike A

John Deere XUV865M Gator, 2018 Ha

John Deere 6x4 TH J

Kuhn Axis 40.2 Fertiliser spreader C

Kuhn 1102 Fertiliser spreader C

Knight 3000L trailed sprayer24m A

Knight Trailblazer 6000 sprayer 36m Ha

Lely Centerliner spreader 24m discs C

Sulky DPX1505 fert spreader He

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Talking........New Zealand

Ian Mackenzie is an arable and

He runs a number of fully irrigated intensive cropping

some stock finishing.

I’ve just returned from our annual jet boat trip away. This year we headed up to the Wairarapa and onto Hawkes Bay.

7 boats, 18 crew, several legs of mutton, most of Australia’s red wine production, an impressive quantity and range of whisky and as an extra challenge 2 cases of Baileys. We boated the Ruamahanga which is a very civilised river in that there is a very welcoming pub that served home brew and pizzas at a point on the river where it starts to become unnavigable. From there we went out towards the East coast to Wairangi station. My sister and her lawyer husband bought Wairangi in the 80’s downturn as a weekend retreat from their lives in Wellington. It is probably the “worst” farm in the Wairarapa if not NZ. 2000ha of Manuka and Tawhini scrub clinging to steep ridges, surrounded by cattle thieves and drug dealers, but they love it Years ago I tried ranching cattle up there, but the neighbours cut the boundary fences and mustered all my cattle out. I had to employ a friendly Māori fellow to recover them. It took a few years but eventually the neighbouring crooks sued for peace. They were worried that I’d not only got my cattle back but was making a hole in their own herds!

Interestingly with a combination of Manuka honey production and carbon credits for all the scrub, no livestock other than wild deer, pigs and goats, Wairangi may be the most profitable farm in the district. From there we went out to Whiterock on the east coast. A historical property that was the first sheep station in the Wairarapa. Sadly, the cost of operating this station, coupled with Jacinda’s tax on food production, will mean the future for this property is to be planted in pine trees. We then moved to Whana Whana inland from Napier in Hawkes Bay. Here we stayed in huts on the banks of the Ngaruororo river. We had some great boating up through the gorges of the river all surrounded by some beautiful hill country.

A great trip. No mutton or Baileys made it home!

Airstrip on Whiterock station

dairy farmer from the Canterbury Plain in the South Island of New Zealand.

farms, producing grain, vegetable and grass seeds with

Thank heavens we had a Land Rover

Wairangi station

On Our Farm

Hugo Lee farms in partnership with his father, Guy, at Sandystones, near St Boswells. Arable crops of wheat, oilseed rape, malting barley, oats and rye are grown, 400 Angus cattle are finished annually, 8000 organic hens produce eggs for Waitrose and 14,000 organic point of lay pullets are reared each year.

Moving house at the end of October, whilst both Bogdan and Diana are away for over a month, seemed a great idea back in the spring. The crops should all have been drilled, cattle housed and no hen sheds to move/ wash. This would allow lots of time to help Jess unpack, re decorate etc. Unfortunately it has not turned out to be quite that simple.

After a rather uncomfortable 20hr journey back from Kenya (aeroplanes are not designed for people 2m tall). We arrived home to a completely empty Sandystones farmhouse. The following day it was very quickly filled up with beds, sofas, pictures and hundreds of boxes. For two days, except for feeding and bedding the cattle, I spent the whole time unpacking, building a new kitchen island and laundry shelves. Unfortunately since then the house ‘moving in’ has completely ground to a halt and farm work has taken over.

I had never factored into my master plan that the majority of our cattle would still be out at grass at the end of October and that the pullet rearing shed would need moving! The last week has been spent housing all of the grazing cattle as ground conditions have become too wet and grass growth has slowed. We continue to send a batch of fat cattle to Dovecote Park every 4 weeks. A big thank you to my neighbour Chris for helping me clip the fat cattle this month. As an arable farmer it was his first experience working with cattle and I don’t think he would be that eager to do it again. As I am sure you have read in the press bird flu continues to wreak havoc across the UK and Europe. A housing order is currently in place in England almost certainly Wales and Scotland will shortly follow suit. We are doing everything we can to ensure our biosecurity is at its highest level but it is very, very worrying times. The UK egg industry is currently going through a very challenging time. Due to huge cost increases over the past year and without egg price rises to match, many producers have decided not to restock and have mothballed their sheds. The industry has been warning the retailers that if there was not a significant increase in price there would be an egg shortage. They have been completely ignored and the retailers are trying to blame lack of supply on bird flu which is simply not the case at present. However if bird flu is as bad as predicted this winter then this will put even more pressure on supply. We are continuing to stock our sheds despite the margin being extremely tight. Due to Ann’s retirement we are currently in the process of moving the rearing shed back from Kelso. It is being rebuilt with the first batch of chicks due to go in it at the start of February. I hope to catch up with you at AgriScot which is always a great show.

Dismantling the pullet rearing shed

www.ancroft-tractors.co.uk | Tel: 01289 331904 | Email: sales@ancroft-tractors.co.uk

Talking........Business Edwin Thompson

November 2022

Jack Frater is an Agricultural Consultant at Edwin Thompson, based in their office in Galashiels. Jack specialising in Farm and Estate Management

The last farming year has certainly been interesting, and not without its challenges. But now that drilling is up to date, the tups are out to work, and cattle are coming inside, it’s a good chance to catch our breath, take stock, and review the last few months.

There is only one way to describe the summer of 2022 – dry! Record temperatures and a significant lack of rain meant that farmers of a certain generation no longer need to go on about the summer of ’76 (you know who you are), it was also one of the earliest harvests for the area on record, not many farmers in this region have finished combining by the end of August before.

The dry conditions brought with it a whole host of issues that most of us are not used to dealing with, from an increased risk of combine fires to the significant lack of grass growth. But from a financial point of view, this harvest has been quite a profitable one. For those that bought fertiliser early the record wheat price has resulted in some strong gross margins. Higher fuel prices have taken the shine of this somewhat, but thankfully drying costs have been minimal, if not non-existent.

The 2023 harvest could well be a completely different story though, fertiliser prices have risen on the back of higher gas prices, however wheat prices have remained relatively steady since the end of harvest. As a result, the budget figures for next year might not be that enticing. Therefore, it is a timely reminder to review your costs, and manage your finances to make sure you have the required working capital. The recent jump in interest rates will not make this an easy task, especially when you consider that agriculture as an industry has a high level of borrowings across the board.

From a livestock point of view, the lack of grass meant a reduced amount of silage produced, and for some they had to break into that silage a lot earlier than expected. Thankfully, a mild October has resulted in late growth, meaning that cattle can be kept out that little bit longer.

Looking at the longer-term future of farming, we could well be on the brink of a new technological revolution within agriculture. Autonomous tractors are no longer the future, but very much the here and now with the likes of the Agxeed Agbot available commercially. Machines such as this have huge potential for arable businesses and represent a big leap forward in precision agriculture.

On a smaller scale, advancements in drone technology have really taken off recently, I wouldn’t be surprised if those interested in flying drones become the new agronomists and sprayer operators. That’s not to say that farm workers should expect their P45s, as there will always be the need for human intervention, but those with the mentality of ‘its ay been’ run the risk of being left behind.

IN STOCK: Vacuum tankers, grain trailers, dump trailers, slurry pumps and yard brushes

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Talking

........from Lincolnshire

November 7th 2022

Will Howe is an arable farmer from Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The soils are predominantly heavy. There is 500ha of cropping including winter wheat, spring beans, spring oats and oilseed rape. He also manages a contracting business Thorpe Farming Ltd.

Despite having the patience of Job, I cracked. I am pleased to say long after others and thank goodness I did. The dry has now turned to “the wet”.

All the wheat has been drilled into excellent conditions and rolled down with a pre-em applied. Well nearly. I have a fantastic relationship with my agronomist (who incidentally is a good friend) based upon I tell him what I want, and then he writes a recommendation. Occasionally I let him use words and phrases like “new product” and “efficacy” just to keep him interested but we both know what works, and more importantly what doesn’t. Sadly, I think he had been gathering CPD points the day before our weekly meeting and he said I could not apply my pre-em as it was too dry. The following week there was allegedly too much rain forecast and then, like magic the wheat was through the ground and growing like stink. Yes, I know the “efficacy” would be reduced by applying to a dry seedbed, but at least it would have been on. Fortunately, the 2 fields in question are not bad for blackgrass so we should be ok fingers crossed.

Oh what a joy…

Not

a worm

in

sight

Down at Worth’s we are rolling back the years. I haven’t owned a plough for 15 years yet after the sugar beet there is no other option. So, I have begged one from a kindly neighbour up here. Despite having all these fancy new tractors, the only one with the correct wheel centres is the trusty 6920 so she has been sliding her way up and down the field. The top few inches is mush, below that is iron so the theory is we plough up the dry to drill into. Only that every time we get ploughing to try and get a lead over the contract drill-man, it promptly rains, and nothing has been drilled. A good reason not to grow beet if ever there was one. I have an unhealthy addiction of adapting and modifying machinery which is great fun, but generally financial suicide. So, for a few years I have abstained thinking time is a great healer. It would appear not. I love the Canadian seedhawk coulter, but I fear the Swedish Vaderstad design team might have had an excessively hot lunchtime sauna the afternoon they designed the rest of the machine. Whoever thought a 1200kg seed hopper was adequate for an 8m drill I don’t know. The longest field at Worth’s is 2600m which means I can do 2 runs, but not three. Yet I can’t fill up after 2 runs because there is too much seed in the hopper still to fit another bag in… That and with no half width shut off and only a 2m slither left to drill, I must have a 1.6ha overlap. The angle grinder and gas axe might be getting an airing soon!

The 6920 on tour

R J S Forsyth, V L Carmichael, R A R Murray & L E Jackson is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers. For security and training purposes calls may be recorded and monitored.

Talking

........from the boundary November 9th 2022

I’ve been thinking about things that have changed my life in the 50 years I have been farming. Of course there are hundreds and we wouldn’t still be in business without embracing the scientific improvements that have been adopted enabling higher yields in all areas of food production.

There are four tools that stick out in my mind:

1) The mobile phone - that today is not only what it says on the tin but is also my diary, newspaper, cheque book, calculator, torch, notebook, road map, camera, photograph album and wallet. All of which previously had to be carried individually. I think we take for granted what this little rectangle, that is always in our pocket, has done to our lives. Negatively it has ruined conversation for many, influenced opinion and decreased the variety of literature that is read but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

2) The round baler - when I started farming, hay and straw were baled and stored in ‘wee bales’ that in our changeable climate involved a huge amount of manual labour carting and stacking in barns on the day of production. Often the crop was ‘got’ too early and heating and decay ruined a weeks work as well as winter rations. The variable size soft centre round bale changed all that, with the outer layer acting as a thatch, bales could be left out to mature and moving to the barn could wait until there was time and space.

3) The TMR (Total Mixed Ration) feeder - has completely removed all the manual handling of feeding stock. The twice a day chore of pouring bagged feed down a feed passage has been replaced on this farm with three times a week feeding, with great accuracy of a ration that has all the ingredients mixed and fed in one operation.

pruned roses, taken soil samples, mended countless machines. I am lost without it. On several occasions I

4) My Leatherman - always on my belt. I use the majority of the tools most days. I have sawn wood, rewired

Guy Lee

Trusty Leatherman

Talking

........North of the Forth

November 7th 2022

Tom Pate farms 240ha of arable on a tenanted farm in Angus. Cropping includes wheat, spring barley, rye and oilseed rape along with land let for potatoes and vining peas. Additionally, around 6500 pigs are reared annually under contract and 600 Christmas turkeys sold directly to the public under the KellyBronze franchise. On his wife’s 380ha family farm in the Angus Glens they also run 200 red deer hinds plus followers for venison production, along with developing a forestry enterprise.

Last month I received the phone call from a neighbour that every deer farmer dreads. “Your deer are out!”. To make matters worse it was 5.30pm on a Friday and I was about to sit down with a glass of something refreshing after a busy week. The whole family jumped in the truck and sped to the spot of the last sighting. Sure enough there were about 90 hinds and calves along with two stags out. Not only were they out but they had crossed the bridge over the river Isla and were now on the wrong side of the water with dusk falling. Fortune was on our side, however, as a wide flanking manoeuvre on foot alongside some nifty quad bike corralling, we got them back across the river just as darkness fell. Some went straight back to the field, but others splintered off into woods. The cause of the breakout was identified as a section of wooden slats between two corner strainers that had been smashed – we suspect by one of our stags fighting a wild stag through the fence.

Wild stags have been a real problem this rut. We usually just see one or two youngish stags pacing the fence line attracted by the scent of the lovely ladies on the other side but this year we have been inundated by marauding males. I suspect the proliferation of forestry further up the glen has pushed deer out of their usual stomping grounds and they are moving into lower and newer areas.

Over the next few days more deer were tempted out of surrounding woods and brought back into their fields however reports were still trickling in of ear tagged deer being spotted further afield. Deer are hefted and should return to base but wild stags will do everything they can to sweep up stray females and push them away. Until we get a good head count at weaning time in mid-November we won’t know how many deer are missing. Hopefully as the rut passes the hinds will slip away from their wild captors and return home.

At the beginning of November we sent our first load of prime deer to slaughter. Grades were okay but weights were disappointing. My reluctance to spend too much money on fertiliser had perhaps caught up on me in the autumn with grass running out of steam. The tough lessons on growing and utilising grass keep coming!

In late October I lost my nerve as bird flu case numbers rose and took the turkeys off the free range and now have them permanently under cover. In my view the UK has lost the battle against bird flu and it is now pretty much endemic in the wild bird population. The poultry industry (especially the free-range sector) is incredibly vulnerable. Real progress must now be made to fast track a vaccine and permission sought for its use. The media is only really interested in reporting on turkey shortages this Christmas but without a solution to bird flu many will exit the industry and turkeys at Christmas will become a scarcity. We have increased our biosecurity measures as best we can given our set-up but with such a virulent and widespread disease we are extremely anxious about the next few weeks. Who’d be a

Talking........Organic

Made to conquer

November 9th 2022

Simon Bainbridge farms in partnership with his wife Claire and his parents, Ivan and Elisabeth in Northumberland. They run suckler beef, sheep and laying hen enterprises across 650 ha of mainly SDA and moorland - organically. The new building is finally out of the ground, with roof sheets being put in place as I type. Everything is here except for the concrete troughs, so hopefully progress will be swift. I did make a schoolboy error and mentioned to the construction team that I was going away with the family for a few days over half term. Subsequently, all work stopped for those four days that we were away!

The weather has been kind for regrowth on red/white clover and multi-species leys. Lambs are going as and when they are ready. All the cattle to finish are in, as are in-calf heifers. Cows will be in shortly as they are starting to make a mess. Tb testing, Johnes test, P’ding and vaccinating against BVD and Leptospirosis are happening at the end of the month so the cattle will come in then. Some cows and calves will have to remain outdoors until the new building is ready What a surprise, eggs are now in short supply, with packers and supermarkets now trying to court and secure suppliers. The media chat is that Avian flu has caused the shortage. As usual, the spin only tells half, if any of the true story. AI has caused some supply issues, but the real problem is that over the last few months with spiraling costs, many producers have been paid below the cost of production by their packers and retailers, which has led them to not re-stock at the present time and sadly some have gone out of production. This is why the supply chain has broken. I fear that the same thing will happen in other sectors with a contraction due to rising costs and reducing support. The hens are now locked in under this seasons Housing Order to prevent against Avian Influenza. Our hens generally cope quite well being locked in, as under organic housing requirements our hens have significantly more space than conventional hens, which appears to be critical when they are put under stress. We have upped our number of mineral blocks and lucerne within the houses to help keep the birds occupied during this time. The main objective is to keep the birds stress free, so they continue to produce and not try to peck one another. Biosecurity continues to be a priority. We installed a mains powered pressure washer at one of our houses and are in the process of installing one at the second. The hand powered spray pumps are useful, but with such a high risk of AI across the country we need to take every measure to try to mitigate against any risks, and vehicles and feet entering the premises is now our main risk, now that the birds are locked in.