Agrimart January 2023 Issue

Massey Ferguson 7620 Dyna-VT 2015 8000 £31,000

Renault 620RZ 2002 7400 £19,000

Valtra T 130 Tractor 2004 7400 £20,000

CAT TH407 Loadall 2014 5800 £21,000

Kramer 316 1980 9169 £4,500

Bowmag BW 120 AD Roller 2012 607 £10,000

Lemken Solitair 9/600 Compact Drill 2010 4500 £19,000

Kuhn Accord 4m Combination Drill 2010 4500 £10,000

Kuhn MDS 20.2 Fertiliser Spreader 2020 500 £4,600

Agribuggy Sprayer 2003 4000 £19,000

Chafer Guardian 4000 30m Trailed Sprayer 2010 3000 £19,000

Amazone 403 special 4m Combination Drill 2014 4000 £12,000 Amazone 4m Combination Drill 1999 10000 £6,000

Low Bed Hydraulic Lowering and Steering Machinery Trailer 2014 10000 £4,500

Keenan Mech Fibre 3400 Diet Feeder 2015 2000 £5,500

Kverneland Compact 4 Cultivator 2004 200 £2,500

Spread A Bale Mini Galv 2016 2000 £5,000

Spread A Bale Midi 2013 2000 £4,500

Spread A Bale Mounted Bedder 2004 2000 £4,500 Flat 4m Drill Trailer, Hyd Lift and Steering 2014 2000 £4,500

I’VE PULLED THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR

Growing old is no fun for either him or me. Bits are falling off both of us and it is a question of who fails first. I had a very satisfactory morning today, we set off on the 33 mile journey to Bonnington Farm, Peebles at 10:00, arrived at 11:15, in position by 11:30, pulled the shed and ready to set off home at 12:00. I was back here and filled up by 13:20. Not every job goes as smoothly - nothing went wrong. Two weeks ago I pulled a shed at Over Langshaw, near Galashiels for the Bergius family. This was as difficult as today’s was simple. I had to climb up a grass field, turning back on myself though 180 degrees which I couldn’t manage so the fence had to be dismantled! Then I crept down a steep bank and into a wood. To line myself up for the pull I had to park between trees and dig the spades into ground that was loose boulders so as I pulled the spades wouldn’t dig in but just pushed the whole ground away. The hen house was 10 feet below me in a cut out. Just as we were about to chain my front to a tree the spades took hold and the shed moved. After that the pull went reasonably easily and soon I was negotiating my way out with trees in front and a drop below. It was lot of going backwards and forwards (how I bet he wishes for power steering) before I was able to set off home. So we have reached the end of another year. I have pulled 45 hen houses, recovered a bogged muckspreader, a cowped tractor and only had one failure. Financially I have pulled my weight (excuse the pun) with income exceeding expenditure by four times. I have been to the Borders Vintage Automobile Club show at Thirlestane Castle, St Boswells Show, The Border Union Show, a 100th celebration, and I have written 12 articles for Agrimart so I think I am safe here for another season. Thank you to all those who flash, hoot and wave at me on the road. I am sorry if I don’t recognize you all my eyes aren’t what they used to be. Thank you to Andy Wight for keeping me going, without you I’d still be stranded at Glentress! And finally Happy Christmas and New Year from me and all of us at Sandystones.

Wendy’s spot the difference

HAPPY DAYS. Retaking my cup at Thirlestane

With best wishes from Knight Frank Melrose

It’s the little moments that matter this festive season.

EXTENDED TERRITORY

We are excited to announce that we are expanding our Case IH territory. As well as our existing territory in the Scottish Borders, we will now cover East, West and Midlothian. We can confirm that we have already secured a new depot, which is the former Lothian Tractors unit based in Macmerry Industrial Estate near Tranent. We are already in the process of upgrading the premises to meet our high standards and hope to be up and running early in the New Year. In the meantime, we welcome any and all current Case IH users in these areas to pick up the phone and speak to David or George Marshall if you wish to discuss how this change will affect you. It is our goal to make sure this change has nothing but a positive effect on your business!

We see this as a natural step in the growth of the business and provides a natural synergy to our current operations in the Scottish Borders. Furthermore with the support of our various brands such as Krone, Bobcat and Can-Am, we feel we have a range of products and the professional yet personal approach to service, which will offer a new high value option to modern agricultural and rural businesses in these new areas. It is an area we already know well through 40 years of business and indeed already deal with a number of customers in these areas. We hope this adds a certain level of stability and reassurance during this time of change.

As a result of this expansion we are looking to recruit staff to join us in this exciting new chapter of G Marshall Tractors history:

•

(Macmerry) •

Parts Manager (Macmerry) •

Service Administrators (Macmerry & St Boswells)

• X2 Depot Service Managers (Macmerry & St Boswells)

• Qualified Service Engineers (Macmerry & St Boswells)

• Service & Parts Apprentices (Macmerry)

Further information on any of the positions above is available on request. All packages are negotiable and will reflect the experience and personal circumstance of the individual. We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone with experience of working with CNH products/systems.

Please contact David Marshall in the strictest confidence on: Mob: 07929 167819 Email: davidm@gmarshall-tractors.co.uk

TRACTORS

John Deere 3140, C Reg S

John Deere 6110M, 2017 J

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 6135R, 2020 A

John Deere 6140M, 2016 A

John Deere 6140R, 2013 J

John Deere 6145R, 2018 J

John Deere 6130R, 2017 C

John Deere 6130R, choice 2013/17 Ha

John Deere 6135R, 2020 A

John Deere 6150R, choice 2013/14 Ha

John Deere 6150R, 2015 A

John Deere 6155R, choice 2017/20 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, choice 2017/20 A

John Deere 6195R, 2016 Ha

John Deere 6195R, 2017 C

John Deere 6210R, 2012 A

John Deere 6210R, 2014 Ha

John Deere 6220SE, 2003 Ha

John Deere 6220SE, 2007 S

TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS

Claas, Scorpion (Kramer) 6030 Telehandler S Manitou MLT634-120 Telehandler, 2004 C

Manitou MB26NC masted forklift Ha Manitou 737 telehandler A Matbro TS270 J

TRACTORS

John Deere 6215R, 2016/17 choice C

John Deere 6215R, 2016 A

John Deere 6320, 2002 S

John Deere 6330, 2009 He

John Deere 6330, 2012 S

John Deere 6430, 2008 He

John Deere 6520, 2006 He

John Deere 6600, M Reg A

John Deere 6930, 2010 A

John Deere 7310R, 2017 C

John Deere 7530, 2012 C

John Deere 7930, choice 2008/9 A

John Deere 8370RT, 2018 Ha

John Deere 8400R, 2018 Ha

Case/IH 3220, P Reg S

Claas 650, 50K, 2018 A

Case/IH Maxxum 190, 2003 He

Case/IH PUMA 240 CVX, 2021 C

Deutz-Fahr Agrotron 105, 2003 He

Fendt 720 Profi Plus C

Fendt 724, 2013 A

Fendt 828, 2015 A

Massey Ferguson 5713 J Massey Ferguson 6480, 2008 A

Massey Ferguson 6718S, 2017 J

New Holland TM130, 2005 Ha

New Holland T7.210, 2017 S

Valmet 6300 Tractor, K Reg A

Valtra N121, 2012 A

Valtra N92, 2008 He

Valtra N124, 2016 He

TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS

JCB 526 Telehandler, 2008 He

JCB 530-70 Telehandler, R Reg A

JCB 531-70 Telehandler, 2016 C JCB 535/95 Telehandler, 2012 C

GRASSLAND/BALERS

John Deere 1360 MoCo A

John Deere 331 MoCo A

John Deere 572 Baler A

John Deere V451R round baler C

Kuhn BPR305 PRO Flail Topper Ha

Kuhn FC303YGC MoCo A

Kuhn GA4121GM Windrower A

Kuhn GA6501P twin rotor Windrower J

Kuhn VB2260 Round Baler S

Kuhn VB3160 Round Baler C

Bomford 4.6m trailed topper Ha

Bomford Farmtrim 435 hedgecutter Ha

Claas Rollant round baler A

Claas Volto 770 Tedder A

Farmforce 4m front press C

Flexi-Coil 3m front press C

Fransguard TI 6000 Combi Rake C

Kverneland FX265 Flail Topper Ha

Kverneland KV202 Bale Wrapper A

Kverneland Taarup 3021 Mounted Topper He

Lely Hibiscus 855CD grass rake A

New Holland Pro Rotor 450 windrower J

Opico Sward slitter GBL-3 A

Pottinger NovaCat 301 MoCo A

Spearhead 460 batwing topper A

Spearhead 9ft Topper A

Teagle TA200 offset flail mower C

Teagle TBM 250 offset flail mower He

FARM TRAILERS

Stewart low-loader, GX22LL C

Bailey 12 ton tipper trailer A

Bailey 12 ton tipper trailer C

Marshall 10 ton tipper trailer A

Marshall S10 ton dropside tipper trailer J

Marston 10T tipping trailer Ha

Marston FF8 tipping trailer Ha NC 16T low-loader trailer S

CROP CARE

John Deere 512 Mounted Sprayer A

John Deere 840i Sprayer C

John Deere M732i Sprayer J

John Deere M740 Sprayer C

John Deere M952i Sprayer C

John Deere R732, Trailed Sprayer Ha

John Deere R962i sprayer A

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 40.1W Fertiliser spreader, choice A

Kuhn Axis 40.2 Fertiliser spreader C

Knight 3000L trailed sprayer24m A

Lely Centerliner spreader 24m discs C

Sulky DPX1505 fertiliser spreader He

CULTIVATION

Kuhn HR3003D Power Harrow A

Kuhn HR3502D power Harrow A Kuhn HR4004DRC, Power Harrow A Kuhn HR5004DRC Power Harrow C

Kuhn HR6003 Power Harrow, choice A

Kuhn LC302 Combination Drill J Kuhn LC302/HR3004 Combination Drill C

Kuhn Multi Leader semi mounted plough 8f C

Kuhn Vari-Leader semi mounted plough 8f Ha

Kuhn VM122 plough 4f A

Kuhn VM122 plough 5f C Kuhn VM152 plough 6f Ha

Kuhn VM153 plough 6f Ha

Amazone AD-P 4003 drill combination J

Amazone Cayros XMS V 5 furrow plough Vari-Width J

Amazone KE302 Power Harrow A

Amazone KG4000/ADP4000 special drill combination A

DAL·BO 6.3m 3 section folding rollers Ha

Kverneland 4M combination unit S Drill Ha Kverneland 5f plough slatted boards A

Lemken Opal 7X 5f plough A Maschio/Sulky 3m combi drill unit He

NRH 6.3m hydraulic folding rollers Ha

NRH 6.3m hydraulic folding rollers S Ovlac 130/95 5f Plough Ha

Rabe GHF-3000 cultivator Ha Simba DTX300 cultivator A Simba SL4000 cultivator A Simba Unipress 5.5m Ha Vaderstad 6.3m hyd vertical folding rollers Ha

MISCELLANEOUS

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

Doughty bucket c/w Merlo brackets Ha DR Road Grader, tow behind J Foster Bale Spike – single Ha Front Weights, 450KG Ha Logic Multi – electric feeder A

Lucas 20R Mounted bedder c/w electric controls Ha Lucas Castor 30 RUC Bedder A Standen 400/200 Bedformer Ha

Volvo EC45 tracked excavator C

Watson 10ft x 30in Ballast Roller C

Watson 10ft x 30in Ballast Roller S

ATV/UTILITY VEHICLES & ATTACHMENTS

John Deere 6x4 TH J

John Deere XUV855D Gator, choice 2016/17 A

John Deere XUV855M Gator choice three 2018/19/20 A

John Deere XUV855M Gator choice two 2018/19 S

John Deere XUV865M Gator, 2018 Ha

John Deere XUV865M Gator, 2018 S

John Deere XUV865M Gator, choice 2018/20 J

John Deere XUV865M Gator, choice two He

Can Am 550 Quad Bike A

Honda TRX250 Quad Bike Ha

........Organic

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 cattle building is almost finished, power and light is in and on, water almost in and concrete done. Fingers crossed the calves will be in it by Christmas, which will be a relief. The lights we have installed are incredible - LED, energy efficient and super bright. They make the rest of the sheds look like they’re powered by candlelight!

We had a couple of huge days in November with the cattle. TB testing, Johnes testing, scanning, vaccinating and spaning. We also wormed the first calvers and lean cows. Fortunately, we have had a clear TB test result, which although expected, is still a huge relief. Having been caught up in Northumberland’s first ever TB radial three years ago, it’s a relief to be finally back on a four-year test program. We are awaiting the Johnes test results which will affect our Premium Cattle Health Scheme status. We’re always trying to maintain our health status, as it’s important for our herd and any breeding heifer sales that we might have next spring. The scanning results were very good at 95%, which we are really pleased with on the back of a dry summer. Often, we live in a little bubble, where train strikes and postal strikes don’t really affect us too greatly, however the postal strikes are having an impact. We attempted to order replacement cattle tags on the first day of TB testing, with the aim of putting them in when the cattle were back through the crush for the TB read. However, the tags didn’t show up on time, despite trying for special delivery. The cows will be going through again for further vaccines, so any replacement tags will get fitted shortly. Hens go out soon from one house, which is always a little bit of a relief, however clean down is often busier than when the hens are in. The clean down team arrive the week before Christmas, so it’s going to be a busy one. They will clean the main body of the house where the hens are however, we need to wash, disinfect and cover all of the motors, as high-pressure jets and electrical equipment is not a happy combination. We continue to have high biosecurity with the ongoing presence of Avian Influenza. Currently East Anglia appear to have borne the brunt of the disease pressure, however it literally could be anywhere in the country. It’s been a tough year for all types of birds. Sea birds have been particularly badly hit, but so too have raptors, wildfowl and consequently domestic poultry, particularly turkeys. We have ordered our turkey for Christmas, and fingers crossed there are still enough to go round. On that note Claire and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am hopeful that 2023 brings a bit more cheer to the job.

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.

2022 did not get off to a good start as all New Year’s Eve parties were cancelled due to the rapidly spreading omicron Covid-19 variant.

It went from bad to worse on 24th February when Russia invaded Ukraine. Thankfully Putin’s plan to reach Kyiv in a few weeks turned out to be a complete failure. However the war has had a huge effect on economies around the world which were struggling to recover from two years of Covid-19 restrictions.

By late March wheat had risen to £350/t and feed barley was trading at £300/t. Red diesel doubled in price and at one point in early March was £1.51 a litre. The huge sudden increase in input costs really hit the livestock industry hard especially the pig sector which was already on its knees. Sadly many producers have had to cease trading due to a combination of cheap imports and eye wateringly high input costs.

The spring drilling, calving and lambing campaigns went relatively smoothly helped by benign weather and good early grass growth. First cut silages yielded well and arable crops looked great.

Record breaking temperatures throughout June, July and August stopped grass growth in its tracks. However it did result in one of the easiest harvests in living memory. Crops were coming in too dry with combines having to stop at midday as wheat fell below 11%. Straw was so brittle it could only be baled at night. Yields on the whole were good and with prices at record levels arable farmers have had an incredible year.

Autumn was very mild and the dry theme continued into late September which allowed all winter crops to be drilled in fantastic conditions. The warm weather lasted until late November with temperatures as high as 17°C. Combined with some welcome rain grass grew more in September/October than July/August. Arable crops, especially oilseed rape, have never looked so good.

As the year draws to a close and we have our third prime minister in four months, inflation has hit a 41 year high of 11.1%. One driver for this is energy; electricity has increased by almost 600% over the past couple of years from around 14p/kwh to £1/kwh.

Avian influenza has been wreaking havoc across the UK especially in East Anglia. All domestic birds are under a housing order, except for Scotland, and despite what the supermarkets say this is not the reason for the current egg shortage.

Sky rocketing input costs at the start of the year and no increase in egg price meant that eggs were being produced well below the cost of production. This resulted in many farmers not restocking their sheds and has led to the current shortage. For the same reasons home grown fruit and vegetable are also predicted to be in short supply next year with plantings down 20%. Will this force the government to focus on food security as well as the current energy crisis? Jess, Tilly, Wilf, Posy and I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

Bursary Opportunities for

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

Bursary Opportunities

Borderers

• Do you have drive and ambition?

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

for Borderers

• Do you have drive and ambition?

• Do you have drive and ambition?

• Have you identified a learning opportunity, a course or study trip which could enhance your career or your business?

• Do you have drive and ambition?

• Do you have a plan to start a new career or business which will benefit the Borders economy?

• Have you identified a learning opportunity, a course or study trip which could enhance your career or your business?

• Have you identified a learning opportunity, a course or study trip which could enhance your career or your business?

• Do you have drive and ambition?

• Have you identified a learning opportunity, a course or study trip which could enhance your career or your business?

• Have you identified a learning opportunity, a course or study trip which could enhance your career or your business?

• Are you finding it difficult to get funding for career development?

• Do you have a plan to start a new career or business which will benefit the Borders economy?

• Do you have a plan to start a new career or business which will benefit the Borders economy?

• Do you have a plan to start a new career or business which will benefit the Borders economy?

• Do you have a plan to start a new career or business which will benefit the Borders economy?

• Are you finding it difficult to get funding for career development?

• Are you finding it difficult to get funding for career development?

• Are you finding it difficult to get funding for career development?

• Are you finding it difficult to get funding for career development?

• The Border Union Bicentenary Bursary Fund may be able to help you. It offers support to people in the Borders and North Northumberland.

• The Border Union Bicentenary Bursary Fund may be able to help you. It offers support to people in the Borders and North Northumberland.

• The Border Union Bicentenary Bursary Fund may be able to help you. It offers support to people in the Borders and North Northumberland.

• The Border Union Bicentenary Bursary Fund may be able help you. It offers support to people in the Borders and North Northumberland.

• The Border Union Bicentenary Bursary Fund may be able to help you. It offers support to people in the Borders and North Northumberland.

• Successful applicants will ultimately contribute to the benefit of the rural economy of the area. This reflects the main objective laid down by the founders of the Border Union Agricultural Society in 1813, that of

Encouraging Improvement’

• Successful applicants will ultimately contribute to the benefit of the rural economy of the area. This reflects the main objective laid down by the founders of the Border Union Agricultural Society in 1813, that of ‘Encouraging Improvement’

• Successful applicants will ultimately contribute to the benefit of the rural economy of the area. This reflects the main objective laid down by the founders of the Border Union Agricultural Society in 1813, that of

• Successful applicants will ultimately contribute to the benefit of the rural economy of the area. This reflects the main objective laid down by the founders of the Border Union Agricultural Society in 1813, that of ‘Encouraging Improvement’

• Successful applicants will ultimately contribute to the benefit of the rural economy of the area. This reflects the main objective laid down by the founders of the Border Union Agricultural Society in 1813, that of ‘Encouraging Improvement’

‘Encouraging Improvement’

.

Details of the terms and criteria for eligibility, and deadlines for applications, are available online at www.borderunion.co.uk or from the Society’s Office at Springwood Park, Kelso, TD5 8LS. Alternatively email to: info@borderunion.co.uk

Details of the terms and criteria for eligibility, and deadlines for applications, are available online at www.borderunion.co.uk or from the Society’s Office at Springwood Park, Kelso, TD5 8LS. Alternatively email to: info@borderunion.co.uk

Details of the terms and criteria for eligibility, and deadlines for applications, are available online at www.borderunion.co.uk or from the Society’s Office at Springwood Park, Kelso, TD5 8LS. Alternatively email to: info@borderunion.co.uk

Details of the terms and criteria for eligibility, and deadlines for applications, are available online at www.borderunion.co.uk or from the Society’s Office at Springwood Park, Kelso, TD5 8LS. Alternatively email to: info@borderunion.co.uk

Details of the terms and criteria for eligibility, and deadlines for applications, are available online at www.borderunion.co.uk or from the Society’s Office at Springwood Park, Kelso, TD5 8LS. Alternatively email to: info@borderunion.co.uk

Getting the winter jobs ticked off

Contact

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

LAND DRAINAGESPECIALISTS

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.

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.

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

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

Our experienced team offer professional advice and free quotations on all aspects land drainage. T: 01896830487 T: 01896831264 E:eileen@ggw.demon.co.uk www.glendinninggroundworks.co.uk

T: 01896830487 T: 01896831264

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

Members of

Members of

Talking........Doddie Weir

The following tribute is written by Douglas Stephen who first met Doddie at Stewarts Melville where they became lifelong friends.

Doddie Weir OBE 4th July 1970 – 26th November 2022

Dod, Dodge, Dodgey, Dodgey Weir, Weirdo, and many more unrepeatable names for George Wilson “Doddie” Weir OBE many of them his own doing. Last Christmas a box of wine appeared; “thanks for all your help, from the Weirdoos” - a penny for the thoughts of the poor bugger that wrote that card out at the wine shop…

Doddie was such a wonderfully animated, funny, endearing person, and one of such character, courage and principle. He was a huge family man, adoring husband, loving father, brother and friend to millions. Doddie’s rugby career needs no introduction; his early passion was horse riding until his favourite sister, Kirsty, saw off his horse. School boy rugby at Stewarts Melville, Edinburgh Agrics, Melrose, Scotland, Newcastle, a British and Irish Lion and proud Borderer. Many other clubs were graced with his gigantuous presence in body, mind and humour.

Away from rugby, Doddie was an accomplished speaker, presenter, raconteur and all-round funny guy. His ability to interact with absolutely anybody, you couldn’t help but smile in his presence. On one of his last visits to our office, he breezed in with his usual bag of Jammy Dodgers to woo the office girls. A customer was already in the office who stood about five foot tall, “Well Big Fella” Doddie shouts - the poor girls didn’t know where to look. Thankfully hilarity ensued with the customer and once again, Doddie lit up the room. He never failed to disappoint.

Doddie took great pleasure of reminding everyone of his day job, joining Kathy’s parents’ business, Hutchinson Environmental Solutions; this broadened his repertoire no end with hilarious anecdotes dropped in when you least expected them.

“Your business is my business” “Your number two’s are my number one’s” “Your sh*te is my bread and butter”

To name a few.

In 2016, Doddie was dealt a life changing card, the diagnosis of MND. His number one priority was to protect his family but thereafter his grit and determination to fight this dreadful disease and to make a difference for other sufferers was his goal, and oh boy did he kick a few backsides along the way.

Doddie acted the big dafty at times, discussing soil nutrition and fertiliser plans. He wanted to get the foundation stone of the farm in order for the family, “tell me about pH, Phosphate and Potash, how much Nitrogen should we be putting on, I wasn’t in college that day” he said. The latter bit was probably true but he knew exactly what he was doing. Doddie told a few friends of his diagnosis in early 2017 but the clever bit was he never ever divulged who else he had told; the best kept secret.

When John Jeffrey visited the farm Doddie would always say “bring some cake”. I too visited and I got the same story, “bring some cake”. Goodness knows how many visitors got the same cake request, who knows, but certainly the cake shop in Kelso did very well out of JJ and I.

Doddie the author, who would have thought it. I was going to Edinburgh… Doddie was due at the Assembly Rooms for a book launch, so I offered a lift to save him the hassle. The offer was declined as he wanted to make the most of his driving licence, but a phone call asking for some assistance ensued, “what are you after” I asked, “could do with a wee hand, some Guinness and something to eat, wotsits and chocolate, that’ll do”

I arrived at the Assembly Rooms in working clothes armed with a four pack of Guinness, multipack of wotsits and bars of dairy milk and understandably was refused entry. I eventually blagged my way into the green room, which disappointingly wasn’t green, and like two naughty school boys we drank the Guinness out of the cans, flicked wotsits into his mouth and scoffed most of the dairy milk. The book launch and signing went flawlessly, the Guinness worked a treat.

My eyes lit up at the end when asked to gather his bag and destroy the evidence. For the first time in my life I had won… the empty chocolate and wotsits packets went into his bag for Kathy to find.

Right from the start, Doddie tackled MND with his usual head on approach, launching the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and to this date has raised and committed more than £8 million to MND research. His empathy and support to fellow sufferers is born by the considerable funds given out to people living with MND and their families through this difficult period.

An example of his utter selflessness was 29th December 2017, a trip was organised to fill and sign two casks of whisky in St Andrews for a charity auction prize. Yet again a lift was offered and yet again it was refused. He arrived before us but what we didn’t know was that he had gone through his MND register and knocked on the door of three random MND sufferers in the area on the way up. “Hi, I am Doddie Weir and I have MND” was his calling card.

We now understand what MND means: Motor Neurone Disease - a horrendous disease with, as yet, no cure. This awareness is down to the incredible man Doddie Weir and his legacy will live on forever; we will make sure of that. Doddie always said that it was not incurable, it was just underfunded.

Our thoughts are with Kathy, Hamish, Angus and Ben, Doddie’s father Jock, sister Kirsty and brothers Tom and Christopher and extended family and friends the world over.

Myname5doddie.co.uk

Talking........from the boundary

I am very grateful to Douglas Stephen who responded so enthusiastically to my request for an article about his lifelong friend Doddie. I imagined that he and I would share a page but I found it impossible to edit his contribution, so it is published in full. Fortunately there is some space for me to add my memories of the ‘Great Man’. We moved to the Borders just when Doddie’s rugby career was taking off, Philly soon became a member of Melrose Rugby Club. Her ideal Saturday was hunting with the Buccleuch hounds in the morning and standing on the terrace at Melrose in the afternoon. I can’t remember who took on child care duties! Melrose then had many of the Scottish greats of that era playing such as Craig Chalmers, Bryan Redpath and Doddie, coached by the great Jim Telfer. I first met Doddie when we were both Directors of the Border Union Show, Doddie was responsible for parking the horse boxes - he was always to be heard on the radio saying we can squeeze another one in. He loved all the female drivers! There was much talk at meetings of Doddie’s solutions for the drainage from the loo blocks as that was the business he married into.

One of our friends was corporate sponsor of Newcastle Falcons and we were often asked to watch a match preceded by lunch where Doddie was the cabaret. He always kept us amused with self-deprecating anecdotes of his playing career. Doddie played professional rugby at Newcastle along with his great mate Gary Armstrong. They were like ’Little and Large’, Doddie using Gary as the butt of many of his jokes. If everyone had a friend like Gary was to Doddie the world would be a better place, Gary went above and beyond helping Doddie and he deserves a medal for everything he did, true friendship in a time of adversity.

Philly and I went to Rome in 2018 to watch the Italy match and support Doddie’s charity work raising funds into research for MND. Over a thousand of us met in a square before walking to the ground, it was a great atmosphere with a pipe band leading the way. At least that was the plan but those in front went over the wrong bridge and we all had to about turn and retrace our steps!

The last time I saw Doddie was this summer at the St Boswells Show sitting in his car supporting his niece taking on the jumps in the ring just as he did when he was that age. It was a privilege knowing you Doddie, and I along with the rest of the world thank you for being you. We will miss you.

Guy Lee

Niall Whyte Forestry and Landscaping Services

Talking

Unit F, Ind Est, DUNS, TD11 3HS

Unit F, Ind Est, DUNS, TD11 3HS

Mob: 07966 029327 Office: 01361 883911

After Hours: 01361 883364

Mob: 07966 029327 Office: 01361 883911 After Hours: 01361 883364

........from Lincolnshire December 4th 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.

What a strange year 2022 has been for weather. Should December prove to be as wet as October and November our annual rainfall will not be far off average, which is incredible when you think how little rain we had in the first nine months, and the scorching temperatures we all experienced earlier in the summer. In fact our lawn is growing more now than it has at any other time in the year. Crazy. The late drilled wheat is poking through the suspect seedbed, and other than trying to keep the crows from pulling it up, it looks fine. There is still a long list of spraying waiting for me, but it has either been raining, windy, foggy or a combination of all three so the sprayer has been sat in the shed. But having spent one day last week cleaning ergot out of spring wheat I am still convinced that mauling a late wheat in is better than waiting for Spring. One of the most important dates of the farming calendar has sadly been and gone for another year. The Ewerby Farmers Agronomy Tour. Well it is less of a tour in the traditional sense and more of a day out loosely related to agriculture. 7 of us started the day eating bacon sandwiches crammed into my neighbours Volvo en route to Beeswax Farming (Sir James Dyson’s) to look at some cover crop trials. This was followed by a tour of their strawberry glasshouses which are linked to the AD plant. This was fascinating, it made us all feel like terrible underachievers but what they are doing is a pleasure to see. The technology involved is like something out of a sci-fi movie, even with a robot to clean the glass roof, and yet with everything controlled to factory standards there is still the real risk of crop failure, which astounded me. After saying our thank you’s we shoe-horned ourselves back into the slightly muddier Volvo and proceeded to visit nearly every pub on the way home. A wonderful way to spend a damp and dreary day.

I seem to have inherited some very motivated hare coarsers down at Worth’s Farm who seem deterred by nothing. Earlier in the autumn they cut a boundary gate off it hinges and threw it in the main drain which I have now finally retrieved after a real game trying to hook a chain onto it whilst it was submerged. As an interim measure I placed a pile of 10 concrete railway sleepers in the way, which they promptly moved so now we have resorted to large concrete blocks. Hopefully this will deter them…

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

December 5th 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. It is always a relief to finish turkey plucking but this year it came with an even greater sense of achievement as the birds now hang in the fridge safe from the ravages of avian flu. The UK’s free range turkey flock has been particularly affected by this horrific outbreak. For now, we concentrate on processing, boxing and selling the birds for Christmas but come the New Year we will, like the rest of the industry, take stock and consider the future. The hatchery requires forward orders for poults early in the year but how many turkey producers want to roll the dice again whilst avian flu indiscriminately sweeps across the country? Sadly I feel the UK government is acting too slowly on this and other animal health issues. Research, control and prevention need more attention and funding. I fear that lax border controls are also leaving an open door to African Swine Fever and this really would be the final nail in the coffin for an already bruised and battered pig sector.

Last month was busy on the deer farm too. All finishing stock were sold, and this year’s calves weaned, tagged, wormed and housed. All stock look in good health and condition going into winter with some reasonable silage to keep them going. Weaning allowed us to accurately count the hinds and ascertain how many are still missing following the breakout. Twelve hinds plus calves are still unaccounted for. Perhaps they will appear as the weather gets colder and the smell of home/silage lures them off the surrounding hills. Being a realist, I am also bracing myself for the call from a neighbour that my errant hinds are busy munching their way through their kale/silage/barley/garden!

Weaning percentages were disappointing but having not been able to scan last year, due to Storm Arwen wrecking our handling system, we are unsure if this is due to poor conception or losses at calving. Hopefully this January we will be able to scan and get a handle on conception rates.

This wheat field was flooded but thankfully drained quickly enough that the crop was unharmed

November was miserable, wet, and mild with the middle of the month seeing around 100mm (4 inches) of rain fall in a 36-hour period. I don’t recall such a prolonged and persistent rainfall event for a number of years. Thankfully we escaped without much damage but during the worst of the weather I was out hand digging a trench around a neighbour’s garden to divert a newly created cascade away from their house. My successful efforts were rewarded later in the month with a warming dram. It’s been a challenging year for farming on so many fronts. It’s important however that everyone takes time over the festive period to slow down and relax with friends and family. 2023 is bound to have its own trials and tribulations but better to start the year rested and fresh. Wishing all readers a happy, safe and restful Christmas.

Our only white red deer always hops on top of a silage bale for the best dining spot

Keeping turkeys entertained during housing with a hanging basket filled with apples to peck

Talking........Business with Bell Rural Solutions

December 2022

Michael Bell is Managing Director of Bell Rural Solutions, based in their office in Earlston. Michael provides professional advice to clients on a variety of issues throughout Scotland and Northern England, is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors an RICS Registered Valuer and Agent for the AMC. With the end of the year in sight I thought it would be prudent to briefly review the progress of topics that will be impacting land and property owners, occupiers, and managers in the coming year and beyond.

Changes to the rental sector occurred when the Scottish Government passed their Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill on the 6th October putting a freeze on rents and ban on evictions until at least March 2023. Of course, we have already seen this type of interference to the rented housing sector in recent times during the covid pandemic which was in turn easily extended once put in place. A coalition formed between the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), Propertymark, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) which is seeking legal advice on the Scottish Government’s Bill and has instructed the Lord (Neil) Davidson of Glen Clova KC, Advocate at Axiom Advocates, to opine if the legislation breaches the individual rights of landlords in Scotland, including a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. At the time of writing this we are still awaiting the outcome.

Consultation for the Agriculture Bill closed on 5th December, face to face meetings around the regions were held throughout October and November, together with online virtual events focusing on specific themes including Delivering the Agricultural Vision, Rural Development and Forestry, Agricultural Wages and Modernising Agricultural Tenancies. Therefore, there has been a lot of discussion on the Agriculture Bill, but as yet nothing has changed. From what I know I would predict that Whole Farm Plans are being given serious consideration.

The Scottish Government’s consultation on Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation closed at the end of October, since then one-toone meetings have been taking place with key stakeholders, but other than that there is very little progress to report. The Scottish Government’s aims for the Land Reform Bill is to increase diversity of landownership, bring about changes in land use and to create more opportunities for communities to engage in decision-making about the land around them and share in the benefits it brings. Consultation has related to topics such as public funding; a new type of land use tenancy and the potential role taxation support could play. The Bill is scheduled to be introduced next year.

Register of person holding a controlled interest in land (RCI) managed by The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, the RCI shows who controls the decisions of owners or tenants (for more than 20 years) of land and property in Scotland, where this information may not be publicly transparent elsewhere. We are currently in a transition period until April 2023 after which it will be a criminal offence, punishable by fine, for not registering. It would be worth while checking to see if you are required to make an entry on the RCI, further information can be found on the Registers of Scotland website.

For more information, please get in touch with Michael Bell on 01896 802252, 07584 644246 or mbell@bellruralsolutions.com

Talking........New Zealand

Ian Mackenzie is an arable and dairy farmer from the Canterbury Plain in the South Island of New Zealand. He runs a number of fully irrigated intensive cropping farms, producing grain, vegetable and grass seeds with some stock finishing.

November has been a good month I think. After 6 weeks of warm dry weather that set up the crops quite well, and kept us busy chasing irrigators, we had a couple of rains that successfully broke the dry spell and gave the crops a good drink. The spring sown radish, mustard and peas have particularly enjoyed a bit of moisture. The rains also gave us the optimum conditions for applying urea to the wheat and pastures down on the dairy farm. Like the rest of the world, fertiliser is now outlandishly expensive so ensuring each granule of urea is hand-placed in exactly the right place at the right time appeals to my Scottish/Jewish heritage. The crops as a result give us some cause to be optimistic for the coming harvest. This is a good thing. Charlie, my 4 year old grandson, tells me we’ve had good establishment of kale at his farm, where we winter the cows. We also put in a couple of paddocks of prairie grass on his farm for silage and winter grazing. Prairie grass is drought tolerant, grows well through the winter and maintains very high quality of feed, whether grazed or made into silage. It was the mainstay of the north American bison’s diet and they seemed to do quite well until they were all shot. So, Charlie and I decided that it would be worth trying on a couple of the lighter soiled paddocks. He got a new bicycle for his birthday, and he tells me he can now guard his farm from wandering bison herds. This also might be a good thing.

Happy Christmas from the deep south everyone.

Purple mustard

Charlie’s birthday cake

Milling wheat looking ok

Radish just starting to flower