CRUSHER, GRADER & COMPACTION EQUIPMENT FOR ROAD RESTORATION WORK
CRUSHER, GRADER & COMPACTION EQUIPMENT FOR ROAD RESTORATION WORK
CRUSHER, GRADER & COMPACTION EQUIPMENT FOR ROAD RESTORATION WORK
CONTRACT WORKS
CONTRACT WORKS
PUBLIC & PRIVATE WATER MAINS
PUBLIC & PRIVATE WATER MAINS SPRING SUPPLIES
SPRING SUPPLIES
SEPTIC TANKS/PUMPING STATIONS
TREATMENT WORKS
SEPTIC TANKS / PUMPING STATIONS
DEEP EXCAVATIONS
TREATMENT WORKS
DEEP EXCAVATIONS
EARTHWORKS/GROUNDWORKS
THRUST BORING/UTILITY WORKS
360 / 180 TRACKED/ WHEELED EXCAVATORS
D61PXI (GPS) DOZER
MOLE PLOUGHING
Industrial Estate, Earlston, Berwickshire TD4 6FA
REAR TIPPING DUMP TRUCKS
FABRICATION / ENGINEERING WORKS
TRACTORS & DUMP TRAILERS
SNOW CLEARING SERVICES
PRIVATE WATER MAINS SPRING SUPPLIES
TANKS/PUMPING STATIONS WORKS
EXCAVATIONS
CRUSHER, GRADER & COMPACTION EQUIPMENT FOR ROAD RESTORATION WORK
CRUSHER, GRADER & COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
EARTHWORKS/GROUNDWORKS
BORING/UTILITY WORKS
DRAINAGE
CEMENT STABILISATION FOR ROAD RESTORATION WORKS PLANT HIRE
360° / 180° TRACKED / WHEELED EXCAVATORS
PROTECTION/REPAIRS RESTORATION WORKS
D61PXI (GPS) DOZER
JETTING/CCTV FABRICATION/ENGINEERING WORKS CLEARING SERVICES
REAR TIPPING DUMP TRUCKS TRACTORS & DUMP TRAILERS
STORES
TRACKED/ WHEELED EXCAVATORS DOZER
DUMP TRUCKS
DUMP TRAILERS
GRADER & EQUIPMENT
• Safety Boots & Clothing
• Tools and Accessories
RESTORATION WORK
• Chrome North West Cleaning Products
Here at Davidson Land Services Stores, we have a wide range of stock including:
• Consumables (Sprays, Paints, Nuts & Bolts Ect)
• Exol Oil, Grease, Brake Fluid Ect
• Viking Johnston Fittings
• Philmac Water Fittings
• Drainage Coils, Twinwall, MDPE & Soil Pipe
SGN Approved Contractor
Scottish Borders Council Approved Contractor
Scottish Water Approved Contractor
Mill Ind Est,
Mill Road, Earlston, TD4 6FA
HYDRAULIC HOSE SERVICE
We also offer a hydraulic hose repair service. We hold a wide range of hose & fittings in stock from 1/4” to 1 1/4” 4 Wire.
We have recently upgraded our machine and are now able to crimp up to 2” 4 Wire.
BLINKBONNY QUARRY
• ALL GRADES OF AGGREGATE PRODUCED
• DELIVERY
• COLLECTION
• READY-MIX CONCRETE
• AGRICULTURAL MIXES FOR ALL PURPOSES
• DELIVERY AND COLLECTION
FOR SALES AND ORDERS CALL BLINKBONNY WEIGHBRIDGE: 01573 460200 or 07974 968148
PART OF BREEDON GROUP– FOR OTHER LOCATIONS PLEASE VISIT: https://www.breedongroup.com/location-finder
Ford and Etal Sawmill
Quality timber supplies for all your agricultural fencing needs
Creosoted Machined Rounds:
1.65m x 90mm
2.4m x 100mm
2.4m x 150mm
2.4m x 180mm
For more information on new & used farm machinery, contact
Alnwick Tel: 01665 604555 I Stuart Allen Mobile: 07770 736778
Carlisle Tel: 01228 536331 I Steven Hunter Mobile: 07768 031666
Carnforth Tel: 01524 730915 I Mick Hall Mobile: 07595 281741
Dumfries Tel: 01387 255328 I Chris Higgins Mobile: 07920 793180
Newcastle Tel: 0191 264 7000 I Stuart Allen
Mobile: 07770 736778
SAS Mobile Seed Cleaning
We offer a high output service producing 10 - 14 tonnes per hour of gravity separated seed We use gravity tables, the only real method, not gravity selectors
We supply 2 men per machine - farm input only 1 man*
We have long serving members of staff who are time served and highly skilled
Our full time staff are employed from the local community
We will be processing spring barley, spring wheat, oats, spring osr plus peas & beans this Spring with:
Redigo pro - treatment for barley covering loose smut, leaf stripe & fusarium
Prepper - treatment for fusarium in spring wheat & oats
Signal - for wireworm & slug deterrent in all cereals
Manganese - for enhanced root establishment in all crops
Phosphite
Wintercrop reformulated
NEW SERVICE
NEW McCORMICK X6.415 HD 155HP, 4 RANGE 6 POWERSHIFT TRANS, AIR & OIL BRAKES, FULL VISION CAB, ISOBUS, DSM, ELECTRIC SPOOLS, SMART PILOT JOYSTICK AVAILABLE ON HP OR LEASE FROM £1300 PER MONTH
USED 2017 McCORMICK X7.650 165HP, 4000 HOURS, 60KPH TRANSMISSION, 6 RANGE 4 POWERSHIFTS, 1 ELECTRIC & 3 MECH SPOOL VALVES, FRONT LINKAGE, NEW FRONT TYRES, CAB & AXLE SUSPENSION
£42,500+VAT
NEW 2024 McCAULEY LOW LOADER HYD. BEAVER TAIL, 24FT, AIR/OIL BRAKES, HIGH SPEED GRANNING AXLES, 445/45R19.5 TYRES, JCB YELLOW
£19,500+VAT
• McCormick X7 165hp, 60KPH transmission, front linkage £150 per day | £500 per week
• McCormick X5 Front linkage & front PTO, 115hp
per day | £400 per week
• Dieci Agri Telehandler 4 tonne, 7 meter
per day | £600 per week
USED 2018 McCORMICK X5.40T 115HP 3000 HOURS, 36 SPEED POWER SHUTTLE TRANSMISSION, 3 SPOOL VALVES, FRONT LINKAGE & PTO VERY GOOD CONDITION
DEMO 2022 McCORMICK X7.624 240 HP 2022, 1000 HOURS, FRONT LINKAGE, 6
£52,500+VAT
£16,500+VAT
NEW 2024 McCAULEY LOWER LOADER 23FT, AIR/OIL BRAKES, HIGH SPEED ADR AXLES, SOLID HYD. RAMPS 815MM, SOLID BEAVERTAIL, MUDFLAPS
£16,500+VAT NEW McHALE C460 TRAILED SILAGE FEEDER & STRAW BEDDER 3.65M2 OF LOADING VOLUME, 1.7M CONVEYOR, 300° 3 STAGE FEED CHUTE, INDEPENDENT ROTOR DRIVE WITH HYDRAULIC ACTIVATION £9,950+VAT NEW M-TEC 12FT LIVESTOCK C/W DECKS & SUMP TANK, QUALITY BUILT
Road – Belford (01668) 213
Suppliers of Quality Assured
MIXED CONCRETE
Steven Birdsall (01668) 213 733 Mobile: 07970 112761
& CIVIL ENGINEERING
Suppliers of Quarry Materials, JCB Hire, Drives, Agricultural Buildings, etc. Tel: Belford (01668) 213433
From Source to Supply
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Haddington
1st choice
FENDT 720 POWER PLUS 68 Reg, 6000 Hours
FENDT 718 POWER PLUS 20 Reg, 5500 Hours, Due in March
FENDT 718 PROFI PLUS 69 Reg, 5000 Hours, Due in March
FENDT 828 PROFI PLUS 22 Reg, 1950 hours, Due in April, Excellent Condition
FRONT LINKAGE PLUS + PTO, 4 REAR + 1 FRONT REMOTE 40 KPH CAB SUSPENSION
The Old Smiddy, Graden, Kelso, TD5 8BS Telephone : 01573 430338 Email : info@walkergroundworks.com
Northumberland and the Lothians
Our
and
Walker Groundworks are a long-serving company, established in 1996, covering a working area including but not restricted to the Scottish Borders, Northumberland and the Lothians.
Our highly skilled and dedicated team are here to help with any of the following works:
• Earthworks/Site Preparation/Roads
• Crushing
• Groundworks/Plotworks
• Deep Drainage
• Field Drainage & Ditching
• River Works
• Concrete Flooring for Agricultural/Industrial Shed (Laid with highly accurate Laser Screed, with finish to meet clients' requirements)
• All Timber work undertaken – including Harvesting, Hand Cutting, Thinnings & Clear Fell
• Haulage including Heavy Plant Movement, Timber Haulage & Hiab Hire
• In house Welding Engineer/Steel Fabricator
• In house setting out engineer/surveyor
• Ad Bl ue & ERG Sol ution s
• H GV Tr actor & Vehicle Tun in g
• Br ake Roller Testin g
• Pr eventative M ain tenance In spection
• Full Ser vicin g facil ities
Machinery
Haddington Selkirk 01620 823171 01750 725725
Trailedline 4.0 premium 18cu.m, weigh system, cross conveyor, heavy duty steering, air brakes, 2020 Y.O.M.
Nugent heavy duty flatbed trailer £3750 2700kg, internal size: 3.05m x 1.84m marine ply flooring, Knott brakes, “silent” dropsides, lockable ramp store, LED lights.
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
Nugent general flatbed trailer £2950 2000kg, internal size: 2.54m x 1.5m, 18mm marine ply flooring, 340mm "silent" dropsides, fully galvanised and LED lights.
3500kg, internal size: 4.27m x 1.80m x 1.93m, treadplate floor, inspection side door, fold-up sheep decks with dividing gates, 2 cattle dividing gates, reinforced loading ramp.
Get in touch with Allan White at our Selkirk depot about Suzuki and Kymco and what we can offer youapw@hendersongm.co.uk
price!
Nugent heavy duty plant trailer £3600 3500kg, internal size: 3.14m x 1.87m x 240mm closed-in sides, 18mm anti-slip plywood floor, Knott brakes, spare wheel, LED road lights.
machines in stock right now and ready to go!
Agriculture | Horticulture | Servicing | Parts www.hendersongm.co.uk
Ambrogio Twenty, robot mower New
MY TURN TO GO TO KENYA?
How could he go away again leaving me languishing in another cold barn? Before he went, I pulled a shed here off the muck for washing. That went well enough, but I was left out for over a week with my cable taut. The weather was appalling with frost, wind and rain - talk about being frozen to the core. I asked for someone to send a message to him asking for some sympathy but he is so much out of sight, out of mind that I might as well not exist.
I have heard that he has been walking with camels carrying all his needs. Lazy or what? I have always carried all my own gear. Anyway, why couldn’t he take me? Anywhere a camel can go surely, I could. We were both bought up to survive in the desert.
I’ve just heard that his new best friend, Helen, who led the camel Safari has suffered with a broken half shaft in her Land Cruiser. Not only can she fly her own plane, she also owns 100 camels and is a hero in his eyes. I am not the jealous type, but I do worry where I am in the pecking order.
IPC RIDE
ON SWEEPER
1050 RIDE ON SWEEPER
* POWERED BY 24v BATTERY OR PETROL ENGINE
* LARGE CAPACITY 70lt HOPPER
* 1050 mm BRUSHING WIDTH
* 2 SIDE BRUSHES + MAIN ROLLER BRUSH
*OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE
IPC PEDESTRIAN SWEEPERS
512 & 712 PEDESTRIAN SWEEPERS
* POWERED BY 24v BATTERY OR PETROL ENGINE
* LARGE CAPACITY 50lt HOPPERS
* 500 & 700 SWEEPING WIDTHS
* ONE SIDE BRUSH + MAIN ROLLER BRUSH
* OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE
LOTHIAN & BORDERS PRESSURE WASHERS ARE DISTRIBUTORS OF QUALITY CLEANING EQUIPMENTFOR ALL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.
ALL TYPES OF PRESSURE WASHERS AND FLOORCARE EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING SCRUBBER DRYERS, SWEEPERS AND VACUUMS
ALL MAKES SERVICED AND REPAIRED REFURBISHED HOT PRESSURE WASHERS ALWAYS IN STOCK.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE RANGE
MOBILE 07860 261088
E: info@lbpressurewashers.co.uk
W: www.lbpressurewashers.co.uk
Helen - can we meet?
Poor camels carrying his stuff
Must be thirsty work
sponsor Event riders: Olivia Wilmot, Laura Swinnerton, Laura Mitchell, Ellie Bryce, Sarah Hutchison & Morag Sutherland
Plan for Posterity
Inheritance tax planning may require changes to title deeds or registration of land with Registers of Scotland:
With over 20 years of experience, Landmaps specialises in creating detailed, precise land registration and title deed plans tailored to meet its customers needs.
Other services include:
• GIS Mapping Solutions
• Custom Mapping Services for Farmers & Landowners
• Land Registration Plans
Dog Pen Panels from £60
Troughs
Sheep feed barriers & troughs ATV Snacker and Trailers
2021 MASSEY FERGUSON 8S.225 DYNA-7 EXCLUSIVE
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Electric Services, Air Over Oil Trailer Brakes. Guidance Ready with ISOBUS, 600F & 50R Tyres.
Warranty to 04/05/2026 or 1800 Hours.
1,286 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£114,000+VAT Serial No. 328001
2023 MASSEY FERGUSON 8S.305 DYNA-VT EXCLUSIVE
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And 2 Hyd Services, Rear Linkage, 4 Electric Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes. Trimble Cenrimetre Radio Guidance, 2nd ISOBUS Screen, 600F & 710R Tyres.
Warranty to 05/08/2026 or 1200 Hours. 334 Hours, Tractors in use, hours might change.
£174,000+VAT Serial No. 151063
2024 MASSEY FERGUSON 6S.155 DYNA-6 EFFICIENT
54KPH, MF4327 Front Loader Ready (FL.4327 Loader Prices Separately), Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Manual Services, Air Over Oil Trailer Brakes, 480F & 580R Tyres. 12 Months Warranty, 272 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£104,500+VAT Serial No. 268030
2023 MASSEY FERGUSON 7S.180 DYNA-6 ESSENTIAL
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Manual Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes, ISOBUS and Novatel Submetre Guidance. Warranty to 04/06/2028 or 1200 Hours, 473 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£103,500+VAT Serial No. 011014
2023 MASSEY FERGUSON 7S.180 DYNA-6 ESSENTIAL
54KPH, Front Axle &Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Manual Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes, ISOBUS and Guidance Ready, 12 Months Warranty, 264 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£109,500+VAT Serial No. 011019
2024 MASSEY FERGUSON 7S.180 DYNA-6 EXCLUSIVE
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage, PTO And 1 Pair Of Hyd Service's, Rear Linkage, 4 Electric Services, Air Over Oil Trailer Brakes, ISOBUS, Guidance Ready. Warranty to 15/08/2026 or 1200 Hours. 225 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£127,500+VAT Serial No. 318023
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Manual Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes, ISOBUS and Guidance Ready, 12 Months Warranty, 129 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
Serial No. 011005
2021 MASSEY FERGUSON 8S.205 DYNA-7 EFFICIENT
2023
54KPH, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage and One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Electric Services, Air Over Oil Trailer Brakes, ISOBUS and Guidance Ready, 600F 650R Tyres.
Warranty to 17/11/2024 or 3000 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£97,000+VAT Serial No. 25908
FERGUSON 7S.180 DYNA-6 EXCLUSIVE
54KPH, Front Axle &Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Electric Hyd Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes, Novatel Centimetre Radio Guidance, 540F & 650R Tyres. Warranty to 1200 Hours or 15/03/2027, 609 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£116,000+VAT Serial No. 023001
2023 MASSEY FERGUSON 6S.180 DYNA-6 EFFICIENT
54KPH, MF4327 Front Loader With Euro Carriage, Manual Locking And One Service, Front Axle & Cab Suspension, Front Linkage And One Hyd Service, Rear Linkage, 4 Manual Services, Air Over Oil ABS Trailer Brakes, 540F & 650R Tyres, Warranty to 15/03/2027 or 1200 Hours, 277 Hours, Tractor in use, hours might change.
£106,500+VAT Serial No. 300018
Loader sold separately
MASSEY
Ritchie Bale Handler
Calf Creep Grain Pusher
Bateman Bespoke Cattle Handling
Ritchie Draft Pro Weigher
Mobile Sheep Handler 26’ Trailer Special Offer
Earlston
Thorburn Group, Duns
Lower Mansfield Road, Hawick, TD9 8AW
Willowford Farm, Jedburgh
Thorburn Group, Duns
Root P Phos+
Root P Phos+ is a highly efficient Phosphorus foliar liquid designed to help plant rooting. Produced using a unique process of production making it highly available to the plant via the leaf, also contains Magnesium. Zinc, Sulphur, Biostimulants to aid rooting and plant growth.
Increased Root Mass
OSR treated in November 2 weeks later root mass increased helping uptake of all nutrients and aiding recovery of plant tissue
Cool damp soils in the Spring will effect uptake of even soil applied phosphate
Please get in touch for more info
Mobile: 07977 139242
Works on all crops any time of the year
Web:www.franklinsoilfertlity.com
Email: david@franklinsoilfertility.com
Agriparts Borders Ltd
Oxford Welders & Plasmas
230v Mag Drill @ £289 + vat 21 pc x 3/4 dr Socket Set @ £69 + vat Tungsten Coated P/H Tines in Stock
TRACTORS
John Deere 6110RC, 2016
John Deere 6120R, 2017
John Deere 6125R, 2012
TRACTORS
John Deere 6250R, choice
John Deere 6250R, 2020
John Deere 6250R, 2021
John Deere 6145R, 2017
John Deere 6155R, 2021
John Deere 6155R, 2021
John Deere 6155R, Choice
John Deere 6175R, Choice
John Deere 6175R, Choice
John Deere 6195R, Choice
John Deere 6195R, 2022
John Deere 6195R, 2015
John Deere 6210R, 2014
John Deere 6215R, 2019
John Deere 6215R, choice
John Deere 6215R, 2021
TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS
John Deere 6900, 1997
John Deere 6930, 2010
John Deere 6930, 2010
Kramer 5085T, 2016, Telehandler
Kramer KT276, choice
Claas Scorpion 7035, 2014
John Deere 7310R, 2020
John Deere 7310R, 2020
John Deere 7R 330, 2021
John Deere 8360RT, 2013
John Deere 8530, 2006
Massey Ferguson 7726, 2019
New Holland T6070, 2011
New Holland T6180
New Holland T7.260, 2016
Valtra T194, 2019
TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS
JCB TM320S, 2007, Wheeled Loader A
JCB 528/70, 2002, Telehandler Ha
JCB 541/70, 2018, Telehandler
MACHINE OF THE MONTH
6 auto-reset subsoiler legs
26 x 520mm scalloped discs
Border discs for level finish
Double D packer roller
Hydraulic depth control Requires 180hp
EX-DEMO MACHINE
0% Finance subject to Terms and Conditions available by request.
TRACTORS
John Deere 6110RC, 2016
John Deere 6120R, 2017
John Deere 6125R, 2012
TRACTORS
John Deere 6250R, choice
John Deere 6250R, 2020
John Deere 6250R, 2021
John Deere 6145R, 2017
John Deere 6155R, 2021
John Deere 6155R, Choice
John Deere 6175R, Choice
John Deere 6175R, Choice
John Deere 6195R, Choice
John Deere 6195R, 2022
John Deere 6195R, 2015
John Deere 6210R, 2014
John Deere 6215R, 2019
John Deere 6215R, choice
John Deere 6215R, 2021
TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS
John Deere 6900, 1997
John Deere 6930, 2010
Kramer 5085T, 2016, Telehandler
Kramer KT276, choice
Claas Scorpion 7035, 2014
John Deere 7310R, 2020
John Deere 7310R, 2020
John Deere 7R 330, 2021
John Deere 8360RT, 2013
John Deere 8530, 2006
Massey Ferguson 7726, 2019
New Holland T6070, 2011
New Holland T6180
New Holland T7.260, 2016
Valtra T194, 2019
TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS
JCB TM320S, 2007, Wheeled Loader
JCB 528/70, 2002, Telehandler
JCB 541/70, 2018, Telehandler
MACHINE OF THE MONTH
u DRILLING
u
u DGPS LIME & FERT SPREADING
u HEDGECUTTING
u SMALL SEEDS DRILLING – Einbock 12m (grass/kale/oilseed rape) CONTACT:
OFFICE : 01890 840 251
MOBILE : DAVID 07971 409 367 KENNY 07971 409 371
E.MAIL : rwoodandsons@btconnect.com
WEBSITE : www.rwoodandsons.co.uk
Variable Lime Spreading
Soil testing & lime delivery also arranged
Contact Doug Thomson 07967 193438
SELF DRIVE HIRE
MICRO TO MINI DIGGERS 1t to 3t
Micro/doorway excavators (new Bobcat E10) to 1.5t and up to 3t (Bobcat E27)
ROAD ROLLER Terex 1200 2.9t
vibrating ride on, 1.2m wide
Drive away with our 3t trailers to suit or delivery by us
From £60+VAT to £90+VAT per day
IF YOUR FARM TRACK OR FOREST ROAD NEEDS SOME ATTENTION, WE HAVE THE SKILLS, MACHINERY AND EXPERIENCE TO DELIVER A LASTING SOLUTION.
• REDUCES OR ELIMINATES THE NEED TO IMPORT MATERIALS.
• IMPROVES DRAINAGE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE.
• QUICK AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION THAT MINIMISES DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS.
HOGARTH
GARY HOGARTH
AG - Bag Sealed Storage Systems
General Contracting Services
•Two high capacity mobile mills for Dry rolling & Crimping
Hugo Lee farms in partnership with his father, Guy, at Sandystones, near St Boswells. Arable crops of wheat, oilseed rape, malting barley and oats are grown, 500 Angus cattle are finished annually, 8000 organic hens produce eggs for Waitrose and 8,000 organic point of lay pullets are reared each year.
For over a year now the main road up to the farm has resembled a river every time it rains. We thought this was due to a collapsed culvert under the road which takes a large majority of the farms field drains. Not only was the blockage flooding the road it was also backing up flooding the field next to it and during seriously heavy rainfall it caused some field drains to blow. I had reported it to the council numerous times over the past year and nothing happened. Eventually I managed to get hold of Doug, brother of Paul who repairs our cars. He is a roads engineer for the council and within in a month he had sorted it. A large stone had lodged in the pipe and completely blocked it under the road. Stone removed, pipe jetted and fingers crossed it has worked. Only time will tell when we next get a huge downpour, but so far so good!
The cattle market has gone crazy with talk of fat cattle getting to £7/kg by March. The huge increase in price is a good thing and the breeders really do need every penny they can get. I am just worried when or if the bubble will burst. Having just spent over £100,000 for 58 AAX store cattle I pray that the price continues to go up. Grazing cattle are going to be seriously expensive at well over £4/kg come March. I have to admit to a few sleepless nights over the last week concerned that we could be overexposing ourselves if the market is suddenly going to collapse. I am reassured by people far more knowledgeable than myself that there is a worldwide shortage of beef and demand is very strong. The big question will be if, or when, beef will simply become too expensive for the consumer.
Staff are our most important asset at Sandystones. As a late Christmas present, I gave them a clay pigeon shooting lesson at Braidwood. None of them had shot before and despite holding it like a machine gun to start with they all did really well. Bogdan came out as the eventual winner despite an incredible start by Shaun who hit his first eight clays in a row. For the first time both my dad and I are away at the same time (Kenya and Norway) as Shaun, Bogdan, Yurii and Diana are all very capable. I have heard nothing so far, so hopefully no news is good news…!
Another hen shed has been emptied, washed and moved. We are currently rearing our eighth batch of point of lay pullets which are doing well having survived storm Eowyn relatively unscathed. We did have to rachet strap the pullet shed roof down as it was threatening to take off and secure a cattle court roof which was flapping around. Thankfully we managed to prevent any long lasting damage but it is not a day I would like to repeat anytime soon!
Hopefully ground conditions dry up to allow us to get the first round of Nitrogen on the winter crops. We have just taken on another 160 acres of arable this year, so I am praying for a drier spring than last year. However, in the meantime I am relishing the snow conditions in Norway.
Yurii, Bogdan, Shaun and (coach) David
Contact:
Connon Construction Ltd.
Christopher07843 208 544
Patrick07701 040 681
Slurry spreading available with umbilical, dribble bars and ferry tankers. Tractors on floatation tyres
Dung spreader hire or complete service
Complete silage service
All types of digger work undertaken
Connon Farms / Connon Construction
Connon Farms / Connon Construction
CONTRACTORS SERVICES
J & J Grant
Scotland’s Spreading Specialists
5 spreaders available to meet your precision spreading requirements
High output LGP machines to minimise soil and crop damage
Weighing systems and auto steer fitted
We supply our own loader and fuel to minimise disturbance to the customer
Blanket or variable rate lime spreading compatible with all mapping systems
The following can be supplied and accurately applied
Lime, Compost, Slag, Henpen, Fibrophos, FYM, Gypsum, other organic materials
Soil Mapping service
• correct variations across fields
• independent analysis
• 4 samples/ha for accurate pH maps
• all nutrients can be tested
• recommendations to suit your enterprise
Contact us to discuss how we can help reduce your costs with the use of organic products Tel 01875 320363 Mob 07703 113178 Email john@j-jgrant.co.uk
Talking
......New Zealand
February 10th 2025
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.
It has been a miserable summer for arable farming and tourism. Persistently grey shitty damp days have frustrated the harvest and our tourists alike.
Having said that, the boys have got some grasseed, all the peas and most of the wheat in. Yields are, I think, pretty bloody average.
I’ve been allowed out of the back paddock to drive a combine a couple of times and can report that the wheat seems to be running around the 10t/ha mark which is probably a couple of tons shy of where the crop might have been.
The tourists keep coming regardless of the weather but we’ve stopped pretending snow in February is an aberration.
There has been some light relief. A wandering Scotsman arranged for me to meet an enterprising farming couple from Fife, Robert and Jane Stewart, who’ve turned their dairy farm into an awardwinning artisanal cheese business.
We had a great evening discussing farming, marketing food and stuff but in that conversation I was really sorry to hear that John Campbell of Glenrath Farms had died last September. The ship carrying that news to the antipodes has clearly got lost.
I met and stayed with John (and Cathie) when I was travelling on my Nuffield Scholarship and since then we’ve travelled with them to other parts of the world and they’ve stayed with us at Akaunui. We were having a discussion one evening about “adding value” and dealing with the market for the food we produce as farmers, with special reference to dealing with supermarkets. John said the secret to success (and making money) was to understand the buyer’s needs. Make their life easy by guaranteeing without exception quality, quantity and reliability of supply every day of the year and you then set the price.
That was probably the most valuable advice I was given on my study tour. The 2nd most valuable advice was not to trust wealth created by government decree by a lovely man who sold his milk quota for £1.5m 18 months before a change in government policy rendered it valueless. Both timeless truths that should not be forgotten.
SURFACE DRESSING WITH NATURAL STONE FINISHES
SILAGE PITS, FARM ROADS, DRIVEWAYS, ESTATES
BLOCK PAVING OF PATHWAYS, DRIVEWAYS & CAR PARKS
SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS, PATHWAYS, CAR PARKS
TARMACADAM, ASPHALT, PATCHING & POTHOLE REPAIRS
DRAINAGE, KERBING, GROUNDWORKS
PRIVATE & COMMERCIAL WORK UNDERTAKEN
Warreners House, Morpeth
The Stiel, Yarrowford
Broad eld Farm, Symington
Langtonlees Farm, Duns
Talking......Business with Edwin Thompson February
2025
Jack Frater is an Agricultural Consultant at Edwin Thompson, based between their offices in Berwick and Galashiels. Jack specialising in Farm and Estate Management. 2024 was arguably the most import year in terms of global politics there has ever been, with over 40% of the world’s population voting in one way or another, resulting in a new Labour Government in the UK, and Donald Trump returning to the White House. 2025 brings with it the consequences of those results, then in 2026 we have the Holyrood elections to look forward to.
Treasurer Rachel Reeves and her planned changes to inheritance tax rules has caused uproar across the countryside with protests happening on what feels like a weekly basis. Public engagement is paramount in terms of lobbying for a rethink, however it important to bear in mind that until these changes were announced, a significant proportion of the population had no idea that agriculture benefited from such reliefs. So, if you are engaging in any way, shape, or form the message needs to be clear that this change is unsustainable financially At this stage there are varying estimations on just how many businesses these changes will impact, the Labour line is only 500 per year, but AHDB have the figure at closer to 42,000 overall, which is nearly 77% of the farms in England and Scotland. There is also now a risk that if you believe the whispers, the Spring Statement could bring with it the removal of the 7-year gifting rule, meaning that handing down the farm, or any asset, to the next generation may not longer mitigate any inheritance tax implications. The advice is as it was back in October, speak to your accountant as soon as you can, and have the difficult family conversations early. Details around how trusts will be impacted are not expected until early April, but this shouldn’t stop you starting to plan ahead. In terms of your farming business, the message is to make sure you are in the best possible position in terms of physical and financial performance. Funding is still available for Scottish farmers through the Farm Advisory Service to assist with an analysis of your business and provide advice as to how improvements can be implemented.
For Scottish producers, the BPS application window is fast approaching and with it comes new conditionality as part of your claim, including the requirement for such things as a carbon audit or biodiversity plan. The application window opens on the 15th March so again the advice is to start early, it is also important to note that the deadline for entitlement transfers is the 1st April. On the plus side the Six Nations has started and I hope by the time Agrimart goes to press Wales are still on for a another Wooden Spoon.
To discuss your BPS claim, or if you would like further information on grant funding available through the Farm Advisory Service, please get in touch on 01896 751300 or email j.frater@edwin-thompson.co.uk.
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Talking......Organic
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February 12th 2025
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.
Yesterday we scanned the sheep and are quite pleased with the results. Numbers will be back on last year, but with 200 less ewes that’s the plan to fit in with HT countryside stewardship commitments. The good news is we have a third less triplets than last year – so small wins. With reduced ewe numbers, in theory there should be more feed and hopefully by the time we all get to start lambing the wind will be in a different direction, the rain will have stopped and the temperatures warmer… I’m not asking for too much.
On the cattle side we’re just going through the routine and getting ready for calving. The Luing heifers are looking good however, Claire is feeling a tad nervous about calving them this year. It is normally Claire who gets the call to come and help in the middle of the night, if its needed. The black baldy heifers have generally been quiet and easy to work on with. It’s our first year with the Luings – so she’s praying that they’re easy calving and know their own way to the crush!
Hens are doing ok… they’re not amazing, but not awful, just ok. We have a flock at about 55 weeks of age who had some challenges early on. They’re doing fine but look pretty poor as at the time of stress they over preened and took their own feathers out. We need to manage them carefully as their egg size is slightly larger than we would like, which means in the later weeks we may struggle with shell strength. The younger flock looks amazing, has excellent behaviour, no mortality and ok egg numbers. However, we have a significant number of shell-less eggs and weak shelled eggs. Blood tests have revealed ORT and MG, which we had vaccinated these hens against. We need to work out a course of action, because although it’s not drastic now, it could easily escalate. We’ve re-emphasised our biosecurity measures and tried to ensure that all biosecurity protocol is met and more. The increase in avian influenza cases is a concern, mainly in East Yorkshire at the moment, but with cases across the country, it’s pretty much everywhere in the wild bird population. Those that are coming down with it will have good biosecurity, however it’s the poultry owners only means of protection, so, we have to do everything we can. We’ve had the disinfection stations serviced, so at least the wagon drivers delivering feed and collecting eggs have the right tools to do the job properly. We are planning to cover two muck stores this year. One here at Donkin Rigg and one at Rothley East Shield. We have planning for one, but the planners are being very thorough on their assessments of the other. We’ve jumped through the hurdles of water run-off, biodiversity net gain etc. However, now they are wanting to know what habitat will be lost as a result of this project. The site is a scruffy bit of land at the edge of the yard. We all know it’s where not a great deal happens and in terms of biodiversity, any potential loss will be offset by the huge environmental gains of not storing muck outside. Defra want the store, Natural England want the store, Catchment sensitive farming want the store, we want the store (despite it costing a fortune over and above any grant received), yet the planners are slowing the job right down. At the moment they’re suggesting we withdraw our application however, that would mean another extortionate planning fee when we re-submit.
Kelso Agricultural Discussion Society
Monday 24th February 2025 7.30 pm at the Cross Keys Hotel
How I Farm
We are delighted to invite you back to our final winter meeting and AGM. We will be joined by two excellent speakers.
Neil Ramsay: Hamish Morison Farming
Based near Earlston, Neil manages ~ 800ha of arable crops at Hamish Morison Farming Ltd, which in 2024 was an arable farm of the year finalist. The farm grows Winter Barley, Winter Wheat and Winter Oilseed Rape. Neil aims to push his crops to their full potential and in 2023, his crop of KWS Tardis Winter Barley won the YEN nutrition gold award Over the years the business has invested significantly in precision farming technology, infrastructure and machinery
Mark Mather: Haugh Head Farm
Mark runs the mixed farm, situated near Wooler alongside an agricultural contracting business as well as being a county councillor. The business has changed significantly over the last 10 years, after losing a tenancy of the next door farm the business has changed its system to focus on calf rearing for Warrendale Wagyu. In 2008 Mark lost a leg in a farm accident, since then he has had to adapt his system and the machinery, he uses to allow him to continue to farm. He has also taken on the role of a Farm cccccccccccccccccccccsafety Ambassador.
Admission Fee Farmers £15.00 for the whole season (4 meetings) or £5 for a single meeting Farm staff and under 18s £3 for the whole season or £2 for a single meeting
Talking......from the boundary
Guy Lee
For the first time ever in my life I have been out of communication with the outside world.
For the past seven days we have been without our phones having signal. No news, WhatsApp, email or messages. Four of us have been trekking with (not on) camels in the Matthews Range in Northern Kenya. A typical day was a wakeup call at 5.45 am outside our tent by the Samburu. A visit to the bush loo, a brush of the teeth and we were soon sitting around last nights fire drinking hot chai, coffee or ginger tea watching dawn break. Around us camp was broken up and packed onto the 34 camels that carried all our needs for the week’s safari. Then we set off led by Burrian our English, Swahili, Samburu speaking guide and wildlife spotter. Ahead was an armed guard and behind was our hostess Helen Douglas-Dufresne with her 5 dogs. An out and out Kenyan, a passionate conservationist and an impeccable organizer in a most understated manner. By 8 am it was getting hotter, as we walked down wide dry luggas (riverbeds) with evidence all round of the power of the water when it does rain. We spotted elephants and warthogs coming down to waterholes, footprints of leopards and hyenas and a huge variety of bird life. By 10.30am we were looking for a shady tree to stop for breakfast, and what a meal appeared from the boxes the camels were carrying. A fire was lit, coffee boiled and then ‘How would you like your eggs?’ always accompanied by bacon, sausage and toast. 45 minutes later we were on the move again, walking for 3-4 hours until we stopped for beers, lunch, siesta and our home for the night. At 5.30pm we would go for a short walk looking for animals appearing after the heat of the day, then back for a hot shower that was rigged up hanging from a tree. As dusk fell the fire was lit and we were offered almost anything you could think of from the drinks table, with ice always available, before an incredible dinner which could have been roast lamb, pork or beef all cooked on a grill over firewood. It was the most magical week. I have just deleted most of the 237 emails in my inbox and read the messages on the family WhatsApp wondering if we were alive!
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Talking......from Lincolnshire
Will Howe is an arable farmer from Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The soils are predominantly heavy. There is 1000ha of cropping including winter wheat, spring beans, spring oats and oilseed rape. He also manages a contracting business Thorpe Farming Ltd.
I like to think I am a rational person but there are somethings that bring out the inner Trump in me. Not the proclamations about creating American jobs for American people or trying to regain control of the borders for both drug and immigration control. However, the crazier stuff he comes out with when you just know he is having a quiet 5 mins on the White House porcelain and no aide is comfortable enough to babysit him yet and simultaneously take control of his X feed, whist reassuring him that was indeed the best passing of a stool known to man. For me there are 2 things that turn my hair blond and get me gesticulating like a fake-tanned Millwall Bushwacker. It is people who turn their phones on the minute the tyres screech on the tarmac after their holiday to Benidorm. There is just no need. I can’t imagine there are many MD’s of the FTSE 100 on the red eye flight from Alicante to Stanstead, so enjoy the peace that little bit longer and keep the wretched phone turned off. Even worse are those that are retired who insist on doing their weekly shop on a Saturday. The only time of the week I go near a supermarket is on the way to watch the kid’s sports matches on a Saturday. In the spirit of keeping my carbon footprint down I tie in witnessing another drubbing at netball, or retrieving my son’s battered body from a crumpled heap somewhere near his own tryline, with a ridiculously time consuming shopping experience dancing around fellow shoppers who appear to be having a nap, whilst others are questioning the checkout person if they can split a pack of ham as they only really need 2 slices yet there are 4 in the pack. Please, come back on Mon-Fri when the rest of us are at work.
What a beauty!
To prove I am not ageist, or discriminatory at any level, I have succumbed to my online auction addiction and my latest purchases could be at best described as elderly. We have a problem at Worths filling the sheds in that the 50 year old concrete drying floor is tired, and when using a grain pusher to heap the grain the drying covers move which fills the air vents with grain, whilst also getting the grain too tight to allow adequate air flow. So, much to my horror I have made the backward step of buying a 30+ year old grain elevator, and a 23 year old trailer. The trailer still has the paint on the floor which is a good sign and will allow us to run three trailers therefore easing the pressure on the store and cartmen. With the land too wet to travel, we are fulltime in the workshop preparing for harvest, with every eventuality catered for. As a wise 15 year old told me last year when he found we weren’t carrying a spare disc for a cultivator that hadn’t been used in 14 years; “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. Perhaps good advice for his upcoming GCSE revision!
01359 250917
Stanton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2AD, UK
Cover crops still doing their thing
Fuelling UK Farms
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Talking......North of the Forth
February 5th 2025
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. Our main farm buildings have, like many steadings, had various uses over the years and been adapted and modified over time. One such shed is where we tip grain off the combine before going through the drier and where we store machinery and fertiliser the rest of the year. At one time it was a potato store with fans and vents and an insulated roof. The insulation consisted of polystyrene sheets nailed onto the purlins. There was a gap between the roof sheets and the insulation that became a preferred sanctuary for the local feral pigeon community. Fed up of these feathered squatters pooping on my machinery and being a general nuisance the decision was taken to remove the insulation and make the shed bird proof. Having been warned just how nasty accumulations of pigeon excrement are to human health (resulting in rather nasty chronic lung conditions) a full hazmat suit and mask were bought and not being able to ask anyone else to do such a dirty task it was left to me to do the job. Armed with a crowbar, cherry picker and three huge skips the job has been completed, and the shed is now a cleaner and brighter place to work. The pigeons are a bit confused, but I am sure they will find suitable lodgings in Dundee!
Winter ploughing has been progressing well and should be finished mid-February. The KV plough now in its third spring season is making a beautiful job in the hands of Colin. The ground is coming up far nicer than this time last year which is a joy to see.
Pigs and prime deer have both moved off farm this month. The deer have spent an extra winter on the farm, so I was particularly pleased to see them heading off. Venison sales are starting to pick up and I get the feeling that this often-overlooked meat is coming in for a bit of a resurgence. Producers of wild, farmed and park deer are working hard to promote venison and with its environmental credentials, health benefits and versatility is a great option for the modern consumer. I am completely biased but a good bit of venison beats lamb and beef every time!*
A deer quality assurance visit and an SQC audit in one week I am now complianced-out**! I am a supporter of Quality Assurance schemes, but it is always a huge relief to get these visits completed. Between pigs, deer, cereals and turkeys I have numerous inspections over the course of the year and am becoming quite proficient at the associated paperwork.
*I think the editor likes when I write controversial things occasionally… **Not an actual word. But it should be.
