Agrimart May 2024 Issue

Here at Glendale Engineering, we are proud to be able to say that we have over 35 years’ experience designing and manufactur ing Agricultural Buildings & Equipment.

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

Suppliers of:

Suppliers of:

-Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

• Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

-Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

• Improve your pump’s Coefficient Of Performance (COP)

• Reduce input costs

• Mitigate breakdowns and business disruption

Calibrate design, install and maintain commercial-scale heat pumps ANALYSE

Using our innovative tool, Calibrate Analytics©, we can assess performance and diagnose your system for improvements Contact Nick Mather:

MAXIMISE

We re-calibrate and perform remedial works to any old and unmaintained systems to return them to health, this could include new system functions such as heat recovery

OPTIMISE

Once complete, we offer long term maintenance plans to keep your asset performing at its best.

-Sheep Portarace

• Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

- ATV Trailers

• Sheep Portarace

- Agricultural Buildings

• ATV Trailers

-Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems

• Agricultural Buildings

- 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

Email : info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

Wooler : 01668 281464

Graeme Wilson : 07971 880275

Web : www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

John Common : 07981 890999

Bob Clapham : 07954 363979

info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

Reduce Input Costs

After upgrades and modifications following our Calibrate Analytics© assessment and diagnosis, one re-calibration client now has an optimised system. Costs have reduced and the ROI has been just one year. Case

Octoposts Snacker

Calf Creep

LOCAL COMPANY WITH OVER 45 YEARS EXPERIENCE

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

LONGDOG ATV TRAILER 5X3, TIMBER FLOOR TANALISED FOR LONG LIFE, MESH SIDE OPENING REAR GATE, SOLID 880MM SIDES, SWIVEL HITCH, FULL WIDTH BEAM AXLE, FLOTATION TYRE 22X11X8, UNLADEN WEIGHT: (1500) 160KGS

WEST 10T GRAIN SPRUNG DRAWBAR, ADR AXLES, LED LIGHTS, HYDRAULIC BACK DOOR, GRAIN CHUTE

USED McHALE V6-660 BALER 2015, 40K BALES, SERVICED & VERY TIDY £14,500+VAT

McCORMICK X7.440 2020 150HP 2000 HOURS, FULLY SERVICED FROM NEW, VERY TIDY CONDITION, 4.5L FPT ENGINE, 30X15 ZF 50K TRANSMISSION, AIR BRAKES, STOP & ACTION FUNCTION

McCORMICK X7.660 2017 165HP 4000 HOURS, FULLY SERVICED FROM NEW TIDY CONDITION, 6.7L FPT ENGINE, 24X12 ZF 50K TRANSMISSION

£13,950+VAT £1,095+VAT

If you require dependable, plentiful source of power, our fantastic generators won’t let you down. 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. Supplying dependable and powerful generators in the North of England and Scotland

Our services are unique to the region and our clients, using specialist equipment to tackle all types of vegetation on inaccessible areas, steep gradients, moorland, and woodland.

Capabilities

• Bracken cutting & crushing

• Site clearance

• Gorse mulching

• Heather cutting

• Woodland ground clearance

• Cut & collect (Wildflower Meadows, Golf Course Rough)

• Vegetation management consulting

For all enquires

• Grassland Subsoiling (NEW) MR EAVES

• HIGHLY EXPERIENCED NEGOTIATOR WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

• LAND SALES AND PURCHASES

• TENANT / LANDLORD NEGOTIATIONS

• RENT REVIEWS

• DISPUTE RESOLUTION

• UTILITY COMPENSATION WORKS

Also at:

SECONDHAND TRACTORS/HANDLERS

FENDT 936 PROFI PLUS 60kph ’15 Reg, c/w 7000 hrs, front linkage, 5 rear spools, front PTO, RTK guidance

FENDT 828 60kph ’67 Reg, c/w 7000 hrs, reverse drive, remaining warranty

FENDT 828 60kph ’16 Reg, c/w 6000 hrs, front linkage, 5 rear spools

FENDT 724 POWER ’16 Reg, c/w 6995 hrs, Trimble guidance RTK

FENDT 720 POWER + ‘67 Reg, c/w 5985 hrs, front linkage, 4 spools

VALTRA Q305 50 kph ’73 Reg EX HIRE c/w 950 hrs, front linkage, front PTO, hyd top link, front axle suspension

VALTRA T195D 57 kph, EX DEMO c/w 4 rear spools, hyd top link – high spec

CLAAS AXION 840 CEBIS 50 kph ’17 Reg, c/w 6700hrs, front linkage, guidance ready, 5 spools

MERLO TF42.7-140CS ‘67 Reg, c/w 5500 hrs, boom suspension, air con, air seat

MERLO TF33.7-115 18 Reg c/w 1700 hrs, air con, boom suspension, LED lights, VGC

MERLO TF30.9-PLUS 20 Reg c/w 5300 hrs, air con, boom suspension

SECONDHAND MACHINERY

BOMFORD HAWK EVO 6.5 HEDGE CUTTER c/w Pro Head Cut

SUMO 3M TRIO c/w 6 leg auto reset and packer. Straight leg model

SUMO 3.5M TRAILED TRIO c/w auto reset, front discs, VGC

SUMO 3M FRONT MOUNTED MULTIPACKA c/w tines

SUMO 6M TRAILED MULTI-PRESS c/w leading tines and press rings

TEAGLE 8100 TRAILED STRAWBEDDER c/w swivel chute, 2012 model

TRAILED LUCAS CASTOR 30R STRAW BEDDER c/w swivel cute 2008 model

NEW / EX STOCK

NEW NC FORK MOUNTED YARD BRUSHES 2.5m & 3m EX STOCK

NEW NC 16 TONNE GRAIN TRAILERS c/w hi-speed axles EX STOCK £22,750 + VAT

NEW NC 16 TONNE DUMP TRAILERS (316 & 616 models), full spec EX STOCK

NEW TEAGLE 8500/9500/1010 STRAW/SILAGE BEDDER FEEDERS EX STOCK

SUMO 5-4-3 LEG SUBSOILERS c/w auto reset EX STOCK

NRH 3-5 LEG SUBSOILERS c/w auto reset EX STOCK

NEW SUMO FRONT WEIGHTS 1000kg, 1500kg, 2000kg EX STOCK

SULKY 3M GRAIN & FERTILISER COMINATION UNIT EX DEMO

FENDT 1290XD TANDEM AXLE SQUARE BALER EX DEMO

CLAAS 5300 QUADRANT TANDEM AXLE BALER 2019 model c/w 16000 bales, auto-lube

TEAGLE SUPER TED 221

Berwick-upon-Tweed: 01289 331904

AGRIWELD 3M MANTIS MOUNTED CULTIVATOR

MCCONNELL DISCAERATION 3000

Kelso: 01573 225213

NRH 5 LEG SUBSOILERS

Macmerry: 01875 617323

FENDT 936 PROFI PLUS

• 60kph

• ’15 Reg • c/w 7000 hrs

• Front linkage

• 5 rear spools

• Front PTO

• RTK guidance

WAITING LIKE A COILED SPRING

At last I have my door back with new glass fitted, I can’t begin to tell you how uncomfortable I have been with a howling draft, let alone the rain rushing in day after day. We have done one job in the past month, luckily he had the door to keep him in but no glass. It was a relatively easy pull at Synton for the Aynsley family who luckily for me are restocking their sheds after a year’s absence. I enjoy going there although it does send shivers down my chassis when I recall that day on March 13th 2018 when I was trying to pull one of their sheds just after ‘The Beast from the East’. The snow had mostly gone but the ground was still frozen and as I took up the strain and began the pull the shed stayed where it was and just the front section broke away causing damage and confusion. In the melee he climbed down the ladder at my back end catching one of the straps of his welly on the upright, as he jumped to the ground. He was left like a trussed chicken with one leg attached to the ladder and him on the ground. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, worried about the damage I had caused to the shed or the site of him crawling away.

As arable farmers moan about the state of the ground and how behind they are with spring sowing I sit here like a coiled spring waiting for the first casualty of going too early and ending up in a bog. I realise a call to him is the one no one wants to make but just remember the joy you bring to someone else.

Machiner y S alesperson

Morpeth

Join one of the largest machinery dealers in the UK, a family- owned company with 166 years of history in Agriculture & Food

We represent a huge portfolio of premium brands to offer the best choice of tractors, machinery & equipment to our customers including: - Massey Ferguson, Krone, Horsch, Weidemann, Teagle and more.

The Job

• Structured development and management of an assigned area, building a long term customer base

• Call planning and prospecting activity carried out in a methodical manor and recorded via CRM system.

• Carry out demonstration, installation and follow up processes in line with brand guidelines

• Must take ownership of managing own sales activity, planning and balancing prospecting calls and existing customer visits

• Work with company and supplier targets to achieve quote, coverage and conversion targets

• Work to achieve customer total customer excellence satisfaction from point of enquiry to point of delivery

Skills, Experience and Qualities Required

• Some sales experience would be a benefit although not essential as training will be given

• Written skills – proven ability to use clear, concise language specific for the purpose and audience

• Confident IT user

• Flexibility with working hours during busy seasons and weekends

• Full UK driving licence required

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to consult, negotiate and liaise with suppliers, cust omers and internal stakeholders

• Ability to manage change and to adapt to unexpected demands on a day to day basis

• Ability to assess priorities and manage competing deadlines both independently and as a member of a team.

Benefits

Successful salespeople enjoy an attractive salary package, annual salary reviews, a minimum of 25 days annual leave, a company car and employee discounts and benefits

To Apply

Please send your CV to the Carr’s Billington People Team by email: catherine.parker@carrs -billington.com

ENRICH YOUR SOIL AND BOOST CROPS FOR FREE WHILST REMOVING CO

We spread crushed basalt rock on agricultural land, enriching soil fertility, supporting healthy crop growth and stabilising soil pH. This locally-sourced rock also removes CO2 from the atmosphere through a natural process known as enhanced rock weathering. It’s a win-win for your land and the environment.

WHAT IS BASALT ROCK?

Basalt is a mineral-rich volcanic rock that has been applied as a soil amendment for hundreds of years. It’s a product of the Scottish aggregate industry which is screened to ensure it's safe for agricultural use. Our basalt is suitable for all crops, including pasture, and has been approved for use in certified organic farming systems.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR FARMERS?

Our basalt is supplied and spread free of charge or heavily subsidised, using local contractors who know the roads and the land. Farmers can expect to see the following benefits:

Nutrient uptake: Crushed basalt releases magnesium, calcium, potassium and other nutrients, boosting soil health and making your crops more pest-resistant.

Improved soil pH: As basalt weathers, it helps maintain the target pH of the soil.

Basalt delivers a slow release of alkalinity to stabilise soil pH at optimum levels for longer.

Higher crop yield: An initial trial with The University of Newcastle showed crop yield was on average 15% higher (9.3% and 20.5% between ploughed and direct drill amended plots) following the application of crushed basalt.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Farmers and landowners in the central belt of Scotland and North East Scotland.

WHY?

With the help of farmers like you, our mission is to remove 1 billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere to make the planet livable for future generations.

If you are interested in enriching your soils whilst removing CO2, contact Joe Ritchie on 07400 858 333 or email joe@un-do.com

WWW.UN-DO.COM

Machinery Grass

Kverneland 3m Drill, ex-demo

Maxiplus 3m G&F pneumatic drill, 2000l hopper, s-series harrow & packer roller

Deutz-Fahr 6135 RV, ex-demo

136hp, 20 speed power shift, 50kph, front suspension, 4 double spools.

Kverneland 3228 MT Mower Conditioner

Comes with nylon finger tine.

Contact a member of our sales team:

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

All prices shown are excluding VAT

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

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

www.hendersongm.co.uk

Haddington 01620 823171 | Selkirk 01750 725725 | Kinross 01577 865733

NEW Kubota BF3255 SC14N Baler£20000 Fixed chamber, 1.20x1.25m bale, 2.2m pick up, Supercut 14 chopper system, 2 year warranty

Major Cyclone Heavy Duty Rotary Mower

9'3"/2.8m cut, Strenx 700 high strength steel, 4 rotor discs, rear roller, cutting height from 40 - 200mm

Kverneland 95/200 Plough

Hydraulic varia width, manual front furrow adjustment.

Dieci 42.7 VS EVO2 Telehandler£65000 138hp, 4WD, Vario Hydro Drive, 40kph, 6.9m reach, boom suspension, air con, many extras, ex-hire with 261 hours

Broughan Bale / Flat Trailer

28’ long, 24” fitted headboard, hydraulic brakes, LED road & side marker lights

Kuhn Grain & Fertiliser Combi Drill£16500

PRICED TO SELL

2014 Kuhn LC4000 air disc drill, power harrow HR4004D, front hopper TF1500, comes with press wheels

John Deere 740i Isobus Sprayer

REDUCED PRICE 24m, hydraulic drive pump, tracking drawbar.

2nd-Hand Kubota Out-Front Ride-On Mower

Model F3090, 2 available, comes with 60” cutter deck, low hours - under 500 hours.

£49000

£70000

£7900

£12250

Nugent Livestock Trailer £8500

Fold-up sheep decks with dividing gates, reinforced loading ramp, fully galvanised.

£10850

£7000

£4500

£14000

Storage Tank Sales & Hire UK-Wide Service

Specialising in the supply of high quality used storage tanks and bowsers for sale and hire throughout the UK. We keep a varied stock of fully bunded and singleskinned mild steel, stainless steel, plastic and GRP tanks and bowsers ideal for storing fuels, oils, water, effluents, fertilisers and feed products

We also purchase tanks - please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Andy mobile: 07853 905018

www.best-tanks.co.uk

Tel: 01334 827 090

info@best-tanks.co.uk

Northbank Farm, Cameron, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8PE

DISTRIBUTERS OF QUALITY CLEANING EQUIPMENT FOR 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

KVERNELAND SPECIALS

PLOUGHS

KV 3400S 85 6 FURROW 11029380

KV 3300S 85 5 FURROW 11026485

KV 3300S 85 5 FURROW 11026485 AGED

KV 2300S 85 5 FURROW 21026498 AGED

KV ES250 85 6 FURROW 31028730

KV ES250 85 5 FURROW 11029378

FERTILISER SPREADERS

KV TL GEOSPREAD 1875 PRO X2 EXTENSIONS 3,225L OR X3 3,900L, HOPPER COVER, X2 FOLDABLE SIDE STEPS, LED LIGHTS, 1M SECTION CONTROL

LIST £28,458 SELL £21,690

KV TL GEOSPREAD 1500 PRO 11029925 X2 EXTENSIONS 2,800L OR X3 3,450L, HOPPER COVER, X2 FOLDABLE SIDE STEPS, LED LIGHTS

LIST £27,623 SELL £21,100

KV EL 1400L 11029929 HYD CONTROL, HOPPER COVER

LIST £6,649 SELL £4,999

BEDNAR

Leading the field.

We know the challenges and complexities of the agricultural industry and have insider knowledge of all aspects of farming businesses - from subsidies and environmental law through to tenancies and contract farming agreements. Whether you’re a farmer or a landowner, our team are well placed to help you achieve goals and maximise returns.

RENEWABLES

We help our clients in tendering new sites for onshore wind farms, solar farms, battery storage and negotiating heads of terms for leases and for options, as well as negotiating between third party access/export cables agreements for landowners.

VALUATIONS – RICS REGISTERED VALUERS

Valuations for a variety of purposes including lending, tax (returns), probate, internal business reorganisations, tenancy assignation, sales, and purchases.

AGRICULTURAL LANDLORD & TENANT

Sale and purchase of landlord’s heritable interest; rent review negotiations, dilapidations claims, way-go valuations and ongoing tenancy matters.

Get in touch with your local property experts.

FERGUS THOMSON MRICS FAAV

Tel: 01289 305158

fergus.thomson@rettie.co.uk

HUGH RETTIE

Tel: 01896 824070

hugh.rettie@rettie.co.uk

AMY BROWN

Tel: 01289 334532

amy.brown@rettie.co.uk

GRASSLAND/BALERS

CROP CARE

• Mapping / 3D land imagery for drainage works.

• Survey grade accuracy (CM) via RTK GPS.

• Farm / crop management using mulFspectral sensors.

• Land and Infrastructure surveillance and inspecFon.

• Mapping and 3D land imagery for irrigaFon pond and wetland creaFon.

• Building and roof inspecFon.

• Aggregate stockpile measurement.

• Field border and hedge row inspecFon.

• Data used to support Insurance, grants and subsidy applicaFon.

• Aerial Photographic and videography for farm property markeFng.

• Digital Surface (DSM) / Terrain Model (DTM) & Contour.

• MulFspectral – plant health.

Based in the Sco8sh Borders

• REDUCES OR ELIMINATES THE NEED TO IMPORT MATERIALS.

• IMPROVES DRAINAGE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE.

• QUICK AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION THAT MINIMISES DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS.

On Our Farm

April 10th 2024

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.

It is seriously WET! Having fared better than many of those down south over the winter the wet weather has finally caught up with us. We are just shy of 100mm for April to date and the whole farm is a wet bog. The water table is at capacity, drains are running full bore and there is no sign of any settled dry spell in the forecast. The amazing thing is that the river has never flooded, it has got pretty close but it has never burst its banks like previous years. The rainfall has been consistent and steady since the end of September with a week of hard frost in mid-January and a very brief drier spell mid-February being the only let up. Nobody I speak to can remember it being this wet for so long.

Winter crops are starting to go backwards fast having wintered well. All winter cereals are starting to look hungry and the oilseed rape is looking very ugly. The rape was established mid-August with a Sumo and got off to a flying start. I was even getting slightly concerned that it may have been a little advanced going into the winter. It has gone backwards ever since! There are large patches across the field where plants have sat water logged since Christmas and are only a couple of inches tall whilst the rest of the field is starting to flower. If we’d had a dry spell at the start of April I think the rape would have recovered but it is too late now and the yield will be very disappointing. I have ordered another 1t of Spring Barley seed which having been short for so long is now suddenly available. I presume this is due to many farmers in the south giving up on spring cropping or maybe I am the only naïve one holding out hope that it will dry up soon!

Every year we buy around 200 store cattle to graze over the summer. I like to secure the cattle early as supply can get pretty tight by the end of March. In a normal year we would turn the cattle out as soon as they arrive in the first couple of weeks in April. Obviously we have been unable to do that this year and have therefore been frantically converting machinery sheds into cattle courts. Fortunately, we have plenty of straw and silage at present but things will start to get pretty tight if this wet weather runs into May. We have not managed to get any fertiliser on silage ground yet and if we don’t get to these fields in the next couple of weeks first cut yields we be affected.

I really feel for everyone lambing and calving in this terrible weather. A couple of days of sunshine on our backs would certainly lighten the mood of both man and beast.

Dreaming of days like this

General Contracting Services AG - Bag Sealed Storage Systems

•Two high capacity mobile mills for Dry rolling & Crimping

•Ag-bagging Services

•Direct drilling / Pasture rejuvenation

•Ploughing (4 & 5) furrow

•Fertiliser spreading

•Spraying

•Topping & mulching

•Agri Haulage

•Tubelining / Bale wrapping

•Product supply : clamp sheets, silage rings, protective nets and silage additives

Full silage/wholecrop service available. We have specialised in clamp silage for over 30 years and can tailor contracts to meet farmers requirements, complete/part job available. All other general contract work undertaken. Please call to discuss what suits you best.

Tel:01450 375 045 | Mob:07836 205 606/07801 812 238 | Email:scottoverhall@outlook.com

John Renton - Agricultural Engineer, Chirnside

Tel: 01890 818807 Fax: 01890 818366 Mob: 07774 163899 also On-site Hydraulic Hose Service

1, 2 & 4 Wire Hose • Pressure Washer Hose BSP, JIC, ORFS, Metric & Flange Fittings, Adaptors, Brake Couplings, Q/R Couplings, etc

WATTY DUGUID

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.

Tel: 07506 516381 or 01890 830243

34 Please mention Agrimart when responding to advertising

Exciting news! My continual pleas for some drainage investment at the Spalding farm has finally been heard and the land is currently getting surveyed so that I can put a proposal forward to the landowners for a comprehensive re-draining programme. This will revolutionise the farm and hopefully restore it to its former glories in time. The next task is to try and return as much organic matter to the soil as possible to try and “open up” the silt to prevent it running together. This is a 10yr project so I hope the landowners keep the faith with me… With the blackgrass burden we are experiencing half the farm will be spring cropped annually so entering the SFI for overwinter cover crops was a no brainer.

At home the cover crops planted last autumn are springing back to life. I thought the spring oats were dead but have grown back from the base with vengeance which is doing wonders for the soil and trying to dry it out. Sadly where we have no cover the soil is in noticeably worse condition and will not recover until it has some roots in it. With the Ewerby farm still full of trenches, and me being a control freak, I have been appointed as the contractor for the trench backfilling. What I didn’t realise was that working on behalf of large corporations means I need lots of policies, frameworks and frankly nonsense.

I now have a policy which means I have had to sell my slaves. Lincolnshire may have a reputation for being progressive, but we aren’t quite ready for manumission; I have had to stop all the local children from hand digging drainage trenches so that they can get a Third from Sunderland Poly in performing arts; and most importantly all plant drivers are only allowed to drink ethically sourced fair trade tea whilst on their diggers. I am single handedly making the world a better place... The upside is that this will put the farm back together, and then I can return to my happy place of growing stuff again. This is good because Whitehall now wants us to produce human food, having previously wanting us to grow bird food. Only in January the bird food payments increased because the nasty farmers were solely responsible for killing the environment, surprisingly no mention of the frightening scale of water company pollution, and farmers have always responded well to cold hard governmental cash. What the hessian under-pant wearing politico focus group didn’t factor in was the wheat price at £170/t, input inflation, an ageing demographic and the worse 12 months weather in living history meant farmers looked at the risk-free environmental options and thought it was a good idea. Which it is/ was. All good autocrats like to change the rules when it works against them, and hey presto the rules have been changed and will be changed further I have no doubt. This certainly doesn’t inspire confidence in any long term business planning.

Our new McHale Fusion Vario Plus is a fully automatic variable chamber baler wrapper which can apply film or net wrap to the barrel of the bale. Delivering optimum bale shape and a high density with a 25 knife chopper unit. The advantages of the Chamber film system are:

• Acts as a wrapping layer

• Results in better shaped bales

• Delivers higher quality silage

• Makes recycling easier

Should net wrap be required for hay or straw, this can be done with a simple changeover.

Perfect to bale your herbal leys

Combining

drilling

Subsoiling Slurry spreading High density round baling MF2170 baler with automatic preservative applicator attachment Mowing with triple mowers,GPS Windrowing Tedding Buckraking Bale wrapping with front mounted tanco s200 wrapper. Spraying 12, 24, 36m

John to discuss: Tel: 01665 574 667

move forward in Partnership to Morayshire and West to Skye for the

Mark Garrick Ltd and Case IH are proud to move forward in Partnership to provide Sales and Aftersales coverage for Morayshire and West to Skye for the the Case IH brand.

Machinery team and Mainline experience will cater for all Sales and Case IH customers as well as their own

Mark Garrick Ltd with their dedicated Ag’ Machinery team and Mainline Machinery and Tractor manufacturer experience will cater for all Sales and Aftersales needs of our current and new Case IH customers as well as their own loyal customer base.

620 rated hp QuadTrac, combines balers as well as the 4 Model Farmlift premises at Birnie near Elgin.

423447

07974 757588

A full line of tractors from the 50Hp to the 620 rated hp QuadTrac, combines from 312HP to 634HP and a wide range of balers as well as the 4 Model Farmlift handler range will be offered through their premises at Birnie near Elgin.

For Sales contact: IVAN NICOL on 07879 423447

For Service contact: MARK GARRICK on 07974 757588

Mark Garrick Ltd, Brookfield House, Birnie, Elgin, IV30 8SW

Visit www.caseih.com

Tel: 01343 860556

NEW MACHINERY

6M BEDNAR VERSATILL 6000 CULTIVATOR

CASE IH MAXXUM 145 ACTIVEDRIVE 4

MARSHALL BC25 BALE TRAILER

MERLO TF33.7 115

EX DEMO MACHINERY FOR SALE

CASE IH RB344 ROUND BALER

USED TRACTORS AND MACHINERY

BOMFORD B65M R/H ARM HEDGE CUTTER

SCOT

MF 7s I from 155hp - 210hp A superior farming experience

MF HIGH PERFORMANCE RANGE OF ROTARY RAKES

Introducing the Massey Ferguson RK Series

ST

THE MULTI AWARD WINNING TRACTOR SERIES

MF Tractors I from 105hp - 305hp

ROLLVAN LIVESTOCK TRAILERS Simple Reliable Efficient

LEEB 6GS / 7GS / 8GS TRAILED SPRAYERS SPRINTER

AC FULLERTON LTD

Colin Fullerton: 07818 056 365

Silage

MACHINERY RING BENEFITS!

Speak to your local Machinery Ring about opportunities when purchasing Case IH tractors, combines and balers.

Talking......Organic

April 10th 2024

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.

I’ll mention the unmentionable first – the rain, the endless wet. It only takes a sharp shower to have a flood effect now, the water table is brim full. We know that we are marginally better than others (at the moment), as we haven’t yet started lambing, but trying to put cows and calves out onto a dry spot (ha, ha) is seriously challenging. The slightly milder temperatures mean grass is actually growing, but the challenge is how to make best use of it in the relentless wet. We are hoping that better weather is round the corner… maybe the swallows will bring it with them? …fingers crossed (everything crossed). I recently learnt that the Flood Recovery Fund, which is open, isn’t currently applicable to Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria etc. I think it could be time well spent to fire an email off to your MP’s to address this inequality. I am not sure what scheme is in place in the borders, but again – it is worth asking.

Our higher Tier started at the beginning of the year, but we didn’t get the agreement detail until March, so we are busy reducing sheep numbers and increasing cattle numbers. We were talking to a friend who had used a consultant to assess their farm business and the “sweet spot” for farm profitability and nature over the hundreds of farms they had analysed was approximately 60% cattle, 40% sheep. We have been buying some cattle for our new herd of cows in order to get the right balance of numbers yet not reduce output.

Funding is being put in place for a major farm investment of five new buildings including the covering of muck stores and silage pits and a new cattle building. Outwintering looks attractive, but this year has proven that it’s sadly not going to be an option for us. It may be that every now and then in a drier year we can keep them out longer, but when you account for reduced performance, extra feed, mess and loss of valuable farmyard manure (which is invaluable on these hungry upland Northumberland farms) we need to invest in the extra building.

Hens went out at the end of March and we have mucked the shed out, washed and disinfected ready for the new pullets arriving at the end of the month. It is always very exciting with new birds arriving, but with a little bit of anxiety too, especially as the timing hasn’t been ideal as its fallen during calving and lambing. With the hens away, we are taking the opportunity to straighten up the trees within the ranges. It makes sense that now the trees are bigger, to graze the ranges (as we then don’t need to top), but sadly sheep have absolutely no respect for nature as they’ll either nibble bark (easily sorted with taller tree tubes) but will also attempt to laze beside them which means several trees are trying to grow at a 45 degree angle.

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April 8th 2024

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.

If I lived in different times, I think I would be sacrificing a goat to appease the Pagan gods or burning a local witch to remove the curse because after seven months of rain these would be serious considerations. Nowadays both would involve too much paperwork and potential social media backlash so instead I busy myself with indoor jobs ignoring the longest wet period I can recall.

From October through to April the soil hasn’t dried with precious few consecutive dry days. A wet autumn is not uncommon, and a late wet spring isn’t either but what we are facing is a double whammy of both falling consecutively. The rain gauge at the back door has overflown so many times I have lost track and to be honest lost interest. The oilseed rape and hybrid rye both received nitrogen in a brief weather window in February and are looking well enough. Wheat is a serious concern with even the fields that did receive nitrogen looking limp and ill-thriven. Expensive spring barley seed remains in the bag and will probably stay there until the second half of April at the earliest. When the weather does finally improve the workload is going to be huge. Cultivations, sowing, spraying, fertilising will all need done at the same time. The advice of my agronomist will be vital in helping prioritise what to do when. Feeding the outwintered deer is now a mucky affair. The deer themselves are light-footed and are looking well despite the weather but the silage feeding area where the tractor travels is a gloopy quagmire. It’s hard work in those conditions and I am now focused on changing how we do this for winter 2024/25. Indoor wintered calves are looking well but will be needing fresh grass and sun on their backs soon to reach their potential. The venison market still appears to be subdued despite being a far cheaper meat compared to beef and lamb which have both remained strong. The poor weather has allowed progress to be made on repairing a section of flooring in the grain store. The shed is built on two levels to accommodate the hillside position of the farm. The top floor level started to crack and we feared it would drop and collapse the dividing wall between the two levels. The failing section of concrete has been cut and broken out and we have dug down to examine what lies beneath. The old concrete was of reasonable quality and thickness but with no steel reinforcement and poor substrate the weight of modern machinery and grain walling had caused it to fail. Next step is to build it back up and tie the existing wall into a deeper concrete footing. It’s been a while since I have bought concrete, so I’ll undoubtedly be in for an unpleasant shock but for such a structural project there’ll be no scrimping.

Breaking out the old floor

Forestry contractors have arrived and ready to start clearing remaining wind-blown areas from 2022/23 storms

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Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings)

Mob:    07802  201 612

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Phone:  (01450)  379  885  (evenings)

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Talking......New Zealand

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April 1st 2024

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.

The warning signs were always there. They just were obscured by media hype. The imminent threat of a disastrous El Niño drought across Australia and widespread predictions of catastrophic bush fires and starving animals caused panic in the Ozzy livestock industry. Sheep markets collapsed as they rushed to destock. And having sold all their sheep it then rained.

It hasn’t helped that the Chinese have returned their pig production to pre swine fever levels and no longer fancy eating NZ and Ozzy lamb and mutton. This has manifested itself as red ink in NZ meat companies’ annual reports and full freezers looking for markets. All these are clearly signalling the end of the world. Greta Thunberg would have considerable support if she chose the right cause!

They haven’t had a drought in Oz (we don’t count WA!) and it stopped raining here at Christmas. It’s worth noting our worst droughts tend to coincide with Oz turning green. (Another sign). All the reports now suggest we in the South Island are in the worst dry spell in 40 years. Now all this of course means we’ve had pretty good harvest weather and with irrigation we should be able to pick up cheap store lambs. I wish.

The boys are still paying $80-$90/hd with a market expectation of around $120/hd, assuming the market doesn’t collapse further. These are tight margins. I was allowed out last week to go the saleyards and bought a line of black face lambs for $32/hd but I don’t think I’ll be allowed out again.

Talking......Business with SAC Consulting

April 2024

Fergus Russell is a Senior Consultant and Chartered Surveyor for SAC Consulting and is based in the Forfar office in Angus.

A Wind of Change

The UK has undertaken a legal commitment to become ‘net zero’ by 2050, which will see its greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 100% of the recorded levels in 1990. To achieve this goal, new green energy will be relied upon with much of the generation coming from wind turbines, on and offshore.

In order to distribute this new green energy around the UK, the grid network will require significant investment with a proposed budget of £54 billion being pledged. While this may seem a vast amount of money, the existing grid was designed for fossil fuels nearly 100 years ago and has subsequently lacked investment. An estimated 4,500 miles of overhead lines and 900 miles of underground cables will be required to distribute the energy around the UK, impacting on landowners, farmers and growers, and land managers.

With the Government’s target of producing 50GW of power from offshore wind by 2030, there will be significant investment in transmission infrastructure over the coming six years.

Scotland has more than doubled its renewable energy generation in the last decade. On and offshore wind power has and will continue to provide an unquestionable boost to the Scottish economy. Recent analysis estimates that on and offshore wind could support over 28,000 direct and indirect jobs in Scotland and £3.6 billion in GVA. In 2022, almost 28 terawatt hours of zero carbon electricity was generated by renewable wind in Scotland, which could power the equivalent of approximately 10 million households – over a third of the total households in the UK – or 85% of total Scottish annual electricity demand.

Major wind farms off the coast of Scotland are already in planning or construction phases, with one of the world’s largest offshore floating windfarms planned to be developed 50km east of Caithness. This zero carbon energy will be transmitted through new overhead line routes such as Eastern Green Link 2, running from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire to Drax in North Yorkshire.

Author’s Opinion

While renewable energy production has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, support jobs and boost the economy, it also has a significant and very real potential to cause landowners and farmers issues as the installation of new infrastructure is required. Wind farm developers and privatised companies, such as Scottish Power and SSE, will pay Surveyor’s fees on behalf of affected landowners to ensure they receive professional advice throughout any project works.

A word of warning; it is common practise for early approaches to be made to landowners by developers looking to agree terms and access arrangements for one off upfront payments. While these payments can often look attractive, it is always worth speaking to a Surveyor and obtaining their professional advice before allowing access or signing any documentation.

Your local SAC Consulting office can be contacted here: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/

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Talking......from the boundary

I try and resist taking the easy option to write about the weather but in these unprecedented times I feel I am justified. I recently paid my subscription to The Roxburghe Golf course and since parting with my hard earned pennies the course has been closed for the past eight consecutive days. Apart from periods of snow or heavy frost, I have never known it to be shut for such a prolonged period. It is built on relatively light land and is well drained, whereas we farm heavier ground with drainage, much of which was laid over 100 years ago. I have never calculated the time gap between the golf course being playable and driving a tractor on a ploughed field - it is likely measured in weeks. There are other knock on effects of full rivers and saturated ground - machinery sitting idle does not break down, wearing parts don’t wear and workshops are not as busy as they should be. Confidence is knocked out of the arable sector as doom and gloom set in, with winter crops looking sicker by the day and

fisherman are staying away with no prospect of casting a fly on the

April 10th 2024

which leads to empty hotel beds and restaurant bookings cancelled.

It is good to have Ian Mackenzie back with a report from New Zealand. He writes of meat companies with freezers full of lamb and beef, this correlates with lamb we bought in Tesco last week. A 2.5 kg leg of chilled New Zealand lamb was priced at £32 reduced to £16 with a clubcard. Being chilled it has travelled from the other side of world in a refrigerated container, all the time maturing in its vacuum packed bag. I realise I am putting myself in mortal danger from our local sheep producers promoting the competition but I have to say that leg ate very well. I always remember, my good friend, Richard Sadler, who was the visionary head buyer of Meat, Poultry and Fish at Waitrose telling disgruntled lamb producers when they challenged him on why Waitrose stocked New Zealand lamb, that it was the best advertisement for British lamb as it provided tender, succulent meat when their hogget offering was ageing and often cereal fed. This in the long run kept consumers eating and enjoying lamb. How this particular leg cost £16 is beyond me! It works out at £6.40/kg at a time producers were being paid £8/kg by the abattoir before processing, packing and a margin for the butcher, and the retailer. How I react as a consumer and a producer are often conflicts that have to be battled with!

spring seed still in the bag. Away from the farm,

hallowed rivers

Guy Lee

The Ale Water in flood. The Treehouse in the background. Serious bank erosion with the volume of water.

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