Agrimart September 2023 Issue

Rural landowners in Scotland face many challenges including labour shortages, rising costs and reduced profit margins. Strategic business planning is crucial to secure future profitability and continuity.

While focusing on day-to-day management, long-term planning should not be overlooked, including tax implications from potential diversification or amendment to income streams.

Our experienced tax advisors can aid with detailed tax planning ensuring your business’s success for years to come.

For more information on strategic business planning and ensuring rural business longevity and profitability, contact DH&Co Director and Head of Agriculture, Victoria Ivinson, at victoriai@dhco.co.uk

• 230KG UNRESTRICTED BASKET WEIGHT

• C.P.A. REGISTERED

• DELIVERY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST OR YOU CAN COLLECT

• KG230 UNRESTRICTED ETBASK WEIGHT

CHERRY PICKER HIRE

• C.P.A. EGISTEREDR

• DIESEL OR ELECTRIC POWERED FOR INDOOR USE

• ELIVERYD AVAILABLE ON REQUEST OR YOU CAN COLLECT

• LONG TERM HIRE RATES ARE NEGOTIABLE

• IESELD OR LECTRICE OWEREDP FOR NDOORI SEU

• OPERATOR FROM £20 P/HR + VAT

TRACKED ACCESS PLATFORMS

• REMOVABLE BASKET

• SELF DRIVE - £130 + VAT PER DAY

• ONGL ERMT HIRE RATES ARE NEGOTIABLE

• PERATORO FROM £20 HR/P + VAT

• EMOVABLER BASKET

• 20M HEIGHT REACH + 9.7M OUT REACH

• WATER, AIRLINE & POWER TO BASKET

•

• ELFS RIVED - £130 + VAT PER DAY

• 230KG UNRESTRICTED BASKET WEIGHT

• ,ATERW IRLINEA & OWERP TO ASKETB

• DELIVERY OR COLLECTION AVAILABLE

• ILLW FIT THROUGH AN MM800 GAP

• DIESEL OR ELECTRIC POWERED FOR INDOOR USE

• WEEKLY & LONG TERM RATES AVAILABLE

• WATER, AIRLINE & POWER TO BASKET

• WILL FIT THROUGH AN 800MM GAP

• SELF-DRIVE OR OPERATOR AVAILABLE

• DEPOTS IN LAUDER & BERWICK

• REMOVABLE BASKET

• C.P.A. MEMBER

For more info and booking please contact us on: info@multifuelstovecompany.com or 01289 385033

COVERING THE SCOTTISH BORDERS, LOTHIANS AND NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND

FOR MORE INFO AND BOOKING PLEASE CONTACT US: 07789 715572 • (01289) 332978 INFO@BORDER-ACCESS.COM

For more info and booking please contact us on: info@multifuelstovecompany.com or 01289 385033

Chimney Sweep & Stove Servicing

Our chimney sweep uses a modern power sweeping brush and we pride ourselves on a clean and professional service.

And, we provide a Certificate on completion of the chimney sweep which can be used for insurance purposes.

,

experience designing and manufactur Agricultural Buildings & Equipment.

Suppliers of:

-Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

-Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

-Sheep Portarace

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

- ATV Trailers

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.

- Agricultural Buildings

-Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh

Here at Glendale be able experience

- Large quantity of box section and pipe, Phone for special offers

Suppliers of:

Suppliers of:

-Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

Wooler : 01668 281464

-Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

-Sheep Portarace

Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

- ATV Trailers

Sheep Portarace

- Agricultural Buildings

ATV Trailers

Hexham : 01434 603078

Email : info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

-Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems

Agricultural Buildings

Large quantity of box section and pipe, Phone for special offers

Web : www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems

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

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

• Big Six Fibre Cement Sheets In Stock

Wooler : 01668 281464

Hexham : 01434 603078

Suppliers of:

-Cattle Handling & Feeding Equipment

Email : info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

Wooler : 01668 281464

Graeme Wilson : 07971 880275

-Sheep Handling & Feeding Equipment

-Sheep Portarace

Web : www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

John Common : 07981 890999

- ATV Trailers

Bob Clapham : 07954 363979

- Agricultural Buildings

-Electronic Cattle & Sheep Weigh Systems

info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

- Large quantity of box section and pipe, Phone for special offers

Wooler : 01668 281464

Hexham : 01434 603078

Email : info@glendaleegineering.co.uk

Web : www.glendaleengineering.co.uk

MCARTHUR AGRICULTURE

Railway Brae, Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate, KELSO, TD5 8DF. T 01573 226255

www.mcarthuragriculture.co.uk

Octoposts

Calf Creep

Octoposts

Sheep Snacker

Calf Creep

Cattle Feed Trailer

Kit Building – 60 x 40 x 14 ft

Cattle Feed Bunker

Sheep Snacker Calf Creep

Combi-Clamp Portarace

Kit Buildings - Any Size

Bracken Bruiser

Octoposts

Sheep Snacker Calf Creep

Cattle Feed Trailer

Kit Building – 60 x 40 x

Cattle Feed Bunker

Calf Creeps

Painted or Galvanised

IBC Tank Trailer

Cattle Crushes 7ft X 4ft Road Legal Trailer

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

Kirklands Farm, Haddington

Falsidehill Farm, Kelso

Broad eld Farm, Symington

Langtonlees Farm, Duns

SALES - SERVICE - FABRICATION - PARTS

BREAKING NEWS

We will be opening in September at our new purpose built premises

AB WIGHT LTD, OLD SLATERS YARD, CHARLESFIELD ROAD ST BOSWELLS TD6 0HG

Over 14000 Square feet of workshop & parts department incorporating a tractor & machinery showroom. We are doubling our current capacity for SALES, SERVICE, ENGINEERING & PARTS. There are many new lines being added to the stores. We will also be launching a well known machinery franchise on opening. Everything from tractors to filters will be on special offer to celebrate our new depot. 2 day opening event to be confirmed.

The

new

JCB 542-70 Agri Xtra

The new JCB 4220 Fastrac iCON Discover the most productive Fastrac yet. PUTTING YOU IN TOTAL CONTROL

Roadeo Curve with Roll Cover

D S DALGLEISH & SON COLDSTREAM LTD

87 HIGH STREET, COLDSTREAM, TD12 4AE TEL: 01890882159 www.dsdalgleish.co.uk

Motors UK Ltd is a credit broker not lender. Commission may be received. The 6.9% APR representative HP & PCP offer is available independently of the 3-year service plan package. Alternative finance options available. Each SsangYong vehicle comes with a 1-year RAC breakdown cover as standard. This offer includes an additional 2-years RAC breakdown cover above the 1-year standard, totalling 3-years, free of charge valid until 30th September 2023. This offer includes the vehicle’s first three scheduled services (every 12-months or by vehicle’s mileage, whichever comes first) and the vehicle’s first MOT, free of charge valid until 30th September 2023. *The 3-year service plan, 3-year RAC breakdown cover, and 1-year MOT is administered by EMaC, Electra Way, Crewe CW1 6GU. This offer is available and redeemable at SsangYong participating dealers until 30th September 2023. For full details, terms and conditions, please contact your SsangYong dealer or visit: ssangyonggb.co.uk/contents/ssangyong-offers.

Front Weight / Toolbox

Calf Creep

Feed Hopper

Bateman Bespoke Cattle Handling

Ritchie Calving Gate

Mobile Sheep Handler Bale Trailer

Independent Timber Merchants with roots back more than 150 years.

Helping You Make The Most of Your Timber resource.

South East Scotland & North East England: Alex Brownlie 07857 471 909 alex@arbrownlie.com

South West Scotland & North West England: Donald Macdonald 07710 199 071 donald@arbrownlie.com

Central Scotland & Perthshire: Daniel Macdonald 07354 848 234 daniel@arbrownlie.com

No Obligation Site Visits Offered. We Provide the Complete Timber Harvesting and Marketing Service for Your Wooodlands Large and Small.

Main Office:

WINDMILL WAY WEST, RAMPARTS BUSINESS PARK, BERWICK UPON TWEED TD15 1TB TEL: 01289 331904

www.merlo.co.uk

PINNACLEHILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, KELSO, TD5 8AS TEL: 01573 225213

MACMERRY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, EAST LOTHIAN, EH33 1EP TEL: 01875 617323

EAST HOUSE FARM, OLD SWARLAND, NE65 9HZ TEL: 01670 343822

SECONDHAND

TRACTORS/HANDLERS

FENDT 828, ’67 Reg, c/w 6800 hrs, 5 SCV, Trimble RTK, front lift

FENDT 828, ’16 Reg, c/w 5250 hrs, front linkage, 5 rear spools

MF 7718 EX D6 50 kph ’21 Reg 980 hrs, c/w hyd. top link, 4 ccls spools, front linkage, auto guide ready, LED work lights

VALTRA G125A EX DEMO 40 kph c/w 3 rear valves, front axle sus, can susp, 110L hyd pump

VALTRA T234D, 57 kph ’19 Reg c/w 3800 hrs, 5 ccls spools, wheel weights, LED work lights, 710 rear & 600 front tyres

VALTRA T234D, 57kph ’69 Reg c/w reverse drive, front PTO, full spec

MERLO TF35.7 ‘20 Reg, c/w 3950 hrs, air con, boom suspension, air seat, LED work lights

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

CHALLENGER ROGATOR 645 ‘16 Reg 32m c/w approx. 3900 hrs, VGC

SECONDHAND MACHINERY

FENDT 1290XD TANDEM AXLE SQUARE BALER c/w air brakes EX DEMO

FENDT ROTANA RB160V, 2022 model c/w 2.4m pick up, 17 knife cutter, 26300 bales

LELY 4160V ROUND BALER c/w 13 knife, 34500 bales, brakes, 2017 VGC

MCHALE V660 ROUND BALER c/w chopper, net wrap, 33800 bales

MAJOR 800SM ROTARY TOPPER - side-mounted, 2008 model

SPEARHEAD RHD 2.8M FLAIL TOPPER, 2015 model, very good order

HE-VA GRASSLAND REJUVENATOR c/w seeder kit. Built 2022, UNUSED

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

SUMO 3M QUATRO AUTO RESET TRAILED CULTIVATOR EX DEMO

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

NRH 3 SECTION 6.3M HYDRAULIC FOLDING ROLLERS c/w 24” rings and breakers, 2011

MARSTON 8 TONNE TANDEM AXLE TRAILER c/w rear door

STEWART 26FT FLAT BED TRAILER c/w air brakes, good condition

KUHN PRIMOR 2060M MOUNTED STRAW BEDDER - c/w swivel chute, 2011 model

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

NEW / EX STOCK

NEW - NC 16 TONNE GRAIN TRAILERS c/w hi-speed axles, full spec EX STOCK

NEW - TEAGLE 8500 & 9500 STRAW / SILAGE BEDDER FEEDERS pre price

increase EX STOCK

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

RECO are pleased to announce their new partnership with Ancroft Tractors Ltd, covering Northumberland, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. From July, Ancroft Tractors Ltd will supply machinery from the following RECO franchises:

Fertilizer Spreaders/Grain Drills

drills, power harrows & fertiliser spreaders

forage wagons, mixer wagons & muck spreaders

Please mention Agrimart when responding to advertising

WHAT TORQUE ARE MY NUTS?

I can only apologize to all of you who made a massive effort to come to the St Boswells Show to see me. For some reason, only known to him, I was left in a soggy corner of a wet field at home. After that rude omission I was surprised to be given a wash and blow dry by Bogdan before we drove off to the Border Union Show a week later. I was pleased to be given pride of place on the Agrimart stand with a view of the main ring. I felt very deflated though on Friday morning and to my horror discovered that the tyre that had only been replaced the previous month was flat again. To his credit he arranged for the spare wheel to be delivered and fitted before the crowds arrived on Saturday morning. The very pleasant gentlemen who jacked me up and performed the transfer then started asking technical questions like what torque I like my nuts to be! The only torque I know of is when he talks the hind legs off a donkey. The poor man looked bemused and decided to make it 500 whatever that means. I had a great time at the Show with many visitors both young and old and left feeling on a high. One small pull of the pullet rearing shed is all I have done in the past four weeks – I thought I may be getting busy with the constant wet but sadly it has now dried up.

The Old Smiddy, Graden, Kelso, TD5 8BS Telephone : 01573 430338

Email : info@walkergroundworks.com

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

• FOR

New Marshall BC25 bale trailer 12 ton model, hydraulic brakes, 25ft, sprung drawbar, 8 stud axles, 385/65 R22.5 tyres, in stock £10,500 +

New Marshall BC32 bale trailer 14 ton model, air & hyd. brakes, 32ft, sprung drawbar, 10 stud commercial axles, 445/45 R19.5 tyres, in stock £16,750 + VAT

2015 Case IH Farmall 105U 2750 hours, 40 kph, mechanical spools, air conditioning, tyres in excellent condition £34,000 + VAT

2017 Case IH Maxxum 125 4200 hours, 40 kph, front loader, cab & front axle suspension, mechanical spools £POA

Bednar MZ 4500 4.6m rotary mulcher galvanized finish, 4 blade rotors, 4.5m working width, last one! £19,250 + VAT

2017 Bobcat TL34.65 Telehandler 2650 hours, high flow hydraulics, pickup hitch, new tyres, various headstocks available £48,800 +

2014 Case IH RB455 RC variable chamber round baler dual density system, drop floor, chopper unit, approx. 15,000 bales, ex. condition £16,500 +

2019 Case IH Maxxum 145 1650 hours, 50 kph ActiveDrive8, electric spools, 650/540 tyres, still under warranty £POA

Development opportunity in the Scottish Borders

Clarilaw, Hawick, Scottish Borders

2 bedrooms | Bathroom | 2 reception rooms | Garaging | Stabling | Paddocks | In all about 8.02 acres

Freehold | EPC E | Council Tax band F

A former coach house surrounded by its own courtyard, outbuildings/steading, good quality grazing land and wonderful views, with significant development potential.

Offers over £675,000

Knight Frank Melrose

james.denne@knightfrank.com

01896 494 024

knightfrank.co.uk

Winners of the Best Customer Focus Award in 2023

Your partners in property

Bee Edge Farm, Coldingham

Nether Kidston Farm, Peebles

KVERNELAND SPECIALS

Farm Machinery Dealers & Crop Spraying Contrtactors

MILFIELD - WOOLER – NORTHUMBERLAND - NE71 6HS

Tel: 01668 216788 e-mail

Machinery for Sale

Maschio SC 280 Rotavator c/w Packer Roller 450

Tyrone 21ton Gross Tandem axle Low Loader to carry 16 ton

Tyrone 990lt Bunded Fuel Bowser, 12v 80Lt/Min Pump 5mt Hose

Maschio Bufalo 280 HD Flail Topper

Hi-Spec V14 Diet Feeder, Available for Demo

Portek 90lt Quad Bike Sprayer, 6mt hose with Handlance

Used Maschio Bufalo 280 HD Flail Topper

Used Maschio Orso HD 4mt Power Harrow, New Tines Fitted

Philip Watkins Weight Blocks in Stock

Enduramaxx Tanks 5000lt & 10000lt tanks in stock

SAC

SAC

SAC

Cupar 01334 654055 cupar@sac.co.uk

PUTTING CARBON IN ITS PLACE

IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY AND CROP YIELD WHILST REMOVING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE

Being 'green' needn't be at the expense of your farming business, in fact, it can enhance it.

We spread crushed basalt rock on agricultural land, enriching soil health whilst locking away CO2 via enhanced rock weathering.

WHAT IS BASALT ROCK?

Basalt is a mineral-rich volcanic rock that has been applied as a top dressing for hundreds of years due to its benefits for soil fertility, soil biology, crop yield and health.

It is a locally sourced by-product of the aggregate industry which is screened to ensure it’s safe for agricultural use. Crushed basalt is suitable for all crops including pasture and has been approved for use in organic 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.

Basalt releases magnesium, calcium, potassium and other nutrients, reducing the need for fertilisers. Basalt can help raise and stabilise the pH of your soil, improving nutrient availability.

An initial trial with The University of Newcastle showed an increase in crop yield following the application of crushed basalt.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Farmers and landowners in the Scottish Borders, the central belt of Scotland and the North East of England.

WHY?

UNDO has an ambitious target: to remove 1 billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2030. So, we need your help!

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

Our Technology Support Team have been extremely busy in June and the workload will increase further in the weeks leading to harvest 2023. We have been installing a large number of Metos weather stations right across our area. Assisting customers with map settings in the John Deere ‘My Operations’ App in preparation for yield mapping. We fitted a huge amount of John Deere technology equipment to non-Deere equipment this past month, and also upgraded some customers JD machinery. This harvest we will be supporting our colleagues in Ag Sales with combine demonstrations, for the first time we have a full range line-up. Don’t forget you can call us if you’d like further information on any of our services, on the number at the bottom of the page. Also feel free to scan the QR code to download the Sherriff App.

John Deere guidance will fit most makes of equipment

TRACTORS

TRACTORS

TELEHANDLERS/WHEELED LOADERS

With harvest underway, now is the time to find out how a John Deere Combine can improve your efficiency and profitability. Call today to arrange a demonstration.

GRASSLAND/BALERS

MISCELLANEOUS

ATV/UTILITY VEHICLES & ATTACHMENTS

CROP CARE

Kuhn VM122 plough 4f

John Deere T670 combine, 2017

J.R.W. MONTGOMERY

Agricultural Contracting

Full silage service

Forage wagon pit silage full or part job

Mowing, tedding, raking & buckraking

Round bale silage with McHale Fusion 3 plus fixed chamber with film on film technology or net, also fitted with weighcells & job printout for weights & totals. Bales can be left on their round or bean can Round bale silage with Massey Ferguson belt baler wrapping in the field or at the stack Erth Agriseeder direct drill for stitching in grass to rejuvenate existing pastures. Can sow forage crops, grass, clover & cover crops

Opico 6m Grass Master for sowing grass into worked ground using GPS

Fertiliser spreading using weighcells & spraying up to 24m using GPS

Muck spreading

full GPS automatic spreading with weigh cells. Can spread variable rate. Can load with 360 digger or loading shovel

All other general contract work undertaken

Contact James: 07446 652 526

Prentice

Straw and Baling

R. WOOD & SONS

& GRAIN PROCESSING MILL

PART or WHOLE JOB, AG-BAG or PIT

MOWERS, TEDDER, RAKES

TRAILERS, FRONT BUCKRAKES

H BIG SQUARE BALING H (Bale Chaser available)

u ALL ARABLE CULTIVATIONS

u DRILLING

u HIGH DENSITY ROUND BALING

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 and fixed rate lime spreading service

BM FOREST & LAND LTD

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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

MOBILE - 07788 242 638

EMAIL - bmexcavations@outlook.com

ROAD CRUSHING AND GRADING SERVICES

Efficient Harvesting High Nutrient Retention Low Dry Matter Losses

All agricultural feeds and Anaerobic Digester feedstocks can be stored:

Grass Silage

Wholecrop Silage (wheat, barley, oats, arable mixes)

Maize Silage

Brewers Grain & Grain feeds

Pressed Sugar Beet Pulp

Great Flexibility

There are many benefits of using the Ag-Bag system, both in the way it works and the results that it produces

Crop compaction - quickly lowering pH

Low storage losses (typically 2-3% compared with sometimes >20% using other methods

Small feedout face - 10Ft or 12Ft diameter bags

Complete flexibility and scalability

30 years Ag-Bag experience with Bill Rae

Contracting

MOIST GRAIN CRIMPING & DRY ROLLING SERVICE

"Why not save on expensive drying costs this year, crimp and Ag-Bag your feed grain"

"Less plastic used per tonne of forage stored, versus baling & wrapping"

On Our Farm

August 9th 2023

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.

Trying to fit two week’s work into a week is not easy during any time of the year but during harvest it is virtually impossible. The wet July has really held us up. As I write we are making silage and cutting oilseed rape. Tomorrow we hope to cut the organic oats and hopefully get it baled before the weather breaks again at the end of the week!

Yields so far have been a mixed bag. Craft Winter malting barley did a disappointing 7.3t/ha and the HEAR oilseed rape is averaging around 3.9t/ha. Having established so well and looked fantastic all year it is frustrating that the rape has not yielded a little better. I will look at in more detail after harvest but the wet spring and very hot dry June may have been the cause.

Second cut silage on the other hand is turning out to be an absolutely enormous crop. I am getting slightly concerned we may run out of room in the steading for the Ag bag!

Both the St Boswells and the Border Union shows were very well attended despite the weather. It was very good to see so many of you on the Agrimart stand over the two days. I am a great believer in local shows and try to attend as many as possible. We all have such busy lives and in our industry spend a lot of hours alone working. Shows are a great place to catch up with friends and enjoy a day away from the farm. Hopefully by the time Agrimart next goes to print we will have finished harvest, oilseed rape will be flying out of the ground and the new organic red clover ley will have been drilled. There is a lot to get done over the next couple of weeks and the weather forecast does not look encouraging. With a lot of flat wheat and barley in the area (including Sandystones) we could all do with a decent warm spell. Bring back summer 2022 please!

Best of luck with the rest of harvest and I really hope the weather finally sorts itself out before it is too late!

GILROY &

Slowly improving the new land one field at a time

Huge crowds at St Boswells’s show dog competition!

J & J Grant

Talking......New Zealand

August 7th 2023

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.

Our local ski field, Mt Hutt, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A group of us who were all at university at the time spent a week staying in a forestry hut at the bottom of the hill and were the first to ski the mountain when it opened. A pretty obscure and minor claim to the historic archives, but that skiing expedition anchors in my memory the winter of ‘73. It had been dry with limited snow on the hills until late July. 50 years later we were enjoying a similarly dry and benign winter. Then as it did in ‘73, the weather let go. We’ve just had an easterly storm that dumped 150mm of rain over 2 days. The farm disappeared under water for a couple of days and the boys have been reminded that livestock farming under such conditions is unpleasant!

When the storm hit 50 years ago the same group of university friends had driven a VW combi-van up to a remote club ski field in the mountains beyond the Rakaia Gorge. It was the start of the “young couples” ski week and the 6 of us upset the gender balance. It was suggested that we should leave the mountain while we could (it was snowing hard) as we might overstay our welcome if like the “young couples” we got snowed in and had to stay a week or so on the mountain. We drove out and spent the next few hours ploughing through snow drifts finding our way back down to Christchurch.

At Darfield, a wee town 30kms inland from Christchurch, the police had closed the road by 5pm: the snow was over 1m deep. They were slightly surprised when at 1am out of the storm emerged 6 slightly inebriated but very happy students.

The ‘73 storm became known as the “big snow”. It shut down Canterbury for a fortnight. Access was very difficult made worse because there were few if any 4wd trucks or tractors. The army still had some Iroquois helicopters left over from Vietnam and these were deployed to ferry feed and volunteer snow rakers up country to dig out stock. From memory every young man in Christchurch was encouraged to help the rescue effort. Despite all this there were still huge stock losses.

This year’s storm was warmer, the snow higher, and marginally less wet, and the only stock losses I’ve heard of were 200 lambs drowned when a river levee broke down country.

I can’t help but think global warming might have some benefits.

65th birthday for the boss

Smoko with the team

Agriparts Borders Ltd

Parts for Kuhn Accord

Levelling Boards - 3m, 3.5m & 4m for 01.2.3

Carriers - 26 & 32 Spline for Bolt & Q/F

T Bars & Linch Pins, Shafts & Nuts

Long & Short Coulters, Brackets etc

Wear Plate, Scrapers & Scraper Bars

Marker Discs, Hubs, Arms & Bearings

LYTE ladders, 2 & 3 stage and roofing. Min Till Wearing Parts from APM

Tub Trugs in 26L & 42L , many colours

a profile of 4 + 44 monthly payments at 0% finance based on a maximum balance to finance of 50% (based on RRP) on all models except T5.110 Utility which is a £25,000 maximum balance to finance. Skidsteer & backhoe offer: The 0% offer is subject to a maximum balance to finance of 50% of RRP. Minimum deposit 10% (plus VAT) required. The finance product offered under this promotion is Hire Purchase with a profile of 3 + 33 monthly payments. Both offers: Minimum deposit 10% (plus VAT) required. First payment, full VAT and a documentation fee of £50 are all due on signing. An option-to-purchase fee of £50 + VAT will be collected with the final payment. The customer will own the machine when all payments have been made. Terms and Conditions apply. Alternative finance options are available. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Finance is provided by CNH Industrial Capital Europe Limited. Registered England: 3420615. Registered office: Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, Essex SS14 3AD. Limited stock availability. Lloyd Ltd may be paid a fee or other remuneration by the funder, to whom they introduce business; please contact them if you require more information. Lloyd Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activities under FRN 669526 – we are a credit broker not a lender.

Talking......from the boundary

We went to Luberon in early July where wine is the same price as petrol. First you take your flagon to the coop to get a fill of red, white or rose pumped from the tank, then you drive outside to refuel the car where the choices are not of colour but of ethanol and lead.

We continue to support Nserester the school and farm in South Western Uganda, a country that does not make the news very often. In May there was appalling flooding which caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Roads were washed away, bridges destroyed and buildings undermined. Isaac Nsereko the founder and director sent me this message by WhatsApp on May 11th:

I do not know what to say now. - Many people have died - Many strong buildings are gone - Many Districts are cut off - No access to hospitals and industries TODAY we have been at Nserester Complex to find means of; buying medicine, scholastic materials before they go high because we cannot go to Kampala and it will take long. We looked at buying water cement to strengthen our buildings. Many are likely to fall down. I have never seen this in my life

I appealed to the Collier Charitable Trust that have been very supportive over many years. The trustees very generously donated £10,000 that has been spent repairing some of the main buildings at the school, replacing foundations and rebuilding walls. It is very pleasing to see the community also raising funds and not relying entirely on outside donations. In 2007 through the generosity of Agrimart readers we bought a new tractor and disc plough that we gave for use on their own farm as well as helping neighbouring growers. 16 years later I was pleasantly surprised to see the tractor still in working order, the bonnet was missing otherwise it appeared to be running smoothly.

Guy Lee

Filling our tanks Fuel same price as wine

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

• Do you have drive and ambition?

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

Bursary Opportunities for Borderers

Bursary Opportunities 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?

• 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?

• 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 ‘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 ‘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

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NEWTOWN ST BOSWELLS & DISTRICT FARMERS CLUB CROP & STOCK COMPETITION 2023

Best Field of Sheep

1st Alan Cowens - W T Sandilands Cup

2nd Joanna Forster

3rd Andrew Wood

Best Field of Cows

1st Graham Dagg - Crailinghall Cup

2nd Jimmy Morton

3rd Ron Shaw

Best Field of Grazing Cattle

1st Grant Maxwell - Charles Scott Salver

2nd Hugo Lee

3rd Gina Allen

Best Field of Winter Barley

1st Douglas Younger - Nelson Cup

2nd Chris Wilson

3rd Sandra Hamilton

Best Field of Spring Barley

1st James McCorquodale - Sked Cup

2nd Ron Shaw

3rd Donald Maxwell

SPONSORS

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Best Field of Wheat

1st Donald Maxwell - Baywood Cup

2nd Robert Bruce

3rd John Fisher

Best Field of Oats

1st Richard Campbell - Wm Laidlaw Cup

2nd Donald Maxwell

3rd John Mauchlen

Best Field of OSR

1st Graham Dagg - Bibby Cup

2nd Robert Bruce

3rd Douglas Younger & Hugo Lee

Best Field of Rye

1st Mike Thomson - Waverely Cup

2nd Eric Marshall

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1st Kenny Wood - W M Dodds Ltd Cup

2nd Jock Telford

3rd Toby Robertson

Waverley Farm Contracts

Charlesfield Farms

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Vintage Tractors

1st Bob Wardhaugh - Massey 35X

2nd Craig Prentice - Oliver

3rd Robert Caitlin - Ford 3000

Best Agricultural Exhibit

Bob Wardhaugh - Massey 35X - Morridgehall Cup

Sheep on the day

Res Champion - Lewis Runciman

Champion - Adam Anderson, Headshaw

Waverley Farm Contracts

Dodds of Haddington

St Boswells Mowers Harbro

LONGNEWTON CUP - OVERALL WINNER - DONALD MAXWELL

Kathy Weir presented the prizes and then went on to judge the dog show with Gary Armstrong

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Talking......from Lincolnshire

3000 RPM

August 7th 2023

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.

Someone is going to have to remind me why I grow oilseed rape. It truly is a hateful crop, on a par with sheep as agricultural enterprises to avoid. This year I grew a fancy HOLL variety which on paper looked fantastic, yet no where did they say it fell over for fun and the pod shatter resistance seems a bold claim too. The OSR at home was the pick of the bunch yielding a reasonable 3.75t/ha, dropping to 3.25t/ha on a customer’s farm and hitting new lows of 3t/ha at Spalding. For some reason here the clay hollows were really good but the silts were really poor. My initial suspicion is that the good silt has blown away over the years which has left the orange raw silt too close to the surface. The flea beetle have been utterly biblical in their numbers. The tops of the trailers have been covered in them and the whole heap has been jumping and moving before trying to make a hasty exit for the door. A journey fraught with peril for the little beetles as the vast majority seem to die on their travels. So many in fact that we swept them up and got 4 full shovels!

We have had 80mm of rain since the beginning of combining and have yet to manage to have 2 whole consecutive days harvesting. It is massively frustrating because although the calendar suggests it is not late, the crops have been ready 7-10 days earlier than normal. I am writing this in a bit of a rush because despite a cold wet weekend the wheat is drying fast and I hope to make a start this afternoon. The previous contractor had finally vacated the grain stores at 5pm on Friday which means we can start filling them today, whilst trying to work round a roofing contractor who is fixing various roof sheets. Not ideal as we still have to “share” part of the grain storage facility but it is the best we can manage this year.

The wheat all has a lovely lean to it. After the recent weather I would be disappointed if it all was stood well. I am not expecting great yields but they should at least be respectable. We do have patches of BYDV which I have never seen before. I don’t spray for it at home but at Worths it was recommended so I did the majority until I got rained off. Being only a BYDV spray I didn’t want to make a mess so left it. I won’t be making that mistake again, nor possibly growing OSR!

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Talking......North of the Forth

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. Thirteen years ago, when we started the turkey enterprise, we needed to build something to house the turkeys during the rearing stage from August to December. It needed to be affordable, quick to build and fit for purpose. A polytunnel usually used for sheep was the perfect answer. We set about constructing this ourselves. From foundations to frame, doorways and side netting we made a sturdy and neat job. The only problem we faced was covering the structure with the polythene sheeting. We waited for a calm morning and got up very early so that we could roll the sheet over and secure before any wind was likely to cause us problems. What could possibly go wrong?!

Not long after rolling out the sheet the wind started to pick up and even the slightest breath of wind sent the sheet and anyone holding onto it off the ground. By this stage the whole family was out trying to wrestle the polythene and weigh it down from blowing itself and us out to the North Sea. Eventually, after five hours of struggle, the sheet was tamed and the tunnel completed in time for the first crop of turkeys. This original sheet, despite being in a fairly exposed location, has survived well but was becoming discoloured and brittle through UV exposure. It was time to resheet the tunnel but there was no way I was doing a DIY job again. The professionals were called upon and within three days, two guys had stripped and rebuilt the tunnel without fuss or drama. Their time, expertise and labour were worth every penny! The current batch of turkeys will move out to the tunnel this coming week. Bird flu is still being widely reported in the wild bird population on the coast with seabird colonies once again being badly affected. This is too close for comfort and biosecurity remains our only line of defence from this devastating disease.

Writing this coming into the second week of August harvest is still a bit off. Wheat looks like it’s turning quicker than spring barley which remains stubbornly green. Oilseed rape should be ready around the 11th. Once this is safely gathered, we will have to assess whether it’s wheat or barley next. Modern spring barley varieties, whilst higher yielding, do seem to be pushing us later and later causing clashes with wheat harvest and resultant bottlenecks in store.

Plenty in the diary for August with stags to deantler, yearling calves to worm and split sex, a new batch of pigs to arrive, an APHA inspection, oilseed rape to sow, grass to mow, second cut silage to make, turkeys to move and of course harvest to gather… wish me luck!

Proud to sponsor Event riders: Olivia Wilmot, Laura Swinnerton, Laura Mitchell, Ellie Bryce, Sarah Hutchison & Morag Sutherland

The turkey tunnel before, during and after recent refurbishment

Local police asked me to recover this stolen car. The thieves had managed to “park” it on top of a dyke before being caught trying to run through a field of OSR

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Talking......Business with Edwin Thompson

August 2023

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

As I write this, very few combines appear to be making any progress. Hopefully by the time you come to read this harvest will be back in full swing and I will be back in the tractor (putting the fear of God into every gatepost in North Northumberland). Initial reports are varied with winter barley yields being close to average, a stark contrast from this time last year. Some things have not changed, Russian aggression is still causing some volatility to markets, although this has been to a slightly lesser extent than in 2022.

Looking to the 2024 harvest, it is important to be aware of the new Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursors Regulations coming into force from the 1st October this year. HSE is implementing this to ensure no member of the public can purchase fertiliser products containing more than 16% Ammonium Nitrate. As a result, you will be asked to provide a photo ID such as a driving licence when placing your next order of fertiliser. I suggest getting in touch with your supplier sooner rather than later to ensure you are classed as a verified farmer. It is important to bear in mind that this should not have any impact on your fertiliser buying policy.

Increasing energy prices and the focus on reaching net zero has meant that we are once again seeing an increased appetite from developers for potential renewable energy sites across the Lothians and Borders. This includes the demand for mixed energy sites made up of wind, solar and battery storage. Interest is not limited to new sites, as sites that have previously had planning permission refused, or sites with expired exclusivity agreements are being sought on the back of technological advancements seen in recent years.

At present, legislation in England is not favourable for such schemes, however many of the developers we have spoken to are anticipating a political change in the not-so-distant future. As a result, they are now moving south of the border in search of suitable sites for mixed schemes with favourable exclusivity and option agreement terms on offer.

Sites are looked at based on their locality to a substation with capacity, as well as their proximity to such things as residential properties need to be factored in, but if you have a site that may be suitable it is worth looking into.

It is important to seek professional advice before entering into any exclusivity or option agreement. At Edwin Thompson we have many years’ experience acting on renewable projects and would be happy to assist. Please get in touch with one of our offices to discuss matters further.

We are also in the midst of show season, thank you to everyone who came to see us at the Border Union Show and the Berwickshire Show. Congratulations to all those involved in putting on these shows, it takes a lot of hard work and effort but it certainly pays off.

20 Tyelaw Meadows, Shilbottle, Northumberland, NE66 2JJ

Talking......Organic

August 9th 2023

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 hens are nicely coming into lay, with a few thousand eggs each day. Soon they will hit around 11,000 eggs a day and it will all be about maintaining that number and bird health. There are plenty of small eggs at present, but ideally, we will get to an average egg weight of around 64 – 65 grams. This will fall in the ‘large’ bracket but won’t be so big that it puts stress on the hens. When we first started laying hens in 2017, we were taking the hens to 72 weeks of age. Now we are trying to give them careful management and not put too much stress on them so that they reach 80 weeks of age. We have a vet student staying with us this week who is trying to get experience with hens. She is having two days with the new hens and then two days with the older hens which are at 45 weeks at present. This will let her see the difference in production, egg size, shell strength, bird behaviour etc for her course. Her course is a Keele / Harper Adams course, based at Keele University, but with two days each week at Harper Adams. We also have Black Sheep Farm Health on farm this week and next we will be holding a tup testing course for vets. This is great as the tups will get a full examination but it might be that they set the bar higher in order to assess everything. We will have to see how many tups fail and how big a shopping spree we must go on next month. Earlier in the year we fenced off some of the watercourses in order to protect them and allow the species rich areas alongside the watercourses to flourish. The species mix that have grown is staggering in such a short period of time and the National Trust are busy recording everything they see. We are talking with them though to enable careful management and grazing of these areas, as it’s evident that the plants are already there, probably because they have been grazed with livestock over the centuries, and if we just let this ground re-wild, they will probably be more likely to lose some or all of the species as the land could sit rank. One of the benefits is that we have split some fields in the process, which is really helping our grazing management. The ability to let parcels rest and regrow, as well as forcing the cattle to eat the not so tasty bits is really helping grass re-growth. We have now split two more of our larger fields in order to manage the grazing better and it is working well. We are also continuing to negotiate with Natural England on our Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme. It is not a simple process and not for the feint hearted. If we just sat back and let Natural England pull together what they wanted we would have a very simple, onerous and unprofitable scheme. We don’t mind complexity, but it needs to work with the farm, the land, the geography and also pay - as the reality is land management costs money.