Modern Farming - Issue 03

modernfarmingmagazine.com

Issue 03 February 2017

S U P P O RT E D B Y

the rise of maize In less than half a century, maize has become the crop of choice

Lambing time How to get help with your flock this spring

the Addington Fund Helping with housing and recognising farmers with The Farm Business Awards

meet the Farmer

game birds

spotlight on somerset

Dairy farmers, David and Anna Birt talk about life on a tenant farm in Gloucestershire

Why not consider diversifying into game bird farming? We look at what’s involved

A county of contrasts from the stunning Glastonbury tor to the wetlands of the Moors

C O R N WA L L - D e v O N - s O m e R s e t - W i Lt s h i R e - D O R s e t - g L O u C e s t e R s h i R e

Welcome At the time of going to press, Avian Influenza, or bird flu as it is commonly known, is still causing serious concern across the country.

For anyone with poultry, whether a small flock of chickens or a huge commercial unit, this is a very worrying time.

ON THE COVER

See our lambing feature on how to look after your flock this spring

Any epidemic has a massive impact on the agricultural community and can lead to severe hardship for farmers who may struggle to survive. The Addington Fund is one charity which aims to help farmers in need.

It was originally founded in response to the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001 but now focuses on providing affordable rural housing.

Editor Elizabeth Perry 07563 786824 elizabeth@eventpp.co.uk Design & ProDuction Production Manager Hannah Tapping

The Addington Fund also recognises and rewards the work of Cornish farmers by running the Cornwall Farm Business Awards. I will be attending the awards evening on 23rd February and we will have news of the winners in the next issue.

Design Chloe Searle Jamie Crocker Spencer Hawes Ella Williams Media Assistants Adam Parrott Dan Warden Jason Fletcher Annie Cowen

We are well into lambing season and for sheep farmers across the country it’s the busiest time of the year but you don't have to do all the work yourself. Read more about the NSA’s Lambing List which matches farmers with student helpers. Plus news of a Task Force, set up by RUMA, to reduce and replace antibiotic use in livestock.

Tenant farmers, Anna and David Birt are this month’s Meet the Farmer. The couple run a herd of Jersey cows on their farm in Gloucestershire as well as a flock of Lleyn sheep. As first generation farmers, their story shows that you don’t need to come from an agricultural background to get into farming.

Best wishes,

Elizabeth Perry Editor

For all design and production enquiries 01326 574842 or production@eventpp.co.uk Credit Control Tracy Speak accounts@eventpp.co.uk Systems & Support Manager Joanne Stinton joanne.stinton@eventpp.co.uk ADvertising

Event Partnership Publishing – Publishers of Modern Farming Proudly in Partnership with The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association

www.modernfarmingmagazine.com

Commercial Director Eleanor Mason 01326 388083 eleanor@eventpp.co.uk Sales Manager Patricia Curnow 01326 369420 patricia@eventpp.co.uk Managing Director Kenny Marshall 01326 369435 kenny@eventpp.co.uk

Modern Farming is published by: event Partnership Publishing Holbrook, The Moors, Porthleven, Cornwall TR13 9JX

www.eventpp.co.uk hello@eventpp.co.uk

A G Prowse LTD Servicing I Welding I Spare Parts I Grain Dryers

Telephone: 01872 540664 or 07770 472205 Email: info@agprowseltd.co.uk St. Allen, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9QX

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PROUD TO BE PART OF

Event Partnership Publishing (EPP) are a forward-thinking, multimedia business with both partnership work and own brand publishing and digital activity. Based in Cornwall our team has over 100 years' experience in publishing and we work with commercial clients across the UK. Proud publishing partner to both The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and Cornwall Hospice Care, we offer a collaborative approach to ensure our partners' publishing requirements are met. To find out how we can assist your member association, charity or event please get in touch today. © All rights reserved. Material may not be re-produced without the permission of Event Partnership Publishing. While Modern Farming will take every care to help readers with reports on properties and features, neither Event Partnership Publishing nor its contributors can accept any liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from editorial features, editorial or advertising featured in these pages.

Event Partnership Publishing strongly advise viewing any property prior to purchasing or considerations over any financial decisions.

Event Partnership Publishing reserves the right to accept or reject any article or material supplied for publication or to edit such material prior to publication. Event Partnership Publishing cannot take responsibility for loss or damage of supplied materials. The opinions expressed or advice given in the publication are the views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Event Partnership Publishing. It is suggested that further advice is taken over any actions resulting from reading any part of this magazine.

Modern Farming ≈ 03

CONTENTS

p16

Contents p10 ADDington funD

Providing affordable rural homes plus the Farm Business Awards

p16 Meet the fArMer

p10

Elizabeth Perry talks to

Gloucestershire dairy farmers, David and Anna Birt

p22 veterinAry report

p44

A look at diseases of newborn lambs

p27 AgrichAt rounDup

Ruth Wills reviews discussions

p32 Spotlight on ...

Somerset

p38 the riSe of MAize

This cereal has become the crop of choice for fodder

p40 A country lADy

Winter feeding for horses

p43 poultry heAlth

p32

Eradicating red mite

p44 lAMbing tiMe

p40

p43

How to get help with your flock, and news of an antibiotic task force

p50 getting into gAMe birDS

A look at game bird farming plus the latest on bird flu

FREE

p50

CLICK & COLLECT Order online & collect at your local store

Available now

For all your lambing essentials pick up your FREE Lambing Checklist in store or ask your Agri Sales Manager in store

online

by phone

0345 60 20 212

local Sales Manager

Countrywide Farmers

@CWFonline

Modern Farming ≈ 05

NEWS AND VIEWS

James Pryce Tractors Ltd With silage season approaching we need to remind ourselves what our objective is. We are trying to preserve a crop in the best way possible through a natural process of fermentation. Soil health, sward quality and adequate crop nutrition are important foundations. BASIS and FACTS qualified advisors are best placed to help you get the most from your inputs.

Now we need to think about cutting. Early cutting would increase ME and protein levels considerably.

An increase in ME from 10.5 to 11.5 could improve margin over purchased feeds by up to 3ppl. Let’s start thinking about cutting in the first week in May to achieve our new targets for quality.

We also need to consider cutting height. Leave enough of the sward to recover and produce the following crop while avoiding soil contamination.

By cutting earlier and higher we will have a greener residue that can recover far quicker than typical 'white stubble' left after removing high yielding, poorer quality crops.

Chop length, consolidation and sheeting are very important to ensure oxygen is removed and kept out. Until all the oxygen is removed we are making compost!

Our final consideration always seems be additives.

The best time to use an additive is when conditions are good. Using an additive will not transform poor grass into good silage, but we can make good grass into even better silage. Here at Effective Micro-organisms, we have considerable trial data showing that EM Silage® is worth typically 1 litre of milk per day. Our unique live yeast will help out-compete wild yeasts that may occur in the clamp, reducing the risk of mycotoxins. Aerobic stability in the feed trough is extended with the increase in acetic acid and other alcohols giving 200+ hrs of stability.

More production from home-grown forage is our goal and we want to help make it yours too.

For more information

on EM Silage® and our distributors call 01823 673344 or email info@effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk

Support for Devon YFC

countrywide driver, shane young, delivers goods donated by countrywide Farmers to the new devon yFc rural hub.

06 ≈ Modern Farming

~ rob owens will represent the business covering the West somerset and east devon areas.

James Pryce tractors Ltd has announced the recruitment of an additional salesman. Rob Owens will represent the business covering the west Somerset and east Devon areas.

Rob comes from a farming background and has experience in sales having sold commercial vehicles in his previous role.

Rob joins a long-established sales team and plugs a gap in the sales coverage for the business.

James Pryce Tractors Ltd are main dealers for Case IH Products covering from west Somerset to east Cornwall. In addition to this main franchise they are the largest Lely Forage machinery dealers in the UK. Established in 1976, this family business has a reputation for delivering high quality service.

With a team of mobile mechanics and an experienced parts sales team, they can be relied upon to deliver the service

countryWide farmers is proud to support Devon YFC. When asked if they could help with equipment for the new Amory Building they were only too happy to assist. A Countrywide LPG tank worth £5000 has been delivered and is up and running, keeping the new rural hub heated. They’ve also provided £3000 worth of equipment, including garden tools, gates and garden furniture.

Countrywide’s Head of Marketing, Shelley Fletcher-Bryant, said; “We’re delighted to support Devon Young Farmers as they settle into the new rural hub. With a history and heritage dating back to 1902, Countrywide

farmers require. There are two depots to choose from depending upon your location, one at Tiverton covering mid Devon and South Molton covering north Devon.

Rob will be based at the Tiverton depot, but will spend the majority of his time visiting customers on farm. Given his background he will be happy to demonstrate any of the products he sells.

Rob, together with Keith and Sam would welcome your enquiries and will be happy to visit you to discuss their portfolio of products.

They can be contacted as follows: Keith - 07850 889251, Sam - 07590 442680 and Rob on 07970 270568.

For more information

Visit http://jprycetractors.co.uk, call 01884 257544 or email andy@jamesprycetractors.com

Farmers understands the farming community and we pride ourselves on our specialist knowledge and expertise. With 68 stores across the UK, a passionate and experienced sales team working in the field and recently relaunched online store, www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk, it’s never been easier to shop with Countrywide Farmers.”

Countrywide also install LPG tanks and provide gas to businesses and domestic homes throughout Devon and surrounding areas.

For more information

Please visit www.countrywidelpg.co.uk

NEWS AND VIEWS

Award winning Pen’n’tinny sausage & chorizo casserole Written by Keep Cornwall Fed chefs

The team of Keep Cornwall Fed (KCF) currently consists of Stuart Millard and Mike Greer, two passionate and ambitious chefs with an idea that a business can be a little different and community led.

And, our skills can be put to use creating beautiful dishes for all to enjoy. And for every meal sold we

will donate a meal to those who need it in our local community.

James Kittow, Butcher & Grazier is working closely with KCF, helping them to tackle food and waste issues and whilst doing so the KCF team are teaching, showing and feeding people of all ages throughout Cornwall, who need it.

IngredIenTs

MeThod

2 tbsp olive oil

®

12 James Kittow Pen’n’tinny sausages 6 rashers of Cornish smoked bacon cut into strips 100g chorizo, skin off and sliced

®

2 white onions sliced 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 400ml chicken stock

®

3 tbsp tomato puree 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp dried oregano 2 bay leaves

®

2 sprigs of fresh thyme 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary 1 tin of kidney beans (butter beans or chick peas would work)

®

Salt and pepper ThIs recIpe should serve sIx people.

For more information

Thank you to Keep Cornwall Fed for writing this delicious recipe. Visit https://www. facebook.com/keepcornwallfed/ to learn more about this fantastic project.

®

Heat half of the oil in a large frying pan and gently fry the sausages until brown all over, then transfer to a flame-proof casserole pot or large saucepan.

In the frying pan heat the remaining oil and fry off the bacon and onions until they are cooked, then add the garlic, chorizo and paprika and cook for one minute.

Stir in the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce and all of the herbs and bring to a gentle simmer.

Add this mix carefully to the sausages and again bring to a gentle simmer. Cover the pan or casserole dish and on a low heat cook for 20 minutes.

Drain the kidney beans (or bean of your choice), rinse under water then add to the sausage mix, mix carefully and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the sauce has started to thicken up. Discard the bay leaves.

Season the dish with salt and pepper and serve with slices of fresh bread, creamy mashed potatoes or any side of your choice.

Calf rearing …

Ask the experts Andy Berry from Berry’s Agriculture has given advice on many farms in Devon and Cornwall over the past 10 years centred on calf rearing. Please send in your calf rearing questions and we will endeavour to get them answered and published in the next issue of Modern Farming magazine.

Please email any questions to info@berrysagriculture.co.uk.

“My calVes aren’t perForMing in our pens and the straw seeMs daMp Most oF the tiMe?” (question from a Devon Farmer).

Wet straw is one of the worst environments for rearing calves. A young calf spends 19 hours a day lying down and if the bedding is damp, to the extent where you can hear water squelching underfoot, the calf is in trouble. Trapped air around straw keeps a calf warm by insulating its body thereby preventing heat loss. If the bedding is damp the moisture uses the heat from the calf’s body to evaporate into the atmosphere, which means the calf has to use energy to keep warm.

Disease-causing organisms thrive in this situation because they prefer damp air. Also, if the drainage is incorrect in housing, the only escape route for moisture is by evaporation, making the house and the calf cold. In this circumstance, the calf will need to use energy to keep warm, energy that it could use to fight disease. Disease is at higher levels because the air is cool and damp so the calf loses and the bugs win. A fourweek old calf could be excreting 6 to 8 litres of liquid a day and if there are 10 calves in a pen, 80 litres of liquid need to be removed each day.

The only way of achieving this is by getting the fall in the floor right; ensuring calves are fed at the lowest point and can lie at the highest and warmest part of the housing. A minimum fall of 1:20 is required so for a 4m pen a height difference of 20cm from the back to the front of the pen is needed. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that a good floor can save a fortune in terms of time and additional calf weight gain in addition to lower mortality and vet bills. “how do i treat calF scours eFFectiVely?” (question from Cornish calf rearer).

Well firstly we need to get the scour diagnosed. A quick visit from the vet or from us with our own calf scour test kit can tell you in ten minutes the problem. Once diagnosed, we can offer various solutions from colostrum testing, disinfecting, or a change in protocol to aid against the fight. For example, use our tried and tested Transformula 'Transition' skim milk powder, or by adding Kryptonite in your milk powder or whole milk to aid against cryptosporidium.

Please call Berry’s for more information.

A

Y RUN BUSIN MIL ES FA S

BERRY 'S

Q

A GRICULTURE UA LE LIT IB EX Y PERSO NAL - FL

For more information call: 07969 164066

Modern Farming ≈ 07

NEWS AND VIEWS

Demand for Surefoot™ slats continues to grow

Moore concrete is confirming a strong growth in demand for its Surefoot™ branded slat range.

Developed to meet the growth in popularity of suspended flooring systems, the slats are the first to be registered as a brand in the UK. “They are proving exceptionally popular with dairy and other livestock farmers,” Moore’s Keri McGivern confirmed.

The new system has been independently trialled with the results confirming the wherewithal of the slats to offer a significantly enhanced slip resistant surface for livestock. This work was carried out by veterinarian Owen Atkinson, the man who heads up the Cheshire-based Dairy Veterinary Consultancy.

According to Keri McGivern Surefoot™ slats provide 50 per

cent more grip, when compared to standard slat surfaces.

She added; “The use of the new product range will lead to a significant reduction in slip-related injuries. In addition, the Surefoot™ surface will provide cows with more confidence to exhibit their natural behaviours.

As a result, feed intakes will increase and bulling behaviour will become more noticeable. In robotic scenarios the use of Surefoot™ slats will help encourage additional visits to the milking unit. That means more milk and higher profit margins per cow. Overall economic benefit is estimated at £60 per cow annually”

OMEX Nitroflo NITroGeN is the key nutrient for grassland dry matter yield and, along with sulphur, it also has an effect on quality. Fertiliser nitrogen and sulphur are often added to support organic sources, but to maximise yield response and minimise environmental impact, the choice and combinations of nutrients could be more significant than you think.

One of the largest UK manufacturers of liquid fertilisers, OMEX Agriculture has conducted trials comparing their Nitroflo liquid nitrogen with solid ammonium nitrate and urea. The trials showed significant yield increases when using the Nitroflo with up to 63 per cent more grass produced per unit of nitrogen applied.

OMEX's Nitroflo product is a concentrated liquid blend of ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate and, in addition to a better grass response, offers grassland farmers a number of advantages. The blend of nitrogen sources provides immediate availability to the grass plus a more gradually released nitrogen supply. With liquid fertiliser, there's no packaging disposal and simple, clean and safe handling and storage. You don't even need to unload the delivery and there's no risk of nitrogen being over-applied into field margins or watercourses.

Liquid nitrogen fertiliser can usually be applied with standard farm equipment with the level of accuracy that can only be achieved with a sprayer. But, if the machinery isn’t available on the farm, there are several contractor services in the South West who can be recommended by your crop advisor or liquid fertiliser distributor.

OMEX Nitroflo is also available with a range of sulphur levels, providing a fully available source of sulphur according to farm requirements.

For more information

Contact Moore Concrete on (028) 2565 2566 or see our website www.moore-concrete.com

For more information

Contact 01526 396000 or see our website at www.omex.co.uk Email: agriculture@omex.co.uk Call: 01526 396000

Western Power Distribution Western PoWer Distribution (WPD) will again be represented at three of the UK’s leading agricultural shows this summer – the Royal Bath and West, Shepton Mallet in Somerset; the Royal Three Counties at Malvern in Worcestershire, and the Royal Welsh at Builth Wells in Powys.

The company welcomes visitors to its safety exhibition display and stand where they will find a vibrant mix of things to do, including safety demonstrations, competitions and hands-on activities.

There’s also free information to adults and children about how to prevent accidents and how to stay safe on the farm and around electrical equipment, while safety competitions offer iPad mini equipment as prizes.

Visitors are also taught about the dangers of flying a kite

08 ≈ Modern Farming

or using a fishing rod near overhead electric cables – and although the message is serious, the learning is fun and suitable for all ages.

Children and adults alike can also try out one of the fun and interesting science-based ‘hands on’ educational exhibits, and they will get a chance to meet WPD’s safety character Pylonman, who will be on hand to help with the competitions.

For safety advice and in an emergency call 0800 6783 105. You can also call the new National Power cut and emergency phone line 105.

For more information

Visit the website at www.westernpower.co.uk/safety advice

Charity

Charity begins at home The Addington Fund not only provides homes for those in need in the rural community, it celebrates the work of farmers in the South West. Elizabeth Perry finds out more.

W

hat started out life as a charity, handing out money to cash-strapped farmers collapsing under the catastrophic impact of a series of epidemics, has evolved into an organisation targeting very specific issues in the agricultural community.

It wasn’t long after its inception that the Addington Fund decided to focus on the continuing and often desperate need for homes by those living and working in the countryside.

Providing homes Strategic Rural Housing Scheme (SRHS) offers help to farmers who have to leave their farm (and their home) through no fault of their own and where no other housing is easily available. This most often applies to tenant farmers, who do not own their home and don’t have the funds to buy their own property. Applications are considered on an individual basis and offers those who are successful the chance to move on with their lives with dignity.

A second scheme, the Affordable Rural Housing Scheme, was also developed. This offers a wider group of rural dwellers (those currently working in or retired from, an agricultural or a land-based industry, or anyone working in a rural and land-based occupation) affordable accommodation to rent.

These houses have some form of subsidy on them.

This means that the tenants pay ‘an affordable rent’

(no more than 80 per cent of the local market rent).

The Addington Fund currently has properties in Cornwall, Worcestershire and Ceredigion.

ongoing work Last November, two new cottages in Ruthvoes, Cornwall, were officially opened by Cornwall MP George Eustice. Berry Cottage and Peachey Cottage are part of Addington Trust’s commitment to providing housing solutions to people in the rural community and are part of a growing portfolio of housing owned by the Addington Fund throughout England and Wales.

“It is an honour to open such a vital and practical resource for rural families in need,” says George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth Hayle. “It is with particular delight that the cottages are in Cornwall, where my family have farmed for over 150 years.

I am passionate about supporting this region and acknowledging the issues faced within the farming community on a daily basis “Addington Fund carry out such an important task of offering support and advice to the rural community in times of crisis; from extreme weather events, to severe illness to farm tenancy terminations. It is incredibly reassuring to know such a charity exists and gives necessary support at what can be a very traumatic time,” he explained.

Ian Bell OBE is the Chief Executive of the Addington Fund

~ The two new houses in Ruthvoes, Cornwall was opened in November (l-r) John Berry, Ian Bell, George Eustice MP Chris Peachey

10 ≈ Modern Farming

Farm Business awards Paul George, winner of Cornwall Farmer of the Year

The Addington Fund also recognises and celebrates the work of farmers in the South West by running the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and the Devon Farm Business Awards.

Last year’s overall winner and Cornwall Farmer of the Year was Paul George of Nansmerrow Farm, Tresillian. Judge John Berry, was very impressed with the enthusiasm Paul showed and the great detail attached to the economics of the farm, making sure he operated a sustainable system to get the best out of everything.

The standard of husbandry was very good, with a high yielding herd of cows and Paul is very meticulous in keeping both the farm and the livestock in good health and is a very-forward thinking farmer.

Paul, who also won Best Dairy Farmer, says; “The Cornwall Farm Business Awards 2016 was a superb evening and exceptionally well organised, which my father and I thoroughly enjoyed.

“To be nominated and shortlisted for ‘Best Dairy Farmer’ category, and subsequently having the pleasure of showing judge John Berry around our farm here at Nansmerrow was a honour in itself.

"I was delighted to win this category and it was a huge privilege to receive the award in front of our fellow farmers and industry professionals as we are very passionate and dedicated all our efforts to dairy farming.

We were then announced as Cornwall Farmer of the Year and I was completely gobsmacked, but obviously thrilled to win such an accolade. I was extremely proud to accept this award in recognition of the time and effort put into our business by everyone concerned – farm staff, suppliers, advisers and family members alike.

“Winning the awards has in turn raised the profile of our business, which in such a financially challenging year as this, has had a positive impact.”

This year’s Cornwall Farm Business Awards will take place on 23rd February at the Royal Cornwall Showground.

devon awards Last year’s winner of the Devon Farm Business Awards was 52 year-old Gordon Davis of Westcott Farm, Westleigh, near Tiverton, where he and his family milk 200 pedigree Jersey dairy cows.

Gordon was left without a milk contract when his processor closed earlier this year. Gordon Davis solved the problem by setting up his own dairy company, which now markets high quality Channel Island milk from his own farm, and five other former suppliers of the defunct processor, who might otherwise have had to quit dairying.

The charity is still accepting nominations for the the 2017 Devon Farm Business Awards which can be submitted by anyone including farmers, solicitors, vets, animal feed suppliers; bank managers; family and friends. Nominations close on 28th February and the shortlisted nominees will be invited to a black tie dinner held on the eve of the Devon County Show, on Wednesday 17th May, where the winners will be announced.

Devon Farmer of the Year, Gordon Davis and his son Mark

Modern Farming ≈ 11

Charity

Cornwall Farm Business awards 2016 - the winners and the sponsors

Big Breakfast One of the many ways the charity raises funds is to encourage people to take part in the national Breakfast Week from January to March. Breakfast Week is managed by HGCA and run on behalf of arable farmers who grow crops such as wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape. Events take place all over the country with the breakfasts hosted for free in local restaurants, pubs, village halls and county shows. n

first steps The original Addington Fund was set up in 2001 by Canon Richard Addington, run from his own home to support the East Anglian pig farming community who were affected by an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever. The following year, the ARC (Arthur Rank Centre) - Addington Fund was founded, taking on the principles of the original fund and expanded it to provide pastoral care together with financial support to all farmers.

The charity gave cash grants to farmers unable to move or sell stock because of Foot and Mouth, to assist with feed bills. Between March 2001 and July 2002 a total of ÂŁ10.3m was distributed to over 22,000 applicants. The charity also provided emotional support by phone and a local contact for pastoral care to farmers trying to cope with the enormous emotional strain.

For more information:

To find out more visit: www.addingtonfund.org.uk

12 ≈ Modern Farming

COUNTRYWIDE FARMERS

Oral Suspension Liver fluke is now considered to be endemic in certain areas of the UK, especially in the wetter regions, such 1 as Wales and north-west England .

I

n spite of our increased knowledge of liver fluke, the prevalence of this parasite is still on the increase.

Climate change may be contributing to this increase, with many wet summers and considerably warmer winters leading to increased survival of fluke and their intermediate host, the mud snail, on pastures.

The incidence of fluke disease diagnosed post-mortem in cattle and sheep has increased year on year (VIDA), and is estimated to cost UK agriculture somewhere in the region of £300 million per year due to production losses; liver condemnations alone cost over £3 million per year2.

Liver fluke disease is caused by the trematode parasite, Fasciola hepatica. The same species affects both sheep and cattle. Disease is caused as a result of the migration of large numbers of immature flukes burrowing through the liver tissues and/or from the existence of adult flukes sucking blood and causing inflammation in the bile ducts of the liver.

The liver fluke cycle involves two different hosts – the cattle/sheep and the mud snail Galba truncatula. Both hosts need to be present to continue the cycle. The snail host is mainly found in muddy, wet areas of ground with poor drainage; hence the prevalence of fluke is greater in livestock grazing such areas.

Flukicide active ingredients should be rotated according to time of year and the likely age of the fluke infestation within your sheep. Triclabendazole should be reserved for when early immature fluke may be present and acute disease is possible. Historical over-reliance on this flukicide has contributed to resistance development in F. hepatica3. Triclabendazole resistance in fluke causes the biggest disease issues in sheep: sheep are far more susceptible than cattle to the acute syndrome, where most often the initial clinical signs can be multiple sudden deaths (up to 10% of the flock4), which can be devastating.

Other molecules, such as closantel, should be used at times of the year when early immature fluke are not the target, to slow the development of drug resistance in liver fluke. Solantel is a new oral suspension for sheep containing 50mg/ml closantel, offering treatment against

14 ≈ Modern Farming

liver fluke from five weeks of age to adult. Closantel, an anthelmintic belonging to the salicylanilides group, does not require metabolism by the liver to become active (unlike triclabendazole which is rendered less useful in the face of liver damage): it is absorbed unchanged into the bloodstream, and has limited distribution into other tissues. This means that it specifically targets those parasites which feed on blood, namely liver fluke and several stages of Haemonchus contortus. It is also eliminated relatively slowly from the sheep’s bloodstream. n

WINTER/SPRING Subacute liver fluke disease - Solantel drench for sheep ® Treatment of mature and immature flukes – kills fluke from 5 weeks to adult ® Effective treatment against inhibited, L4 and adult stages of the 'barber's pole' worm and the sheep nasal botfly ® Dose rate of 1ml per 5kg bodyweight ® 42-day meat withhold.

For more information:

on Solantel please speak to your Countrywide Agri Specialist or your Local Sales Manager.

Call us on 0345 6020212

www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk

1. AHDB Beef & Lamb. [ONLINE] http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/returns/ Accessed: 03/09/2016 2. A. F Loyacano, J. C Williams, J. Gurie, A. A DeRosa (2002). Effect of gastrointestinal nematode and liver fluke infections on weight gain and reproductive performance of beef heifers. Veterinary Parasitology. 107(3): 227–234.

3. NADIS. (2016). [ONLINE] www.nadis.org.uk Accessed: 13/11/2016 4. D. J. L. Williams, A. Howell, J. Graham-Brown, J. Kamaludeen, D. Smith (2014). Liver fluke – an overview for practitioners. Proceedings of BCVA Congress.

COUNTRYWIDE FARMERS

John Shepherd Feed Trailers John Shepherd Feed Trailers are heavy duty and built to last.

Whether you need to move silage, buffer feed or you just need to be able to move your feeder, our Feed Trailers are made for the job.

O

ur Feed Trailers are made from heavy duty steel and are strong.

they feature: ® solid beam axle ® retractable drawbar ® single support jack ® 10 ply tyres ® choice of sides to suit your needs ® wooden feeder boards to ensure silage doesn’t spoil overnight ® optimal reach for adult cattle feeding precision chopped silage (at 5’6” wide) ® optimal reach for adult cattle feeding large bales with J Bars for reduced waste (at 6’6” wide) ® quality product at a competitive price

Standard lengths are at 15ft, 18ft and 20ft by 5’6” wide.

However, we can make to customer specification.

Our chOice Of sides give the fOllOwing benefits: ® J Bars reduce waste by allowing any food that isn't eaten to fall back in to the feeder and not on to the floor. They also reduce stress on the shoulders while feeding and reduce ear tag loss. ® Straight Bars for a versatile all round feeder. ® Tombstone for use with horned cattle. ® Hinged sides for use with a TMR feeder wagon. ® Double hinged sides for use with a TMR feeder wagon. ® No sides for ease of use with a TMR feeder wagon (useful when lone working as no heavy sides to lift).

At John Shepherd Feeders, we are committed to a providing the best quality, most durable products on the market. John has been manufacturing agricultural equipment for over 30 years and his family have been farming for generations. John has experience using all the products we manufacture. n For more information:

contact your local countrywide sales Manager or call 0345 6020212

www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk

Modern Farming ≈ 15

MEET THE FARMER

Opportunity knocks When David and Anna Birt were offered the chance to move into farming, they grabbed it by the horns, reveals Elizabeth Perry.

I

n the beautiful surroundings of the lush Gloucestershire countryside sits Sainthill Farm run by David and Anna Birt. The couple, who are first generation farmers, were lucky enough to be offered a coveted farm tenancy, thanks to Gloucestershire County Council’s Farm Tenancy scheme.

The family are happy to live a simple, healthy life in their rural idyll running a successful dairy farm and raising their daughters.

Anna explains how the couple moved into the farming world.

“We are not from farming families,” she reveals. “David’s family had a smallholding with sheep and throughout his teenage years he would help on the smallholding. He found that he loved farming and one of his first jobs was working on a local farm. Then, he became a farm manager in Pembrokeshire."

David was 28 and Anna was 26 when their farming life started. “We decided we wanted to take on a tenancy and we managed to get a small unit of 52 acres in 2004 near Stroud which was our starter farm,” Anna recalls. “We had a herd of 50 Jersey cows and we were there for three years. Then we applied for and were awarded Sainthill Farm.”

For each tenancy, the couple had to put together a business plan outlining their proposals for the farm, and each time they beat off stiff competition from other applicants.

Running a daiRy faRm The Birts settled happily on the 135 acre farm where the Jersey cattle make the most of the clover-rich grass.

“We like the Channel Island breeds,” explains Anna. “Their milk has a high butter fat and protein content and we are paid more for the milk. They are also easier to care for than other breeds, such as Holsteins, because they are smaller and gentle.

And, they calf easily with most cows getting on and doing it themselves.”

Cheeky Lleyn lambs

16 ≈ Modern Farming

“We like the Channel Island breeds,” explains Anna. “Their milk has a high butter fat and protein content and we are paid more for the milk.”

Bees help to pollinate the orchards

The cows have access to clover-rich pasture

Sainthill Farm is part of the Free Range Dairy group which ensures that the cows are free to roam and graze grass for at least six months of the year. Grazed grass is the cows’ main source of food from spring to autumn, and in winter they are housed in sand-filled cubicle beds with grass silage and concentrate feed.

The rich, creamy Jersey milk is sold to Cottesworld Dairy in Tewkesbury where it is used in Upper Norton cream products while milk is also supplied to local cheese producers. The cows are the main source of income for the couple, providing a monthly milk pay cheque.

To increase the size of the herd, David and Anna choose the best milkers to breed from using Jersey sexed semen to ensure pedigree calves; heifer calves are kept to add to the herd. The other cows’ calves are sired by Aberdeen Angus bulls and are sent to market at a year old.

Ups and downs

Jersey cows are placid cows and easy to care for.

Like many farmers, The Birts have had their share of problems including Johne's disease and TB in their Jersey herd.

“A year and half ago, we had 13 cows confirmed with TB which were slaughtered, and the rest were placed under restrictions,” remembers Anna. “It was difficult because the calves born in autumn couldn’t be sold straightaway so we had to house and feed them over the winter and sell them as youngstock. It was hard with all extra work involved.”’

But Anna is pragmatic about the situation and shows no sign of self pity. She says; “A vet once told me either you’ve had TB, have got TB or are going to get TB. You just have to get on and deal with it.”

The family were thrilled when the herd were given a second all-clear test in October and won’t need another TB test for 12 months.

Modern Farming ≈ 17

MEET THE FARMER

Sharing the load

Georgia and Emily with the Golden Guernsey goats, Seren and Molly

Branching out The couple started a flock of 16 Lleyn sheep four years ago and now have around 90 ewes. Again, the breed was chosen for its ease of handling, and Anna admits, sheepishly, ‘because they are a lot cuter than Texels!’

The Birts rely on their two daughters, Emily who is 12, and Georgia, 10, to help them on the farm and these little shepherdesses are invaluable at lambing time. In fact, lambing is timed to fit in with their school holiday.

“We look at the calendar to work out when to put the rams in so the sheep will lamb when the girls are on holiday,” reveals Anna. “Like most farming children, they have grown up with it and enjoy helping, though they like the sheep the best. Their long, slender arms and small hands can reach into ewes further so they are invaluable.”

The farm is also home to Golden Guernsey goats, and bees which help with the family’s philosophy of helping their environment, though these tiny creatures haven’t proved easy. The two bee hives help with pollination and provide honey for the family. Anna reveals; “We had three hives but bees are very temperamental creatures and susceptible to cold and disease. And they can decide to swarm and fly away so we are down to two hives at the moment.”

“The Birts are determined to ensure the farm is well cared for during their tenancy” caring for the farm The Birts are determined to ensure the farm is well cared for during their tenancy and pay particular care to the land, reseeding pasture to reduce erosion and maintain soil structure. Although not organic, they avoid using artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides and only worm their animals when they need to. Recently, as part of their Higher Level Stewardship agreement, the couple have planted 136 fruit trees in the orchards.

“We chose local varieties for the fruit,” says Anna.

“Once they are mature, we will sell some of the fruit, probably for cider.”

18 ≈ Modern Farming

The whole family shares the work on the farm and while David does the milking and tractor work Anna works with the youngstock. But, Anna stresses the importance of keeping their options open and says they have both had other jobs over the years. “It’s important to be able to work off-farm and to have additional skill sets. David is also the Farm Liaison Officer for Cotteswold Dairy so that’s an extra income.”

The couple are keen to pay tribute to the help they get from Gloucestershire County Council. “They are very supportive,” says Anna, “and tenant farmers in Gloucestershire are well looked after. In other areas, tenant farms are being sold off, but thankfully that’s not the case here and we are very secure.”

the future The Birts clearly love their life on the farm but the 15-year business tenancy will end in 2022 so what will the family do then?

“We have the option of extending for another five years but the general idea with farm tenancies is that you move on and let someone else have a chance,” explains Anna. “So we will go on to other things and Sainthill will be taken on by another family.”

~ A New Year lamb surprised the family

eXPect the uneXPected You never know what’s going to happen on a farm but even after years of experience, animals can still surprise the most experienced farmer.

Anna was horrified on 11th January when she found a pregnant ewe called Twix, clearly giving signs of imminent delivery. As the lambs are timed to arrive in April, Anna suspected the ewe was losing her lamb. But, the ewe had a secret; Darren the ram had sneaked in an early visit to Twix the previous summer. So later that day, the couple found Twix nursing a perfectly healthy lamb. n

For more information:

Visit david and anna’s website at www.sainthillfarm.co.uk

property

Enjoy better income from your accommodation in 2017 More and more farms are diversifying into holiday accommodation as an additional income stream

20 ≈ Modern Farming

T

he holiday market can be a challenging environment, particularly as the internet has revolutionised how we all book our getaways.

The good news? The market is in a very healthy place; factors such as Brexit, a weak pound and plenty of TV and film interest in the South West are all marking our region as a ‘go-to’ for 2017.

how can you make 2017 your best year yet? here are our top 5 tips…

1 2

Make sure your existing guests are coming back If they’ve liked you in the past, chances are they’ll be back for more.

Look through your bookings and make sure all your regular names are there. Even if a guest hasn’t been for a few years, it’s not to say they won’t be interested in 2017.

Spread your wings wide on free to list sites We’ve noticed a big shift in how people are searching for their holidays. Rather than flip between several websites, initial research is being conducted on the likes of AirBnB, Tripadvisor and Homeaway.

Many sites are free to list but charge a commission on any bookings they generate. We’re not big advocates of relying on these sites but they are useful to increase exposure, particularly for short breaks out of season.

3

Engage on social media

4

Love it or hate it, social media is a big help to independent brands and businesses. It’s a great way to show the real heart of your business and find guests who you have something in common with.

Stand out in the right way

First impressions are so valuable in this time poor era. Photos, branding and websites need to be enticing and representative of your accommodation, business and ethics.

W e’ve seen great photos help grow a portfolio’s sales by 10 per cent. A great website and easy booking process could help you avoid commissions on the listings sites as people book direct.

5

The trick is to follow this through and not just be visually stunning before people book. Make sure your properties, information folders, literature and everything in between are all complementary.

Be yourself. People buy from people Be hospitable, welcoming and show an interest in your customer, from the very first email or call until right up until they leave.

B e conversational and make an effort to get to know your guests.

It’s easy to know when someone is in a rush or would just prefer to be left alone. The number of times we’ve taken bookings just because our staff are helpful, have the information to hand and don’t apply pressure.

B uilding friendships will be fantastic for repeat business and you might be surprised at how many return again within the year. n

social media hints & tips ® Try Instagram – it’s quick and easy to set-up. It’s also a friendly community and simple to use, perfect for showing off what you do and the lifestyle behind it. ® Don’t over promote.

Lead by lifestyle not price and promotion. ® Great photos and videos are equally important.

For more information on how to grow in 2017: contact sam on 01736 806166 or visit www.zeniacollection.com

Modern Farming ≈ 21

Veterinary

Diseases of newborn lambs

Newborn lambs are at risk of serious illness if not cared for appropriately.

W

atery mouth disease is a colloquial expression used to describe a collection of clinical signs in neonatal lambs.

The lamb’s intestines are rapidly colonised by E.coli due to dirty, wet conditions in the lambing shed. Lambs can also be infected because of faecal staining of the wool of the tail and surrounding the perineum.

Most at risk are small, weak lambs, particularly triplets, which are kept in unhygienic conditions with delayed colostrum ingestion, and ewes with low body condition and insufficient colostrum accumulation.

symPToms

Lambs with watery mouth are dull, lethargic, depressed and reluctant to suck

® Dull, lethargic, depressed and reluctant to suck ® Profuse salivation ® A wet lower jaw ® Increasing abdominal distension although the lamb has not been sucking.

TreaTmenT During the early stages, soapy water enemas (such as diluted washing-up liquid) are commonly used. Mild laxatives/purgatives will promote gut activity and expulsion of the meconium (the first faeces).

Oral antibiotics are effective during the early phase of the disease; spectinomycin is probably the drug of choice.

Up to 40 per cent of advanced cases have bacteria in the bloodstream and should be treated with amoxycillin or a similar drug injected intramuscularly.

Oral electrolyte therapy at a rate of 50 mls/kg four times daily is essential.

Watery mouth disease can quickly progress to coma and death

PrevenTion Watery mouth disease is usually seen in housed flocks towards the end of the lambing period and is caused by a build-up of infection.

Immediately improve hygiene standards in the lambing shed. Move remaining pregnant ewes to another building or turned the ewes out to pasture.

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Controlling watery mouth by administration of an oral antibiotic preparation within the first 15 minutes after birth to limit bacterial colonisation of the gut

All photographs: Phil Scott

Cause

control meaSureS ● ● ● ●

Abundant clean, dry straw bedding Use of paraformaldehyde powder on straw bedding Cleaning and disinfection of individual pens between lambing ewes Collection and disposal of placentae

Umbilical infection (navel ill)

● ●

Ensure that lambs suck colostrum as soon as possible following birth Oral antibiotic preparation within the first 15 minutes after birth is the most effective means of controlling watery mouth disease to limit bacterial colonisation of the gut.

Navel ill is common in young lambs born into unsanitary conditions where there is inadequate navel treatment; it is more common during bad weather and in male lambs.

This is, presumably, because urination delays desiccation of the umbilicus and removes some of the topical astringent/antibiotic applied by the shepherd.

All photographs: Phil Scott

complicationS

The iodine solution has not been correctly applied to the umbilicus

While some umbilical infections may remain localised and develop into a discrete abscess involving the body wall, others may extend to peritonitis and liver abscessation.

Umbilical infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum with subsequent spread to the liver causes the specific condition of hepatic necrobacillosis.

Navel infection can be readily prevented but prognosis for the lamb is largely hopeless. While infections gain entry through the undipped navel within the first few hours of life, the dreadful consequences for the lamb may not be fully appreciated until some weeks later after a considerable period of suffering (hepatic necrobacillosis).

Septic peritonitiS The clinical signs vary with the extent and nature of the peritonitis. Outlook is hopeless

This lamb with septic peritonitis appears very dull and weak and stands with its back arched

Comparison between healthy five day-old twin (left) and litter-mate with septic peritonitis (right)

SymptomS ® Dull/weak lambs in first few days

® Lambs do not suck

® Stand with arched back and lowered head

® Lambs have a gaunt appearance and expression but have distension

® Spend long periods lying in the corner of the pen ® Low rectal temperature

® Affected lambs rapidly become dehydrated and die within a few days of clinical signs first appearing.

Modern Farming ≈ 23

Veterinary Hepatic necrobacillosis

symptoms ® Symptoms appear between 10 to 14 days old ® Lambs are dull and depressed and in much poorer condition than their twin ® Lambs appear empty and gaunt ® They are easily caught

All photographs: Phil Scott

® Lambs shelter under hedges rather than follow the ewe ® Lambs stand with arched back and four legs drawn together.

The umbilicus (navel) must be fully immersed in strong veterinary iodine BP within the first 15 minutes of life and repeated 2 to 4 hours later

treatment Treatment of both septic peritonitis and hepatic necrobacillosis is hopeless and lambs should be euthanased for welfare reasons.

Joint ill (infectious polyarthritis)

Plenty of clean dry straw should reduce bacterial load in the environment

Severe lameness of the right carpus. Note the lamb's poor body condition and open fleece

Joint ill affecting the right hock (and possibly other joints)

After only one week lambs with polyarthritis are smaller (lamb on left) than their co-twin

An infectious arthritis due to localisation of bacteria within joint(s). Moderate to severe lameness is a major economic problem and welfare concern. ● Bacteria spreads in the blood stream ● Entry may be via the gut, upper respiratory tract, tonsil or untreated umbilicus. ● Infection is more likely in poor sanitary conditions in lambs with delayed/inadequate colostrum intake.

prevention Polyarthritis can be prevented by: ● Reducing environmental bacterial challenge by maintaining good hygiene

24 ≈ Modern Farming

●

Lambs must ingest sufficient colostrum

●

Appropriate and immediate navel treatments

●

A single injection of procaine penicillin at 36 to 48 hours-old if outbreak in flock.

prevention Umbilical infections are preventable and can be avoided by following sound husbandry practices: ● Fully immerse the umbilicus (navel) in strong veterinary iodine BP with the first 15 minutes of life. ● This must be repeated within two to four hours. ● Antibiotic aerosol sprays are much inferior to strong veterinary iodine BP for dressing navels.

clinical presentation Streptococcus dysgalactiae infections are acquired during the first few days with lameness visible from five to 10 days old. The number of infected joints is variable; typically only one joint is affected in approximately 50 per cent of lambs, with two to four joints in the remainder.

The joints most commonly affected (with decreasing frequency), are the carpal joints, hock, fetlock and stifle joints. The affected joint(s) are swollen, hot and painful.

Infection causes considerable muscle wastage. After only one week, lambs with polyarthritis are smaller than their co-twin and in poorer body condition.

Diagnosis Lameness in all lambs, less than one month-old, with swollen joints should be considered septic until proven otherwise. Procaine penicillin is the primary drug of choice for polyarthritis. It should be administered once daily for at least five consecutive days. There is a good cure rate if administered during the early stages of lameness in many S dysgalactiae infections.

Dead bacteria and white blood cells remaining in the joint may induce further inflammatory changes so some lameness persists. Lambs who have moderate to severe lameness and do not thrive after two courses of antibiotics should be euthanased for welfare reasons. n

The main aim of NADIS is to highlight the importance of better animal health through veterinary health planning and to encourage dialogue between farmers/livestock handlers and their veterinary practitioner. NADIS provides a valuable learning resource and revision guide for everyone interested in animal health and welfare.

Visit www.nadis.org.uk

New Technology to Help Guide Selective Dry Cow Therapy Decisions Andy Stokes BVSc CertAVP(Cattle) MRCVS

A

dministration of antibiotic tubes to cows at drying off was introduced in the 1950s as part of the ‘Five-Point Plan’. This was to help eliminate persistent, ‘contagious’ bacteria from the cow’s udder.

Back then, this had an important role as many cows were infected with such pathogens. Sixty years on, the number of cows infected in this way is vastly reduced. The need for every cow to be dried off with antibiotics is no longer justified; we need to be selective.

So what iS Selective Dry cow therapy?

It is a change of mind-set to one where every cow receives a teat sealant at drying off, and then selecting cows which also require antibiotic therapy. The criteria for selecting these cows need to be specific to your farm and may include the following: • • • • •

Somatic Cell Count (SCC) level Clinical mastitis cases Milk yield at drying off Teat end condition Temperament of the cow

I wouldn’t advise anyone to ‘go it alone’ in making these decisions. It is definitely something to discuss with your vet. The last three months’ SCC and clinical mastitis records would be the standard information required to make these decisions.

Being part of XL Vets has enabled Penbode Farm Vets to be the first veterinary practice in the South West to have started using the new QScout machine which analyses milk

samples at the quarter level and indicates whether infection is present or not. This information can be used to guide selective dry cow therapy decisions. The QScout result can be used alone for herds which do not milk record, or to augment SCC data for those that do.

The QScout test has a couple of obvious advantages over SCC data. A cow’s SCC is obtained from a composite sample of all four quarters. This means that a high level of cells from one infected quarter may be masked by dilution from three other ‘clean’ quarters. The QScout machine tests milk from the four quarters individually, so there is nowhere for an infected quarter to hide. Also, a cow’s monthly SCC data may be out of date by the time she is due to be dried off; with QScout we sample and test cows within 24 hours of drying them off, so the information is 100 per cent relevant and up to date.

For more information:

contact penbode vets to discuss how QScout machine analysis can help you make better drying off decisions for your herd.

Find out more at www.qscoutlab.com/dairy/

Modern Farming ≈ 25

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NEWS & VIEWS

AgriChat Roundup As the UK's first agricultural based hashtag, AgriChat has created a place where people in the industry can debate topical issues and share ideas. AgriChat takes place on Twitter every Thursday from 8pm-10pm. This month Ruth Wills looks at a discussion focussing on the future of the BPS.

W

hat is the future of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)? A question that has undoubtedly been on the minds of farmers since it was announced there would be a change to the BPS with Brexit.

The Basic Payment Scheme is the largest of the European Union’s rural grants and payments designed to help those in the farming industry. The thought of changes to the BPS has divided opinions with a vigorous discussion prompting both positives and negative views on cuts in support payments.

How many farmers Had received tHeir BPs Payment on tHe intended payday (1st december)?

Generally it seemed a small proportion had been paid but those that had received theirs seemed surprised to have had their payment. The Tenant Farmers Association (@tenantfarmers) said that there had been no reports of payment from any of their farmers in England though tenant farmers in Wales had been paid.

get involved AgriChat takes place on Twitter every Thursday from 8pm to 10pm. to join the conversation simply add #agrichatuk to your tweets. to follow the conversations search #agrichatuk on twitter.

® ® ® ® ®

suggest a topic contact us info@agrichatuk.org search #agrichatuk on twitter twitter hashtag guide Follow us on twitter @agrichatuK

visit: www.agrichatuk.org

will farming Be Better witH or witHout tHe BPs and otHer support payments?

Many felt that students, young farmers and new entrants will benefit most from a reduction in support payments, as this may create opportunities for them, owing to less proactive and productive farmers selling up.

Others hope this would bring us closer to selfsufficiency. Charles Turner (@Cherrygrower) suggested people look at New Zealand as an example of farmers who survive without subsidies and are much stronger for it. However, a few argued that with such high commodity prices, British agriculture could not survive without a form of support payment, and there should still be incentive for protection of biodiversity, climate, water and for new entrants.

Charlie Cunningham (@CharCunningham) made the important point that it wouldn’t be just farmers affected if the BPS is cut; it would be consumers having to pay higher prices for their products too.

tHe dePartment for environment, Food and rural aFFairs (deFra) and tHe treasury Have made Promises tHat tHere wouldn’t Be any cHanges to tHe BPs Before 2020, as tHe uK will still Be Part of tHe eu until tHat date. But can we rely on tHem to honour this?

There was a split in responses to this. Many simply said they had no reason to doubt the promises and there have been repeated reassurances from both DEFRA and The Treasury. Will Wilson (@willwilson100) believes that changes to the BPS are not high on their list of priorities and therefore no changes will be made until 2020 anyway, but other commens indicated doubts that these promises will be kept.

Modern Farming ≈ 27

NEWS AND VIEWS

Insurer launches latest round in farm safety campaign

S

outh West rural insurance company Cornish Mutual has announced the first free workshop event in 2017 as it takes its successful campaign to improve farm safety into a new year.

A series of farm health and safety events will take place over the next 12 months as part of an ongoing campaign to highlight health and safety on farms and cut the number of deaths and serious injuries in agriculture across the region.

The free event will take place at South Molton Assembly Rooms & Pannier Market, in Devon, on Friday, 24th February.

Delivered by Cornish Mutual with support from industry experts, those attending will experience practical demonstrations identifying on-farm risks and how to manage them and there will be information available to ensure guests are kept up-to-speed with changes in the law, insurance, regulations and best practice.

Speakers will include Arthur Denton, from Cornish Mutual, talking about employer and occupier liability; Joe Rice, providing First Aid and CPR training; Norman Rundle, discussing risk assessments and public rights of way – which proved a key topic for

farmers during last year’s round of events; and Pip Tompkins advising on the safe use of chainsaws and hedge cutters.

The event will run between 9.30am to 3pm, with refreshments on arrival and lunch provided. Due to the success of its 2016 campaign, organisers are encouraging anyone interested to book ahead. Please contact Cornish Mutual on 01872 246474 or email engagementandpr@cornishmutual.co.uk.

Arthur Denton, Member Services Adviser for Cornish Mutual, said; “We had a tremendous response from our health and safety events last year and it’s an issue that we are determined to continue to highlight and to work with those in the industry to bring about improvements “There is a huge appetite within the agricultural community to meet and take part in practical demonstrations which help people keep up to speed with the law and ask questions. I would encourage people interested in attending to sign up early as these events get booked up quickly.”

For more information:

Contact Tom Cowle on: 01872 277151 www.cornishmutual.co.uk

Farm Machinery at Penwine Farm

B

eing an Auctioneer for Kivells means that every day I can end up doing something different, writes James Morrish, in a completely different part of the West Country.

Just recently Kivells were appointed as Auctioneers to sell a very large amount of Farm Machinery and effects at Penwine Farm, St Mabyn which is situated on the North Coast of Cornwall between Camelford and Bodmin.

Our vendors, Andrew & Sherly White (and family) had made the decision to sell the vast majority of their secondhand and used machinery, and invest into the future of their business by buying new. This approach is very refreshing as, by far, the majority of the 23 machinery sales which we conducted during 2016 were as a result of farmers giving up and getting out of the industry.

The sale itself saw a huge amount of buyers travelling to the farm from all over the UK and beyond with a further line up of buyers wishing to purchase by making phone bids during the sale from as far afield as Northern Ireland and Scotland. The top call of the day was £46,500 which was given for the best of six tractors and going to a farmer in Mid Cornwall.

At the age of 42, I thought that my days of going to school/university were way behind me. However, just four years ago my boss suggested I studied to become

28 ≈ Modern Farming

a ‘Fellow of the Livestock Auctioneers Association’.

Well, I suppose when your boss says, 'I’d like to do - and by the way I will pay all costs', it would be rude not to. Four years on, lots of weekly trips to Harper Adams University in Shropshire, mountains of reading, writing and a little help from my secretary and to my amazement I am now qualified.

During 2016, Kivells have had the privilege of helping to raise over £126,000 for local charities and good causes which included many in Cornwall. One such group of events are the many ‘Harvest Festival Auctions’ which take place mainly in rural parts of the West Country. The venues include chapels, church, villages halls and pubs such as The Rod & Line at Tideford, and The Cobweb in Boscastle. Of course it is superb to help raise money for good causes but for me it is just as enjoyable to meet so many fantastic people that live and work in the fine County of Cornwall.

For more information:

Contact Kivells on: 01409 253275 email: heritage@kivells.com www.kivells.com

Diversification

“We would encourage anyone running an eligible business on their farm to enter.”

Entries sought for farm diversification award An annual award, offered by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, which celebrates farm diversification enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is seeking entries for 2017.

T

he Duke of Cornwall’s Award was initially created to encourage the teaching of country skills but was expanded in 2013 to encompass a wider farm business diversification remit. The criteria now more accurately reflects the need for innovation and diversification in agriculture.

The award will be made to the farm business that is adjudged to have most successfully diversified its enterprise and the organisers are now seeking nominations.

The winner will be crowned at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show and will collect not only the perpetual trophy and a signed certificate, but also a cash prize of £1,000 provided by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall.

This year’s recipient will follow in the footsteps of a diverse list of former winners who have created innovative businesses on the land, or buildings on their farm that run alongside their core agricultural activity.

Young farmer and entrepreneur Giel Spierings who created the Cornish Gouda Company on the family’s 136 acre farm at Lanreath, south-east Cornwall won the 2016 title. Giel’s venture has enabled him to earn a living from the farm, adding value to the milk his parents’ produce, providing them all with a more stable, viable future.

~ Giel Spierings from Cornish Gouda Company receiving the Duke of Cornwall’s Award at the 2016 Royal Cornwall Show from show president Rt Revd Tim Thornton, Bishop of Truro

Christopher Riddle, secretary of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, said; “We would encourage anyone running an eligible business on their farm to enter. The winner always attracts a lot of positive publicity which is an extra, valuable incentive to get involved. There appears to be more and more inventive enterprises popping up on farms around the county and on Scilly each year. They create jobs, add to the local economy and, importantly, help boost the sustainability of many farms.”

The judging panel will be assessing entrants on their commercial viability and sustainability, creativity, value-adding to the local economy and community as well as employment opportunities, in particular for young people. B&B and holiday cottage enterprises are not eligible for this award. Entries are invited from all sizes of business.

Anyone can make a nomination, either for themselves or others, provided the nominee is aware. Applicants from previous years are also welcome to re-apply, although past winners are not eligible.

The closing date for applications is 1st March 2017. n

For more information: An application form is available by visiting: www.royalcornwallshow.org/competitors/duke-of-cornwalls-award or by calling 01208 812183 or email: info@royalcornwall.co.uk.

Modern Farming ≈ 31 63

spotlight on ...

Pic: Visit Somerset - National Trust

“Usually simply referred to as the Mendips, these hills run east to west across Somerset between Weston-Super-Mare and Frome.�

~ Cheddar Gorge

Spotlight on ... Somerset ~ Somerset Levels

Somerset is a county of contrasts with vastly differing landscapes from the Mendip hills and limestone caves to the inland Levels.

32 ≈ Modern Farming

S

omerset is home to one of the flattest and lowest areas in the UK with most of it less than 25ft above sea level. In fact, the whole area was covered with water until 6,500 years ago when peat led to the development of salt marsh and fens including the Avalon Marshes. Here, Neolithic man built raised wooden tracks to traverse the bogs and move around the area. The Sweet Track, which was erected around 3,800BC still exists and runs for over a mile.

Thanks to the winter flooding, the area was only usable in the summer months, leading to the name Sumersata or Somerset. Today, drained land is used for grazing sheep and cattle, though arable crops are also grown on drier parts as well as on higher areas of land.

RiveRs

Pic: Visit Somerset

The monasteries of Glastonbury, Athelney and Muchelney drained land in the middle ages to create more usable land.

Since those monks created drainage channels, more have been added until the whole county is crisscrossed with drains and rivers designed to carry away excess water.

The Huntspill River is manmade and was created during the Second World War as a reservoir for the newly-built new Royal Ordnance factory at Puriton, though it also acts as a channel. Another manmade river, The Sowy River, was finished in 1972.

Drainage is controlled by The Levels Internal Drainage boards with ditches linked to Environmental Agency pumping stations near the coast.

Pic: Jack Pease Photography - Flickr

~ Glastonbury Abbey

~ Somerset floods

Pic: Jack Pease Photography - Flickr

FlooDing

Pic: Visit Somerset

Avalon Marshes

The Somerset Levels are liable to flooding for a number of reasons. Partly this is due to the Bristol Channel having the second highest tidal range in the world leading to exceptionally high tides. The tides cause water to back up along the rivers across the Somerset Levels and Moors. Also, without regular dredging, the rivers become silted making flooding more likely.

Catastrophic flooding in 2014 had a massive impact on the agricultural and rural communities with the town of Muchelney being cut off for 10 weeks.

DReDging Over the last couple of years, the Environment Agency has been dredging rivers in a bid to prevent future flooding.

John Rowlands, of the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management team in Wessex, told Modern Farming magazine; “Since the winter of 2013/14, about £50 million has been invested into Somerset to improve infrastructure, raise roads above sea level, and so on. Of that, £10 million has come from the Environment Agency.

“We have also rearranged our maintenance programme to include more dredging instead of annual weed cutting ...”

Modern Farming ≈ 33

spotlight on ...

Mendip Hills

Pic: The Environment Agency

“The Environment Agency dredged 8km of the rivers Parrett and Tone and set about a large asset repair programme and upgraded pumping stations. The agency increased pump capacity, helped create community flood plans for villages and turned temporary defences into permanent features. A further 750m section was dredged last year.

“We have also rearranged our maintenance programme to include more dredging instead of annual weed cutting. The costs of both types of work are similar, but the benefits from dredging are accrued in future years when the need for weed cutting has reduced as a result of removing the roots of the weeds.”

Dredging has been ongoing with a second phase completed in August 2016 when 13000 cubic metres of material was removed from a 750m stretch of the River Parrett.

Though the dredging is funded by the Somerset Rivers Authority, the body relies on council tax rises plus additional interim funding from central government to meet the annual costs for flood prevention which is £2.7M. Dredging work in progress

Usually referred to as simply the Mendips, these hills run east to west across Somerset between Weston-Super-Mare and Frome. The hills mainly comprise carboniferous limestone and it is this rock which has been shaped through erosion to form the magical Cheddar Gorge and its caves, including Wookey Hole. These areas have become a popular tourist destination for families and potholers.

Now world famous for its annual music festival, the town of Glastonbury has been a site of pilgrimage for hundreds of years.

The magnificent Glastonbury Abbey was destroyed during the Reformation of the monasteries by King Henry VIII leavingx only a shell.

Glastonbury Tor (now owned by the National Trust), is a hill which rises 158m (525ft) above the levels offering stunning views of the county. On its top are the ruins of St Michael’s church; built in the 15th century, only the tower remains. n | Glastonbury Tor

Pic: Visit Somerset

Glastonbury

~ Somerset cider orchards

Cider The county of Somerset is also famous for its cider production and lays claim to being the spiritual home of English cider. While large commercial operations are located here, there are also numerous tiny orchards producing homemade scrumpy as well as lots of non-alcoholic beverages.

For more information:

To find out more about Somerset visit: www.visitsomerset.co.uk For advice on preparing for flooding visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/policies-and-plans/plans/flooding-emergencies/

Pic: Visit Somerset

Read more about the work to reduce flooding at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/somerset-levels-and-moorsreducing-the-risk-of-flooding/somerset-levels-and-moors-reducing-therisk-of-flooding

34 ≈ Modern Farming

CooDES SoliCitorS

How landowners can get two bites of the cherry 2016 has gone and a new year is now with us. So far, the weather has been kind and there is light at the end of the tunnel for some milk producers, but unfortunately there are some potentially dark clouds on the horizon.

GettinG best value out of your land “More of our agricultural clients are asking how they can get best value out of selling off a bit of land,” says Head of Rural Services and Coodes Partner Pam Johns.

“The increased value of land means there is great potential for farmers who own land on the edge of a village in particular. Despite this growing awareness, very few people seem to know that they could sell the land now but still benefit from future development.”

an investment for the future Coodes is encouraging farmers to see the potential of their land for future income. Partner Kevin George explains; “The answer for people in this situation is something called an ‘overage and clawback payment’.

When you sell land, you can agree with your buyer that additional payments will be due to you in the future, if the buyer obtains planning permission to develop the property.”

neGotiatinG the best deal If you think overage and clawback could be the best option for you, how do you strike the right deal? Kevin George says; “You will need to agree the timeframe – whether it is 15 or 25 years – within which you would get payments for any development work.

"Another key part of the deal is the percentage share of the increase in the value of the land from the agricultural value to the value with the benefit of planning permission.

"You would also need to agree when payment would be triggered.

This would be on the sale of the land with the benefit of planning permission or when planning permission is granted – whichever occurs first.”

“You will need an experienced commercial solicitor to make sure that your interests are protected and that the obligations are enforceable.”

GettinG the riGht advice

Pam Johns adds; “There are other key considerations; for example, what will happen if the buyer sells the land on? You would need a watertight agreement in place to ensure you could still then get the payment if the land changes hands. There are also Stamp Duty Land Tax implications for the buyer, so it is important that you get tax advice. n

information ® Five of Coodes Solicitors are Fellows of the Agricultural law Association. ® the team covers all aspects of agricultural law, from buying and selling of farms, easements and rights of way to succession planning and partnership agreements. ® Coodes has nine offices across Cornwall and into Devon, from Penzance to Holsworthy. ® in the prestigious national legal directory, Head of rural Services Pam Johns is recommended as a leading expert in her field.

Contact

www.coodes.co.uk 0800 328 3282

Modern Farming ≈ 35

Trinicks offers a high quality, good value, personal approach for rural clients.

We specialise in:

Rural Property Rural Planning Rural Projects For more information, including case studies and seeing what others say, please see www.trinicks.co.uk

01726 884445 info@trinicks.co.uk Little Resparveth Farm, Grampound Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4EF

Agricultural plastic recycling PLASTIC DISPOSAL MADE EASY

ALL waste farm plastics disposed of.

Collected in bulk, no sorting or bagging required.

Silage pit tyres removed.

Waste transfer notes given.

For prompt friendly service call: 07411 243013 or email greenaway.recycling@gmail.com AND GET IT GONE! www.greenawayrecycling.co.uk Marley Head, South Brent, TQ10 9LT

RECYCLING

Greenaway Recycling 2016 has gone and a new year is now with us. So far, the weather has been kind and there is light at the end of the tunnel for some milk producers, but unfortunately there are some potentially dark clouds on the horizon.

T

he collapse of sterling after the Brexit vote has forced up the cost of many farm inputs. Feed, fertilizer and straw have all rocketed, which have brought new pressures on some bank balances.

In the world of recycling, Greenaway are also feeling the pressure of increased costs (fuel etc), but are trying to find ways to shelter their customers from any price hikes.

“Farmers can help themselves to reduce their costs,” explains Dave Shilston, Greenaway’s site manager at Marley Head, South Brent. “Bear in mind, the collection system which every firm employs sooner or later, is that recycled plastic is disposed of by weight. Plastic processors want plastic that is just plastic – not stones, mud, silage or even bits of wood!

"As Greenaway charge their customers by weight from the very start of the chain, farmers are able to actively control their costs by reducing the level of contamination within their plastic. Most farm plastic weighs very little. Fertilizer bags, buckets, string, net wrap and, to a certain extent, silage sheet and wrap, don’t weigh a lot. However, it is the silage, mud, trapped water and other contaminants that increases the cost of disposal.

“Greenaway endeavour to recycle all farm plastic," continues James Nicholls, head of operations, “and is geared up to take all farm plastic in bulk or bags, totally unsorted. However, those customers who take a little time to make sure they send us only plastic, really do benefit in lower disposal charges and help Greenaway to keep costs down generally for the farming community and recycling sector as a whole.”

So if you have any farm plastic to get rid of, whatever the condition, call Dave on 07411 243013, and Greenaway will find an easy, cost-effective way of disposing of it. n

“Greenaway endeavour to recycle all farm plastic... and is geared up to take all farm plastic in bulk or bags, totally unsorted.

Modern Farming ≈ 37 63

The rise of maize In less than half a century, maize has become the crop of choice for forage and biogas so just why has it become popular?

~ Maize harvesting

O

ver 40 years ago a mere 20,000 acres was planted with maize in the UK; today the area is over 20 times that with 450,000 acres (183,000 hectares) now devoted to maize crops.

A recent survey, conducted by the Maize Growers Association, British Grassland Society and Grainseed Ltd, found that the increased demand for maize by livestock producers is due to the reliability of forage production.

Matt Pickard of Grainseed explains. “We have roughly the same number of animals, around 66,000 cows and 34,000 beef. Herd sizes have increased; dairy herds, for example, have increased by 13 per cent increase from 214 to 242 cows in the period while the rate of maize expansion has been almost double.”

The maize fodder is primarily for complementary and buffer feeding in winter and summer, with around 80 per cent of herds still having access to grazing.

Maize eyespot

The average area of maize grown on a farm has almost doubled in size from 24 ha (60 acres) in 2007 to 43 ha (107 acres).

Why use maize?

Producers’ reasons for growing maize has changed; previously maize was used to boost milk yield but in a recent survey, 62 per cent cited security of forage stocks as the main reason.

Matt Pickard points out; “We’ve had some bad years for grass production and silaging over the last five years with cold and wet summers, yet maize production has been relatively stable with good yields, digestibility and energy resulting.”

Growth rates are increasing thanks to plant breeding and increased availability of Bred for Britain type varieties. Another factor is increased attention to the management of production with 94 per cent of maize growers saying they use a professional agronomist and 78 per cent reporting that they calculate NPK requirements annually.

Pest and Problems Maize is a relatively pest-free crop with wireworms, leatherjackets and slugs being potential problems.

The main diseases which can affect maize are eyespot, Fusarium, Northern corn leaf blight, common rust and smut, which are on the increase as more areas of maize are planted.

A more serious issue are weeds (nightshade, fat hen, couch and meadow grass) which nearly three quarters of respondents reported as being a problem.

38 ≈ Modern Farming

Pic: Phil Eades

ARABLE

Liagrain's Reason

New first choice varieties The British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) has added nine new first choice varieties to the 2017 Forage Maize and Biogas Maize Descriptive Lists (DL)

Maize is a reliable crop for fodder

This list offers diversity with a selection of high starch yielding varieties, maximum digestibility ensiled material, or high yielding varieties to suit a farmer’s needs all within the suitable maturity range for the farm location.

NIAB TAG’s forage crop specialist Dr Joanna Matthews says the nine new varieties offer an excellent range of maturity for farmers. “Reason has the earliest maturing score of the new first choice DL additions with a 35.6% dry matter content at harvest,” she explains. “SY Feeditop is the latest maturing at 28.3%, the lowest score on the List.”

All varieties on the 2017 Lists have been nominated by the plant breeders and are suitable for biogas producers growing and using the crop as a feedstock.

The BSPB 2017 ‘Forage Maize’ and ‘Forage Maize for AD’ Descriptive Lists are available to download from the BSPB and NIAB websites. n

“Overall, we’re seeing maize becoming increasingly important to UK livestock producers with higher standards of management and better varieties delivering more consistent production” favoured methods The survey showed the different methods producers used to grow maize including: ®

Seedbed preparation: 89% ploughing and subsequent cultivation 8% minimum tillage 2% direct drill 1% use strip tillage

®

Drilling rate: 97% of growers use between 105,000 and 112,000 seeds/ha (42,000 - 45,000 seeds/acre).

®

For more information: The Maize Growers Association: www.maizegrowersassociation.co.uk/resources/agronomy

Optimum chop length: 25% choose 8 – 12mm; 42% choose 12 – 16mm; 33% choose > 16mm

Limagrain: www.lgseeds.co.uk British Grassland Society: www.britishgrassland.com Grainseed Ltd: www.grainseed.co.uk

®

47% use an additive at clamping.

NIAB: www.niab.com

®

Most producers routinely have their maize sampled for nutritional value; nearly 10% do this infrequently; 6% never test their crops.

British Society of Plant Breeders: www.bspb.co.uk

Pic: Phil Eades

Maize seedlings

Kompetens and Aurelius KWS from KWS, LG30 209 and Reason from Limagrain, SY Feeditop and NordicStar from Syngenta Spyci CS, Sunshinos and RGT Oxxgood from Caussade Semences, Grainseed and RAGT respectively have been added to the Favourable Sites DL.

Pic: Phil Eades

Pic: Maize Growers Association

® ® ® ®

Modern Farming ≈ 39

country lady

Winter feeding When it comes to caring for horses, winter can be a testing time to say the least. Mud fever, foot abscesses, weight loss – the list goes on. So, making sure feeding regimes are correct is a key part to helping horses stay happy and healthy.

T ®

o properly feed a horse during the winter months, several key factors must be addressed: water, fibre and essential nutrients.

Water consumption: This is extremely important as winter is the time when there is a rise in cases of impaction colic which can be caused by reduced consumption of water. Stabled horses, in particular, will generally eat more hay which has considerably less water content compared to pasture. Horses will also drink less due to colder conditions and reduced sweating.

To help combat this I try to keep a close eye on water intake and get additional water into the diet where possible; I feed pink mash with plenty of water. However, do check with your vet before adding extra water to feed which contain antibiotics or other medication.

“Winter is the time when there is a rise in cases of impaction colic which can be caused by reduced consumption of water” Abi Rule is the lady behind A Country Lady, a horse-mad fashion blog created with the help of riders, writers, photographers and equestrians. Visit www.acountrylady.co.uk

40 ≈ Modern Farming

®

Horses should have access to both grass and forage (hay/haylage). The low nutritive value of grazing during the winter will in most cases mean that additional forage is essential.

®

nsure fibre forms a key part of the diet E as this will help to keep your horse at its optimum temperature.

®

Don’t forget the salt! When it comes to minerals, free access to a trace mineral salt block is vital to meet your horse's requirements for sodium and other essential minerals.

As well as feed, correct stabling will keep your horse healthy. It’s too easy in winter for the stable to be ‘closed up’. Good ventilation is more important than providing a little more warmth, so be sure to provide good air flow in your stable, even on cold days. n

POULTRY

Red mite This month we look at red mites and how to eradicate them.

R

ed mite is a common problem for poultry owners, particularly in the warmer months from March to October.

Red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) are a blood-sucking mite which rapidly multiply and can be difficult to treat. It is far easier to prevent an infestation than to eradicate mites once they have taken up residence.

sympToms ®

Birds stop perching

®

Poultry refuse to enter coop

®

Lethargy and depression

®

Comb may become pale

®

In severe infestations, poultry may become anaemic

®

In extreme cases birds can die.

TreaTmenT Preventing an infestation is far easier than treating one so establish a regular hygiene programme. Check new birds thoroughly and disinfect new equipment.

Check the hen house regularly at night using a torch. Wipe a ledge and you will see mites run on your hand; you may see blood streaks on the perch or on eggs. Mites are often seen in clusters.

If the coop is infested it will need to be cleaned thoroughly with an appropriate disinfectant. This may need to be repeated several times to ensure all mites and eggs are destroyed.

Mites can hide under felt roofs so remove this and clean underneath. Dust all birds with a red mite powder; this is a deterrent and will stop the birds being bitten, but won’t kill the mites. n

POULTRY HEALTH

Ideal condITIons red mites breed readily and can survive very cold conditions. ®

Red mite live and breed in cracks and crevices

®

They are sensitive to light so are active at night

®

Red mites are very hardy and hide over winter to re-emerge in spring

®

Mites can double in number in a week.

nexT monTh: WORMS

Modern Farming ≈ 43

Livestock

“Spring is the busiest time for sheep farmers and is when most ewes in the UK give birth to their lambs.”

Lambing time Rearing sheep is big business in the UK adding £291.4m to the economy. The industry employs 34,000 people on farms with an additional 111,405 jobs in allied industries.

W

ith around one billion sheep worldwide, the UK is home to 25 per cent of the EU sheep flock, and three per cent of the global flock.

The UK also produces one third of EU sheep meat and is currently the sixth biggest producer worldwide.

Spring is the busiest time for sheep farmers and is when most ewes in the UK give birth to their lambs.

But, lambs can be born anytime between December and May, depending on the system and location.

GettinG help Small flocks are easily managed, but farmers with large flocks and hundreds of ewes often lambing at the same time, will often need assistance at lambing time. The Lambing List run by the National Sheep Association, benefits both farmers and students and matches agricultural or veterinary students who need work experience as part of their course, with farmers who need assistance.

44 ≈ Modern Farming

The UK produces one third of EU sheep meat q

The NSA's Lambing List is a useful way of matching students with farmers who need help

be clear

Lambing takes place from December to May depending on the system q

Remember that students may not have been on a placement before so it’s important that everyone is clear about what to expect including accommodation, food, whether students will be paid and how many hours of work there will be. Also, be aware that students may say they are experienced when in fact they may not be, so always supervise students until you are sure they are competent. It’s also important to communicate clearly; tasks may seem obvious but misunderstandings can and do arise.

It’s still not too late to add your name to the list if you are looking for help with your flock. Visit www.nationalsheep.org.uk/lambing-list for all the information you need, including how the system works and guidance for all participants.

Sheep farmers interested in using the list who are not yet NSA members can find membership application information at www.nationalsheep.org. uk/membership or from NSA HQ on 01684 892661.

For more information: visit the National sheep association at www.nationalsheep.org.uk

Watch out for over-fat lambs Sheep farmers in England are being urged to finish lambs at the right time to avoid the animals becoming over fat thanks to poor grass and supplementary feeding.

Although it is important that lambs meet target specification but in recent weeks, there has been an increase in over-finished lambs.

Steve Powdrill, Technical Manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb, says; “The issue has arisen following a spell of poorer quality grass, which in general has meant that farmers have been opting for supplementary finishing or dry feed. As a result, lambs can finish and change very quickly. To this end, we have seen an increase in over-fat lambs in both livestock markets and abattoirs.

“Over-finished lambs produce a fatty product which has a negative effect on consumer perception. It is important we maintain the quality of home-grown lamb, so we’re looking for our farmers to be more vigilant when finishing and selecting stock for slaughter.”

Further information on selecting lambs for slaughter is available in the AHDB Beef & Lamb Better Returns Programme manual, Marketing Prime Lambs for Better Returns. n

For more information: Visit http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk

Modern Farming ≈ 45

Livestock

Antibiotics Target Task Force sets objectives A new ‘Targets Task Force’ has met for the first time to set objectives in reducing, refining and replacing antibiotic use in all UK livestock sectors.

T

he group, which has been set up by RUMA (an agricultural and food industry alliance which promotes responsible use of medicines in farm animals) discussed how each livestock sector could play its part in what is an international push across human and animal medicine to reduce use of antibiotics.

A common, co-ordinated strategy was agreed at the meeting, explains RUMA chair Gwyn Jones, that over the coming months, each sector will define objectives to lower disease burden, improve immunity and use products more effectively to minimise the development of antibiotic resistance.

He says; “Currently, the UK is among the lower users of antibiotics in farming in Europe. Recently published antibiotic sales data for food producing animals also shows a 10 per cent reduction between 2014 and 2015, progress the industry hopes to continue.

“Despite this, we all understand the message that we must further reduce antibiotic use where it’s possible to do so without impacting animal welfare.

The Government has challenged UK agriculture to reduce average antibiotic use by a fith by 2018 but has also supported the move for the industry to develop its own sector-specific targets, asking for these to be confirmed by the end of 2017.

The Task Force is scheduled to meet every two months throughout next year with update announcements planned ater each meeting.

46 ≈ Modern Farming

What is RUMa? Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) was established in November 1997 to promote the highest standards of food safety, animal health and animal welfare in the British livestock industry.

It is a unique, independent non-profit group involving organisations that represent all stages of the food chain from ‘farm to fork’. This reflects the importance of traceability, transparency and accountability at all stages in the chain; from primary food production, through processing, manufacturing and retailing to the final consumer.

Its membership includes organisations representing interests in agriculture, veterinary practice, animal medicines industry, farm assurance, training, retailers, consumers and animal welfare interests.

RUMA aims to produce a co-ordinated and integrated approach to best practice in animal medicine use. It has an established communications network with government departments and many non-governmental organisations. n

For more information: Visit www.ruma.org.uk

Clive Emson Auctioneers

Y

ou’ve probably seen the Clive Emson Auctioneers team on BBC1’s ‘Homes Under The Hammer’ but what you might not know is that Graham Barton is a livestock auctioneer at heart and both he and Katie Semmens are married to or are directly from farming stock, whilst Scott has vast experience in this sector, meaning that the industry is very much part of all of their lives.

These could be reasons enough to have a member of the team out to take a look at any property or land that you may be considering selling.

However, there is another very good reason.

Clive Emson Auctioneers cover the entire South of England doing just auctions every six or seven weeks and as such there is literally no danger whatsoever of any relationships existing where there may be other business pressures affecting our advice or disposal strategies.

We only ever have the one aim which is to make the most money possible of the asset with which we’ve been entrusted, without fear or favour.

For more information:

For confidential advice or a free auction appraisal call Graham Barton, Scott Gray or Katie Semmens on 01392 366555 or view available Lots at www.cliveemson.co.uk

Scott Gray (AssocRICS MNAVA), Katie Semmens (MNAEA) and Graham Barton (MRICS).

Recently selling for £260,000 from a guide price of £160,000£200,000 is this former 12 acre trout farm with barn, workshop and flat.

West Country House, 5 Kew Court, Pynes Hill, Exeter westcountry@cliveemson.co.uk 01392 366555

5

good reasons to choose

A range of West Country property and land lots including:

Clive Emson Auctioneers whether buying or selling

1. One of the Top 5 Auctioneers in the UK 2. Regional offices with teams offering a wealth of local knowledge for buyers and sellers 3. 90-95% sale rates regularly achieved (significantly above the national average)

Duporth Road, Charlestown Cottage for updating Character three bedroom cottage for modernisation and perhaps extension with large gardens. Rural at rear yet only 500m from harbour. epc:g Guide: £180-205,000

St Levan Road, Plymouth Unusual two-flat residential investment A leasehold property with 9 years remaining on its lease that is currently producing £11,440 per annum. epc:d Guide: £35-45,000

Bolton Street, Brixham Commercial/residential opportunity Mixed residential and commercial premises for modernisation with potential. epc:tbc Guide: £90-110,000

Manstone Lane, Sidmouth Land and building Former Air Training Corps classroom on largely level site with potential, located in a favoured area. epc:g Guide: £25-35,000

Fore Street, Brixham Comm/resi development opportunity Four storey town centre former NatWest building with some parking. Multiple commercial and residential unit conversion opportunity. epc:tbc Guide: £185-215,000

4. High profile marketing (local and national) 5. Exclusively trading as Independent Auctioneers - we focus purely on auctions.

Entries are continually invited so please call us on 01392 366555 if you require professional friendly advice regarding any aspect of the auction process

Chamberlain Road, Exeter Vacant three bedroom house Substantial three bedroom end terrace house for refurbishment and repair in popular resi/letting location. epc:d Guide: £135-155,000

Guides are provided as an indication of each Seller’s minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to Auction. Unless stated otherwise, each Lot will be offered subject to a reserve (a figure below which the Auctioneer cannot sell the Lot during the Auction). We expect the reserve will be set within the guide range or no more than 10% above a single figure guide. All lots are sold subject to legal documentation. Please check our website regularly at cliveemson.co.uk, or call 01392 366555, in order to stay fully informed.

NEXT FIVE DAY AUCTION

Covering the whole of the southern region

6-10 February

Entries now invited for our March auction

48 ≈ Modern Farming

For a printed catalogue please call 0330 024 1044 or view available Lots at cliveemson.co.uk

Join us on:

property

Burrow Farm, Ashbrittle, Wellington A superbly positioned farm with stunning views to the Blackdown Hills

T

INFORMATION ® Lot 1: Burrow View Bungalow, Buildings & Land: 61.46 acres Guide: £850,000 ® Lot 2: Land: 46.04 acres Guide: £400,000 ® ADDItIoNAL LAND: 45.51 acres Guide: £350,000

he village of Appley is 2.5 miles to the east and has a primary school, village store/post office and The Globe Inn, a popular public house.

Burrow Farm is a productive mixed holding in an elevated position with panoramic views, situated on the Devon/Somerset border with stunning views, one mile west of the quiet village of Ashbrittle. The farm extends to 107.50 Acres (43.50 hectares) of mostly south-facing land, including some productive arable and pasture fields. There is further land available if required.

Burrow View bungalow occupies a south-facing position towards the south-western end of the farm. It was constructed during the early 1990s with rendered elevations, a slate roof and double glazing throughout. The bungalow is finished to a good standard and is subject to an agricultural occupancy condition (AOC).

The modern farm buildings are versatile and presently used for housing livestock, fodder and machinery. The farm has excellent road frontage and the land comprises a mixture of productive arable and pasture fields, most of which is south-facing.

The land, a mixture of level and some sloping, is predominantly south facing. n

For further details contact: STAgS FARM AgeNcy 21 Southernhay West, exeter, Devon eX1 1PR Tel: 01392 680059 email: farms@stags.co.uk BuRROW FARM Price: POA

Modern Farming ≈ 49

DIVERSIFICATION

Laying pheasants are penned in a ratio of eight hens to each cock, much as they breed in the wild

Getting into game birds Shooting is an increasingly popular activity in the UK, so why not consider diversifying into game bird farming?

E

very farmer is looking for ways to diversify but it’s important to do thorough research before committing to a new, and potentially costly, business opportunity. Raising game birds requires time, land and investment so we guide you through the basics to help you decide.

Pic: Game Farmers' Association

Game bird chicks are reared indoors under heat for their first few days of life

Rules and Regulations

good stock Bear in mind that how you raise the birds will affect your success rate (and profits) so it’s worth putting in the time to research the best methods before starting.

Good quality breeding stock is the primary consideration together with disease prevention.

Be careful when mixing birds from different sources and keep separate. Reject any birds which display signs of illness.

50 ≈ Modern Farming

eggs Game bird breeding is about getting the most from your birds. That is: maximising egg production; ensuring eggs are fertile; hatching eggs and raising chicks. So be sure to follow each part of the process carefully to avoid what could be preventable losses. ●

Once laid, eggs should be handled with extreme care

●

Avoid contamination; collect eggs frequently including in the evening

●

Clean the eggs using a commercial solution – follow directions carefully

●

Store eggs between 13 ºC and 17 ºC for 24 hours at a relative humidity of 75 per cent before setting; storing eggs for too long can result in failure.

Pic: Flickpicpete/Flickr

For over a century, shoots have relied on hand-reared game birds, raised on game bird farms, to supplement wild stocks. Today, the majority (83 per cent) rely on the 300 or so game farms for their stocks.

There are strict codes of practice governing the rearing of game birds. While breaching the code is not an offence, if an animal welfare offence is considered to have taken place, the breeder can be prosecuted. The Game Farmers' Association requires members to follow the code and offers those who buy from members a guarantee that eggs, chicks and poults have been raised to a high welfare standard.

Cock pheasant

TOp Tips

Pic: Game Farmers' Association

® Your land. Do you have enough space?

To prevent disease, pens must be relocated each year to a fresh area so allow three times the area you need for one season. ® Are you in the right place? If you are too isolated you may not be able to meet regulations for transporting the birds to your buyers. ® Consider neighbouring farms and bird populations as potential disease risks. ® Climate and topography. You need free-draining land away from water sources (wildfowl increase the risk of bird flu). Avoid areas with a high footfall (land with public footpaths/bridleways). ® You will need to make a change of use application for farmland as game bird rearing is a non-agricultural use of land.

Consider how this will affect BPS or other subsidies you may currently receive.

Perches in the runs will encourage young pheasants to start using their wings

BIRD FLU The presence of bird flu in the UK is of serious concern to game bird breeders. Bird flu was confirmed on 24th January in a flock of farmed breeding pheasants in Lanacashire.

At the time of going to press, the Prevention Zone to protect poultry from Avian Flu had been extended to 28th February but there are no restrictions on shooting activities. However, the GWCT advises that: ®

Shoots near areas with confirmed cases should practice extra vigilance

®

Keepers of captive game birds must minimise the risk of contact with wild birds where indoor housing is not practicable

®

Be vigilant and look out for signs of sickness/disease/dead birds (captive, free living and wild birds) and report any concerns to the Defra Helpline (03459 335577)

®

Ensure that captive flocks of 50 or more birds (chickens, ducks, partridges, pheasants, etc) are registered with Defra

®

Ensure high levels of biosecurity

®

Visit the National Gamekeepers website for very important advice on bird flu and game birds: www.nationalgamekeepers.org

®

Bird flu updates: https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/avian-influenza-bird-fluin-winter-2016-to-2017

®

Identifying bird flu: www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-birdflu#prevention-zone

Breeding pens These should offer the birds the environment they need to stay healthy and stress fresh.There is a minimum amount of space game birds need depending on the species and there should be adequate cover for egg laying and territorial marking. Provide plenty of food and water containers to reduce competitive behaviour

rearing field This area should be considered to be an isolation ward for young birds. Prevent disease by establishing strict biosecurity measures prior to chicks being moved to the field.

Providing high quality housing with appropriate heat, light and ventilation will help to ensure healthy birds. It’s essential there is enough shelter, feeders and drinkers for all the birds at one time and for free movement within housing. n

For more information: Game Farmers' Association – www.gfa.org.uk

Pic: Game Farmers' Association

® Do your research; prepare a business plan and consider your customer base. Bear in mind you will be investing huge amounts and can't ask for payment up front until you are established and trusted.

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust – www.gwct.org.uk

Modern Farming ≈ 51

NEWS

2018 Nuffield Farming Scholarship applications open The application process for 2018 Nuffield Scholarships is now open and prospective Scholars are being encouraged to apply well in advance of the 31st July deadline.

W

ith a bursary of up to £7,000 available as well as a vast network of Scholars around the globe, a Nuffield Scholarship is often referred to as a life-changing experience.

2015 Scholar, Dafydd Saunders-Jones explains how his Scholarship has enriched his life. “I was awarded my Scholarship in 2014, on the topic of the eradication of bovine TB in Europe, which is a subject that’s very close to my heart.”

"The Scholarships lend themselves to motivated individuals with a passion for their industry. So, if you want to make a difference and develop yourself as a person, then make sure you apply. It’s good to challenge yourself and expand the mind.”

Mike Vacher, Nuffield Director, looks forward to seeing applications from passionate individuals that are keen to broaden their horizons. “Although the application deadline isn’t until 31st July 2017, I’d recommend applying as soon as possible. We can put you in contact with Scholars who can provide firsthand advice and give you a wider understanding of exactly what the Scholarship entails.”

Mike Vacher, director of Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.

Former winner, Jonathan Baker, is a ‘South West lad’ and former winner of the scholarship who now works for the CLA as a Senior Land Use Policy Adviser.

“The Scholarships lend themselves to motivated individuals with a passion for their industry” No formal or academic qualifications are a prerequisite for a Nuffield Scholarship, but all applicants must be aged between 22 and 45 years old and have been involved in farming, food, horticulture, rural or related industries for at least two years. n

For more information: To apply for a Nuffield Scholarship, please visit www.nuffieldscholar.org or contact the Nuffield Trust on 01460 234012.

Exmoor Hill Farming Network presents ‘Future of the Family Farm’

E

xmoor Hill Farming Network will be holding their first key event working with their sponsor Natwest.

‘The Future of the Family’ will be on Thursday 23rd February at The George Hotel, South Molton from 10.15am to 12.30pm. A panel of industry experts will include talks by Davison’s on ‘An accountant’s viewpoint’; Natwest on ‘Financial implications’ and

52 ≈ Modern Farming

Stephen Scown Solicitors on ‘Legal implications’.

This will be followed by a Question and Answer Session.

Booking is essential for catering (bacon rolls will be provided). n

For more information: Contact Katherine Williams on 01643 84155 or email KWilliams@northdevonplus.co.uk

KWS Forage Maize n

Dedicated breeding programme for UK

n

Rapid early vigour

n

Excellent starch content

n

Maximise your potential per hectare with KWS hybrids

AUGUSTUS KWS n

Ultra Early FAO 160

PEREZ KWS n

Ultra Early FAO 160

SERGIO KWS n

Ultra Early FAO 160

SEVERUS n

Early FAO 170

AUTENS KWS n

Early FAO 170

AURELIUS KWS n

Early FAO 180

www.kws-uk.com

SEEDING THE FUTURE SINCE 1856

THE 127th HONITON AGRICULTURAL SHOW Thursday 3rd August 2017

HORSE AND PONY CLASSES - HEAVY HORSES CATTLE AND SHEEP CLASSES - POULTRY PRIVATE DRIVING - VINTAGE TRACTORS - DOG SHOW OVER 400 TRADE STANDS / CRAFT TENT / FOOD HALL RURAL SKILLS / COUNTRYSIDE AREA / DONKEY RIDES YOUNG FARMERS CLUBS / BEES & HONEY ACTION PACKED MAIN RING INCLUDING BOLDDOG LINGS FREESTYLE TEAM JOSEPHS AMAZING CAMELS RIDGESIDE LURCHER DISPLAY

Please apply for Trade Stands, Horse and Livestock Schedules

Advance Tickets just £14.50 - Children Under 16 FREE

visit our web site www.honitonshow.co.uk Secretary: Marcelle Connor (Tel/Fax: 01404 41794) Bank House, 66a High Street, Honiton, Devon EX14 1PS

Fitting Agents Required

QUALITY SERVICE VALUE Case IH Puma CVX185

Case IH Puma 145 MHR

Case IH Maxxum 130 Multicontroller

2012 model with 6950 hours. Front linkage & PTO, 50kph, screen.

2015 model with 1150 hours. Ex hire machine, immaculate condition.

50KPH, full suspension, air and exhaust brakes & factory linkage.

2011 with 3500 hours.

50KPH with full suspension and air brakes. Multicontroller armrest with electronic spool valves.

£50,950 + VAT

£28,950 + VAT

£34,950 + VAT Welger RP245 Xtracut round baler

John Deere 644 Premium baler

2010 model. Chopper and drop floor.

Serviced and ready for work.

2013 model with all the usual extras.

Only 15K bale count.

£12,950 + VAT

John Deere 623 Silage master round baler 2009 model in very tidy condition.

£14,950 + VAT

£7,950 + VAT

Used Lely 320 front and rear mowers

Teagle 808 SC Strawchopper

Lely Splendimo 320 Classic mower

Both 2015 models.

Fully serviced

2011 with swivel chute and electric controls. Other similar machines in stock.

2012 model in good order. Fully serviced.

£13,500 + VAT

£5,500 + VAT

£3,950 + VAT

We are pleased to announce the recruitment of an additional Salesman to join our team.

Rob Owens will represent the business covering the West Somerset and East Devon areas.

Lely Welger RP245 Tornado

Welger RP202 Special

Baler wrapper combination. 2014 model with 30K bale count. Fully dealer serviced and warranty.

2012 model with very low bale count. Very tidy condition.

£29,950 + VAT

£11,950 + VAT

Case IH Puma 160

Hispec 2500 Gallon tanker

50KPH with full suspension and air brakes. 2013 with 4500 hours.

Straight machine with wide tyres.

£34,950 + VAT

£4,500 + VAT

Hispec 2000 Gallon tanker

Case IH Puma CVX230

2008 Model in tidy order.

2014 model with 50KPH and full suspension. CVT transmission. Front linkage and reversible fan

£X,950 + VAT

James Pryce Tractors TIVERTON DEPOT Heathcoat Garage, Westexe North, Tiverton, Devon EX16 5LX 01884 257544 SOUTH MOLTON DEPOT Unit 4, North Aller, South Molton, EX36 3RF 01769 574941 Andrew Pryce Keith Hayes Sam Tucker Rob Owens

07971 001286 07850 889251 07590 442680 07970 270568

£62,500 + VAT

Full stock available to view with additional pictures on our website - Visit www.jprycetractors.co.uk

Telephone: 01288 341326 Mobile: 07966 241949 Fax: 01288 341588 Web: www.cornishtractors.co.uk

Timberlake, Week St Mary, Devon EX22 6XG

ITS TEDDER AND RAKE TIME AGAIN

CHAPMAN SNACKERS IN STOCK. ELECTRIC DROP CONTROLS AND COUNTER GREAT VALUE BRITISH BUILT MACHINE. POA

WE WILL BE SEEING THE FIRST OF THIS YEARS STOCK OF USED MACHINES IN FEB DONT LEAVE IT TOO LATE

SAVE THE DATE 14th MARCH 2017

HYUNDI 55-9 DIGGER WITH HYDRAULIC Q HITCH AND 3 BUCKETS 2010 2000 hrs. £15,250

OPEN DAY TUESDAY 14TH MARCH COME AND SEE THE LATEST MACHINES FROM LANDINI, CONOR, HUDSON, INDESPENSION, CHAPMAN, RITCHIE, CLH AND MANY OTHERS

THE ALL NEW INDESPENSION CATTLE TRAILERS IN STOCK 12 or 14ft PLAIN CATTLE OR DECK GREAT BRITISH BUILT VALUE POA

COME AND TRY THE LATEST MODELS OF ATVs & UTVs FROM SUZUKI, YAMAHA & POLARIS ALSO A LARGE SELECTION OF USED MACHINES REFRESHMENTS ALL DAY AND TAKE PART IN OUR CHALLENGE COMPETITIONS LANDINI 5H-110 C/W LOADER FULL SPEC POWER SHUTTLE 2012 2,200 hrs OWNER DRIVER MINT TRACTOR MUST BE SEEN £24,000

MORE DETAILS IN NEXT MONTHS ADVERT!

IFOR WILLIAMS PLANT TRAILER DONE VERY LITTLE IN MINT CONDITION WITH NO VAT £1200

CORNISH TRACTORS ARE NOW THE DEALER FOR HUDSON TRAILERS ACROSS ALL OF ENGLAND AND WALES THESE TRAILERS COME IN A LARGE NO OF SPECS FROM 16ft to 32ft 10ton TO 20ton TWIN AXLE OR TRI AXLE, OIL OR AIR BRAKES PLAIN CATTLE OR WITH SHEEP DECKS, MANUAL OR HYDRAULIC

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND PRICE RING TIM ON 01288 341326 OR 07966 241949 HUDSON TRAILERS ARE BUILT TO USE AND LAST AND ALL COME WITH GALVANISED CHASSIS, LED LIGHTS, SLURRY TANK AND ALL ALLY USED IS 3.5mm THICK HUDSON TRAILERS ARE BUILT IN NORTHERN IRELAND SO ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE EURO EXCHANGE RATE - BUILT BY A FARMING FAMILY FOR FARMERS

NEWS AND VIEWS

Cross Compliance Solutions Launch New Consultancy Service

C

ross Compliance Solutions (CXCS) have bolstered their market leading agricultural consultancy practice with the launch of a new service, Farm Safety Solutions (FSS).

FSS will provide agricultural businesses throughout the UK with a comprehensive Risk Management service for all of their health and safety needs, as well as advice on other hazards, such as fire and security.

FSS will help farmers to take a pro-active approach to their risk management and believe that they have developed a unique method to assess farm businesses in a cost-effective way, with a risk assessment process that is second to none in the agricultural industry.

CXCS are experienced in helping farmers through their RPA and EA inspections and have attended hundreds of inspections on behalf of their clients.

They ensure that their clients are fully prepared with all of the relevant paperwork up-to-date, helping them to avoid any cross compliance breaches or subsequent BPS penalties. They offer a bespoke service advising on all areas of Cross Compliance, including Greening, Basic Payments Scheme, mapping and more.

| Cross Compliance Limited and Farm Safety Solutions team.

Charles Mayson, Managing Director of FSS explained; “Our mission is to help farmers get on top of their health and safety issues; to understand the risks that they face and their obligations as employers and business owners. We decided to move into this sector to utilise our experience in working with farmers to offer comprehensive Health and Safety advice and to make a real change within the industry identified as the most dangerous to work in in the UK.” n

For more information:

Contact Marketing consultant Charlotte Edwards on 07947 644847 or email cledwardsmarketing@gmail.com

Awarded

CAN-AM BEST OVERALL DEALER OF 2016

TRAXTER TOUGH • CAPABLE • CLEVER Getting the job done is what the Traxter is designed to do and does best. Whether it’s working the woods, roaming and ruling the farmland, or leading the hunt. From the toughness of its outperforming engine and all-terrain traction, to its steadfast, classleading payload and towing capabilities, to the out-and-out intelligence and flexibility of its work and ride-enhancing innovations.

TRAXTER DOES IT ALL. AND BETTER.

PRICES FROM - £8499 + VAT

On-A-Hill Garage Ltd, Lynton Cross, Ifracombe, North Devon EX34 9RQ

www.ohgquads.com email: info@ohgquads.com CALL 01271 862691 AND SPEAK TO LLOYD OR GEOFF FOR DEMO

58 ≈ Modern Farming

Return Address: Modern Farming Magazine, Holbrook, The Moors, Porthleven, Cornwall TR13 9AJ

www.kellands.com HEAD OFFICE Kellands Plant Sales Ltd Salmon Parade Bridgwater Somerset TA6 5JY T: +44 (0) 1278 451601

SALES T: 01278 411542 sales@kellandsplantsales.co.uk PARTS T: 01278 411541 parts@kellandsplantsales.co.uk SERVICE T: 01278 411540 parts@kellandsplantsales.co.uk