December 2015 Farming Monthly National

Farming

MONTHLY National

December 2015

Inside this issue...

LAMMA

Show preview |

Forestry

| Woodland owners missing out on millions Fencing

Arable

Market’s longest lasting ‘green fencing’ launched |

| Spring cropping

Livestock | Ladies in Beef seek support to boost suckler beef breeding herds Also Inside: Buildings | Grain | Machinery | Tyres | On-Topic | Energy | ATV | Motors

Contents

10

12

December 2015

44 48

FMN

Features

FMN

Regulars

14 17 18 23 32 38 42 44 53

Arable

06 12 20 47 56 58

News

Spring cropping, black grass

Feature Supermarkets avoiding ‘wonky’ produce

Grain 2016 wheat crop: Hoping & coping

LAMMA Show preview

Livestock Ladies in Beef seek support for beef breeding herds

Buildings Latest buildings news

Fencing Market’s longest lasting green fencing launched

Catch up on the news that matters

On Topic Bee Vectoring Technologies

Energy Fuelling growth & Getting the most from Biomass

Machinery New JD tractors introduced

ATV Beat winter with Honda, 5 tips for buying UTV

Motors Latest motors news

NEXT MONTH LAMMA preview

Forestry Farmers missing out on untapped income We welcome feedback and encourage readers to air their views. Have an opinion on a story or something you want to get off your chest? Write to us at the address below or email letters@farmingmonthly.com

Tyres Latest tyre news

Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as necessary and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies. Full copyright applies. All rights reserved 2015.

Andrew Poulton EDITOR

Connect with us: Published in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Editor Andrew Poulton Editorial Assistant editorial@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Director Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Julie Smith j.smith@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Laura Green l.green@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Phil Barry p.barry@farmingmonthly.com Accounts Manager Cheryl Arnold c.arnold@farmingmonthly.com Production studio@farmingmonthly.com Subscriptions subscriptions@farmingmonthly.com For editorial and general enquiries or to advertise please call Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com

12

Subscribe Great reasons Still to subscribe... just £18 for • Free delivery direct to your door • Never miss an issue

12 issues !

Keep up-to-date with the latest news in the farming industry by subscribing to Farming Monthly National - the UK’s leading directly distributed, national agricultural publication.

Paying by cheque: Please complete your name and address details below and make your cheque payable to Farming Monthly Ltd and send to: Farming Monthly Subscriptions, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ or call us on 02476 353537 You can also buy a single copy or subscribe online using our secure payment method.

See below

Yes please I’d like to subscribe Name: ...................................................................................................

CLOSING DATE: 30th December 2015 Enter online at www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Answer: a), b) or c)? ............................................

Do................................................................................................... you use social media? Follow Us! Name:

Address: ............................................................................................... .....................................................................Postcode: ........................

Telephone: ............................................................................................

Email: ...................................................................................................

Farm Type: ..................................... Acreage:.......................................

Address: ...............................................................................................

Buy a single edition or subscribe at

Front cover: First snow of the year...didn’t last long...

.....................................................................Postcode: ........................

Telephone: ............................................................................................

Email: ...................................................................................................

Farm Type: ............................................................

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk/subscriptions

Acreage: ................................................................

Alternatively...

Buy a single copy or subscribe online at www.farmingmonthly.co.uk/subscriptions By including your email address, you indicate your consent for us to email you information about selected products, events and services from Farming Monthly Ltd, our affiliated companies and from carefully chosen third parties. To opt out tick here. I do not wish you receive emails from: Farming Monthly Ltd Affiliate Companies Third parties

Visit the Farming Monthly website at www.farmingmonthly.co.uk and read our digital edition on your tablet or other mobile devices.

| News

RPA confirms BPS payments are already hitting farmers’ bank accounts in England The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed that over 33,000 farmers in England have been paid their full 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claim on the first day of the payment window. n what has been a challenging BPS 2015 year, the RPA’s focus has always been on releasing these important funds into the farming community. These payments to farmers represent at least 38% of those who claimed.

This is in addition to having made some £21 million of EU dairy support payments to almost 11,000 dairy farmers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Today’s figures on dairy payments are an uplift on those released on the 16th November, when the RPA confirmed that almost £19.2 million went to threequarters of all eligible dairy farmers, a fortnight ahead of schedule.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “We understand the importance of these payments to our hardworking farmers and I’m pleased to confirm that over a third of the total 88,000 claimants will see their Basic Payment Scheme money going into their bank accounts from today, the opening day of the payment window.

“After making dairy support payments a fortnight ahead of schedule, the RPA has now pulled out all the stops to get BPS payments underway. I know RPA staff are continuing to work flat out to ensure the agency meets its

I

commitment to pay the majority of farmers by the end of this month and the vast majority by the end of January.

“We understand the importance of these payments to our hard working farmers” “We recognise low global prices have made it a tough year for farmers. As well as ensuring prompt payments, we are working to build the long-term resilience of the industry, including introducing a fairer tax system, pushing for clearer labelling of British dairy products, setting up a futures market for dairy and working with the industry to open up new export markets.”

The RPA will issue BPS and remaining EU dairy support fund payments via BACS transfer.

Applicants are reminded that if their bank details have changed or they still need to register on the Rural Payments system, they need to call the Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301. The agency will be unable to make payments to applicants who are not registered.

The RPA will continue to work hard to pay the remainder of claims as soon as possible and remains on track to pay over half of eligible BPS claims by the end of the month and the vast majority by the end of January.

06 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

Badger vaccine suspension in Wales a blow to erradication programme BVA response to Welsh Government announcement that Badger vaccination project is to be suspended due to the global shortage of the BCG vaccine. eil Paton, President of BVA Welsh Branch, said: “This is disappointing news and will be a significant blow to the bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) eradication programme in Wales. However, it is clear that the One Health and human health agenda should take priority in this case.

“We urge Welsh Government to reconsider its eradication programme as a matter of urgency, particularly in relation to wildlife control. We welcome the move to commission modelling work to evaluate the impact of suspension and we are keen to work with the Government to identify an evidence-based solution to this problem so that any potential

N

progress made in Wales is not lost.”

BVA President Sean Wensley added: “This development further emphasises the need for the agricultural sector to have as many tools in the toolbox as possible in order to fight bTB. It is right that public health takes priority but it is regrettable that the supply chain is so vulnerable and we would want to see more security in the future.

“We also expect the global shortage will affect the bTB eradication programmes in England and Northern Ireland, both of which include an element of badger vaccination.

We will continue to engage with all UK governments to push for comprehensive and evidencebased eradication strategies.”

CAP Simplification Announcement Phil Hogan, EU Agriculture & Rural Development Commissioner announced this week a “simplification” for various elements affecting the BPS nnouncement included: • Allowing “preventative preliminary checks” to BPS applications to allow Paying Agencies to “identify problems with farmers’ applications” up to 35 days after the application submission deadline and correct those without applying penalties.

• A reduction of the number of on-the-spot checks • Farmers having “further possibilities to modify their declaration regarding the use of agricultural parcels for the purpose of greening”.

These elements could come into effect for BPS 2016 as the

A

modifications required to the Implementing Act may be adopted by the Commission in midDecember 2015.

Tony Rimmer of Rostons stated “it has taken considerable time for applicants and advisors to understand the recent changes to the CAP, any simplification of the policy can only benefit the process. Taking this announcement into consideration and the limited number of applicants that have applied for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, may result in the Scheme becoming more straightforward and as a result more attractive, benefiting British Farmers and the Policy makers”.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

HS2 Phase 2 consultation with landowners must start now The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has called on HS2 Ltd to begin engaging immediately with landowners who face having land compulsory purchased due to construction of HS2 Phase Two. he Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced today that the Government will aim to complete the route between Birmingham and Crewe by 2027, six years earlier than planned. As a result rural businesses along this section of the route now face years of uncertainty over the precise impact on their business.

CLA President Ross Murray said: “Families and businesses affected by compulsory purchase face many years of worry and uncertainty. HS2 Ltd and the Government must do all they can to minimise this harm that this presents to investment and jobs.

“HS2 Ltd failed to engage early enough with landowners and rural

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

businesses on Phase One of the scheme and must learn the lessons of this and do dramatically better this time. Their failure has caused delays, frustration and additional unnecessary costs for all sides.”

“Families and businesses affected by compulsory purchase face many years of worry and uncertainty” “It is vital that HS2 Ltd immediately begins meaningful engagement with rural businesses affected by today’s announcement to discuss the best way to minimise the impact of HS2 on their business.”

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Seen anything interesting on your travels?....

Gary Soutart did on his recent trip to Australia - though the machinery is looking a little worse for wear!

08 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Technology key to unlocking farming’s potential Technological innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of farming by improving productivity and tackling problems such as pests and disease, Farming Minister George Eustice said as he addressed the annual Northern Farming Conference. peaking at the event in Hexham, the minister said how food and farming is central to the northern economy, employing over 70,000 people. And to help the food and farming industry grow further, and produce even more, the government is investing some of its £160 million Agri-Tech Strategy funding into a range of exciting futuristic food and farming ‘Catalyst’ projects across Northern England.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: “Although there has been great pressure on farm incomes over the past 12 months, I believe the industry has a good future and technological advances will help British farmers improve their productivity and make the industry more resilient and better placed to deal with pests and diseases.

“Farmers are playing a central role in building a strong economy in the North and I want to support them to grow more and sell more.”

In Sheffield, a group of 40

S

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

farmers is trialling a self-driving ‘agribot’ to help them better manage hilly moorland grazing for sheep and cattle. The ‘agribot’, based on a bomb disposal robot, uses a suite of on-board sensors and cameras, coupled with information from OS maps and satellite images, to identify and remove weeds on tricky terrain. If successful, the technology, developed with the assistance of a £182,000 Agri-Tech Catalyst grant, could be used on a commercial scale.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, a consortium including the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and United Biscuits, supported by a £200,000 Agri-Tech Catalyst grant, is using scientific know-how to identify quality characteristics in soft (gluten-low) wheat in a bid to develop new, higher-quality UK varieties for use in our biscuit and whisky-making.

In addition to the innovative Agri-Tech Catalyst projects, run by Innovate UK, being funded in the North, the Joint Venture between Defra and Capita resulted in the launch of Fera Science Limited -

bringing a further £14.5m of new investment, enabling York-based Fera Science Limited to play an even greater role in helping to drive growth in the agri-food industry.

The investment builds upon the £2.7m already committed by the Local Enterprise Partnership to Defra’s National Agri-Food Innovation Campus, where Fera is based.

Farm Business Innovation Show proves a huge success again The Farm Business Innovation Show (running with Country House Innovation) ran last month (11th & 12th November) at the NEC in Birmingham and has had a fantastic response from visitors, speakers and exhibitors alike. e welcomed 6,921 visitors through the doors to 150 seminars, 300 exhibitors and industry leading experts. The show has also benefited from its move this year to the NEC (from Olympia in 2013 & 2014)

W

through additional space, easier access and more focused visitors.

Next year the show is being held on 9th and 10th November once again at the NEC Birmingham, with a diverse range of exhibitors already booked and expert speakers already being confirmed.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 09

| News

The Midlands Machinery Show was “even bigger and better” this year The Midlands Machinery Show had more of everything this year and may be a future threat to LAMMA, Yasmin Banner, Farming Monthly intern reports. n 2014 the Midlands Machinery Show had 165 stands.

This year the show was even bigger with over 200 stands. The event had stands both inside and out to separate the wide range of agricultural machinery the show was previewing.

Running over the course of two days, the Midlands Machinery Show took place at Newark from Wednesday 25th November to Thursday 26th November and was free to all attendees, opeing from 8am until 5pm on both days.

More than 7,000 people from across the country were in attendance to see what was going on with the latest advances in agricultural machinery. Specialist seminars were also part of the programme, allowing visitors to keep up with the latest developments.

The warmer weather on Wednesday 25th was perfect for an outdoor show at this time of year and created a great atmosphere.

Tony Hailstone, Sales Manager at TRP said: “The show is bigger and better than last year, there

I

have been people here since 8am”.

We asked Tony to compare the show with LAMMA: “MMS could take over...many people feel that LAMMA could be getting too big”, Tony responded.

Over-all, visitors seemed very happy with how the day went. A local cattle and sheep farmer, who didn’t attend LAMMA or the Midlands Machinery show last year, said: “I have come to the show this year to see what is new and what is developing - the show is good this year. I’ve seen a few bits and bobs I like”.

The Midlands machinery show enjoyed a brilliant turn out and previewed a spectacular range of agricultural machinery for all applications. With plenty of food stalls alongside the stands, indoors and outdoors, visitors could not go hungry or fail to be entertained.

Show Manager, George Taylor, said: “There was a great atmosphere around the showground and even though we have more exhibitors and visitors this year we pride ourselves on the intimate feel of the show and the networking opportunities this brings”.

10 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

Bee me up Scotty...

Enterprising delivery system launches Bees play a critical role in pollinating crops, but what if they could also deliver pesticides? Canadian company Bee Vectoring Technologies (BVT) has developed a system that does precisely that.

ommercially-bred bumblebees leave their hive via a specially designed tray filled with an organic pesticide powder - called BVT-CR7 - that’s harmless to the insect but inoculates flowering plants against a wide range of diseases including botrytis and Sclerotinia.

“The pesticide is a strain of a naturally occurring fungus called Clonostachys rosea. As the bees leave the hive they are forced to walk through a tray of powder so they pick up spores on their legs. When they land on flowers to pollinate them, they leave behind a sprinkling of the powder, which protects the plant and fruit against diseases,” explains Michael Collinson, the CEO of BVT. Because bees deliver the biocontrol straight to where it’s needed, there’s a lot less wastage compared with spraying an entire crop and surrounding area. BVT says that the same protection can be delivered with between 1% and 5% of the pesticide. Crops that can be protected using BVT’s system include tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and almonds.

The technology is based on research that started 20 years ago by Dr John Sutton, a plant pathologists at the University of Guelph. He worked with fellow plant scientist Dr Peter Kevan and agronomist Todd Mason to understand how a particular biofungus could help protect blooming crops before the research was commercialized.

C

Bee Vectoring Technology Bee Vectoring Technology – www.beevt.com

12 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

“The biocontrol works on families of diseases such as botrytis, which makes strawberries go grey and fuzzy. When you see a fuzzy strawberry, you throw it out. We control it to a great degree which can extend the shelf life of a strawberry up to 12 days,” Collinson says.

In addition to extending the shelf-life of produce, the system can work where chemical pesticides are starting to fail.

“Chemical pesticides that were working well in the 1980s or 1990s aren’t working so well now - we’re seeing resistance build up over time,” explains Mason. “Our solution of using natural fungus provides a physical block to the pathogen.”

Essentially, the insect-delivered fungus colonises the flower before a pathogen gets the chance to take over.

The BVT team isn’t the only operator in this field, but it is one of the first to commercialize the approach using bumblebees. In the early 1990s, honeybees were used to deliver a fungus called clonostachys to control grey mold in strawberries and raspberries.

They were also used to deliver a bacterial pesticide to kill off the sunflower moth and a virus to control the corn earworm.

The company chose bumblebees over honeybees for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are fairly easy to rear commercially and are used in almost all commercial greenhouses as pollinators. They are also bigger and can carry more of the powder, they don’t

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| On Topic

need any special training to handle, fly in colder temperatures and are less aggressive.

One of the biggest challenges, according to Collinson, was creating a powder that would cling to the bees’ legs without triggering grooming behavior. “We had one powder we thought was perfect, but we found the bees were stopping at the edge of the hive and brushing it off their legs,” he explains. This is because, when examined up close, the tiny particles had edges that were sharp rather than rounded. The company changed the formulation and now the bees don’t groom the powder off.

In addition to developing its own proprietary pesticide powder, BVT is working to combine its dispensing system with biological controls for different pathogens made by other companies. Tests are underway with products including the fungus Beauveria, which can control certain insect pests such as aphids; a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis which controls some moths and worms and Streptomycin, an antibiotic that controls a contagious disease that affects apples called fire blight.

Jeremy Kerr, a biodiversity researcher at the University of Ottawa, says that the idea of cutting back on sprayed chemicals is a good one.

“The industrial scale application of chemical pesticides is a huge problem. So anything that is going to reduce them is probably useful,” he says.

Making sure that the biocontrol only affects its intended target is vital,

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

say experts such as Sydney Cameron, an entomologist who specializes in bees.

“We need to know that microbiological organism is very specific and that it won’t harm anything in the wild, the bee vector or humans,” she says.

Both Kerr and Cameron point out that the long-term impact of pesticides on bees is still being explored and understood, and that most regulatory tests are carried out on honeybees, and not bumblebees. So they urge caution with regards to BVT’s selection of pesticide partners.

“Most of the effects on bees (of pesticides) are not manifested in terms of rates of short-term mortality - there are neurological effects that impair bees’ capacity to navigate back to the hive, for example,” he says.

“From a conservation perspective, we would urge that new technologies are properly tested and deployed in the right way to make sure they do not put any added pressure on wild or managed bees which are already struggling with the pressures of habitat loss, climate change, diseases and pesticide exposure,” says a spokeswoman for the Bumblebee Trust in the UK. Collinson agrees, pointing out that bumblebees are critical to their business.

“BVT’s first priority is to ensure excellent bee health and would avoid formulating harmful products with our carriers,” he says.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Spring cropping...

Managing a crop from planting through to harvest can be a demanding process, say’s Jack Ward, CEO British Growers. ariable weather conditions, attack by pests and diseases let alone meeting customer specifications on quality, quantity and appearance all need to be managed. And even if the outcome is a perfect crop there are the vagaries of the market and competition from overseas suppliers to overcome before any return on the initial investment can be realised.

There is mounting concern within the industry that the ongoing loss of active chemical formulations is making an already

V

14 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

difficult task even harder. The increasing regulation of plant protection products has resulted in the loss of a long list of products which provided protection for crops against numerous pests and diseases and without these formulations the risks incurred by growers in growing a wide range of crops increases significantly.

Clearly we need a robust system for the licensing of crop protection products but this needs to be balanced against the actual level of risk. The EU regulatory approach is to classify products in terms of hazard using a ‘what if’

and worst case scenario. This is reducing the crop management options open to growers.

This position might be more palatable if the same rules were applied to our overseas competitors but numerous examples of inconsistent licensing and use of products reveal this not to be the case. No wonder that we are seeing a reduction in our ability to produce the food we need in the UK and instead greater reliance on increased imports with implications for UK jobs and investment.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Figures reveal true value of spring barley in black-grass battle Heavy land growers need to re-examine the value of spring barley for controlling black-grass as new research from Hutchinsons reveals its gross margins can significantly outperform second wheat as well as deliver long-term reductions in weed numbers. nalysis of four years of data from the Black-grass Centre of Excellence in Brampton, Cambridgeshire, shows the gross margin from spring barley can be £150-200/ha more than second wheat once wider benefits from additional black-grass control and lower growing costs are factored in.

“Getting good black-grass control from a spring crop has long-term value across the rotation and I believe many growers need to look again at the justification for spring cropping,” technical manager Dick Neale says.

“All too often those on heavy land think spring crops can’t be grown, but our work at Brampton proves they can if you’re prepared to identify the problems and find solutions.”

A

“Spring barley yields of 8.5-10t/ha are easily possible on heavy land, but you need to push crops to achieve that”

Second wheats at Brampton typically delivered a gross margin of £490/ha from a long-term average yield of 9.5t/ha, which was above the £475/ha from spring barley yielding 7.5t/ha. However, in four years of growing second wheats under high black-grass pressure, 5-7% of crop was typically sprayedoff each year to minimise black-grass seed return, costing £52/ha. The extra passes and inputs required for winter-sown second wheats add another £50/ha in costs.

Furthermore, even where every step is taken to minimise black-grass pressure when autumn sowing, such as with delayed drilling and stale seedbeds, black-grass control is still very variable, with the best reduction in seed return typically 31% on average. This is 50% less than the average black-grass reduction in spring barley of 88%, Mr Neale says.

“Of all the cultural options available, ploughing is the only one that could give

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

somewhere near that 50% extra control as an average. Add a nominal value of this at £5060/ha to the gross margin calculations and the real gross margin from spring barley can soon be £150/ha and may be up to £200/ha better than a second wheat.”

Make it happen Mr Neale acknowledges the main factor preventing many growers on heavy clay-based soils from spring cropping is the time soils take to dry out and warm up in the spring. But he insists this can be overcome with appropriate management.

Autumn-sown cover crops are a particularly effective way of drying land out and conditioning soil ahead of spring drilling, he notes. “If you’re willing to spend £40-50/ha on ploughing, why not spend that on a cover crop instead which can effectively do the same job and increase your window for drilling in spring.”

Being realistic about the likely establishment of spring-sown crops on heavy land is also key and high seed rates need to be used to compensate for the more hostile establishment conditions, he says.

Most research suggests 60-70% establishment is typical, which means seed rates for spring barley need to be 450-500/m2 to give an established plant population of around 300 plants/m2 and optimise yield and black-grass suppression, he advises.

“Heavier soils have the ability to hold moisture through to grain fill much better than traditional light barley land, so there’s much less risk of poor grain fill and low bushel weights.”

North Cambridgeshire-based Hutchinsons agronomist Simon Wilcox believes good seedbed preparation and effective control of weeds and volunteers in the autumn is another key to growing spring crops on heavy land.

He recommends spraying off any autumnemerged black-grass with glyphosate in September, early November and again in January, leaving at least 5-6 weeks before drilling to allow any black-grass root exudates to breakdown in the soil.

Simon Wilcox

Growers should wait until ground conditions are suitable to go straight in with the drill at a high seed rate in the spring to avoid stimulating a new flush of black-grass within the crop, he says.

“Last year the best yields came from drilling on 20th March, but that will vary from season to season. You can comfortably wait until midApril before drilling spring barley without compromising yield, so there’s no need to rush out if conditions aren’t suitable.”

A clear favourite Mr Wilcox is clear that barley is the best spring cropping option for growers on heavy land with high levels of black-grass.

Growing costs are around half those of winter wheat and it spreads workloads, provides a good entry for oilseed rape and offers the strongest choice of pre-emergence herbicide options, such as the extensions to use for flufenacet + diflufenican or flufenacet + pendimethalin, he says.

Growers should opt for dual purpose varieties with good malting potential like RAGT Planet or KWS Irina and tailor management to deliver higher yields, he advises.

“Spring barley yields of 8.5-10t/ha are easily possible on heavy land, but you need to push crops to achieve that. It may mean you’re applying 140-180kg/ha of nitrogen, but you can do that and still achieve malting specification as the higher yields dilute grain nitrogen, however these higher nitrogen rates cannot be used with older varieties like Propino or Concerto.”

There has been renewed interest in spring beans over recent seasons, but Mr Wilcox says the crop is not generally suitable where blackgrass is a problem. “Spring beans are not a competitive crop and there are very limited herbicide options.

“If you want to grow beans, winter varieties sown around early November with a direct drill may be a better option. This at least gives the option of using propyzamide and clomazonebased herbicides to control black-grass, but seedbed conditions are of key importance.”

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Arable

The good and the (b)ugly: New thinking in a post-chemical agriworld Agri-Tech East Pollinator event looks at new approaches to pesticides and natural products lugs are on the increase and they are getting more determined. The first real sign of the scale of the problem was seen during the warm wet weather of 2012, which triggered an invasion of slugs not previously seen in the UK. The John Innes Centre (JIC) warns new thinking is needed if we are to protect valuable food crops from future attacks and this is the subject of the January Pollinator.

Dr Jonathan Clarke, Business Development Manager at JIC, explains: “The former HGCA estimated that the UK loses £100m pa through slug damage to arable crops; for oil seed rape around 59% of the total area is affected by slugs.

“Many of the chemicals traditionally used to control slugs and flea beetles are being withdrawn from use because overuse may cause environmental damage. For example, one common molluscide Methaldehyde contaminates 81 of the country’s 647 reservoirs. Without these pesticides, however, the problem is going to get worse; we have already seen an increase in flea beetles this year, which had been virtually eradicated.”

The slugs are also getting more deadly. In 2012 East Anglia experienced infestations that were truly extraordinary, with large slugs being seen in their hundreds in many gardens!

One of these gardens belonged to Dr Ian Bedford, Head of Entomology the JIC on the Norwich Research Park. He found masses of brown, black, fawn or mustard coloured slugs up to 15cms long every morning on his lawn and suspected something odd was going on.

S

16 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

Although these slugs looked like a native Arionid species, such as Arion ater (The Black slug) and A. rufus (The Red slug, which also display a wide range of colour forms), they certainly weren’t behaving like them.

Dr Bedford says: “Native Arionids are usually found in small numbers within damp environments where they mainly feed on decaying vegetation, whereas the invading slugs were active during daylight. They were also being seen on dry paths and were eating plants and vegetables that native slugs normally avoided. Onions, beans, turnips, cabbages and even garlic leaves were being consumed along with a vast number of seasonal ornamental plants. The invading slugs were also observed eating dead animals, dog faeces and bird food.”

He sent the slugs to Dr Les Noble, a malacologist at Aberdeen University, who identified the slugs as Arion vulgaris, The Spanish slug.

This was the first time that the Spanish slug had been officially recorded in the UK, and signalled the appearance of a serious new problem for growers and gardeners alike. The Spanish slug can protect itself from pesticides and predators by oozing a thick slime.

Dr Clarke says that the JIC has created a colony of native and invasive Spanish slugs and these are complemented by an assay platform that can be used to test the effectiveness of new molluscicides.

“The race is on to find target specific chemicals to improve defence against these pests,” says Dr Clarke. “We have been working with a number of companies to develop new control agents, one of which is an existing

compound currently in agricultural use.

“We are also developing new non-chemical control strategies that will target specific slug species and flea beetles. These aim to provide selective control, protecting crops with minimal environmental impact.”

Bugs can also be beneficial and also speaking at the Agri-Tech East Pollinator meeting will be Dr Uta Paszkowski from the University of Cambridge Department of Plant Sciences, who will be explaining how a common soil fungus can trigger the growth of plant roots by enabling plants to absorb more nutrients, creating a bio-fertiliser.

“Many of the chemicals traditionally used to control slugs and flea beetles are being withdrawn from use because overuse may cause environmental damage” She says: “The research also found that mycorrhizal fungus can enmesh itself in the crop roots at a cellular level, pumping nutrients straight to the heart of the plant cells.

“Plants ‘colonised’ by the fungi get between 70 to 100% of their phosphate directly from these fungus tendrils – an enormous mineral boost.”

Also speaking at the Pollinator will be Dr Thomas Wood, Senior Molecular Pathologist at NIAB. “The Good, the Bad and the (B)ugly” is to be held at the Centrum, Norwich Research Park on 19th January at 16.00. Further details are available from http://www.agritecheast.co.uk/events/

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Feature

Supermarkets avoiding

'wonky' produce Leading supermarkets are not buying miss-shapen produce from farmers finds Yasmin Banner, Farming Monthly intern. ver one third of the UK’s fresh produce never gets eaten. One of the reasons for this is because leading supermarkets will not buy wonky or misshapen produce.

Freshly dug produce that doesn’t meet the supermarkets requirements aren’t eaten, leaving farmers to clean up the mess.

The owners of the Tatterset farm in Norfolk grow parsnips and have to experience wasting the produce every week. In order to keep their business running the Hammonds family of Tatterset farm have to try and grow the best looking parsnips they can. However there is no chance of knowing how they will turn out and this has resulted in the Hammonds having to throw away 30 to 40% of their produce.

Celebrity chef Hugh FearnlyWhittingstall, who visited the Hammonds at their farm in

O

Norfolk, said it has left them in an “economic disaster”. Hugh recently wrote a BBC “viewpoint” article that expressed his feelings about how much produce is wasted. The article expressed how the Hammonds family have witnessed supermarkets' need for perfect parsnips for over four decades. Thousands of parsnips go to waste every week because they aren’t at the “cosmetic standard” that the supermarket requires.

In the BBC article Hugh said: “That's not just a few sackfuls of parsnips, it's not a skip-load. It's a colossal mountain of them enough to fill nearly 300 shopping trolleys. And, more importantly perhaps, to feed 100,000 people with a generous portion of roast parsnips”. Due to his experience with what produce is wasted, Hugh is backing a sugar tax and demanding supermarkets accept more imperfect vegetables. He has

also set up an online appeal in order to get as many people as possible to not waste food.

The supermarkets have their own viewpoint as well; in a recent article from the telegraph.com it was said that supermarkets will not accept the misshapen produce because customers are sensitive to how their food looks and the produce that isn’t quite perfect is left on the shelves.

However, it seems that Hugh's message is finally hitting home as Morrisons have recently announced their plans to launch a new permanent range of wonky vegetables before the end of this year at a discounted price.

Customers really need to get onboard with this kind of initiative. that must take some of the blame

for the produce that is wasted.

Even with the perfectly shaped produce on the shelves, of the 15 million tonnes of food that is thrown away every year, almost 50% comes from our homes.

We all have a part to play in reducing the amount of food and drink we throw away – from farm to fork.

Lovefoodhatewaste.com has some great ways to help us make a difference – take a look and see if you can do your part.

Get involved in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #wastenot or visit hugh's website at www.wastenotuk.com Watch the video report at https://vimeo.com/147401837

#WASTENOT www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly |17

| Grain

Marketing the 2016 wheat crop: Hoping and coping With autumn crops now largely planted, it is worth remembering that the associated 2016 price risk exposure has now started. However, with the current low price many will be hoping for a revival in fortunes and/or finding coping mechanisms to manage the lower arable incomes that poor prices produce. Jack Watts, Lead Analyst, AHDB Market Intelligence elaborates... he results of this season’s Early Bird Survey show year-on-year stability in the UK wheat area, suggesting that low prices have done little to deter planting this autumn. With the crop now in the ground, the commitment to produce the crop has now been made and so exposure to the 2016 wheat price has begun.

Hope likely to play a big role in

T

2016 grain marketing For those farmers that did any kind of pre-planting budget ahead of autumn planting, it would have been acutely obvious that 2016 margins look thin. Those that didn’t budget could also understandably be of the mind-set “I don’t need a budget to tell me that 2016 margins look ****”.

Either way, the crop got planted on the basis that autumn weather was good and “it’s probably the best thing to do.” Many will of course

be hoping that 2016 prices improve and yield performance replicates what was seen in 2014 and 2015.

In the hope of better prices it is fair to say that there is still a long way to go and we’ve a whole weather market to get through yet.

However, stocks (global and domestic) and currency are both key factors that could offer some cushioning to any weather events in 2016.

Coping mechanisms will be key, if

hope doesn’t pay off If hoping for the 2016 weather event doesn’t pay-off, then arable farmers will once again have to draw on their natural level of resilience. This is where we can, for the moment, move away from talking about volatility in the price, to managing variability in income – clearly the important bit that price gives rise to.

Read the full outlook at http://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/

model and agenda is the same and we will continue to develop and market effective, efficient and economical solutions to their grain drying and storage needs.”

Barry Scott, UK, Eastern Counties Sales manager adds that, “Sukup Europe has drawn up a strategy for the next three years on market and product range and we continue with our UK expansion plans and have recently

appointed Neil Baker as Northern area sales manager to give local support to our Northern customers and build on our already established Midlands and Eastern Counties areas.

The UK based team will continue to give our UK customers a highly professional service by offering them the best solutions for their individual needs”.

Dan-Corn name change DanCorn who in the spring was sold to the American company Sukup Manufacturing Co, will now change its name to Sukup Europe in the UK. he Danish owned company which sells equipment for grain handling has been a partner and supplier of Sukup silos, equipment and dryers for many years. In April 2015 Sukup became the majority shareholder in Dan-Corn A/S and also took ownership of the distribution centre and offices at Hedensted, Denmark as part of a planned succession.

“We represent Sukup on the European market and therefore it is quite natural that we have a name change. The company’s legal name is now Sukup Europe A/S “ says Managing Director Jens Munk Jensen.

Dan-Corn’s old logo that symbolizes an ear of corn is taken over into the new logo but with the colour of the ear of corn changing from blue to green.

The name change took effect on 1st November.

Jens Munk Jensen says that everything has gone extremely well since the acquisition and that there have not been any major changes.

“The operation and life of the organisation will run largely unchanged and we continue to be

T

a full-line supplier of equipment for grain storage, handling and drying and we will operate in the same way as before.”

John Statt, UK, Midlands Sales manager has received positive feedback on the change.

“For customers in the UK and the rest of Europe it gives it a stability that the company’s main supplier has now become the majority shareholder. The business

18 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

Perry CentriKleens prove to be successful Perry of Oakley Ltd are the UK’s most experienced manufacturer of grain & bulk handling and drying equipment. For over 60 years they have helped farmers & industrial users find solutions to handling and drying requirements that suit their needs. Perry’s manufacture all of their products in their factory in South West England. his year has seen the very successful installation of over 10 of our new CentriKleen units in the UK and abroad. They have been fitted to a range of our own new and existing driers and have performed above expectation.

We have also seen the installation and successful operation of our first 2 CentriKleens fitted to a drier that

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

was not manufactured by Perrys, and these again have performed well.

If you have a problem with dust and chaff from your drier fans or you want to keep your yard and roof areas clear of chaff during harvest then the CentriKleen is a retrofit option which does not require the drier’s existing fans to be removed and replaced with larger power units to achieve the same result.

CentriKleens are the cost

effective, simple solution to your driers dust & chaff problems. They can be fitted to existing axial fans on all makes and models of drier and can catch up to 95% of visible dust and chaff (independently verified). They require no additional motor or steel supports and have no moving parts.

Along with their latest product launches Perry’s have a wellestablished range of handling equipment and continuous mixed flow grain driers. Perry’s handling

equipment range includes chain & flight store conveyors, belt & bucket elevators, belt conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners, levelling and travelling conveyors, augers & screw conveyors and a full range of ducting, fittings and valves.

Products are available in capacities from 10tph to 800tph.

For more information please visit www.perryofoakley.co.uk or call +44 (0)1404 890 300

December 2015 | Farming Monthly |19

| Energy

Family farm fuelling growth for generations A family farm has turned to renewable energy in a bid to expand its business thanks to a new funding package from Yorkshire Bank. hanning and Sons farm has been in the family for four generations and has now made the move to install an anaerobic digester as a means of growing its operation.

Anaerobic digester installations are considered an effective solution for dealing with the millions of tonnes of bio-waste in the UK and converting it into energy and bio-fertiliser. The UK government is working to ensure financial incentives are in place for providing electricity to the grid via

C

the Feed-in- Tariff scheme. That, in turn, will also aid government efforts to source 15% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Channing and Sons has continually evolved over the years, with experience ranging from dairy farming to cultivating cereals and potatoes. Currently, the farm grows maize and grass to feed the energy generator but also produces wheat as well as housing 20 beef cattle.

Yorkshire Bank has provided the business with 100% of the funding in a £2.3 million deal to support

the venture. The 700 acre farm, situated on the outskirts of Coventry, has been a customer of Yorkshire Bank since 2011. The funding for the development was organised by Davinia Horner, Relationship Manager at Yorkshire Bank’s business and private banking centre in Northampton.

Andrew Channing, Managing Director of Channing and Sons said: “The farm has been in the family since my great grandfather’s time and in an attempt to make the business more viable for our kids and the generations to come, we’re excited

about taking the business in a new direction.”

“We’re thrilled to have received the funding from Yorkshire Bank to make this opportunity become a reality.”

Simon Moore, Head of Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre, said “We are proud to assist with Channing and Sons’ diversification and the opportunities this will create for the business.”

“We look forward to working with the family and supporting the growing ambitions of this thriving family firm.”

Subsidies for solar 22 times less than people think, poll shows Subsidies for solar power are 22 times less than people think, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by the Solar Trade Association. n average, respondents with a view estimated that solar accounts for £196 per year – but in reality subsidy for solar only accounts for £9 on an average household bill of £1,300 a year. The median estimate was £100. Many respondents said they didn’t know.

A survey on wind power earlier this year found that perceptions of the cost of wind were equally high.

Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association said: “The Government has justified the cuts to solar and renewables

O

on the basis of reducing costs on bills, but hasn’t told people that the cost of getting solar subsidyfree - a breakthrough achievement - is relatively modest.”

“This survey shows that solar is cheaper than many people think, and that the perception of the cost of solar on bills has become grossly inflated. We need to put this right.”

The Department of Energy and Climate Change last week released the results of its own latest opinion poll on public attitudes to energy. The regular opinion poll found yet again that solar is the nation’s favourite source of energy at 80%, higher

20 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

than every other renewable or conventional energy technology.

In addition a ComRes survey for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) also showed last week that amongst the British public support for renewables subsidies combined was at 83%, and solar in particular has 73% support.

The STA’s poll comes as the Government is due to make its final decision later this year on how much to cut Feed-in Tariff subsidies for solar. The Department of Energy and Climate Change this summer published proposals to slash tariffs by up to 87% and set stringent caps on the

maximum amount of solar that can be deployed.

The Solar Trade Association has put forward a ‘£1 emergency solar rescue plan’ which has been backed by 30 MPs from all political parties, including several Conservatives. The plan would only add an extra £1 per year on average household energy bills from 2019 for new solar deployed over the next three years which would generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 875,000 homes. This would allow solar to continue in the UK while giving the Government the cost control guarantees it needs.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Energy

Getting the most out biomass

Biomass boiler at Green Park

Here Paul Clark, Managing Director at Rural Energy, explains how poor maintenance routines for biomass heating systems are letting many farmers down and how regular servicing will increase efficiency and save money in the long run. recent study from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) showed that the average biomass system efficiency is severely reduced, whereas manufacturers’ test figures are regularly in excess of 90 per cent.

What then is causing this gap? In addition to a good design and installation, service and maintenance can have massive implications for running efficiencies, system lifespans and breakdown frequency. The good news is that biomass systems can achieve very high efficiency levels and offer real savings over traditional alternatives, as well as generating additional income. For example, a recent installation of a 995KW boiler, heating nine broiler houses at C Dicks & Sons poultry farm, resulted in an average income of £114,000 per year from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

A

Biomass heating systems can achieve astonishing efficiencies and have a lifespan of well over 25 years To achieve the full potential of these benefits however, requires a

level of care and servicing that is too often not communicated in the headlines. The first thing to realise is that in order to qualify for the RHI scheme, all systems must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

What these recommendations look like varies from supplier to supplier, but to get the most out of a biomass system there are a few simple servicing facts that farmers should know.

Every biomass system will need an annual and six-month interim service. These comprehensive check-ups are vital in ensuring efficient day-to-day running and will vastly reduce the risk of breakdowns. This is of particular importance on heavier duty systems as, in addition to the inconvenience, spare parts on these larger machines can be costly. It is worth noting however that some service providers will offer significant discounts on spare parts depending on the level of service contract taken.

Planning these larger services should also be given careful consideration because works carried out in the main annual visit will require the system to be turned off. A manufacturers full service can comprise of a complete check of the biomass installation including fuel store and flue - the Herz service for example

22 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

Paul Clark

includes over 45 different safety and component checks and will take a full day. It is therefore important to schedule this for when demand is at its lowest, typically in the summer months.

In addition to these major service visits, there are a number of checks and works that will need to be carried out on a monthly and weekly basis, such as emptying the ash bins and sweeping out the boiler. It is therefore crucial that someone on site has been given adequate training – this should have been completed at the time of installation or premises handover. It can also be helpful to find a service provider that can offer around the clock technical phone support.

One of the most common mistakes made by biomass system operators that has a negative effect on efficiency is using sub-par fuel. Different boilers work with different types and quality of fuel, so varying away from manufacturer recommendations can have a detrimental affect. As a general rule, fuels with higher moisture

content require more energy to burn and create more ash, decreasing efficiency and increasing servicing requirements.

The good news is that biomass systems can achieve very high efficiency levels and offer real savings over traditional alternatives, as well as generating additional income Despite this, with a good servicing routine in place, biomass heating systems can achieve astonishing efficiencies and have a lifespan of well over 25 years.

Rural Energy is one of the longest standing biomass suppliers and service providers, offering total customer care and support. With different levels of service, Rural Energy has a maintenance plan to suit all budgets and agricultural applications.

For more information about Rural Energy please visit www.ruralenergy.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

LAMMA to showcase the latest innovations in agricultural machinery for 2016 LAMMA 2016 looks set to build upon its enormous success as Britain’s largest agricultural machinery show, with the event taking place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough on January 20-21, 2016. o far we have nearly 900 businesses booked to exhibit at the show, it promises to be a bumper display of every type of agricultural kit. LAMMA is the only show where visitors can see and buy anything from a socket set to a combine harvester.

All the leading manufacturers will be present, and several are planning launches of new machinery.

Many of the models launched at the Agritechnica Show in Germany in November will be making their UK debut at LAMMA 2016. In addition to the latest tractors, LAMMA provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to see companies and products you will not encounter at any other show.

From the first LAMMA Show in 1982, the original objective remains of showcasing new and innovative products from many smaller agricultural engineers around the country. This is particularly important this tradition continues but also on an international scale too.

First time exhibitors from as far afield as Lithuania and Poland will be welcomed to LAMMA 2016, along with a host of new faces from the UK and Ireland.

Machinery covers all agricultural sectors, from arable to dairy, estate management to vegetable production. Many specialist products from a wide range of manufacturers can be viewed sideby-side for easy comparison, and realistic exhibiting costs encourage suppliers to bring their full ranges.

The unique Workshop Area also offers opportunities for equipment manufacturers who can find a wide range of component and aftermarket supplies specialists, grouped together undercover in Hall 4. Agricultural engineers and farmers wishing to stock their workshops or take on a homebuild project will also enjoy this Aladdin’s Cave.

Livestock equipment and supplies, plus associated

S

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

equipment such as forage machinery, can be found in and around Hall 8. Similarly, postharvest technology will be zoned, as will root and potato machinery.

Other popular themed areas continue to grow – visitors can catch up with the latest developments in agronomy and meet contacts from the world of banking and business management in Hall 7.

Headline sponsor AgriBank, the only bank run by farmers for farmers, will be at the heart of the show to present its lending services and discuss with farmers how it can help them diversify or expand operations.

Used equipment is a hugely important sector of the industry and this will be reflected for the first time in the Dealers’ Den. Leading online traders of used machinery and dealers with large second- hand fleets and specialist used kit publications will be exhibiting in Hall 9 – a great place to find out what is on the market and make contacts for a future purchase.

Diversification is a hot topic among farmers and a host of equipment which could inspire new business ideas will be on show – from recycling machinery and construction equipment to forestry and groundcare tools and alternative energy sources.

Improved signposting will help highlight specific sectors of interest around the site, and exhibitors within each specialist area can be pinpointed on large colour maps. A free show guide offered to all visitors gives details of every exhibitor, maps of the site and editorial features on the latest machinery technology.

Visitors can also top up their CPD totals with points available for NRoSO and BASIS schemes.

The longstanding LAMMA Awards for Innovation are perennially popular, Sponsored by Swedish Steel, they pinpoint the most significant innovations from exhibitors at the show, as well as ingenious inventions from farmers, which will all be prominently displayed.

LAMMA is a show which has something to interest every member of the farming team and still represents the best value work outing in the business, with free admission and parking.

Exhibitors also work hard to make it a day to enjoy and remember. There are plenty of special offers, competitions and giveaways to seek out around the stands, plus there will be the usual stunning display of vintage machinery.

The popular early bird breakfast continues, with a ‘full English’ served in the cosy Arena restaurant at a discounted price from 6.30am to 8am, it is the perfect way to start the day and plan your route around the show.

Show hours are from 7.30am to 5pm, so there is plenty of time to take it all in. The site is perfectly positioned for visitors travelling south, and Peterborough has excellent road and rail links (shuttle bus services will run from Peterborough station), with a choice of airports close at hand.

As a major showground there is also a wide range of accommodation locally and many visitors are choosing to attend on both days.

LAMMA 2016 has long been seen as a fantastic way to kick off the farming year, meet up with friends and business contacts and celebrate all that is great about the machinery industry. See you there!

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 23

| LAMMA

Vaderstad uses LAMMA to display portfolio of machines Vaderstad will use LAMMA 2016 to display a range of drills including its Tempo V precision drill with front mounted fertiliser hopper and upgraded Rapid A 400 and 600 drills, as well as cultivation equipment including Opus 400 and Carrier 625XL. empo V is a three-point linkage, vertical folding machine for up to 12 rows and is available in seven different models. The drill frame is designed so that row units and fertiliser coulters can be moved to any position. Its new aluminium seed meter has an emptying hatch for easy

T

24 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

cleaning when changing crops.

A new front fertiliser hopper with capacity of 350kg/ha will also be available. A sloping front gives the driver improved visibility and the wide opening makes it easy to fill with a front loader.

The improved Rapid drill includes new features such as integrated fan, upgraded platform and steps for better access, new V30

hubs on the machine’s discs and intermediate packers and wing packers.

The company’s smaller trailed Opus cultivator with 27cm tine spacing and 80cm clearance and boasting the MixIn shin will be on the stand. Information on its U-profile packer SoilRunner and alternative steel roller SteelRunner will also be available.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

New high capacity transport tanker for Hi-Spec At LAMMA in January, Hi-Spec Engineering will have two new additions to their range on display. he first is a high capacity specialist tanker for use within a high capacity liquid waste handling system. The second is a larger addition to the Hi-Spec Kompactor ‘compaction/push-off’ trailer range introduced earlier this year.

4500 gallon transport tanker The key for contractors operating specialist high capacity trailed and self-propelled machines for spreading or injecting digestate, slurry and other liquid waste, is to ensure that downtime waiting or having to return to the farm to refill is kept to a minimum.

Hi-Spec will have on display a new 4,500 gallon (20,450 litre) capacity service tanker for ferrying liquid waste to the spreading vehicle in the field, which is one of two that has been designed and built for an eastern counties customer.

To spread the weight, the tanker is carried on triple, high road speed axles with hydraulic braking and fitted with 600/50-22.5 tyres.

The tank is manufactured from 6mm thick steel and mounted on a

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

full frame chassis to ensure that it is completely supported.

For filling, the tanker is fitted with a high capacity 14,000 litres per minute pump, while at the rear of the tanker there is an 8 inch pipe and cone to accommodate the filling boom from the spreading vehicle.

High capacity K40 Kompactor trailer Also on display at LAMMA will be the latest high capacity addition to the Kompactor ‘compaction/push-off’ trailer range introduced earlier this year.

This latest addition is 24ft long and has a total capacity of 40 cubic metres. It is carried on a triple axle fitted with air-brakes and front and rear passive steering axles as standard. As with other models in the Kompactor range, it features a hydraulically operated headboard. For compacting, with the heavy duty tailgate shut, the headboard can be used to compact material such as grass or maize silage, so increasing the load carried by up to 80 percent compared to a conventional trailer.

However, due to its size, this high capacity addition to the Kompactor range is also ideally suited for

transporting bulky materials, such as woodchip or grain.

To empty the Kompactor, having raised the tailgate, the headboard is then fully extended and, depending on the load, has the capacity to completely empty the trailer in as little as 30 seconds.

Because the load is pushed off and so avoids the need to tip the trailer body, the Kompactor is ideal for use in areas where conventional tipping trailers cannot access.

Allied to this, a key highlight is that by using a push-off mechanism and due to it having a low centre of gravity, all the

inherent risks posed by using a tipping trailer are diminished or even avoided, such as striking overhead power lines or trailer instability when tipping on soft and uneven ground.

The Kompactor chassis incorporates a hydraulically dampened drawbar, through which all the hydraulic and electric lines are routed. Options include a unique hydraulically operated sliding bogie axle. This allows the axle to be moved by up to 600mm, by moving the axle backwards more weight will be placed on the tractor to increase grip.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 25

| LAMMA

Tong presents new Storemaker at Lamma Leading vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, Tong Engineering, is once again exhibiting at the UK’s largest farm machinery show LAMMA, to present its latest equipment range for 2015, on stand R39. ollowing on from the success of the new model of its market-leading Caretaker mobile grader in 2015, Tong has added the latest technologies and features to new models of its popular Storemaker hopper cleaner, and will be exhibiting the new machine at the event.

Like new models of the Caretaker, Tong’s new Storemaker offers the very best energy efficiency, with Tong’s all electric Blue Inverter Technology drive.

The new Storemaker also features the company’s second generation EasyClean separator, the EasyClean II, with inverter direct drive motors on every shaft, ensuring minimal maintenance and refined control.

The latest EasyClean is a cartridge-style module, allowing easy interchange with other

F

cleaning units, including coil and star cleaners, if desired. Built using new uprated heavy duty spiral shafts with a unique helix rib and axial air chamber, the EasyClean ensures the best deformation of the spiral for self-cleaning and exceptional grip on leaf matter. A new auto-eject function to ensure any foreign objects are ejected automatically, to prevent machine damage, is also a feature of the new design.

Another new feature on new models of the Storemaker is the option of Tong’s new and advanced Pro-Series control interface, which is offered as part of its Auto-Touch HMI touch screen control. With added benefits including a new, larger display with easy to use graphical controls, the Auto –Touch HMI Pro-Series not only provides total touch-screen control of machine speed and settings, it also offers advanced diagnostics including a machine

health status report, plus precise fault detection and location of any machine faults or E-stop alerts, significantly reducing downtime and maintenance. Integrated safety features within the ProSeries control also allow unparalleled safety parameters to be set in place, meaning like the Caretaker, the new models of the Storemaker operate with a category three safety system.

Complementing the new EasyClean II separator and AutoTouch HMI advancements are a number of additional features on new Storemakers, including a heavy duty folding-side hopper design as standard for easy transport, as well as an upgraded drawbar and tailgate system for added strength and durability. The option of trailer reversing sensors for quick and easy loading into the hopper is also an option on new Storemakers, making the whole loading process even more efficient.

Nick Woodcock, Sales Manager at Tong Engineering said; “We are proud to offer the most advanced grading and cleaning machines on the market, and are continuously developing the design and control of our equipment to ensure the gentlest handling alongside effective results, energy efficiency and minimal maintenance. Our equipment is built to last and the Storemaker hopper offers the very best quality and reliability.

Manufactured to a heavy duty design, the Storemaker hopper features a dual driven shaft for optimum strength and performance.”

“We look forward to seeing farmers and growers from all over the UK at Lamma, to discuss their handling requirements and what’s new for the year ahead, with hot refreshments in our heated marquee.”

For more information on Tong's latest range of handling equipment visit www.tongengineering.com

New for 2016: 30 TON RETRACTABLE MOBILE BATCH DRIER

See us at LAMMA 2016 Hall 3 Stand 311

Drainage options on display at LAMMA Leading field drainage contractor, William Morfoot Ltd will be exhibiting at LAMMA in Hall 7 on Stand 760. he team will be there to meet and discuss Land Drainage requirements for the future and visitors can learn about agricultural field drainage and the benefits it brings.

On Show will be case study examples showing the yield

T

26 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

uplifts that are possible following the successful implementation of drainage schemes.

Tea & cake will be available on the stand.

Follow @WiliamMorfoot #LammaDrainage on Twitter.

For more information about William Morfoot, please visit www.williammorfoot.co.uk or call 01362 820 371.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

Appetite for premium veg doubles boosting interest in vertical tray packing See how Pacepacker’s Shingle Tray Loader meets demand at LAMMA’16 Stand 337. ith sales for UK freshly prepared fruit and vegetables rising by 11% to £771.4 million in the last 12 months,* agricultural packers need to ensure the premium quality consumers expect is maintained. Pacepacker’s new Shingle Tray Loader (STL) is the first fully automated vertical packing solution of its kind, reducing waste and presenting fresh form, fill and seal packs uniformly into retail trays.* Incorporating the very latest FANUC M710iC/45M robot and Pacepacker’s own-design shingle feed end-effector and tray denester, the STL vertically packs everything from fresh bags of salad to chopped vegetables, stir fry mixes and packs of sliced pineapple. Previously a conventional ‘lazy susan style’ operation employing multiple people to manually load supermarket trays with packs on end (vertical), the STL reaches 90 packs per minute, ensuring consistent presentation.

Visitors to LAMMA’16 will quickly discover the cost savings and waste reductions that can be reached by automating the vertical tray packing process highlights Pacepacker’s business development manager Paul Wilkinson says: “Waste through product spoiling and bags bursting can be a big problem when

W

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

packs are laid flat and compressed, especially when filled trays are then stacked on top of each other. Another logical benefit of automating upright stacking is you can fit more product packs into each tray.” For extra flexibility, the system can switch to stack produce trays horizontally if also required.

“Given the appetite for premium convenience foods, such as prepared potatoes, sliced vegetables for party crudité platters, and healthy on-the-go fruit bags, fresh produce suppliers are naturally eager to enter this market,” continues Paul. “Food retailers are equally keen to extend their prepared produce range. Suppliers that deliver high quality premium veg, minimal waste and consistent presentation will be clear winners in this next battle to engage shoppers.”

To automate the process, Pacepacker created the fully synchronised STL. Visitors to LAMMA’16 will see how the bespoke end effector smoothly adjusts its position to catch fresh produce packs as they are indexed off the end of an accumulation conveyor stacking packs on top of each other as it loads. Once full, the robot arm then tilts the end effector into a horizontal position above a waiting full or halfsized crate, releasing the entire product collection uniformly into the tray.

The design also features a multi-tasking pack diverter to count and index packs, while the tray denester separates the stacks of crates for filling, pushing them along the conveyor to the shingle packing operation. Up to 20 half trays per line per minute can be processed, ensuring no packing bottlenecks. The entire system footprint measures just 7.5 x 4 metres.

Compared to the alternative labour intensive task of manually packing fresh product packs into trays, a 12-month ROI for a larger packing plant is very feasible claims Paul. “The sheer volume of product that can be handled by a single robot and end-effector makes the STL highly innovative. Because the end-effector never changes and because each aspect has been designed to work in unison, no product changeover should take an operative more than two minutes to complete, boosting supplier productivity even further.”

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Muck & Slurry

28 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

Tramspread to launch 3 new products at LAMMA Tramspread is a family run business based in Suffolk and is a leader of innovation in the digestate and slurry spreading industry. ack in 1988 the company took its name from the patented ‘TRAMSPREAD’, a twin outlet slurry tanker attachment spreading in tramlines to a width of 12m and invented by company founder Terry Baker. Since then Tramspread has played a major part in shaping umbilical kit used today and supplies equipment including umbilical and tanker applicators, hose reels and pump units to the whole of the UK as well as exporting to Russia, Ukraine,

on their 2630 touchscreen display.

There will also be a Tramspread high speed twin axle contractor umbilical pump trailer incorporating twin 1,000m drag hose spools with compressor, 160hp diesel engine connected to a Bauer SX2000 pump, the Bauer tractor driven pump, Tramspread new hydraulic mixer, Tramspread 24m umbilical dribble bar complete with flow metering, and Tramspread engine driven pump unit complete with remote control.

Full information on Albers Alligator slurry bag stores, AgriTank concrete slurry storage,

Hexa-Cover slurry store cover, Snap-Tite 110 and 117 polyurethane drag hoses, Gollmer and Hummel nitrile rubber and polyurethane drag hoses, Bauer and Storz couplings, and slurry test kits will be available.

Whatever your slurry or digestate handling needs, we have the equipment, knowledge and experience to provide you with the best solution you require to store it, cover it, stir it, separate it, pump it or spread it. We will be on stand number R75 or call +44 (0)1449 766133.

See us at LAMMA on stand B64

B

Croatia, Indonesia and New Zealand, and prides itself on its exceptionally high build quality.

At LAMMA Tramspread will be launching three new products; a 9m dribble bar, a prototype 2,000m trailed random wrap hose reel and a 12m dribble bar with 1,000m random wrap hose reel combination which is collaboration between Vogelsang and Tramspread.

Another new product for our stand is the new slurry monitoring system from John Deere which reads the slurry nutrients while being pumped and then displayed

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 29

| LAMMA

T-T returns to LAMMA This year T-T returns to the LAMMA show to showcase their growing range of products specifically designed to meet the needs of the Agricultural industry. ne of the company’s main objectives is to provide long term solutions that the industry can repeatedly rely upon. With a specialist team dedicated to this sector T-T have merged their vast experience and expertise in pumps, valves, controls and service to provide the ongoing solutions that the agricultural industry rely on.

Chopper Pumps T-T have a wide range of

O

pumps, for effluent with high solid content our heavy duty chopper cutter pumps are highly effective and efficient. There are many options available from submersible, close coupled, engine mounted and long shaft chopper pumps with power supply from electric motor, diesel engine and PTO drives.

The PTH series is a range of high pressure centrifugal chopper pumps, ideal for heavy duty applications. These pumps are recommended for applications that require a substantial head and

Krone at LAMMA LAMMA 2016 will be the venue for Krone to display its new BiG X 630 and BiG X 770 for the first time as well as launch its new ActiveMow R 280 rear mounted mower and the BiG Pack 870 HDP MultiBale.

rone operatives will be on hand to explain to growers and contractors the unique performance enhancing features on the BiG X models such as VariStream, PowerSplit, MaxFlow and VariQuick, and to see the impressive MTU 6R 1500 626hp engine and a MAN D2868 V8 729hp engine on the BiG X 630 and the 770 respectively.

With operator comfort a key focus, climate control in the cab is now standard on the new BiG X and a deeper and wider cab makes more space, while a wide windscreen and high side windows optimises visibility especially of the spout. An ergonomic gearstick gives optimum operator comfort and easy to reach buttons and touch screen terminal helps reduce fatigue.

Also on display will be a range of EasyCut Mowers all featuring

K

adequate chopping of the solid materials present in the liquid being pumped, they are ideal for systems with self-propelled sprinklers or marked height differences and long pipelines.

Separators T-T’s separators are popular for solid/liquid separation, including cattle and pig slurry, vegetable waste and abattoirs. These separators are available in various sizes with four screen options of 0.25mm up to 1mm for each size and have outputs of 4 – 56m³/hr dependent upon screen size and type of material to be separated.

Each separator features an in-line planetary gearbox, cast iron body and treated stainless steel rotary double-helix screw inside an engineered wedge-wire screen filter.

Mixers The TBM and TBX Mixer range

of horizontal electric submersible mixers are designed for mixing and homogenising processes. The design, construction and the use of propellers with a self-cleaning profile are a guarantee of durability and efficiency even in the most extreme utilisation conditions.

Clean Water Pumps T-T also offer an extensive range of pumps for use with clean water, from transfer to pressure boosting applications.

T-T will be on hand at the LAMMA show, where you will be able to find them on stand B95, their knowledgeable team will be there to assist and advice you with all your pumping needs. T-T can offer further assistance with bespoke designs, control panels and after-sales support. Visit their website www.ttpumps.com or call them on 01630 647200 for more information.

SafeCut disc protection, SmartCut mower bed giving an enhanced cut in extreme conditions and CV steel tine conditioner. The models will include an EC R 320 CV rear mounted, EC F 320 CV front mounted and EC B 870 CV butterfly mowers launched last year to replace the popular EC 9140 CV mowers. From the range of larger tractor mounted tedders will be the KW 8.82 tedder, the largest being the KW 11.22 with a 10.9 meter working width.

Swadro rakes including the SW 38 single rotor rake and SW TC 880 twin rake, featuring the new lift tine designed to enhance forage collection plus a Duramax cam track to provide an ideal box shaped swath.

Bellima and Comprima round balers and an MX 350 forage wagon with an EasyFlow camless pick up and on board weighing system for accurate inventory of crop harvested completes the line up.

30 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

Fliegl to unveil range of new products for UK German farm machinery manufacturer Fliegl is showcasing a variety of new products specifically designed for UK farmers at LAMMA 2016. long with three new trailers for grain, root crops and other vegetables, the company will also launch a new woodchip blower targeted at the renewable energy sector.

All the models will be manufactured at Fliegl’s UK headquarters and factory in Lincolnshire, which opened in August.

STRONG AND LIGHTWEIGHT TRAILERS FOR GRAIN & ROOT CROPS The Fliegl UK TKM grain tipper trailer has a capacity of 22.5m3 which can be increased to 38m3 if optional silage kits are fitted.

The trailer body weighs in at 5,100kg and is 6.6m long, 1.45m high and 2.5m wide. It can carry up to 16,000kg of grain, giving it a total weight (including chassis) of 23,000kg.

The Fliegl UK TKM root and crop tipper trailer is longer and lower than its European counterparts – therefore avoiding damage to crops when loading.

With a capacity of 22m3, the trailer can carry up to 15,000kg of

A

crops, giving it a total weight of 22,000kg. The body weighs 5,350kg, is 1.15m high, 2.5m wide and 7.5m long. An extension board can be attached on three sides to increase the volume at busier times of year.

Both trailers have tandem axels and feature a strong and stable chassis complemented by a tough and lightweight body.

Working closely with professional market garden farmers, Fliegl has also developed a flat-bed vegetable trailer. The curtain-sided trailer – which is currently in the prototype stage – will be 7.5m long, large enough for 12 to 14 pallets.

Jose Viedma, Fliegl’s commercial director for the UK, said: “Fliegl trailers use the very latest German technology but in this case we have given it a British touch – offering innovation rather than imitation.

“It is important for us not to just copy what we do elsewhere in Europe but to provide efficient and effective solutions that are specific to the UK, helping farmers to improve productivity and reduce costs.

“An important feature of all our

Say Alo at LAMMA UK based loader manufacturer, Alo, will be revealing an exclusive preview of their new Limited Edition loader at LAMMA 2016. he new limited edition loader will be available to order from March, and LAMMA offers the perfect platform to reveal it,” says Neil Forknall, managing director for Alo UK. “As well as the loader, we’ll be showcasing our latest range of Original Parts for the first time, on a new bespoke display stand, which will be available for dealers to put up on their own sites throughout the UK,” says Neil.

The new Original Parts range on display is available to purchase, and includes numerous accessories, spare parts and maintenance kits for Quicke and Trima.

Manufactured and tested under stringent conditions, the range will ensure optimal loader performance and will provide end-users with the confidence and peace of mind that their machines’ are in the best possible condition to get the job done.

Neil is confident that pro-active maintenance goes hand-in-hand

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

with peak loader performance.

“Today when end users buy a tractor, front loader and accessories, spare parts are often not considered. But they’re crucial in ensuring the customer maximises the efficiency and longevity of the loader.”

In support of the launch, Alo has also produced a ‘best practice guide’ to encourage loader maintenance. According to Neil, replacing bushes and pins can often be overlooked but it really should be considered as essential maintenance. It improves the precision of the loader but also extends loader life. The best practice guide will be available at LAMMA for farmers to use.

Alo has received a lot of interest in the Original Parts range already, and hope to generate more at LAMMA. “We’ve put resource into production of spare parts, and believe there to be a great demand for them, it will be great to speak to farmers at the show about optimising loader performance with the new range,” adds Neil.

trailers is their versatility. They can be used for a variety of purposes ensuring the farmer has an investment that can be used all year round.”

TORNADO 5000 WOODCHIP BLOWER With increased interest in biomass boilers among UK farmers, Fliegl has developed the Tornado 5000, a woodchip blower for its patented push off trailers.

The attachment can deliver up to 30 cubic meters of woodchip in less than 15 minutes and the dosing quantity can be adjusted using a mobile console at the rear of the trailer.

Optimal performance can be achieved via PTO, although the blower can also be driven by an 18.5kW electric motor. Its plastic hose can be extended should the storage location be difficult to

access, available by the metre and easily connected via quick coupling Mr Viedma said: “Many more farmers are commercially drying woodchip – storing it over the summer months to deliver it to end users as required over the winter.

“The Tornado 5000 offers an efficient solution – filling warehouses or storage units effortlessly and in the shortest time possible with no problems. Even those, for example, where the roof is too low for a conventional tipping trailer. There are no such issues with the Tornado 5000.”

First display of new trailed no-till and mintill drills at LAMMA LAMMA visitors will be able to see for the first time, two new trailed drills from French manufacturer Sky Agriculture - the no-till EasyDrill and the min-till MaxiDrill, which have just been introduced into the UK

by OPICO [stand no: B10a]. he EasyDrill is easy to set-up and use, and its unique design confers great versatility. It is suitable for no-till, minimum till, or conventional drilling systems, and is also an ideal choice for drilling into cover crops.

The MaxiDrill is designed to provide a high speed minimum tillage drilling solution with various options which give it the flexibility to work in a conventional plough-based cultivation system, and also as a no-till drill in light soils. Moreover its clever design allows drilling to continue even when conditions

T

turn sticky.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Livestock

Ladies in Beef call for industry support to boost suckler beef breeding herds The British suckler-beef breeding herd is at its lowest level since the late 1980s at 1.57 million head having fallen by over 230,000 head in the past ten years and by 140,000 cows the past 4 years. he UK suckler beef herd is the second largest in Europe after France but despite some of the highest EU farm-gate beef prices, this once mighty industry is now the most vulnerable in the livestock sector.

Ladies in Beef are calling on farmers (and lady beef farmers especially), livestock markets, abattoirs, processors, retailers, butchers, farm shops, food service and the hospitality sector to support the campaign to raise consumer awareness.

T

“Sadly there is an industry acceptance that suckler beef is in terminal decline due to poor returns and market and supply chain failures”

Jilly Greed co-founder of Ladies in Beef said, ‘In the UK we’ve lost over 140,000 beef-breeding cows over the last four years - that's an awful lot of empty fields. Sadly there is an industry acceptance that suckler beef is in terminal decline due to poor returns and market and supply chain failures.

We just cannot let this happen without fighting for a more stable future. We have to up our game and increase consumer awareness of why suckler beef is special due to a natural production system of grass, milk, nurturing beef breeds and glorious countryside.’

Ladies in Beef fully support

dairy beef supply chains and the need to maintain volume in the marketplace. However there is very little product differentiation within the processing sector where ‘beef is beef is beef’. Most consumers assume British beef comes from grass based traditional suckler beef herds. Yet less than half is suckler beef and the majority is now a by-product of the dairy herd.

Minette Batters LIBS co-founder and Deputy President NFU said, 'Dairy beef is hugely important to maintain volume but we have to be much more bullish about suckler beef and the role our grazing herds play in the production of a high quality product, nurtured by milk and grass. There is much we can learn from the poultry industry in product differentiation and grass based suckler beef resonates with consumers not just in the UK but also across the world. Get the branding right and we could see a resurgence in suckler beef production in the UK and profitable returns.'

Taking a lead from the poultry sector and successful product differentiation within the retail and hospitality sector, there is a fresh opportunity to create a greater awareness of suckler beef, promoting the many health, animal welfare and environmental benefits of traditional, naturally raised suckler beef as well as it importance to the land management of the British countryside.

For without our British suckler beef herds and halting the decline, there will be many more empty

32 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

fields. The outcome is graphically depicted in the AHDB/EBLEX report Landscapes Without Livestock where the impacts of cherished landscapes without suckler beef cattle are visualised. http://www.eblex.org.uk/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/Landsca pes-without-livestock-report.pdf In early 2016 leading up to Great British Beef Week (April 23 – May 2), under the umbrella of Save our Sucklers, Ladies in Beef will launch a consumer based campaign, Great British Beef Nurtured by Nature, taking a lead from CAMRA and their campaign for real ale, which has successfully raised the profile of British craft beers and halted the homogenisation of the

British brewing industry.

Ladies in Beef hope a differentiated, branded suckler product offer will be piloted with a major retailer or within a regional supply chain such as PGI Westcountry beef. Product criteria is that it must be singled suckled beef and meet Red Tractor assured, Quality Standard Mark standards and Protected Geographic Indicator status if a regional brand.

To pledge support or for more information contact Jilly Greed at jilly@ladiesinbeef.org.uk or visit www.ladiesinbeef.org.uk to sign up online.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

MPs urged to help farmers in the fight against bovine TB MPs and Peers have attended an event organised by the NFU to highlight the impact of bovine TB on farming family businesses and the urgent need to tackle the disease. he Westminster briefing, which was sponsored by Julian Sturdy MP, marked the launch of a new quarterly newsletter for MPs – The truth about TB – which will document the devastating impact of the disease on farming family businesses and the need to tackle it on all fronts. It also gave MPs and Peers who attended the opportunity to hear the first-hand experiences of farmers and vets who deal with the disease on a daily basis and to find out more about the disease.

T

“Bovine TB remains a huge threat to beef and dairy farmers in large parts of the country and it is vital that we do everything we can to tackle it.”

Minette Batters, NFU Deputy President, who chaired the briefing, said: “It is vital that the Government’s 25-year TB eradication strategy

is driven forward and implemented in full as quickly as possible. To achieve this we need to make sure MPs understand the day-to-day issues bovine TB causes farmers and the need for action to be taken to tackle this disease on all fronts.

“Bovine TB is a complicated and complex disease which has a devastating impact on farmers and their families, the veterinary profession; in fact, whole rural communities.

While the disease may not currently be an issue in some MPs’ constituencies, it is vital that they are aware of its impact on farming families and are provided with up-to-date information about it.

“We know that many MPs have already been working hard behind the scenes to help drive through the changes that are needed to achieve what we all want – a TB free England and continue to work with farmers in their constituencies, and we are grateful to all of them for their support.

“But more still needs to be done. That is why we need MPs to continue to do the following:

Support Defra’s comprehensive bTB eradication strategy; Support the industry’s call for a bTB Eradication Board for England; Support the roll-out of a nationwide business advisory service for farmers struggling to cope with bTB; Use the latest scientific evidence to highlight the vital role of badger culling in dealing with the disease in areas where it is endemic; Help ensure that Defra’s spending reductions do not compromise animal health.

“This event gave MPs and Peers the opportunity to hear first-hand about the experiences of farmers across the country who are dealing with bovine TB, as well as vets. It also gave them the opportunity to ask questions to the people most directly involved in the fight to tackle bovine TB,” Ms Batters said.

“Bovine TB remains a huge threat to beef and dairy farmers in large parts of the country and it is vital that we do everything we can to tackle it.”

Focus on carbon is key to boosting dairy profits Dairy farms engaged in carbon footprint assessments over the last six years have increased their efficiency by almost 10%, and will be more profitable as a result, according to leading on-farm environmental and carbon assessment company Alltech E- CO2. nalysis of 3,786 dairy farm assessment records collated

by Alltech E-CO2 over the period from 2009 to 2014 inclusive shows average carbon footprint on these farms has fallen from 1,341g/litre (carbon dioxide equivalent) to 1,212g/litre, an improvement of 9.6%. This, said Alltech E-CO2 joint business manager Andrew

A

“Efficiency is not about the system but about the management of the system” Wynne at the company’s dairy efficiency briefing in London [27th November 2015], shows the value of having a clear focus on farm efficiency.

“The assessment process carried out to establish the carbon footprint – which is certified by the Carbon Trust – provides a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of the farm business and includes a section that highlights areas for improvement,” he said.

“More than anything, this allows farmers to prioritise their efforts and concentrate on aspects of the

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

management that will make most difference to overall efficiency.

“We know that a farm with a lower carbon footprint is a more efficient farm. If it is more efficient, it is more profitable. By focusing on the overriding objective of a reduced carbon footprint, dairy farmers are concentrating their efforts and becoming more profitable.”

Certification manager with the Carbon Trust, John Kazer, said that it was important for the farming industry to establish accurate carbon emission figures. “It is vital that UK dairying develops robust indicators to allow it to properly evaluate progress against the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Action Plan. Engaging fully with an accredited dairy farm carbon assessment process that can generate robust data offers the industry the best route forward,” he said.

Wynne also used the Alltech ECO2 data to point out that a dairy farming system has no direct impact on a farm’s ability to be more or less efficient, revealing examples of both extended grazing units and high yielding 365-day housed units within the very best performers.

“Efficiency is not about the

system but about the management of the system,” said Wynne.

“Every dairy farm situation is different, with varying resources, so efficiency is about adapting to your circumstances and then managing the business as well as possible within the constraints that exist.”

Data presented by Alltech ECO2 also highlighted a number of key performance indicators where an improving trend was consistent with an overall fall in carbon footprint. However, Wynne stated that it was more important for individual farms to carry out their own assessments to identify specific areas for improvement, rather than adopt a standard approach.

“In a lot of cases, improving areas such as feed rate per litre, calving interval and age at first calving will result in a lower carbon footprint and increased efficiency and profitability,” said Wynne, “but it is important to look at the whole farm situation and to view each area in this context, not in isolation. This is where the individual farm assessment has such value, as it takes account of all of the specific challenges and nuances that exist on every farm.”

Alltech E-CO2 carries out

Andrew Wynne

carbon footprint assessments on behalf of first purchasers as well as with dairy farmers directly. The approximate cost of a full assessment with follow up advisory report is equivalent to 0.04p/litre for a herd producing one million litres.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Livestock

Livestock Event: three national shows signed up to National Dairy Show Three national breed shows have already signed up to headline the National Dairy Show staged at Livestock Event, at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July. yrshire, British Friesian and Brown Swiss cattle societies will be returning to stage their national shows at the event and occupying a portion of the 300 available stall places.

A

Dairy continues to remain firmly at the heart of the Livestock Event “First class facilities, great transport links to bring in guaranteed visitors both British and international, while The NEC is the only venue available to accommodate our national show,” Ayrshire Cattle Society’s Duncan Hunter.

“Well positioned, a great venue and excellent organisation,” said British Friesian Breeders’ Club, Margaret Vale.

“The NEC provides excellent facilities for the animals, showmen and the breed society. All our exhibitors agree this is a fabulous National Dairy Show at which to showcase Brown Swiss and we would like to encourage as many new exhibitors as possible,” commented UK Brown Swiss, Jenni Hobbs.

Event director, Matt Knight added: “Those breeders’ views reflect the fact that dairy continues to remain firmly at the heart of the Livestock Event; 65% of visitors to the 2015 event had a dairy enterprise – exactly the same ratio as five years earlier; while their herd size averaged 257 cows,

twice the national figure and representing over 80% of the UK’s cows.

“Furthermore the event attracted representatives from over

20 countries, consequently the Livestock Event continues to present the best opportunity in the country for breeders to showcase their pedigree cows.”

Auctioneers refuse to announce the number of livestock movements without clarity from large abattoirs Several of the larger abattoirs have started penalising beef producers for supplying cattle that have been moved more than three times during their lifetime. on to the abattoir.

“But we need to know what the abattoirs consider a movement to be. We know that moves through markets and to abattoirs don’t count, but is the move to a different CPH the same as a change in keepership?

“Auctioneers are keen to disseminate information that adds value to an animal at the time of sale, and to assist buyers around the ring in determining whether the livestock they are “Abattoirs need to communicate bidding on are suitable for their purposes. But they can’t afford their needs clearly and to provide information that is potentially different to what’s consistently as the marts are looked for further down the not prepared to be responsible chain, and that leads to a for potential charges or deadweight deduction at the compensation payments due to abattoir.

“Until we get clarity, marts will errors outside of their control.” not announce the number of moves animals have completed.

Abattoirs need to communicate Chris Dodds, Executive their needs clearly and Secretary of the LAA, said: consistently as the marts are not “Finishers around the ring will prepared to be responsible for understandably want to know potential charges or how many times the stores they compensation payments due to are buying have moved during errors outside of their control.” their lifetime so as to avoid a deduction when they sell them

inishers are therefore asking auction marts to display details of the number of movements for cattle when they are selling them at market.

The Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) is calling on the abattoirs to clarify exactly what constitutes a movement and agree it between themselves.

F

34 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Christmas Gifts

Pirtek Cambridge Tel: 01223 835222 Pirtek Derby Tel: 01332 205000 Pirtek Exeter Tel: 01392 430030 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Pirtek Pirtek Pirtek Pirtek

Harlow Luton Penrith Preston

Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel:

01279 427300 01582 597050 01768 210055 01772 620111

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Buildings

2016 M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

1

2

3

4

6

7

8

5

6

7

8

9

9

10

11

12

13

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

New Years Day

1

2

3

4

5

Shrove Tuesday

Valentines Day Energy Now Expo

1

2

3

4

5

6

Great British Shooting Show 2016

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Mothers Day

1

2

3 1

Bank Holiday

Pig & Poultry Fair 2016

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Cereals Eve

Royal Bath & West Show 2016

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

AD & Biogas 2016

1

2

3

15

12

13

Great Yorkshire Show 2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

RWM Renewables Event

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Nextgen 2016

1

2

3

4

1

2

36 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

RenewableU

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Bonfire Night

12

13

14

15

16

11

12

13

14

Remembrance Sunday

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings

T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

LAMMA 2016

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Good Friday

15

16

17

18

19

20

28

29

30

31

SkyTech 2016

18

14

27

28

29

27

28

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

29

30

31

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Great British Shooting Show 2016

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

29

30

31

Bank Holiday

16 nt 2016

14

17

18

19

Fathers Day

20

22

23

15

16

17

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

25

26

27

28

29

29

30

31

Royal Highland Show 2016

Royal Three Counties Show 2016

18

2016

18

21 19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

30

31

29

30

Royal Welsh Show 2016

19

20

21

22

23

24

Bank Holiday

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30 28

29

30

2016

13

31

UK 2016

17

15

Midland Machinery Show

16

17

18

19

20

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

Bank Holiday

31 New Years Eve

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Buildings

Minshall delivers latest development in British farming!

Minshall Construction are well on the way to completing another design and build investment that will deliver an efficient future for another British Milking farm, this time in Beccles, Norfolk. he 2 building development includes a cubicle building with its maintenance free galvanized frame housing 200 number Champion Pedigree British Friesians in state of the art comfort.

From there, a short walk to the soon to be completed milking parlour building, which is also galvanized and fully clad for cleanliness, where milking is provided from a Dairymaster 54

T

point rotary parlour for fast and efficient milking. Additional office space, viewing and staff facilities complete the build.

Other than the specialist parlour install, Minshall have completed the whole project under its "one contract one contractor" service, including all groundworks, foundations, concrete and landscaping... and of course the careful design, fabrication, erection and fitting out of the buildings themselves.

Minshall focusses heavily on the

38 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

quality of every part of every project and that goes for every job they do, be it a smaller supply only general purpose building right through to turnkey projects like this one. Every building they do is bespoke, but at a competitive price that reflects thequality delivered.

Uniquely amongst a sea of building "suppliers", the team at Minshall pride themselves on designing and delivering buildings that not only work in their farm environment but also deliver

lasting efficiency through thoughtful design, location of access points, animal management and welfare... a huge driver today for food buyers looking to select their farmer partners!

Minshall are proud to be helping British Farmers prepare for a bright future in Agriculture!

For an informal chat about their service or to arrange a visit please contact brian.finch@minshallconstruction. com or call 01630 657647.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fencing

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Buildings

Farmers favourite looks to LAMMA 2016 In Hall Number 3a on Stand Number 321 at LAMMA, Whites Concrete look forward to hearing all about your storage needs – large or small - whether you require help with silage, AD feedstock, grain, livestock or slurry. ffering highly flexible, longlasting solutions, Whites Concrete has a wealth of experience in working with farmers to provide the most suitable and costeffective storage solutions.

With heights ranging up to 3.8m, Whites’ pre-cast Rockwall can be cast into a new concrete base or bolted down to a new or existing concrete foundation.

Offering lower overheads, less build time and reduced cure time, Rockwall is used widely in agriculture for storing and dividing waste and by-products.

When heavier loadings apply, Whites’ Groundwall (suitable for heights up to 4m), is able to withstand loads from heavy plants and large vehicles. As with the Rockwall panels, they can be used above or below ground with the

O

cast-in or bolt down fixing option.

Quicker and more economical than block or in-situ concrete, Rockwall, like many of Whites’ other products, can be relocated.

With heights ranging up to 3.8m, Whites’ pre-cast Rockwall can be cast into a new concrete base or bolted down to a new or existing concrete foundation Whites Concrete recently supplied 240 panels for AD feedstock at Northern Crop Driers near York. Initially, 150 4m high (1m wide) Whites Concrete panels were installed to house grass, home grown maize and supplies from neighbouring farms followed by a further 90 3m high pre-cast concrete panels for an extension.

40 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buidlings

Winter warning for pig producers from ARM Now’s the time for pig producers to check that their ventilation systems are working properly, before the really cold weather sets in, says a professional environmentalist. t is vitally important that the fans and air inlets and outlets are working efficiently at minimum ventilation rates so that the pigs have sufficient fresh air but heat is not being wasted,” says Tim Miller, environmental

I

The solution is usually simply cleaning

and outlets, too, can become clogged and fail to open or close properly.

The solution, says Tim, is usually simply cleaning the equipment thoroughly. Then the minimum temperature should be set before walking down the house to check that each fan is working properly at this low setting and that the inlets have the correct apertures. This can take time in a large building, but it may also highlight any mechanical problems which can be dealt with by a specialist, so the effort is well worth while, he advises.

Stand B77

your equipment thoroughly

specialist with ARM Buildings.

“I’ve seen heated buildings where the minimum ventilation rate has been set too high and heat is simply being extracted and wasted. Monitoring has shown that this is very costly — amounting, on some units, to thousands of pounds through increased energy bills,” he warned.

A build-up of debris — such as caked-on meal – on fan blades and back-draught shutters, in particular, can reduce their ability to move sufficient air at low speed. Air inlets

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Fencing

Proper installation key to ‘Market’s longest-lasting creosote fencing green fencing’ launched longevity Calders & Grandidge have for many years supplied high quality creosote fencing and Celcure treated products to the UK farming and equestrian community. reosote treated fencing, contrary to popular belief, needs virtually zero maintenance providing the initial erection is carried out correctly, and certainly not every 4-5 years as some people would believe. A full range of field gates is also available in either green or creosote treatment; these are supplied with or without ironwork as required and delivered nationwide.

Dragon Estate®WIRE 2Life® green fencing with enhanced corrosion protection answers demand for double lifespan green fences.

C

Creosote treated fencing needs virtually zero maintenance providing the initial erection is carried out correctly Calders & Grandidge offer a reliable and professional service

and are willing to visit your premises and discuss your requirements, meaning any type of job can be supplied to meet customers’ requirements.

As a well-respected company all their products are FSC and PEFC certified ensuring that a sustainable supply of timber is available. Calders & Grandidge is also a leading member of the Wood Preservers Association and its Benchmark treatment scheme.

Please contact the sales office for more information on 01205 358866 or email enquiries@caldersandgrandige.com

rcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer and manufacturer of Estate®WIRE fencing products, is launching what is believed to be the longest-lasting green fencing on the market. The new Dragon Estate®WIRE 2Life® green fence has a triple coating of zinc, aluminium and a green anticorrosion barrier, in response to demand for a fence that blends with its surroundings but also lasts at least twice as long as other ordinary galvanised green wire fencing products.

ArcelorMittal CEO Tony Hinchliffe says: “The starting point for Dragon Estate®WIRE fencing is our 2Life® product with its zinc and aluminium coating, to which we’ve added the extra green anticorrosion protection. Tests have shown it is the market’s longestlasting green wire fencing.

“While the green coating adds anti-corrosion capabilities, it’s really the material underneath – our unique 2Life® wire – that is the reason it lasts at least twice as long as ordinary galvanised wire.

This is what makes Dragon Estate®WIRE 2Life® a major step forward, answering the demand for green products and delivering an even longer corrosion-resistant

A

42 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

life, even when it is folded or bent - if the green coating is damaged the 2Life® properties remain intact.

“Because ArcelorMittal is the world’s largest steel producer, we operate a continuous R&D programme with state-of-the-art techniques, constantly improving the product, making it longerlasting and easier to use.

“Environmentally, Dragon EstateWIRE® 2Life® also delivers as it reduces even further the need for replacements.

“This helps the farmers, estate managers and contractors who need a green-coloured fence that also has double the lifespan of ordinary heavily galvanised wire. It retails for a price comparable to ordinary heavily galvanised, greencoloured wire products, plus we’ll always hold Dragon Estate 2Life in stock.”

Especially useful in coastal and sensitive locations “Because Dragon Estate®WIRE 2Life® came through our exhaustive salt spray tests as strongly as our traditional 2Life products it will be especially useful in sensitive countryside and coastal applications,” says Tony Hinchliffe.

ArcelorMittal supplies only retailers and distributors offering local supply.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Christmas Gifts

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Forestry

Woodland owners missing out on millions of pounds in revenue says new Forestry Commission survey A multi million pound hole in the rural economy has been uncovered by a new survey, which reveals farmers and landowners across England are missing out on millions of pounds of untapped income. he full extent of this missed opportunity, which is due to landowners failing to reap the rewards of woodfuel and other timber grown on their land, has been revealed by an England-wide survey conducted by the Forestry Commission.

T

“Many farms and estates include woodlands, which can form a key part of their business portfolio - but we’ve found that too often the financial benefits of this fantastic asset are being ignored and our colleagues at the CLA and NFU are helping us to turn this around” The financial black hole was revealed as landowners gathered at several of the sector’s landmark annual events: Grown in Britain Week (12-18 October), National

Forestry Forum and the 2015 National Wood Fuel Conference.

The survey found that 45 per cent of land owners consider their woodland to be less profitable than other parts of their land - with more than a quarter (28 per cent) saying they don’t use their woodlands to generate additional income from the sale of timber, woodfuel or to benefit from reduced heating costs for their own homes and businesses. With the forestry sector already contributing £4.1 billion1 to the overall UK economy, this missed opportunity represents millions of pounds in additional lost revenue.

The Forestry Commission’s 2015 Forestry Statistics revealed that deliveries of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) in 2014 totalled 11.4 million green tonnes2 – a three per cent increase from 2013 – and private sector softwood production has doubled in the last five years in England alone.

Forestry experts expect this trend to continue rising due to the increase in demand for woodfuel since the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for non-domestic sectors in 2011.

44 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

But while this steady increase is encouraging, it demonstrates that a significant number of woodland owners have yet to understand that potential revenue source on their doorstep. This comes despite many landowners looking for new ways to open up alternative revenue streams from their existing estates.

To help land owners realise the full potential of their woodland and access support, the Forestry Commission has launched the ‘Making Woodlands Work’ campaign. This initiative aims to support landowners and explain how bringing their woodlands into active management will boost income and use their land to its full potential. It will also explain how landowners can receive guidance on how to apply for financial grants and access expertise from leading land management, farming and forestry organisations.

Ian Tubby, Principal Advisor, Business & Markets at the Forestry Commission, said: “Many farms and estates include woodlands, which can form a key part of their business portfolio - but we’ve found that too often the financial

benefits of this fantastic asset are being ignored and our colleagues at the CLA and NFU are helping us to turn this around. Whether it’s through timber sales, game shoots or tourism, there’s a vast amount of money that can be generated from woodlands, which many woodland owners are missing out on. And of course, there are ecological benefits to woodland management too such as creating diverse habitats that are richer in wildlife and biodiversity, protecting against pests and diseases, and holding game more effectively.

“An actively managed wood, where the wood yield is harvested in a sustainable way, is a valuable resource that can increase the estate’s capital value, help to boost income – and even turn a profit. The forestry sector already contributes billions to the UK economy and plays a key role in the production of woodfuel. This is why we’re working closely with the land management and forestry sector to help woodland owners take that first step. This action will enable them to make more of the untapped potential in their woods, support their short-term and long-

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Forestry term commercial objectives, plus boost jobs and skills training across the sector.”

Dougal Driver, Grown in Britain CEO commented: “Grown in Britain has created significant demand for branded wood based products from well managed woodlands and forests in the UK and so the Forestry Commission's Making Woodlands Work campaign is essential to increase the levels of woodland management.

“Grown in Britain has started to connect society to the importance of woodland management, and to celebrate the sights and sounds of forest operations and how the resultant woods with more light and varied structure are better for wildlife, recreation and local jobs.

“Using home-grown timber is not only great for our own woodlands but every product we grow here substitutes a product shipped in from around the world providing benefits for local communities, the environment and

our wider economy.”

Leading forestry organisations, such as the Forestry Commission, can support woodland owners to create a UK Forestry Standard compliant Management Plan and help with felling licences.

Woodland owners can also access grants to help them develop their management plans via the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Land managers who want to apply for funding through the RDPE to improve their woodland in 2016 should prepare

now by putting a management plan in place.

The Institute of Chartered Foresters, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, is hosting a series of workshops to help woodland owners and forestry professionals learn more about the new Countryside Stewardship scheme and guide participants through the application requirements.

1 2

Grown in Britain Forestry Statistics 2015

For more information, please visit www.forestry.gov.uk/makingwoodlandswork

Processed woodchips for woodchip boiler - Credit Forestry Commission John McFarlane

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Machinery

DM Chainsaws Arundel, West Sussex T: 01902 798771 www.dmchainsaws.co.uk

World of Power Buxton, Derbyshire T: 01298 213101 www.worldofpower.co.uk

Forest Park & Garden Pontypridd, Glamorgan T: 01443 230000 www.fpandg.com

Vale Gardens Ltd Evesham, Worcestershire T: 01386 831000 www.valegardens.co.uk

Charles H Hill Ltd Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire T: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk

Seddons Plant Bolton, Greater Manchester T: 0845 230 4862 www.seddonplant.co.uk

Ermin Plant (Hire & Services) Ltd Gloucester, Gloucestershire T: 01452 526616 www.erminplant.co.uk

46 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

New T7.290 and T7.315 tractors deliver highpowered performance with class leading efficiency New Holland expands its tractor offering with two brand new models, the T7.290 and T7.315, to meet the demand for growers needing increased power, but the versatility to perform numerous jobs. hese new T7 series tractors deliver power without compromise, class-leading torque and high efficiency. These models offer growers unparalleled versatility for performing a wide range of field and haulage jobs.

Primary and secondary cultivations, drilling, baling, mowing and haulage tasks all fall within the capabilities of these new T7 models. The Horizon cab provides a quiet and supremely comfortable operating environment, along with precision technology that enables growers to optimize efficiency and performance, while staying connected with their entire farming operation. These new models also feature New Holland’s revolutionary IntelliCruise™ tractorbaler automation that allows the New Holland BigBaler to control the tractor’s speed according to changes in the windrow to maximise productivity and bale consistency.

“These new models are perfect for farming operations that need the power of a large-frame tractor with the versatility of a mediumframe unit,” explains Sean Lennon, Head of Tractors, Telehandlers and PLM Product Management. “They can take on tasks that you would usually associate with a larger tractor while having the features to deliver great efficiency for PTO implements and transport work.

They are ideal for farms and contractors whose tractors have to multi task.”

High power, responsiveness and efficiency A fundamental design input of the T7.290 and T7.315 was to improve vehicle efficiency to new levels. The engine features New Holland’s ECOBlue™ Hi-eSCR (High-Efficiency Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology to meet Tier 4B emissions standards. This after-treatment system, which has no CEGR or DPF, allows the

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

engine to optimise combustion, torque and fuel efficiency, maximising power output from each cylinder. An electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger delivers the torque required to operate at low engine speed and react quickly to load changes.These new T7 series models also feature New Holland’s awardwinning Auto Command™ continuously variable transmission (CVT) with four direct drive points with 100% mechanical efficiency. These points have been positioned to ensure they match perfectly to the most frequently used speeds during highspeed field work such as baling or mowing, high-speed transport and heavy draft work.

For PTO work these new T7’s lead the field. A four speed rear PTO and a two speed front PTO allow the engine to be operated as efficiently as possible. If mowing in light crop conditions the operator simply uses the in cab speed shift to select 1000 rpm Economy for the front and rear mowers and then starts counting the fuel savings.

Hydraulic circuits have been redesigned to reduce parasitic losses, no oil moves on these tractors unless it is required, and with a 220 l/min pump available significant oil flow can be obtained at low engine speeds, again delivering fuel savings.

Excellent manoeuvrability, traction, soil protection The two new T7 models can mount larger group 48 and 49 tyres (2050mm and 2170mm diameters) with a rear tyre width up to 900mm. This results in excellent traction and, most importantly, minimal soil compaction. An added benefit for the driver is the ability to monitor

the tyre pressure on the IntelliView IV display: they can set the ideal pressure for the job they are performing and monitor the pressure on up to 16 tyres and receive a warning if the tyre pressure moves away from the set values, enabling them to optimise traction and minimise soil compaction and benefit from an early warning if a tyre is punctured, on a trailer for example. For enhanced manoeuvrability, the ABS SuperSteer option can reduce the turning cycle by up to 50% by automatically applying the inner brake as field turns are made.

Maximum comfort, minimum fatigue The Horizon cab offers the premium comfort levels of T7 models with extremely quiet operation at just 69 dB(A), the new generation Auto Comfort™ ventilated seat with the quality trim of a luxury car, and the standard SideWinder II armrest. The new seat, together with the standard Comfort Ride™ suspension and new generation heavy-duty suspended front axle, provide an

exceptionally smooth and cushioned ride.

Combining this comfort with the commercial vehicle systems of ABS and an exhaust brake, the T7 becomes a benchmark for haulage work. At night all becomes clear with up to 20 LED worklights, the 360° packages leaves nothing in the dark.

Leading edge connectivity that maximises productivity and efficiency The T7.290 and T7.315 automation features such as the latest generation Headland Turn Sequencing, IntelliSteer auto guidance and PLM™ Connect telematics, put the driver in full control of the tractor.

The new models also feature New Holland’s IntelliCruise™ ISOBUS Class 3 tractor-baler automation technology that enables the baler to control the tractor’s speed to optimise feed rate and produce constant flake thickness. The new T7 series tractors are engineered to be the perfect match for New Holland BigBalers and operators will see their productivity soar with this revolutionary feature.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Machinery

New John Deere ag A Now available from John Deere dealers nationwide, the latest mid-size 6R Series tractors feature new Stage IV engines rated from 110hp up to 155hp on the brand new 6155R model, along with improved manoeuvrability, enhanced operator comfort & a wide range of transmission options. The top of the range 6145R and 6155R models also now feature a 750 hour engine oil change interval for improved servicing. ll these new models are equipped with John Deere’s intelligent power management system (IPM), which adds a 20 to 30hp boost on the fourcylinder models and 40hp on the six-cylinder versions. The 6R Series tractors also feature CommandARM controls and a Generation 4 CommandCenter touch screen monitor with tablet style swipe function display, while the redesigned TLS+ front axle suspension provides improved steering and driving on the road.

An electrical loader-ready joystick is also available, for use with John Deere’s new R Series front loaders. The 6R Series tractors have been specifically designed to accommodate these versatile loaders, which feature new mounting frames and hood guards

and are easy to attach and operate.

In addition, turf and groundscare professionals can order a John Deere 3036E value line compact tractor and get a dedicated D160 front loader worth nearly £3000, with a lift capacity of over half a tonne, for just £1!

The 36hp 3036E 4WD open station tractor uses an established two-range hydrostatic transmission with easy to operate Twin Touch pedal controls, while ergonomics and operator comfort are the equal of premium models.

Standard features including power steering, cruise control, wet disc brakes, a rear 540rpm pto and three-point linkage with up to 615kg lift capacity.

Complementing the company’s compact tractors from 25 to 66hp, John Deere commercial mowing equipment offers a complete range of solutions to groundsmen,

greenkeepers, landscapers, contractors, local authorities and other amenity and turf professionals. These machines offer high capacity cutting decks stamped from thick steel, exceptional manoeuvrability, versatile heavy-duty transmissions and productivity enhancing ergonomics and operator comfort.

Additional attachments such as front-mounted brushes and blades allow individual machines to be used year round for other commercial applications, including both leaf and snow clearance.

For more details of the latest John Deere tractors and other new agricultural and turf product developments, contact your local dealer or call Freefone 0800 085 2522; visit the John Deere website at www.johndeere.co.uk; and the company’s dedicated UK & Ireland Facebook and YouTube pages at www.facebook.com/JohnDeere and www.youtube.com/user/JohnDeereUKIE

3036E

Contact your local dealer AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY P Tuckwell Ltd (Ardleigh) Essex Telephone 01206 230283, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk P Tuckwell Ltd (Worlingworth) Suffolk Telephone 01728 628325, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Darrington) Pontefract Telephone 01977 795241, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Ripon Farm Services (Ottringham) Hull Telephone 01964 622351, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Mona Tractors Co. Ltd North Wales Telephone 01248 750075, Visit www.monatractors.co.uk

P Tuckwell Ltd (Dunmow) Essex Telephone 01371 875751, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

GROUNDCARE MACHINERY

P Tuckwell Ltd (Cromer) Hertforshire Telephone 01438 861257, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

A J & R Scambler & Sons Ltd Cambridgeshire Telephone 01954 718484, Visit www.compactmachinery.com

P Tuckwell Ltd (Maulden) Bedfordshire Telephone 01525 405848, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

Godfreys Kent Telephone 01732 741177, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Keighley) West Yorkshire Telephone 01535 632661, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys East Sussex Telephone 01323 846866, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Ripon) North Yorkshire Telephone 01765 692255, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys Berkshire Telephone 0118 402 6870, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Stockton) County Durham Telephone 01740 630254, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Ripon Farm Services (Tadcaster) North Yorkshire Telephone 01937 835454, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com 48 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

tractors for turf

&

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 49

| Machinery

20 new CLAAS Service Engineers complete their studies Twenty young CLAAS Service Engineers have started the next stage of their careers, having recently completed their four-year CLAAS Agricultural Technician Apprenticeship and been awarded their Graduation Certificates.

LAAS is the only UK agricultural machinery company to offer two training bases for its apprentices, both of which follow the same curriculum. Of the 20 new CLAAS Technicians, 14 are from the north of England, Scotland and Ireland and studied at the SRUC Barony campus at Dumfries. The other six students from dealers in the southern half of England studied at

C

Reaseheath College in Cheshire.

Modern agricultural tractors, combines and foragers are highly complex machines, incorporating advanced electrical, hydraulic and mechanical components. Aside from basic mechanical skills, the modern Service Engineer therefore needs to be able to understand far more complex aspects such as modern engine management systems, CANBUS, ISOBUS, GPS, etc.

These high skills levels are

50 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

reflected in the National Diploma in Land Based Technology that the students have completed. During the first three years that the students spent studying for the National Diploma in Land Based Technology, they also had the opportunity to train at CLAAS UK headquarters at Bury St Edmunds, and subsequently the CLAAS Group headquarters at Harsewinkel in Germany, giving them an insight into the size and scale of CLAAS, a global company employing in excess of 11,000 people. The students also spent time training with key suppliers to CLAAS including engine manufacturers Caterpillar and Mercedes-Benz.

In their final year, the students gained additional qualifications relating to air conditioning, electronics and hydraulics, together with their telehandler and trailer test licenses, so that they are well prepared for full entry into the dealer environment and associated industry requirements.

Following their Graduation from the Apprenticeship scheme, the

new Service Engineers will now follow a comprehensive CLAAS training development plan, which is laid out by the CLAAS Academy and aligned with the Landbased Technician Accreditation (LTA) scheme.

Modern agricultural tractors, combines and foragers are highly complex machines, incorporating advanced electrical, hydraulic and mechanical components This programme is designed to mirror the business requirements of CLAAS dealers and also offers career progression through the LTA tiers, from LTA 2 (Service Engineer), to LTA 3 (Master Mechanic) or LTA 4 (Master Technician). As such the Apprentice scheme is the start of a continual development cycle which will offer entrants a clear career pathway.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery A Manitou MLT629T is the perfect answer if precision and smoothness are top priority.

Manitou’s precise handling proves advantage for Wildgoose Storage A Manitou MLT629T is the perfect answer to Wildgoose Storage as precision and smoothness is the ‘order of the day’ when it comes to handling the palletised eggs and other produce which have to be offloaded from lorries, before being placed into storage facilities prior to being loaded onto other lorries for distribution.

Featured Dealers: Farmstar Limited Marr, Doncaster DN5 7AU T: 01302 786786

Market Weighton,York YO43 3GA T: 01430 875900

Brigg, North Lincs DN2 8NF T: 01652 654944 www.farmstar.co.uk Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 5EH T: 01455 209300 www.manitou.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

ildgoose Storage’s current MLT629T is their fifth Manitou since 1974. The compact size of the MLT629T with 20” tyres is ideal for working in the yard and the smooth controls and precise hydraulic system ensures the Manitou is ‘very gentle’ with the pallets of eggs and other products.

The Wildgoose family are fully involved in the storage and farming business with husband and wife team, Bill and Angela, heading up the enterprise with sons James and Alan both playing vital roles.

Established in 1952, the family farm is well located 1.5 miles from Junction 29 of the M1.

All the secure storage buildings are based within the 4 acre site in Glapwell, Derbyshire, with seven ambient and two chilled stores.

Storage capacities range from 320 sq. feet to 5,000 sq. feet.

W

The Manitou enables the company to deal with any volume of deliveries.

The Wildgoose family are fully involved in the storage and farming business As well as the storage facility, 40 acres of arable crops are grown on the adjoining land plus seasonal farm contracting work which all add to the demand for the Manitou.

B and B Tractors of Warsop supplied the Manitou. For more information on the Manitou range contact your local dealer or visit their website at www.manitou.com

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Machinery

Kubota reports positive feedback from new look SALTEX show A couple of weeks on since the first ever indoors SALTEX show drew to a close, early feedback shows an overwhelmingly positive response from visitors and exhibitors, Kubota UK reports. he orange-liveried tractor and groundcare equipment manufacturer took pride of place at the show where it showcased its range across two stands, for the Tractor & Groundcare and Engines divisions respectively.

The move to becoming an indoor event was originally met with skepticism by some in the industry, with heavy emphasis having previously been on demonstration when at Windsor, but following two packed days of activity, consensus from many who attended the new NEC platform

T

was that it was a success.

Displaying its newly launched Grand L40-II tractor, Kubota’s Tractor & Groundcare stand was inundated from start to finish, and served as the perfect platform for the pilot of a new digital data capture App, alongside items from its market-leading range of ride-on mowers, utility vehicles and miniexcavators.

Adrian Langmead, Groundcare Business Development Manager commented: “SALTEX has always been a great place to meet customers and as a platform for new product launches. The move to the NEC is a really positive step forward for the show. The product

52 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

demonstrations that were prominent at Windsor were popular with customers, but moving indoors, and to a central location, is a positive for the whole industry. The more compact location helped to create a real buzz, and on the whole customer feedback was very encouraging.”

Kubota UK’s Engines division was also on display independently for the first time, and interest in its range of diesel and SI engines was high, as Daniel Grant, Kubota UK Engines Business Development Manager explains: “Kubota engines have long been at the heart of the groundcare industry, powering not only our captive

product range but numerous OEMs. It’s important for us to have a greater presence in the industry, so we can show new customers who we are and what we offer.”

“SALTEX has always been a great place to meet customers and as a platform for new product launches” To find out more about Kubota UK and its range of solutions for the Groundcare and Construction sectors, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tyres

Michelin Xeobib tyres minimise ground compaction for South Kildare farmer

A South Kildare farmer is benefiting from minimum ground compaction after becoming the first to specify a combination of VF 710/60 R42 and VF 600/60 R30 Michelin XeoBib tyres on a Fendt Favorit 716 – believed to be the largest set of Michelin tyres ever fitted to this model of tractor in Ireland. eil Thornton, who farms more than 300 acres of land with his two sons David and Luke, chose the fitments following extensive research both on agricultural forums and through consultation with his local Michelin account manager Chris Eakin. The Fendt is one of four tractors shod with Michelin tyres and will be used primarily for seasonal work, including stubble cultivation, crop establishment, ploughing, drilling, grain transportation and contract work.

“Running our tyres at the lowest recommended pressure is key to limiting soil damage and maintaining the health of our fields. Fitting XeoBib tyres gives us the flexibility we need to make sure we are running at the optimum pressure for each application, whether we’re in the field or on the road.

“We’ve specified Michelin tyres as original equipment for more than a decade because they deliver excellent traction spread across a wide contact area with the ground. Michelin also seems to be one step ahead when it comes to tyres, both in terms of research and development and the technology they contain.”

As well as delivering minimum ground compaction, the XeoBib tyres feature Michelin’s patented Ultraflex Technology and very

N

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

flexible (VF) sidewalls which enable the tyres to run at pressures lower than one bar, both in the field and on the road.

With a 24 per cent larger footprint than a conventional tyre of the same size, pressure is Contaminated distributed across a greatertank area, limiting rut formation and soil damage. Wheel slip is also reduced, saving the customer time and money.

“Running our tyres at the lowest recommended pressure is key to limiting soil damage and maintaining the health of our fields” The Thornton family is no stranger to Michelin tyre innovations as in 1997 they became the first customer in Ireland to specify Michelin’s pioneering new XM108 tyres as replacements on a Ford tractor.

“The XM108s were a real eye opener for us. We used to be involved in slurry spreading, which usually took place in less than ideal weather. We couldn’t believe the difference between the XM108s and the standard tyres at the time, for traction and soil protection,” he concludes.

For more information about the range of Michelin farm tyres available visit www.michelin-agricultural-tyres.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 53

| Tyres

Launch of Cultor RD radial agricultural tyres starts in 2016 Agricultural and industrial tyre brand Cultor will dramatically extend its range in the radial agricultural tyres segment. he Cultor RD tyre range is a substitution for Mitas RD and draws on the performance of Mitas RD, which are no longer included in the Mitas brand portfolio. MITAS a.s., which produces Cultor at its plants in Europe, will offer 46 new sizes of radial agricultural tyres marked Cultor RD as of January 2016.* Cultor RD takes advantage of the benefits of high-tech tyre development conducted under the Mitas brand, offering the same performance and durability of Mitas RD. In the MITAS a.s. brand portfolio, Cultor will be placed below Mitas Premium line.

“Under the Cultor brand, we will offer topquality radial agricultural tyres with competitive

T

54 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

prices based to similar level as Mitas RD. Cultor RD tyres will supplement Mitas Premium, which are associated with the more prestigious and demanding segment of powerful machines,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas' marketing and sales director. ”We manufacture Cultor-branded tyres at our plants in Europe, which belong among the most advanced in the world. For example, our plant in Otrokovice (CZE) was opened only in 2013.”

New Cultor radial agricultural tyres will be marked RD-01, RD-02 and RD-03. The Cultor RD-01 are all-round tyres for a wide range of applications. They excel in their balanced combination of features, making them suitable for various terrains and agricultural machinery.

There will be 22 sizes available from January

2016. Advantages of Cultor RD-02 are the high ride comfort on the road and excellent transmission of power due to greater grip and traction on the field. Cultor RD-02 will be offered in eight sizes. Cultor RD-03 are designed for gentle ground handling and higher load capacity, which is enabled by their wide design and large volume of air. Customers can choose from 16 sizes. The aim is to further extend the range of Cultor radial agricultural tyres for combine harvesters and row crop machinery, as well. *Cultor RD tyres will be available worldwide as of January 2016, except for the U.S. market, where Cultor RD will be launched at a later date.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 55

| ATV

Honda: essential winter equipment for farmers ATVs offer the potential to save time and increase efficiency on almost any farm, and with winter bringing wet, muddy conditions and perhaps snow these versatile, lightweight machines provide go-anywhere accessibility. he key to an ATV’s ability to travel in these conditions is its compact size and low weight, and the low ground pressure flotation tyres, with their large ground contact area, exert less pressure than a person walking and ensure grip.

Honda manufactures a range of ATVs including models to suit all sorts of application and user types, and all come fitted with front and rear load carrying racks and a towbar as well as powerful work lights, so they are ideal for transporting materials such as feed and bedding out to livestock, or providing mobility for the operator, whenever and wherever

T

it might be needed.

For most farms and estates, an ATV’s ability to move between locations while causing minimal ground damage is one of its main benefits. During the winter, when ground conditions are soft, using a tractor or 4x4 to travel frequently over the same ground results in the formation of deep ruts, an issue particularly around field gateways and on farm tracks, but a Honda ATV can travel day after day over the same area with only light marking to the surface.

One of Honda’s TRX250 Fourtrax, or TRX 420 Fourtrax, 2wd models will be ideally suited to lighter tasks such as livestock feeding on level ground close to the yard, but more challenging

56 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

operating conditions such as pulling heavier trailers up and down slopes or through slippery, soft mud will be more easily tackled with a 4wd machine.

Honda’s TRX420 Fourtrax 4wd and heavy-duty TRX500 Foreman models offer selectable 2- and 4wd allowing operation in 2wd for most tasks, with all wheel drive available at the touch of a button on the handlebar when conditions demand. These models tend to be the choice of shepherds and other larger-scale livestock farmers as well as gamekeepers for operation further from the farm base, where heavier loads have to be transported and the 4wd provides the reassurance to tackle almost any situation encountered.

Keeping yards, tracks and footpaths clear of snow can be a challenge and, for farm enterprises such as a farm shop, can make the difference between being able to maintain a level of business or having to close for a while when the snow arrives. A range of accessories is available for use with the market-leading Honda

range of ATVs, including frontmounted snow clearing blades and trailed or mounted salt spreaders and the superb manoeuvrability and compact dimensions of these vehicles often allow operation where wider machines would be unable to work. Salt spreader attachments have gained popularity in recent years, even on farms and estates where significant snow falls are unusual as, having one available to fit to the ATV in just a few minutes, provides the reassurance that wintry conditions can be tackled when needed.

For situations where more regular snow is expected, Honda’s range of pedestrian-operated petrol engine-powered snowthrowers have the ability to tackle falls up to 55cm deep and are completely self-contained.

Able to access pathways and working areas which are too tight even for a Honda ATV, having one of these on the farm machinery fleet, along with the ATV means the farm business will be wellequipped for winter.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

5

tips to consider when buying a utility vehicle Choosing your perfect work partner can be a hard decision and can be a large investment. Farming Monthly spoke with Simon Riches, Kawasaki UK’s Product Manager for ATV and MULE to find out his top tips…

One Operator Comfort “Look for features like ‘independent suspension’ like on the new MULE PRO which make the ride as smooth as possible and ‘Electric Power Steering’ which comes as standard on the DX and DXT. Having your own space is also a luxury so look for a machine with plenty of room and doors can help the operator stay clean in muddy conditions.”

Three Buy from a reputable brand “Buying from a strong brand, such as Kawasaki with 25 years experience of utility vehicles in the UK, gives you confidence that the machine is manufactured to the highest standards, is durable and will be supported long into it’s working life.”

Two

Simon Riches

Look for a versatile machine “You want a vehicle that can cater to all your needs and requirements – whether that's transporting cargo or people and towing various equipment. The PRO-DXT can be changed from four-person to twoperson mode in just one minute and by one person and the cargo bed of the DX – the largest in its class in fact - can be loaded from three sides making it easy from most angles.

“You want a machine that’s easy to maintain – on the new PRO models, the front hood allows quick access to key electrical components, a quick-release maintenance cover allows easy access to check the oil level and air cleaner. The engine is easily accessed by lifting the cargo bed for checking fluid levels and periodic maintenance. This is on top of a readily available parts supply, wide network of factory trained authorised dealers for service and repair, means you can spend more time doing what you want!

“It’s worth bearing in mind the range of accessories – they can enhance and configure the machine to your exact requirements.”

Five

Four Pick the right specification for you “The two new MULEs have a faster top speed than the predecessor, they feature powerful diesel engines which are compatible to run with ‘on farm red diesel’ and deliver high torque performance at low rpm for carrying loads, towing and equally to achieve comfortable higher operating speeds without compromising fuel consumption. A CVT transmission – like in the PRO-DX and DXT system means you’re in the right gear for every occasion.”

Safety is paramount “A lot of our customers work alone, in challenging weather and ground conditions. Features including selectable 4WD/2WD, engine braking, powerful hydraulic disc brakes and ‘Independent Suspension’ help give the operator confidence to tackle arduous areas with control – all the above are featured on the new PRO-DX and DXT…” Don’t forget…

“It might seem backward thinking about selling the machine before you’ve got it, but when it comes to trading in for another or selling it on, good quality, second-hand MULEs tend to hold their price.”

For more information, or to view the whole utility range from Kawasaki, visit: www.kawasaki.co.uk For more information

Contact your nearest dealer

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Ellis Dawe & Son Ltd Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6AS 01684 833235 www.ellisdawekawasaki.co.uk

Richard Jones ATV Ltd Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3DA 01544 350256 www.richardjonesatv.co.uk

R W Brown Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4BD 01969 640274 www.rwbrown.co.uk

Southam Agri. Services Southam, Warwickshire CV47 2DH 01926 813426 http://southamagri.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 57

| Motors

Volvo launches XC90 R-Design - the sportiest XC90 yet Volvo Car UK has launched a new R-Design version of its award-winning XC90. R-Design models are the sportiest XC90s to date, featuring a range of design, dynamic and equipment upgrades to give Volvo’s seven-seat SUV a sporty makeover. he outside of the car is distinguished by 20-inch diamondcut alloy wheels, silver-effect door mirrors, gloss black mesh front grille and tinted rear windows.

Inside, there are leather/nubuck sports seats, a 12.3-inch active TFT driver’s information display and a perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel complete with gearshift paddles. R-Design XC90s also get a powered front passenger seat with memory function (to match the driver’s

T

seat), sports pedals, black headlining and upgraded interior lighting. There’s even an exclusive R-Design leather-clad remote key fob.

R-Design models come with Drive Mode Settings and Adjustable Steering Force as standard, too, which allow you to choose between different settings for the engine, transmission, steering and the optional air suspension.

This is on top of the already generous standard specification of entry-level XC90 Momentum models, which includes a nine-

inch touch screen control system, Sensus Navigation, two-zone climate control with Volvo’s ground-breaking CleanZone air quality system, LED headlights, power-operated tailgate with handsfree opening, and the Volvo On Call mobile app. Standard safety equipment includes City Safety (which features pedestrian and cyclist detection, and front collision warning with full auto brake), driver alert control with lane departure warning, and front, side and full-length curtain airbags.

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “The launch of the XC90 R-Design makes our premium seven-seat SUV even more distinctive and dynamic than before. Its sportier looks certainly make it stand out on the road, and its extra equipment ensures that the interior is as luxurious as it is stunning.”

R-Design versions are available with the D5 diesel and T6 petrol Drive-E engines, and in T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric hybrid form.

Prices of the XC90 R-Design start at £49,785 OTR.

Fiat Professional debuts new Fullback pick-up truck Fiat Professional has unveiled the all-new FIAT Fullback pick-up truck at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show. he new, mediumduty pick-up will join the awardwinning FIAT Professional range in autumn 2016 and will be available only with a practical double cab body style configuration in the UK making it an ideal vehicle for both commercial and leisure time activities.

Measuring up to 1,780mm in height, 1,815 mm in width and 5,285mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm, the new FIAT Fullback will offer a competitive payload of 1,045 kg and will be powered by a 2.4-litre, aluminium, turbo-diesel engine with a power output of either 150hp or 180hp. Two

T

transmissions will be available, a new six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission with sports mode, and both will be combined with full four-wheel drive systems.

The new FIAT Fullback will be available in the UK in two trim levels with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch in autumn 2016. The Fullback is FIAT Professional’s first contender in the medium-duty pick-up truck segment in the EMEA region, which totalled 675,000 units in 2014 representing 23% of total sales in the LCV segment.

Visitors to the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show will also be able to see the FIAT Fullback

58 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

equipped with a selection of special accessories currently under development by Mopar, FIAT Chrysler Automobiles’ brand for aftersales service, customer care, genuine spare parts and accessories.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is SUV of the year at 2015 Next Green Car Awards Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is celebrating again after the lauded Outlander PHEV picked up Next Green Car’s SUV of the Year. ext Green Car is a website dedicated to helping car buyers find, compare and purchase a greener, more economical car.

The annual Next Green Car Awards identify the greenest and best new cars of the year.

Explaining why the Outlander PHEV was singled out, Next Green Car said: “Already the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the UK, Mitsubishi has done an excellent job in significantly refining the Outlander PHEV. Focusing on the weaker design elements of the outgoing model, the new Outlander now excels in many departments. The quality of the interior is markedly improved, the exterior styling is upto-date, equipment levels are better than ever and the powertrain offers an excellent balance between economy and performance. The practical Outlander PHEV emits just 42 g/km CO2 (official) and returns a quoted 156mpg (weighted combined) – overall fuel economy depending heavily on the time spent in allelectric mode. With its new design and six level regen braking to choose from, driving electric has never been so comfortable, easy and rewarding.”

On receiving this award Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the

N

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

UK, said: “We are delighted that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has won Next Green Car’s SUV of the year award. Having the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle of any kind in the UK has already generated a great deal of interest and it continues to be a very exciting time for Mitsubishi Motors. We are extremely pleased to have won as it is a real testament to both the environmental and financial benefits of our vehicle that such a respected group in the

green car sector has given us this recognition.”

The combination of the Outlander PHEV’s powerful electric motors and petrol engine give it a smooth, quiet, refined ride with the potential of reaching 156mpg. It only emits 42g/km C02 which means a no Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

Most significantly, the entry model Outlander PHEV is available to buy at the same price as its diesel equivalent, with prices starting at £29,249.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Motors

60 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Guy Salmon Bristol

Duckworth Land Rover, Boston

0117 300 3180, www.guysalmon.bristol.landrover.co.uk

01205 449758, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Guy Salmon Knutsford

Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen

01565 632525, www.guysalmon.knutsford.landrover.co.uk

01673 799393, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Conwy Land Rover

01233 506070, www.barretts.ashford.landrover.co.uk

01492 580000, www.conwy.landrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Stafford Land Rover

01227 475475, www.barretts.canterbury.landrover.co.uk

01785 214140, www.stafford.landrover.co.uk

Ripon Land Rover

Matford Land Rover

01765 646464, www.ripon.landrover.co.uk

01392 825 825, www.matford.exeter.landrover.co.uk

Cambrian Aberystwyth 01970 624841, www.cambrian.aberystwyth.landrover.co.uk

Hunters Norwich 01603 944836, www.hunters.norwich.landrover.co.uk

Lloyds Kelso 01573 224345, www.lloyd.kelso.landrover.co.uk

Kentdale Kendal 01539 814444, www.kentdale.kendal.landrover.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Motors

Land Rover launches 2 new Discovery derivatives Land Rover continues to broaden the appeal of the Discovery with the launch of – the Landmark and the Graphite. and Rover continues to broaden the appeal of the Discovery with the launch of – the Landmark and the Graphite. New distinctive exterior design features to both enhance the design of the fourth generation Discovery, while unique interior touches to the Landmark bring more luxury and exclusivity.

These models give the Discovery even greater on-road presence than ever before.

Available to order now, they will be seen on the roads from January 2016 onwards.

“The appeal of the Land Rover Discovery has just got even greater. We have launched two new models – the Landmark and Graphite, which offer the customer greater on-road presence and enhanced comfort to complement the Discovery’s existing versatility and capability attributes,” says Finbar McFall, Jaguar Land Rover Product Marketing Director.

Landmark The Discovery Landmark builds on the generous specification of the HSE Luxury derivative with new interior and exterior features

L

that offer customers a more premium and unique look and feel to their Discovery.

The exterior upgrade sees the addition of full length roof rails in a bright finish that highlight the familiar stepped roof design of the Discovery. Distinctive black fender vents, grille and mirror caps complement silver bonnet and tailgate badges, alongside Landmark badging to the side and rear to further distinguish this model. 20-inch 5-split spoke alloy wheels complete the design.

The Landmark is available in a limited range of five body colours.

Enhancements to interior refinement come as standard inside the Landmark with the addition of Windsor Leather seats and the Extended Leather Pack throughout, furnishing the dashboard, door casings and fascia. The interior is purposefully limited to three colourways – Ebony, Almond and Tan. The latter is offered for the first time ever in a Discovery, with Tan Windsor Leather Seats complemented by Ebony door casings and fascia and a Straight Grained Walnut veneer trim finisher.

Customers can opt for either the Grand Black Lacquer or Straight

Discovery Landmark

Grained Walnut Wood & Leather steering wheel with two other variants fitted as standard to complement the choice of veneer.

The Discovery Landmark is available through Land Rover Retailers for an on the road price of £55,995.

Graphite The Discovery Graphite builds on the success of the Black Pack and introduces a modern and distinctive look to the model range with striking finishes. A grey Graphite finish to the fender vents and grille, which also sports a gloss black and lighter grey frame, blend with existing grey highlights appointed to the door handles and

Discovery Graphite

the Discovery badging to the bonnet and tailgate. Exclusive to the Graphite is the 19-inch 7-split spoke alloy wheel in a high gloss dark grey as standard, with the option of a 19-inch 7-split spoke alloy wheel. The customer can choose between a spectrum of nine body colours and three interior colourways.

The Discovery Graphite is available through Land Rover Retailers for an on the road price of £47,495.

EX DEMO & USED ISUZU D-MAX SALE 15 ISUZU D-MAX BLADE BLACK 4X4 DEMO-3000 MILES-MINT CONDITION...................

65 ISUZU D-MAX UTAH AUTO VISION VEN RED-EX DEMO-12 MILES-LIKE NEW............

14 ISUZU D-MAX BLADE WHITE-4X4 AUTO-EX DEMO-CANOPY-29K MILES-FSH...........

63 ISUZU D-MAX UTAH AUTO VISION BLACK-18K MILES-LONG WARRANTY-SAT NAV..

65 ISUZU D-MAX SINGLE CAB 4X4 WHITE-500 MILES-AC-3.5 TONNE TOWING.............

14 ISUZU D-MAX 4X4 UTILITY WHITE-A/C-15K MILES-DAY RUNNING LIGHTS3.5T TOWING....................................................................................................................

63 ISUZU D-MAX EIGER MANUAL GREY 4X4-24K MILES-A/C-BLUETOOTHTYRE UPGRADE................................................................................................................

ISUZU D-MAX AGRICULTURE, FARM D/C PACK-ALI CANOPY-LOAD LINER-F&R MUDSMATS-F&R SEAT COVERS-TOWING PACK........................................................................

£23,999+VAT £22,000+VAT £19,995+VAT £17,999+VAT £15,899+VAT £15,999+VAT £16,199+VAT £1599+VAT

PLEASE CALL US FOR OUR UNBEATABLE LATEST

62 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

AUGUST MOTORS Wiltshire 01722 622 633 www.augustmotors-isuzu.co.uk

SHELLY MOTORS Surrey 01372 540 140 www.shellymotors-isuzu.co.uk

YORK VAN CENTRE North Yorkshire 01904 275 211 www.yorkvancentre-isuzu.co.uk

ARCHIE MOSS Leicestershire 01530 553 785 www.archiemoss-isuzu.co.uk

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (South) 01205 449 758 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

MARK WEATHERHEAD LTD Cambridgeshire 01954 574 562 www.markweatherhead-isuzu.co.uk

BOB GERARD LTD Leicestershire 01162 149 052 www.bobgerard-isuzu.co.uk

GARLAND MOTORS Hampshire 01252 884 026 www.garland-isuzu.co.uk

HOLDCROFT ISUZU Staffordshire 01782 484 954 www.holdcroft-isuzu.co.uk

BURRELLS MOTOR GROUP South Yorkshire 01302 515 763 www.burrellsmotorgroup-isuzu.co.uk

JEFFRIES OF BACTON Suffolk 01449 424 758 www.jeffriesofbacton-isuzu.co.uk

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (North) 01673 799 393 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

LIFESTYLE EUROPE Kent 01892 629 140 www.lifestyleeurope-isuzu.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 63

| Motors

64 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 65

| Motors

Infiniti QX30: Premium all-purpose active crossover Ford has teamed up with leading European action sports and entertainment event ARENACROSS, to showcase the new Ford Ranger at venues across the UK. reated for a new generation of premium buyers, the QX30 boasts a purposeful appearance that makes a bold visual statement – and joins the Q30 as part of Infiniti’s new premium compact model line-up.

Remaining true to the powerful and elegant design cues that guided the original QX30 concept, the car’s highly sculpted exterior, unique crossover stance and asymmetric cabin design exemplify Infiniti’s design-led approach to product development.

In addition to its striking appearance, the QX30 offers an

C

elevated ride height, confidenceinspiring handling, a ‘goanywhere’ attitude and comes available with an intelligent allwheel drive system. As a result, the vehicle is able to take on urban, suburban and winding rural roads in all driving conditions.

Speaking in Los Angeles, Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti, commented: “The QX30 active crossover is joining our new premium compact family at the right time and will broaden our offer to new customers around the world. With our recent sales successes and record growth, the current product offensive will further strengthen Infiniti’s global market position.”

Alongside the Q30, revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015, the QX30 will play an integral role in Infiniti’s promise to offer customers a broader range of premium products. The vehicle is also expected to contribute to the continual increase of global sales – which have already hit record levels in 2015.

In the first 10 months of 2015, Infiniti sold almost 173,000 new vehicles worldwide, representing an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2014. The 32,200 vehicles sold in China means Infiniti has already exceeded its full-year 2014 figure in the world’s largest car market,

while in the U.S. Infiniti sold more than 106,700 vehicles, the best sales results in the country since 2005.

Global sales of 18,400 units in October represented an increase of 20% over the same month in the previous year, and continued a 14month run of best individual months on record for Infiniti, including the best October sales in history for many regions and markets such as the Americas, China, Mexico, and Western Europe.

The Infiniti QX30 premium active crossover will go on sale in selected markets in the middle of 2016.

Used 4X4 sales rise as UK temperature drops The UK used car market continues to grow, with recent DVLA statistics showing that used car transactions have grown by three per cent year on year during the July to September period for 2015. ear to date used car transactions have also increased, by 4.2% and 225,000 units year-on-year.

The 4x4 segment showed the strongest performance with used sales of large and small 4x4s growing by 9.1% year on year as the UK moves towards Winter, and savvy shoppers prepare for weather warnings this week ahead of the threat of heavy snow bought

by Storm Barney.

Auto Trader, the UK’s largest digital automotive marketplace for

Y

buying and selling new and used vehicles, have revealed the Top 10 most searched for 4x4s for July to September 2015.

1 BMW X5 2 Land Rover Range Rover 3 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4 BMW X3 5 Mercedes-Benz M-Class 6 Honda CR-V 7 VW Touareg 8 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 9 Toyota RAV4 10 Audi Q5 Auto Trader’s Retailer and Consumer Products Director

66 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, said; “The current increasing levels of used car transactions are a biproduct of the strong new car registrations that have been experienced over the last few years, with these vehicles now re-

entering the used car market.

Transactions for nearly new cars less than one year old and cars between one and three years old are fuelling the growth, showing an increase of 8% and 15% yearon-year respectively.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Next level

NAVARA Nissan announces pricing and specification for all-new NP300 Navara Nissan has recently announced full pricing and specifications for the all-new NP300 Navara – the rugged, dependable and capable workhorse with crossover-style comfort and class-leading technology that the company is confident will propel the brand back to the top of the pick-up segment. vailable in Nissan showrooms nationwide from January 2016, the new model, which builds on Nissan’s 80-year pick-up heritage, will be available in five distinct trim grades – Visia, Acenta, Acenta+, N-Connecta and Tekna – and will be priced from £18,376*.

Customers of the all-new NP300 Navara will have the flexibility to tailor their vehicle so that it can meet the requirements of the toughest job or the most demanding of lifestyles. The pickup can be specified with either a double cab or a king cab and a 190PS twin-turbo or 160PS single turbo version of the new 2.3-litre dCi engine. There’s also a choice of two or fourwheel drive and a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission.

Many of the new model’s advanced safety features – including a number of first-in-class technologies – are incorporated across the range as standard. This includes Forward Emergency Braking on all double cab models; driver, passenger, side, knee and curtain airbags; electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD); Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control (on 4WD models).

Developed with the aim of delivering Nissan crossover-style comfort and refinement to the pick-up sector, even entry-level versions of the NP300 Navara are competitively specified with an appealing array of on-board equipment.

Visia models, for example, feature manual air conditioning (4WD), 5-link rear suspension (DC), Bluetooth telephone integration, steering wheel mounted audio controls, an AUX socket for MP3 connectivity, a USB port, three 12v

A

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

sockets, automatic headlights with ‘follow me home’, cruise control and speed limiter (DC).

Step up into the Acenta, and customers will enjoy a number of styling enhancements, including 16” alloy wheels and chrome exterior trim, as well as the Nissan Intelligent Key system with engine start/stop button and a 5” HD full colour TFT screen.

Acenta+ meanwhile, adds the more powerful 190PS 2.3-litre dCi engine, 18” alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning with dual zone climate control, rear colour reversing camera (shown in the rear view mirror), side steps, electric folding heated door mirrors and rear privacy glass.

Moving up the range, the new N-Connecta trim grade puts entertainment to the fore, with the addition of the NissanConnect 2.0 7” touchscreen satellite navigation and entertainment system. This incorporates features including DAB digital radio, a rear colour reversing camera, Bluetooth audio streaming, app integration and live traffic updates.

Topping the range, the Tekna – priced from £24,293* – adds Nissan’s Around View Monitor, which uses cameras to give the driver a bird’s eye view of the car, as well as rear parking sensors, leather seats with heated front seats, roof rails and LED headlights.

In addition, all models in the range benefit from a full manufacturer five-year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty – providing additional peace of mind as standard.

Find out more about the NP300 Navara: RRG Nissan Bury Greater Manchester Tel. 0161 956 8867

W.R. Davies Nissan Stafford Tel. 01785 275060

www.rrgroup-nissan.co.uk

www.wrdavies.co.uk

Brindley Nissan Staffordshire Tel. 01543 406733

J.S Holmes Nissan Cambridgeshire Tel. 01945 561061

www.brindley-nissan.co.uk

www.jsholmes-nissan.co.uk

* Commercial Vehicle Prices are OTR prices. They exclude VAT but include first registration fee of £55 and first year VED

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 67

| Motors

Heneage Motor Co Lincolnshire Tel. 01472 729980

Haven Motor Holdings Ltd Sussex Tel: 01403 891700

Great Wall Bath Somerset Tel: 01225 473014

www.heneagegrimsby.co.uk

www.havenmotors.co.uk

www.bathhonda.co.uk

Garland Great Wall Hampshire Tel: 01252 367373

MTC Great Wall Cambridgeshire Tel: 01733 309782

Winchester Motor Co. Hampshire Tel: 01962 866331

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

www.mtcars.co.uk

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

68 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Range Rover Evoque convertible: For all seasons...

Land Rover has unveiled the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible. Range Rover Evoque Convertible combines the bold design and refinement of Evoque with comprehensive specification and a sophisticated folding roof to create a no compromise, all-season convertible. he ground breaking and distinctive shape of the original Range Rover Evoque lends itself to an elegant convertible design and the new model sits at the pinnacle of the Evoque portfolio as the most exclusive and capable convertible in the world.

As the fifth member of the Range Rover family – and the first ever convertible – the highly desirable new model combines traditional Range Rover luxury with a distinctive four-seat design and versatile storage.

The Range Rover Evoque Convertible has been engineered to meet Land Rover’s most rigorous standards, ensuring exceptional structural rigidity, trademark refinement, outstanding levels of safety and unrivalled breadth of capability.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, commented: “Range Rover Evoque Convertible is a vehicle for all seasons. Its uniquely distinctive design and world-class engineering adds another dimension to the Range Rover family, further enhancing its desirability and appeal.”

The global SUV market is forecast to grow by 20 per cent over the next five years* and Evoque Convertible will play a key role in continuing Range Rover’s 45-year success story, pioneering an all-new SUV sector.

Evoque Convertible’s eye-catching exterior

T

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

design is made possible by a sophisticated fabric roof shaped to create a crisply defined silhouette that remains faithful to the original design. Its Z-fold mechanism lays flush with the rear bodywork for a sleek, uncluttered appearance when lowered. The fabric roof is the longest and widest currently fitted to any vehicle on sale today.

The fully-automated roof stows in 18 seconds, and can be raised in 21 seconds, at speeds up to 30mph. When closed it provides high standards of refinement with a layer of acoustic insulation ensuring interior comfort on a par with five-door Evoque. In addition, the position of the roof doesn’t affect loadspace, with a generous 251-litre boot offering unrivalled practicality for a convertible.

At the heart of the high-class cabin is an allnew, high-resolution 10.2-inch touchscreen with Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation infotainment system, InControl Touch Pro, which debuts in a Land Rover. Safety hasn’t been overlooked with a Roll-Over Protection Device featuring deployable roll-over bars hidden in the rear bodywork. Land Rover’s full suite of lightweight, all-aluminium four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines is available with the potent 240PS Si4 petrol providing outstanding levels of performance and refinement.

Diesel power comes from Land Rover’s 2.0litre Ingenium engines which provide highly efficient and refined performance with fuel

economy up to 55mpg (5.1 l/100km) and CO2 emissions as low as 149g/km.

Evoque Convertible is underpinned by Land Rover’s world-class all-terrain capability, using the same advanced technologies as Evoque five-door and Coupé derivatives. A customary choice of four-wheel drive powertrains combines with Land Rover’s nine-speed automatic transmission, Terrain Response® system, Wade Sensing and All-Terrain Progress Control to ensure Evoque is a convertible for all seasons.

The new Range Rover Evoque Convertible will be produced at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK, alongside the five door and Coupé bodystyles, and goes on sale across from Spring 2016 in more than 170 markets worldwide.

Pricing in the UK will start from £47,500 OTR based on a TD4 HSE Dynamic derivative.

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 69

| Motors

Jeep announces new Cherokee Night Eagle limited edition Plans to continue the success of the remarkable Jeep Cherokee range of 4x4 vehicles have been announced, with details of a stylish new Cherokee ‘Night Eagle’ version. ased on the Longitude ‘Plus’ mid-trim level, Cherokee Night Eagle features black styling cues which reassert Jeep’s personality and unique flair for customisation.

It will cost £36,795 OTR when it goes on sale later this week.

Designed to enhance Cherokee’s striking design, the new Cherokee Night Eagle is limited to just 350 examples for the UK. The car’s bold new appearance accentuates its distinctive style, with satinfinished grey elements on the front grille-mounted Jeep badge, the

B

fog light frames, black gloss roof bars and the dedicated Night Eagle name badge, combined with exclusive 18-inch black gloss alloy wheels and deep tint sunscreen glass.

Inside, a leather steering wheel, exclusive leather upholstery, heated front seats with electric lumbar adjustment on the driver's seat, Uconnect with 8.4-inch screen and navigation system, and TFT instrument panel create a comfortable, high-tech setting for driver and passengers.

Other standard equipment on Cherokee Night Eagle includes a nine-speaker sound system with

subwoofer, cruise control, dualzone climate control, electric tailgate, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps with washer, rain sensing wipers, and power folding mirrors.

This edition comes in four stylish colours: Brilliant Black, Bright White, Billet Silver and Granite Crystal.

Power comes from the new 2.2litre MultiJet II turbo diesel engine delivering 200 hp which, combined with Jeep’s smooth nine-speed automatic transmission and rugged Active Drive I 4x4 system, gives the car a top speed of 127

mph and 0-62 mph acceleration in 8.5 seconds. Yet the Cherokee Night Eagle can still return 49.6 mpg fuel economy on the combined cycle.

“Full of style, loaded with equipment and designed to enhance Cherokee’s already strong appeal, the new Night Eagle version is particularly exclusive,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK. “With its rugged, sporting looks and excellent off-road capabilities, this limited edition newcomer will, I am sure, appeal to a whole new group of Jeep customers.”

Ford Kuga popularity soars as 2015 sales pass 30,000 Over 30,000 Ford Kugas have been snapped up by customers this year, pushing the medium SUV to a new sales record.

K sales of the Kuga have increased by 35 per cent versus the same period in 2014, with three times as many sold compared with five years ago.

Ford data shows that 36 per cent of Kuga models were bought in the South of England across Essex, East Anglia, London, Southern counties and the M4 corridor*. Customers in the North of England bought 17 per cent while 5.5 per cent sold in Wales, 4.5 per cent across Scotland and 2

U

per cent in Northern Ireland.

The news comes as Ford increases the breadth of the Kuga range, including a new colour, Green Instinct, a new 120PS derivative of the 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine and new Kuga Titanium Sport model offering 18 inch alloy wheels, full body styling kit, rear spoiler and Active Park Assist. The lead-in price for Kuga is now £19,995.

Kevin Griffin, Ford UK sales director, said: “Ford’s SUV line-up is going from strength-to-strength with a positive impact on Ford’s UK sales. With the new EcoSport

70 | Farming Monthly | December 2015

reaching 10,000 orders so far this year and the range expanding to include the all-new Ford Edge, we expect SUV sales to treble by the end of 2016, compared with 2013.”

The Ford Kuga was first

introduced in 2008 and since then 115,000 have been bought by UK customers.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2015 | Farming Monthly | 71

MTC Subaru

Central Motors

Subaru Newcastle

Cambridgeshire 01733 822 943 www.mtc-subaru.co.uk

Somerset 01460 601 492 www.centralmotors-subaru.co.uk

Tyne & Wear 01912 836 030 http://www.subaru-newcastle.co.uk

Perkins

Unity Leicester

Essex 01371 483 379 www.perkins-subaru.co.uk

Leicester 01162 149 060 www.unityleicester-subaru.co.uk