December 2016 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: The future of targeted weed control page 14

Farming

MONTHLY National

December 2016

Also in this issue...

Competition

| WIN ÂŁ500 worth of Goodyear clothing page 08

Preparing for a post-Brexit Future Also inside this month..

| A view from down under page 13

Cembrit hit the roof... p22

LAMMA 2017 preview p34

Key to on farm AD success p27

PLUS: Animal Health| Slurry |Arable| Fencing |Tyres | Forestry | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS December 2016

FEATURES 12

14

08 Competition

27

24 Slurry

WIN £500 of Goodyear clothing

37

34 LAMMA

SlurryKat launches new tanker, Tramspread suggest ‘bagging it’

10 Livestock

26 Animal Health

Vets offer flood advice, New inustry led scheme to avoid effects of bovine TB

2017 event preview including a selection of exhibitors

46 Tyres

Radical rethingk in parasite control

BKT tyre lineup for all soil tillage operations

14 Arable The future of targeted weed control

16 Grain Gleadell launches hi-tech mobile grain cleaning service

REGULARS 06 News Tom Heap explores the future of farming

18 Forestry Creating an innovative bioeconomy: Forests offer more than wood

19 Fencing Rhino Gates expand

04 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

13 On Topic Preparing for a post-Brexit future

27 Energy Focus on AD & Biogas..

20 Buildings Snow loading on agricultural buildings

48 ATV ATV news...covered.

52 Motors Latest motors news

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47

Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com

Preparing for a post-Brexit future p13

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December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

Farmers and the environment to benefit as Ordnance Survey creates new data layer of hedges 373, 919km of England’s farmland hedges have been accurately mapped to create a new digital dataset, OS Landscape Features Layer.

73, 919km of England’s farmland hedges have been accurately mapped to create a new digital dataset, OS Landscape Features Layer, which will be used by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The new dataset will play an important role in the Rural Payments Agency’s administration of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

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“It’s been a fascinating project using new technology to deliver a vital dataset that supports our government colleagues and their customers (the farmer)” The CAP Regulations require effective administrative controls to be established, and for hedges declared as Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs), this means creating a control layer of mapped hedges against which subsidy claims can be checked. The aim of the project was to automate the identification and mapping of hedges in a repeatable business process using imagery and height data products, and producing consistent results

that are far more effective than costly manual data capture.

The hedgerow’s value has risen in recent times, due to its capacity to protect against soil erosion and help reduce pollution, and with its increasing use in water supply management and flood control.

The hedgerow manages to do all of this while still being home and larder to a rich collection of insects, birds and mammals. The mapping of hedges is beneficial to other environmental policy areas such as the Rural Development Countryside Stewardship Scheme, where the management and improvement of hedges are key options for improving the habitats for invertebrates and overwintering birds.

In the Autumn of 2014, the RPA asked Ordnance Survey (OS) to map every hedge in farmland England. Working closely alongside the RPA team, the OS Product and Remote Sensing teams identified a process of capturing this iconic feature of the English countryside.

The project team introduced a newly developed system to automatically capture the new hedge data layer. The new system enables hedges to be identified and classified from high resolution aerial imagery and height information where OS digital

06 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

mapping already shows field boundaries. The new technology is now fully embedded into the Ordnance Survey process with seamless updates being made on a daily basis.

Currently OS has collected and mapped 95% of this data, with the final 5% in line to be processed in early 2017. The new dataset will continue to be maintained with change updates being supplied to the RPA. Catherine Gladstone, OS Product Manager, says: “It’s been a fascinating project using new technology to deliver a vital dataset that supports our government colleagues and their customers (the farmer). As our technology continues to evolve and improve, so too does the

depth and richness of our data, and with the data visualisations we produce, the opportunities for swifter and better decision making in government and business are often there. From a personal perspective, it’s pleasing that we’ve been able to help farmers that are using their hedges to protect the environment and encourage wildlife receive recognition.”

In summary, the RPA will be using OS’s newly created data layer to validate subsidy claims from 2017, where farmers and land managers have declared hedges as part of EFA. RPA will also provide farmers and land managers with this spatial information to incorporate into their land management plans.

Hedge trivia: • The total length of farmland hedges in England is 373,919km which is enough to wrap itself around the Earth more than nine times.

• There is almost enough farmland hedges in England to touch the moon (earth to the moon is 384,400 km).

• The average length of an English hedge is approx. 40 meters.

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| News

Dear Editor....

Suicide is in the news again, with distressing and unfathomable reports of so many more people lost tragically to their families, friends and loved ones. It's often described as a permanent solution to a temporary problem, and so it is, because there is no challenge in life, no matter how seemingly insurmountable, that can't be overcome with the help and support of a friend or one of the brilliant agencies that will go to any lengths to keep hope alive.

There are many reasons why we should avoid this horrific option, among them the unbearable loss to those we care about, but I'd like to share another reason for not taking our leave of this world prematurely.

I happened to take an interest a few years ago in NDEs (near death experiences), situations where people are revived after being declared clinically dead. There are the well known stories of people seeing angels, deceased loved ones etc but for me an intriguing statistic is that the overwhelming majortity of those revived after failed suicide attempts worldwide are happy to be "back"...and relieved they didn't succeed in ending their lives.

I won't get into any religious or spiritual beliefs associated with NDEs. I just feel they speak volumes about how precious life itself is, and maybe serve a purpose in reminding us that it's worth looking at other options, and seeking the help that is always there, when those dark self destructive thoughts threaten our wellbeing.

Let's give life a chance, for our own sake and that of all the people who would grieve our loss. And let's look out for anyone who needs help in opting for life over death.

Thanking you, John Fitzgerald

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December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 07

| Competition

Win a Winter Wardrobe worth £500 with Goodyear Clothing To celebrate the launch of its new Autumn/Winter collection, the iconic and globally renowned American heritage brand Goodyear is offering one reader the chance to win £500 worth of clothing from the new men’s collection. he Goodyear Lifestyle Program Clothing, Footwear and Accessories range draws on the Goodyear brand’s successful research and technical expertise as well as its rich heritage and storied past to offer distinctive and stylish clothing.

The Casual and Fashion Vintage collections are enthused by the unique brand’s rich heritage and American roots while the Outdoor and Sport collections are inspired by the core Goodyear brand’s attributes of technical innovation, durability and weather-proof performance. You can view part of the range at the Amazon site: Amazon - Goodyear.

In order to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, you should email your full name, address, farm type and farm size to competitions@farmingmonthly.com Please also enter the subject line as Goodyear Competition.

Any information provided will not be passed on to a third party - we do not sell or otherwise convey your information to any outside organisations. Full terms and details can be found on our website at www.farmingmonthly.co.uk Closing date for the competition is 31st December 2016

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Countryfile's Tom Heap explores the future of farming BBC Countryfile presenter Tom Heap was the special guest at a showcase event to officially launch Lincolnshire’s research institute dedicated to supporting the future of British food & farming through research, education & training. he Lincoln Institute-for Agri-food Technology (LIAT), part of the University of Lincoln, brings together expertise across a range of subjects to tackle current and future challenges facing the agricultural and food manufacturing industries.

With expertise spanning agri-robotics to zoology, LIAT is working to support and enhance productivity, efficiency and sustainability in food and farming ‘from farm to fork’.

Tom Heap joined guests representing major stakeholders in the region’s agri-food sectors, who were offered a showcase of some of the technological innovations and scientific studies LIAT’s staff and students are pursuing now in fields, factories and laboratories across Lincolnshire.

Tom is the investigations reporter for Countryfile, appearing most weeks covering topics from soil science to rural homelessness. He is also the principal presenter of the BBC Radio 4’s science and environment documentary series Costing the Earth, alongside reporting for Panorama on food, farming and energy. He started his career as a sound man for Sky News and worked for many years as a journalist for BBC News.

Tom said: “Over the years covering rural affairs I became more convinced that human ingenuity, applied both in the lab and the field, holds the key to solving many of the problems facing food and farming.

“Being within a fine University in the heart of

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08 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

farming country gives the new Institute for AgriFood Technology a head start in delivering stateof-the-art research to help farmers and consumers. It's always great to meet passionate scientists."

The event came a day after the University’s pioneering agri-tech research – which aims to integrate advanced 3D imaging and robotic automation with industrial harvesting and weeding technologies – was featured in a special Lincolnshire edition of BBC Countryfile (first broadcast Sunday 4th December 2016).

Other event highlights included a demonstration of LIAT's Thorvald agricultural robot which will support a wide variety of field trials and experiments, with the University of Lincoln’s computer scientists working alongside its Norwegian creators to develop new techniques for autonomous navigation and sensing.

In the past year LIAT has secured more than £10million in national and international research funding to deliver R&D in collaboration with partners across the food and farming sectors. Its researchers have featured at many of the biggest agri-tech industry events of 2016, including the World Agri-Tech Investment Summit in London, and joined a UK Government trade delegation to India to promote the UK’s agri-tech expertise in November.

As well as developing state-of-the-art agrirobotics research, LIAT’s staff and students are also pursuing a major new study into the economic threat posed to UK farmland by coastal flooding. This project includes finding potential

new ways for industry to adapt to these risks, and a world-first investigation into the genetic code of foodborne pathogens which cause food poisoning.

The official launch of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology took place on Monday 5th December at its headquarters at the University's Riseholme Campus. The Estate, with its woodland, grassland and watercourses, working farm and agricultural field station, supports the testing of farm innovations, training, crop trials and experimentation, including in agri-robotics, water management and agronomy, alongside the University’s facilities at the Brayford Pool Campus in Lincoln and National Centre for Food Manufacturing at Holbeach.

Professor Simon Pearson, Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, said: "The food and farming industries are always under pressure to innovate and technology in agriculture is nothing new. Rising labour costs, changing consumer habits and the Brexit vote have, however, added extra urgency to the need for universities to deliver the higher-level skills, technologies and knowledge base our agri-food industries require to adapt to a rapidly changing economic landscape. It is fitting that Lincolnshire should be at the forefront of the UK's agri-tech and agri-food specialisms through the work of our Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, which is supporting innovation and developing workforce skills alongside partners across our food and farming sectors facing up to these challenges every day.”

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| News

Top safety accreditation for Aquajet Cleaning Equipment LTD Local business Aquajet Cleaning Equipment has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety. afecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

Employing 27 people, AQUAJET is principally involved in the CLEANING AND PRESSURE WASHER sector, specialising in the Transport, Food and Agricultural industries.

Aquajet’s most recent clients have included major players such as Greater Anglia and EMR Group.

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"More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Aquajet has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector” The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the

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need for a uniform standard across the business.

Paul Keyland, Aquajet AfterSales Manager says ‘This award is something we take very seriously at Aquajet, and proves to our clients that we take every effort to make sure our workforce adhere to strict Health & safety procedures, and that they ensure their work standards on customer sites is achieved safely and to a high standard .

Safecontractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said, "Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place."

"More companies need to understand the

importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Aquajet has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.

Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”

For more information visit www.aquajet-uk.com

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 09

| Livestock

Vets offer flood advice to BARRY THE BULL'S NOT prevent livestock losses A LAUGHING STOCK With flood warnings in place across the UK, vets are urging owners to take precautionary measures to protect their livestock after findings from the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey reveal that in areas affected by flooding last winter (2015/16), a third (33%) of vets working with livestock or horses had clients who lost stock due to flooding.

VA together with the Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS), British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and Goat Veterinary Society (GVS) are advising large animal owners to ensure their animals are kept out of harm’s way in areas where there are flood warnings in place.

Although most livestock keepers are well aware of the risks flooding poses to their animals, with rapidly rising water levels able to cut off access to cattle, sheep and horses, or even wash them away, the leading veterinary associations are encouraging extra caution if livestock are usually kept near a river. Field-flooding can happen suddenly, at any time, in the days after a deluge of rain. If fields are prone to flooding then, where possible, it’s advised that owners move their livestock ahead of time to a drier field during the winter months.

The five veterinary organisations are also highlighting that flooded and muddy fields pose health and welfare hazards for cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock, with 23% of vets in last year’s flood-affected areas reporting problems due to animals being cut off from food and a further 27% of vets seeing cases of flood-related lameness. Standing in water and deep mud can predispose animals to, and exacerbate, infections and diseases, such as foot rot, so vets are advising owners to ensure their

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fields have suitable drainage and an area where animals can stand out of the mud or damp. Wet, muddy fields also provide an ideal habitat for the tiny snail involved in the maintenance of the life cycle of the production limiting liver fluke, a serious parasite which can be fatal to sheep.

After flood water recedes, owners should also be sure to inspect the pastures and streams for potentially hazardous plants or other material that may have been deposited – examples include the roots of Water Dropwort which may be exposed after heavy water flow or rainfall and which may be highly toxic to grazing animals.

Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, says: “We know that livestock keepers and farmers are well aware of the risks of flooding. But our survey shows that owners can still get caught out and that livestock can easily be lost to flooding. Thinking ahead and having a contingency in place is a wise move for hardpushed livestock farmers and we’re encouraging all large animal owners to be vigilant this winter, particularly where there are flood warnings in place.”

If the weather conditions become too hazardous, BVA and the other veterinary associations suggest moving livestock to sheltered areas closer to home, not only to keep animals dry, but to ensure owners stay safe themselves by avoiding trips out into more exposed areas of land in dangerous conditions.

There's a rumour going round (Well, It's all over the town) That Barry the black bull is feeling down He's been so sad and quiet He's gone off his grassy diet And all he does is stand, head bowed and frown All the herd were quite concerned For him to "moo" they greatly yearned But could tell he had a problem from a mile Though they told him bullish jokes (The kind best only told to blokes!)

It never made him laugh or crack a smile Although the saying goes....

"No moos is good moos"..... I suppose That in this case, that saying is untrue Because as Barry was so silent All the herd felt quite defiant That there MUST be something that they could all do!

One suggestion raised a groan It was.... "wait 'til the cows come home" Then jump out on Barry dressed as funny llamas But then.... like a bull at a gate They found....... they were all too late!

As he'd set off for bed and slipped on his pyjamas So when that idea back-fired A model cow was then acquired To lure Barry with her big cow eyes They hoped that love would change his moo........d But sadly then had to conclude She looked more like a horse... and thrice the size!

In order to beguile They ruminated for a while As bull-oney wasn't something to pursue Then one mature breeder (Who had made himself the leader) Said "This is offal... but I've got a plan or two!"

That plan's no good (piped up another) (Who happened to be.... Barry's brother) Bullseye! I think I've hit on the real reason I've recently been told that Barry's looking very cold But that is simply just because we are both..... Fresian!

One "brighter spark" ignited As he quizzed them (quite excited) Has anyone "asked" Barry what is wrong?!

They shook their heads in disbelief Although It was a great relief To think that they had found the cause after so long It seems the problem's very clear Communication's lacking here And Barry needs to get It off his chest That's when Barry then declared I really thought you didn't care But now realise you bulls are just the best!

So I can now confide that others made me run and hide When they told me bluntly that "I'm talking.... bull"!

It seems that I misunderstood (which as a bull... I think I would) And assumed that they were being rather cruel!

But now I understand!

My mood has lifted - I feel grand!

I'm just sorry that I've acted such a fool Now all my days of sweet-cud chewing And the smiling I am doing Means from this day on my life will be...... a bull!

Copyright © 2016 Lesley Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Comments/queries welcome at www.lesleyscottpoetry.co.uk

10 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

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| Security

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December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 11

| Livestock

New industry-led scheme will help farmers across England and Wales avoid the effects of bovine TB A new industry-led cattle health programme to evaluate risk and recognise farmers who step up biosecurity to help control bovine TB (bTB), has launched on a dairy farm at Iron Acton near Bristol.

HeCS bTB Herd Accreditation, a voluntary scheme which has been welcomed by Farming Minister George Eustice and Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, improves a herd’s ‘score’ every year it is free from a bTB breakdown, awarding a status of 0-10.

The scheme is run by Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHeCS), which was established in 1999 by the cattle industry to set standards for the control and eradication of endemic diseases. This new bTB scheme will require the herd vet and cattle owner to work together on following a number of biosecurity measures already successfully implemented in five other cattle disease control programmes.

As well as reducing risk of infection, the country-wide programme could present informed purchasing opportunities. In particular, it could benefit farmers selling cattle from regions with a high risk of the disease or who wish to minimise exposure from bought-in animals. It could also give recognition for a farmer’s efforts to complement Government and industry strategies to control infection.

Farming Minister George Eustice welcomed the scheme, saying: “Dealing with Bovine TB is costing us £100 million a year and causing devastation and distress for farmers and rural communities across the country. 33,000 cattle were slaughtered because of the disease last year alone and many farms are subject to movement restrictions which can affect their trade.

“But we know some 40 per cent of herds in the high-risk area in England have never had a breakdown, and the CHeCS scheme will help them to communicate this so they can carry out risk-based trading to support their businesses.

“The scheme will also recognise those

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12 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

practicing good biosecurity, which is a core part of our long-term plan to tackle bovine TB.” The scheme complements the Government’s 25-year plan to eradicate Bovine TB in England, and will provide another tool for farmers who want to show they are following best practice. It follows the launch of the TB Hub (www.tbhub.co.uk), which offers practical advice and guidance as well as background into the disease.

The Cabinet Secretary, Mrs Griffiths, said: “The Welsh Government has been supportive of this initiative from the start. By focusing on individual herds, the scheme complements our proposed regional approach, for example those herds in the high TB areas which have not recently had TB will be able to demonstrate they are a lower risk.

“This industry-led initiative aimed at reducing TB is to be welcomed and fits in with our principles of working in partnership and promoting the benefits of disease prevention. I urge Welsh farmers to engage with the scheme and reduce the risk of disease being introduced into their herd.”

Across Great Britain, CHeCS already has over 14,000 member herds, representing around 14% of cattle holdings in some form of monitoring, control and eradication of disease.

Keith Cutler, CHeCS board member and partner in the Endell Veterinary Group, said: “CHeCS so far has focused on control of non-statutory diseases – Johne’s Disease, IBR, BVD, Leptospirosis and Neospora. Participating health schemes have been monitoring the health status of participating herds for some years.

“With this programme, we will be working with Government to receive official TB test data with the agreement of the farmer. It’s an exciting development for CHeCS, but there is a natural fit because of the expertise CHeCS-

accredited health schemes already have with monitoring biosecurity measures on their members’ farms.”

Andrew Cobner, president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, who has been technical lead on the project since the start, said: “All too often we are confronted with the view that there is little or nothing that we can do to control TB. We wouldn’t accept this attitude with any other infectious disease so it’s time farmers and vets fought back. We have a government that is willing to embrace all of the measures necessary and we have a 25 year plan in place. Part of this will involve increasing biosecurity and risk-based trading, and CHeCS is leading the way.”

The CHeCS bTb Herd Accreditation scores run from 0 (following all CHeCS measures but had a herd breakdown within the past 12 months), to 1 (following CHeCS measures and one year since the last herd breakdown) all the way though to 10 (following CHeCS measures and 10 years or more since the last herd breakdown).

Farmers wishing to know more can visit www.checs.co.uk to read the technical standard, programme handbook and Q&A. If it sounds advantageous to their farm, they should discuss joining with their vet then contact one of the participating CHeCS-accredited health schemes listed on the website. The application form includes a privacy agreement to allow the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to send test data automatically to the health scheme, and a declaration from the herd vet.

After the form is sent back, a starting score will be awarded.

More information on bTB is also available at www.tbhub.co.uk

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| On Topic

Preparing for a post-Brexit future – a view from down under Brexit poses a great degree of uncertainty to British agriculture in terms of trading relations with the EU and the future of agricultural subsidies.

Simon Wearmouth

David Heinjus

lthough subsidies will remain in place until 2020, what follows remains unknown.

Farmers should prepare for a future without support and, perhaps, more volatile markets, says David Heinjus, farmer and award-winning managing director of Rural Directions, a large Australian agribusiness consultancy.

Speaking at a series of recent seminars entitled A view from Down-Under, organised by Brown & Co to hear how the Australian approach to farm business might help the future of British farming, Mr Heinjus believed change in the UK was very likely.

It would, however, be manageable provided farmers were prepared to accept it. “Change is OK. Those who resist it will suffer; those who embrace it and move forward can prosper,” he said.

Australian farmers were testament to that.

Many remained profitable, despite being subject to the highest level of production and market volatility, and some of lowest levels of support, in the developed world.

Mr Heinjus, who also runs Pareta Farms, a 3,600ha mixed operation in South Australia, said UK farmers should start planning now to fine tune the four main profit drivers.

Low-cost business Creating a low-cost business model was critical, he said. “Work out what you need to do to create a profit without subsidies. Politicians can change things at the stroke of a pen, so it would be wise to assume such a scenario might exist.”

Farms needed to be structured properly, with the right level of machinery and labour.

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“Australia’s farmers operate a no-till system, and there is little addiction to steel,” he said.

“We aim for a machinery value to income ratio of 1:1 at the most, and ideally 0.8 to 1.

Total plant machinery and labour should not exceed 25% of income.”

Debt should be balanced – ideally no more than income – and rented land should be appropriately priced, he added. “Keeping businesses simple, with only a few enterprises, assists management and timeliness of operations.”

Gross margin optimisation Inputs should be applied according to science-based evidence rather than a blanket approach. “The top 20% of farmers in Australia are investing 35% of turnover on variable costs, while the average farmer invests 43%,” he said.

There was a strong focus on agronomy and timeliness, as well as sound rotations that built fertility.

People and management Successful farm businesses had teams that were functional, entrepreneurial and opportunity focused and shared the same vision, said Mr Heinjus.

“Effective, skilled operators ensure all operations happen on time – in Australia’s climate of extremes, this can mean the difference between success and failure.”

Risk management Australian growers put a strong focus on developing a resilient business that could withstand production and business shocks, said Mr Heinjus. “Identifying risks and having management strategies in place is key in a world without subsidies.”

In summary, there was often abundant

opportunity for farmers to achieve higher profits from existing resources, and size was not a key factor, Mr Heinjus said. “Small farms that are structured properly can be profitable.”

Implementing the required actions was usually a bigger challenge than the technical knowledge gap, he added. “But the rewards are worth it – the top 20% of farmers in Australia retain 30% of their turnover as net profit, while the average retain 11%.”

Brown & Co’s Simon Wearmouth said while no-one should second guess the detail of agricultural policy post 2020, it was safe to assume that direct subsidy would be significantly reduced.

“Farmers’ net profits can be precariously close to their BPS receipts and far too frequently be lower. This is unsustainable now and could prove fatal in the not-too-distant future if corrective measures are not put in place,” he added.

Farmers could learn much from those who operate in a ‘no support’ environment, particularly regarding cost control and productivity using a combination of benchmarking and key performance indicators, Mr Wearmouth said.

“Forward-thinking farmers should also be looking at reducing fixed costs, taking advantage of current rates of interest and restructuring debt where possible.”

Brown & Co are offering a “Fit for the Future” strategic business review service to help farmers prepare for a post Brexit world. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact their local team (go to www.brown-co.com or call 01664 502126).

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

The future of targeted weed control ‘eyeSpot’, a research project part-funded by AHDB Horticulture, is driving innovation in weed control and aims to reduce herbicide inputs by up to 95%. xperts at University of Reading, Precision Farming Robotics Ltd., Concurrent Solutions llc and Knight Farm Machinery Ltd. are developing the use of a cuttingedge automated spot herbicide ejector, which will ‘point and shoot’ metered droplets to individual leaves of unwanted plants in row crops. The ejector will use an innovative imaging system to distinguish weeds in field vegetable crops and will evaluate the dose of droplets required to kill weeds at different growth stages.

Herbicide droplets will then be accurately targeted to the leaves of the unwanted plants. The concept is “no herbicide applied to the crop; none to the soil; only to the weeds”.

The project has been developed in response to concerns about the

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loss of herbicides and pressure to target pesticides better and in lower doses. The technology will precisely apply herbicide only to the weeds in such a way as to eliminate drift and spatter, while minimising the likelihood of run-off to soil and non-target organisms, including the crop. By applying droplets of a systemic, nonselective herbicide to individual leaves, it represents a paradigm shift in weed technology, achieving selective weed control by engineering rather than chemistry.

Once commercialised, the system could reduce, by up to 95%, herbicide inputs per unit land area. Benefits to growers are expected to be much greater than just economic, as labour and energy requirements are expected to be significantly lower than for mechanical weed control.

Additionally, the approach aims to address environmental issues

14 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

by cutting energy inputs and soil moisture loss by reducing need for mechanical weed control.

Field trials with savoy cabbages took place in summer 2016. For proof of concept, manually applied droplets of glyphosate achieved 92% weed control and significantly higher yields than the conventionally applied preemergence herbicide, pendimethalin. Most importantly, yields were not significantly lower than those in hand-weeded trial areas and amounts of herbicide applied per unit land area (equivalent to 83g glyphosate per hectare) were 94% lower than for the pendimethalin.

Commenting on the findings so far, Dr Alistair Murdoch, University of Reading, who is leading the research project, said, “This is a pioneering project, as we are exploring a combined engineering and chemical solution to weed

control in field vegetables. By accurately targeting leaf-specific droplet applications, it is the ultimate in precision agriculture.

The importance of the successful findings of the project cannot be over-stressed and it is, therefore, particularly important that systemic, broad-spectrum active ingredients such as glyphosate remain available to farmers and growers.”

“The concept is “no herbicide applied to the crop; none to the soil; only to the weeds” An automated vision-guided droplet application system should be ready for preliminary field trials in 2018.

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| Arable

Gaining maximum life from cultivation points Minimising wear part cost ÂŁ/hectare, as well minimising that all-important downtime is critical to the bottom line. As soil conditions become more challenging, and weather becomes drier, day-to-day soil-engaging wear part costs become an ever more important part of farm life. ortunately there are several options of wear protection available on the market to enable longer operation lifetimes of wear parts. They have seen great success, so much so that sales of protected spare parts exceed normal hardened steel.

Wear Protection Currently Available on the Market There are several standard wear materials available currently, all giving a compromise on ease-of-use and performance. These range from highly resistant yet difficult to use brazed tungsten carbide, to hardface welding wire with low resistance.

Another factor is how they can be easily customised. In this regards, “Ferobide�, a highly resistant weld-on tungsten carbide steel composite plate made in the UK, stands out from the rest. It puts the control over wear protection in the hands of the end-user.

The Limitations of Standard Wear Protection Over the past decade, the use of tungsten carbide has grown strongly. With its high abrasion re-sistance it became the optimum material for preventing wear on cultivation points and associated wearing parts - but it has its drawbacks. The other option is the easier yet slow to apply standard hardface welding wire (which lacks abrasion resistance).

Brazed Tungsten Carbide

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In order to braize tungsten carbide, the host steel is heated to cherry red, it is this heating which causes steel to lose its previous hardness.

The large majority of users of traditionally brazed tungsten carbide are often highly frustrated in that the softened supporting steel now wears and fails prematurely.

Tungsten carbide is so wear resistant meaning ~90% of the expensive tungsten carbide remains and must be disposed of. This increases down-time and wear part costs.

Users can be frustrated at losing the full potential of traditional tungsten carbide tile as its support is softened via brazing and thus fails prematurely. This leads to great loss of operational time and increases wear part costs.

Why not apply more tungsten carbide?

Tungsten carbide is expensive, machining the steel point and brazing the tungsten adds even more to this cost, making the finished parts many times more expensive than standard hardened steel components. Understandably, the minimum amount of tungsten is applied to the tip the point.

The Need to Customise Wear Protection The biggest issue is that each farmer has different soil types, works at different speeds and different depths. This means that cultivation points wear in different ways on each farm, some fail due to side wear, some to wear on the face of the tine, some due to wear from below the tine.

There will be a different place to add extra

tungsten correctly to cultivation points and it is often only the farmer who knows exactly where it is needed.

The solution of combining wear materials to back up brazed tungsten Weld-on tungsten-carbide:steel composite tiles have similar wear rates to the brazed tungsten carbide tiles but can be welded exactly where needed. The welding of composite tungsten tiles to compliment brazed tungsten carbide has been proven over 3 seasons to dramatically extend life-time, avoid downtime and allow the brazed tungsten point to give its full performance potential This could result in end-users easily getting 35 times the working life from tungsten points, and avoids wasting brazed tungsten carbide material.

Ferobide is the trade name of tungstencarbide:steel composite material. It has been proven across Europe, Canada and Australia as being the perfect partner to all tungsten carbide tipped points on plough points, drill openers, subsoiler points, wings and shins as well as power harrow tines.

It is suitable for low-drag cultivation equipment used to reduce soil disturbance to reduce black grass spread.

More information at www.ferobide.com

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Grain

Gleadell launches hi-tech Sukup first dryer choice mobile grain cleaning & seed dressing service J.W. Jackson & Sons, based at Keyingham, Yorkshire installed a Sukup Europe continuous flow dryer for the 2016 harvest season.

Gleadell has launched a state-of-the-art mobile graincleaning service enabling farmers to improve the specification of stored grain or optimise the quality of home-saved seed quickly and cost effectively.

he multi-millionpound investment, which employs some of the most advanced equipment available, marks Gleadell’s first foray into the on-farm graincleaning market and will help satisfy increasing demand from existing and new customers, says Chris Guest, Gleadell’s seed manager.

“It’s evident that the presence of impurities such as ergot is increasing, due to rotations and rising grassweed pressure,” he explains. “The new service will enable customers to maximise grain-marketing options through removal of unwanted admixture such as ergot, as well as improving bushel weights and Hagbergs.

“From a seed perspective, about 40-50% of the market uses home-saved seed, depending on crop species. It is, therefore, very important to be able to offer such a service to our farmer customers.”

Initially one mobile cleaner, operating within a 50-mile radius of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, will be available, says Mr Guest. It is fitted with a range of hi-tech

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ukup Europe Ltd supplied the DC283CE mobile dryer and as main agents for Skandia Elevator they also supplied I-line conveyors and elevators.

The installation has a purpose built intake building with drive over trench intake conveyor that then feeds the dryer through an SEI bucket elevator and dust and chaff separator. The fully automated dryer discharges into the adjoining grain store via further Skandia equipment.

Martin Jackson says that he had considered various other types of dryer before choosing the Sukup Europe DC283CE for his system.

Mr Jackson continues, “The Sukup dryer has several advantages over the other dryers that I had considered and the first being that the dryer arrives fully assembled from the factory and this saves considerably on installation costs compared to most static continuous flow dryers that are assembled and wired on site. It also requires less conveying

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equipment compared to the other continuous flow dryers of similar capacity that I was considering and is considerably cleaner when operating in comparison to tub type dryers”.

Although Mr Jackson’s system is designed as a static installation he highlights that as the dryer is mobile and should he choose to sell or move it in the future all they have to do is reattach the transport wheels and load it onto a lorry. He feels that because of this the residual value of the dryer when he comes to sell it will always be higher than many dryers that would need to be completely disassembled to remove from site.

He also prefers the LPG fired gas burners that are fitted as standard on the Sukup dryer as gas is such a clean burning fuel for direct fired dryers and as a food producer he would prefer to avoid the risk of diesel particulates and residue potentially being transmitted to the grain from diesel burners. Sukup Europe Ltd will be exhibiting at LAMMA 2017.

equipment, including the latest camera and software technology.

This includes an innovative SEA chrome optical colour sorter, equipped with high-resolution, fullcolour cameras, allowing 0.1mm optical resolution. Combined with advanced software this provides near human-eye vision that can identify precisely the smallest shade differences, even allowing separation of barley from wheat plus a wide range of other admixtures.

The sorter also boasts shapesizing integrated into the system.

“This equipment is the most innovative and flexible sorting solution available, and offers a real advance in terms of mobile grain cleaning,” says Mr Guest.

“In addition, a high quality deawner, pre-cleaner, gravity selection and batch treater have been fitted, while an on-board selfcontained generator and intake and offtake weighing systems add to the high quality service Gleadell offers.”

Fully trained and qualified operators will accompany the vehicle on every job and a range of seed treatment options will be available from all the major seed treatment manufacturers, he adds.

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| Grain

Future proofing for years to come!

Revesby Estates is based near Boston, Lincolnshire. They have 1000 hectares of arable farming and produce 6000 tonnes of grain per annum, a mix of wheat, barley and oil seed rape. n 1982 Revesby installed a range of 30tph Law Denis handling and drying equipment, but over the years Revesby have expanded their arable farming acreage and as a result the Law Denis equipment was no longer able to keep up with the required throughput capacity. Revesby Estates opted to install both handling and drying equipment from Perry of Oakley Ltd when it was time to upgrade their equipment.

The new installation at Revesby Estates is an intricate network of conveyors, elevators, aspirator cleaners, cyclones, ducting and of course a drier.

The handling equipment is from Perry of Oakley Ltd.’s range of heavy duty handling equipment which is capable of capacities from 80tph to 150tph and is built to a semi-industrial specification, ideally suited to smaller grain stores or larger farmers.

There are four 100tph belt & bucket elevators, all fitted with ATEX approved explosion relief and rotation sensors with under speed monitoring.

There is one uprated and refurbished existing intake and seven new chain & flight conveyors, one of which is a flow and return conveyor and five of them are curve combination conveyors. All of the conveyors are capable of achieving 100tph throughput capacity.

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Perry of Oakley Ltd have also installed an aspirator pre-cleaner, which is capable of capacities up to 150tph and has been designed to remove dust, chaff and light particles from the grain before it is dried to improve product quality.

The drier is a Perry M611 shutter discharge drier, capable of throughput capacities of up to 49tph and has a holding capacity of 51 tonnes.

The drier has been fitted with Perry of Oakley Ltds revolutionary CentriKleens, which reduce the amount of dust & chaff dispensed from the drier.

The whole system is controlled with the Perry PLC plant control panel, a touch screen panel that has been designed and programmed in house. It can be connected to the internet, which offers its users text and email alerts, and an app that allows you to control it while on the move.

Revesby have planned for the future with this installation. They plan to expand their product range to include beans and oats and the flexibility of the Perry of Oakley Ltd equipment allows them to further increase their capacities at a later date if required and allows them to become a semi-commercial operation by offering contract drying and storage.

Revesby Estates said “We are really happy with the new system, everything is running well & we have future proofed for years to come!”

For more information please contact Perry of Oakley Ltd on +44 (0)1404 890300

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Forestry

Creating an innovative bioeconomy: forests offer more than wood The forest-based bioeconomy could offer more potential for sustainable growth and new investments in the EU, according to Jyrki Katainen, European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness.

Mr Katainen was speaking at a high-level ThinkForest seminar held in Brussels on 15 November, which discussed how to build an innovative and resilient forest bioeconomy. echnical progress now allows the conversion of biomass into a broad range of novel products.

Research and innovation are

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crucial for developing the forestbased bioeconomy still further, said Mr Katainen. Advanced woodbased materials and chemicals are expected to play a major role, providing opportunities to maintain and create jobs and income. He

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stressed the potential of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), for creating new, innovative projects from wood.

Panellists discussed how new technologies could bring ‘added value’. Wood for biofuel can be a transition technology but there are much better technologies around the corner. The future is forests which provide ecosystem services, value-added materials (eg engineered wood), and innovative consumables like bioplastics. John Bell, Director of Bioeconomy, DG Research and Innovation highlighted the importance of “knowing what we know and developing what we don’t know”.

New technologies and innovation could create “bioeconomic diversity”, giving more options and building more sustainable value and jobs close to the ground.

A major issue was how to raise the awareness of this added value

that forests are offering, to be able to bring the bioeconomy to life.

“We need to tell a fact-based narrative which is appropriate for an urban-based population”, said Lauri Hetemäki, EFI’s Assistant Director. We shouldn’t just talk about wood, added Fredrick Federley, MEP. We need to open out and broaden our viewpoint.

We should talk about fibre, its uses for fabric, the new innovative materials being made from cellulose.

Lively discussions emphasised that it was important to have an understanding of the different contexts in different countries, and a common understanding of the sustainability of a forest-based bioeconomy. Here, EFI’s new From Science to Policy study provides insights into the potential use of forest-based indicators for bioeconomy monitoring and assessment.

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| Fencing

Rhino Gates: On the charge!

Expansion is uppermost in the mind of Rhino Gates, based in the Black Country. fter taking over the business in July 2016, Nick Moran is looking to build on the already strong reputation that the company enjoy.

"Being based in Wednesbury, close to the M5 and M6 motorways, gives us easy access to the national road network allowing us to supply both commercial contractors and end user customers nationwide."

Rhino manufactures both cantilever and tracked automated

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and manual gates. Security is a key consideration as is user safety with all of Rhino’s gates conforming to the latest gate legislation. “We keep our offering simple and focused and I have no plans to change that. We are unique in the sense that we own around 90% of our supply chain with a steel stockholding firm and a powder coating operation. Which happens to be the second largest powder coating oven in the UK!," say's Nick.

"Our workforce is expanding

and we have the capability to build three to four gates per week, depending on size, which is as good as anyone in the sector."

"But our key selling point is value. Rhino are able to manufacture and supply the same high quality gates at around 6070% the cost of leading competitors."

"A further advantage is that all of our gates arrive in one piece and can be placed in position on the

gate foundations directly. The only additional work is to fix the gate to the foundation and connect to the electrical supply."

The company has become synonymous with transparency and straight away, upon visiting the Rhino website, graded prices are clearly shown on the home page, so customers know exactly what they are getting.

Visit www.rhinogates.co.uk for further information

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Buildings

Snow loading on agricultural buildings The United Kingdom is blessed with a fairly mild winter climate, but it is not uncommon for a significant snowfall to occur at least once every winter, bringing with it the usual transport chaos and school closures. n Scotland and North East England, heavy snow is more common and the problem increases with altitude. For farmers, especially those with livestock, the snow is a cause for concern and, if possible, many farmers will try to bring their animals indoors during the worst of the weather. For their sake, it is essential that the buildings erected on farms and elsewhere are sufficiently strong to withstand the worst winter snow, including drifted snow where appropriate. Fortunately, there is a relatively simple design method that frame manufacturers can follow to ensure that their buildings are safe. This article aims to describe this method and highlight the key issues.

Snow loading on buildings There are two fundamental types of snow loading that can act on a building structure and it is important to distinguish between them: • Uniform snow loading • Snow drift All buildings should be designed for uniform snow load as there will always be an element of distributed snow, even if some drifting occurs.

Some buildings, especially those with obstructions against which the snow could accumulate such as parapets or walls, should also be designed for snow drift loading. While snow drift loading is usually much higher than the uniform snow load, it is limited to a relatively small area and is subjected to lower safety factors by the design standards. Snow drift loading may also occur on buildings that are susceptible to snow sliding off a higher roof onto a neighbouring lower one.

All snow loading ultimately has to be carried to the foundations by the cladding, purlins and building structure. It is, therefore essential that building designers take account of the snow when designing all elements of the building (cladding, purlins, rafters, columns and foundations) and the connections between them. For steeply pitched roofs, the building designer should also give consideration to the down-slope component of the snow loading acting on the roof cladding and ensure that sufficient fasteners are provided.

Factors affecting snow loading Location Some parts of the country are more susceptible to snowfall than others. A number of meteorological factors influence the depth and frequency of snowfall at a given location, beyond the expertise expected of a steel frame manufacturer or structural engineer.

Fortunately, data from many years of meteorological records have been analysed to produce simplified guidance in the form of a snow map and a simple equation to allow for site altitude. Both are published in the National Annex to the BS EN 1991-1-3. The snow map, which has been reproduced in Figure 1, divides the country into a number of zones, according to the predicted intensity of the 1 in 50 year snow event. As one might expect, the highest snow loading occurs in Scotland and eastern areas of England.

Altitude The depth of snow fall naturally increases with altitude. This is catered for by a simple

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equation in BS EN 1991-1-3 that gives site snow load in terms of site altitude and snow zone (taken from the map). It is therefore a relatively simple matter to obtain the ground snow loading for any location in the UK. Multiplying by another factor, known as the shape factor, gives the uniform snow loading on the roof of the building.

Parapets and obstructions Parapets and other obstructions against which the snow may accumulate cause snow drifts resulting in localised high snow loads well in excess of the uniform snow load. These need to be taken into account in the design of the roof cladding and its supporting structure and may require additional local strengthening of the roof (e.g. purlins at closer centres).

Where snow drifts against a wall or parapet, there is also the possibility of a horizontal force from the snow onto the cladding and structure.

In extreme cases this could give rise to sway in the frames.

Neighbouring roofs Where a building is erected adjacent to an existing taller one, building designers need to be aware of the possibility of snow falling off the higher roof onto the lower building causing local overloading of the roof cladding and supporting structure. The same could also be true if a low mono-pitch extension were built against a duo-pitch shed. The snow load in this case will depend on the roof slope area of the taller building and the area of the lower roof onto which the snow is likely to fall (i.e. the size of the heap formed on the lower roof). If there is a significant height difference between the two roofs, there is also the risk of impact loading due to the momentum of the snow as it hits the lower roof. This loading is likely to be far greater than the equivalent static load.

RIDBA is aware of examples where such roofs have collapsed in practice.

Snow loading calculations Snow loading is site and building specific so should be calculated for each building project.

This is not as onerous as it sounds, since the only two factors affecting the uniform snow loading are the location (expressed as a snow zone) and altitude. It does however mean that a steel frame designed for a farm in Cornwall is unlikely to be able to withstand the snow

loading of a typical winter in North Yorkshire (although the wind loading is probably worse in Cornwall). Taking account of the influence of neighbouring buildings and obstructions, the snow drift loading could differ between two buildings on the same farm!

All snow loading ultimately has to be carried to the foundations by the cladding, purlins and building structure The magnitude of the snow loading should be determined using BS EN 1991-1-3 (part of Eurocode1) and its UK National Annex. For agricultural buildings, it may be permissible to apply a reduction to the snow loading obtained from the Eurocode, depending on the use and occupancy level of the building. For further details, see BS 5502-22. When designing the structural frame, the snow loading is assumed to act at the same time as the dead load (e.g. self-weight) and any positive (downward) wind loading. BS EN 1990 gives the appropriate safety factors to apply to this combination of loading. Access for maintenance (imposed load) is considered as a separate load case and is combined with the dead load only.

Snow drift loading is considered separately and is treated as an accidental load case with lower load factors.

Concluding remarks The design of any steel or timber framed building is dependent on the magnitude of the snow loading acting on the building. Since the snow loading is location specific, it should be calculated for each and every building project, although in practice it may be simpler to specify a standard uniform snow load calculated for a particular zone up to a specified altitude (this approach will be conservative for most buildings). Snow drift loading is building specific and bespoke calculations are required for each case. If in doubt, frame manufacturers should seek assistance from a qualified engineer or speak to the RIDBA technical consultant.

For further information contact: Martin Heywood Technical@ridba.org.uk

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| Buildings

CBS Agricultural retaining wall range CBS Agricultural retaining walls are all manufactured to the highest standards using a c60/75 grade self-compacting concrete mix and offer many advantages compared to rival systems.

BS Freestanding grain walls provide a low cost and flexible retaining wall solution to suit your needs. CBS Grain walls can take a full load at one side without any extra support, allowing for maximum storage capabilities. Should your requirements in the future change the units can be easily moved to a more suitable position without the need for any costly foundations or groundworks.

The advantage of the Interlocking element in the freestanding grain wall system is the firm connection formed between units, the interlocking joint means that there are no small gaps between the units once they are in place. This means that in most cases the walls require no sealants to prevent your stored products from seeping through those annoying little gaps.

Another advantage of the interlocking joints is that forming a true straight run of units is a simple and easy affair as the units guide themselves in to position. The safety of the wall is always of the

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upmost importance and the interlocking feature helps in the stability of freestanding walls that have no fixings to foundations.

CBS Silage clamp Agri walls The Agri wall system is a unique silage clamp retaining wall system that is designed to form silage clamps and storage bays. The Agri retaining wall system is unique in the UK due to the fact that the units are available in lengths between 2 to 5 meters. The units are designed so that in standard silage clamp applications they do not require any bolting/ fixing down to foundations. This means that you have a silage clamp system that is easy and fast to install, our installation team can install on average 100 linear meters per day, allowing for huge cost savings to be made.

The Agri system is available in L walls designed to be used at the perimeter and therefore bear a load on one side with T walls or U walls as the partition walls bearing a load on both sides. The U wall is designed to then be filled with aggregates, forming a safe working platform between clamps.

CBS Earth Bank Clamp system

CBS have developed a version of the “Traunsteiner silo�. This is a silage clamp with sloping walls leaning against an earth bank. This silage clamp system forms a safe working platform at the perimeter of the entire clamp.

When compacting the silage (usually maize) the compacting machine can be driven directly up to the wall, allowing an increase in compaction and a decrease in energy losses from the silage.

CBS Concrete Products have a high manufacturing capabilities as well as a large stock capacity, this

means that we can provide very quick lead times.

We have many reference projects across the UK, if you would like to find out more about our product ranges please visit: www.cbs-concreteproducts.co.uk or call Freephone: 0808 189 1258

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Buildings

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| Buildings

Compressed is best for Corrugated Sheet Fibre cement corrugated sheet is the ideal roofing & cladding material for livestock buildings, says Ged Ferris of Cembrit. ommonly seen on agricultural buildings across the UK, fibre cement was first manufactured in Europe at the end of the 19th Century. The manufacturing process was invented by an Austrian Ludwig Hatschek after 7 years of experimentation with papermaking technology and various quantities of cellulose, reinforcing fibres, cement and water. The resultant mixture creates fibre cement board, the ideal light-weight building material.

Immediately after it is formed fibre cement is still pliable. This means it can be into moulded into shapes - including a corrugated profile – as well as the more complex crown ridge, bargeboards and ventilation accessories required for a complete roofing system. A key part of the process in the Cembrit factory is compression of the sheets to increase the density of the finished product, in our case,

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1700kg/m³. This figure is higher than the industry average and also ensures a thinner, more consistent sheet that is better able to resist abrasion.

We believe full compression is a vital step in the process of manufacturing corrugated sheets and is the latest development in fibre cement production techniques. This is especially important for agricultural projects, where, exposed to the elements, the roof is put under immense stress and fixing tolerances will be tested to their limit. Fixing locations are points of weakness for claddings of all materials. Steel clad roofs will corrode first at fixings and leading edges where the steel is exposed. Less dense, semi compressed fibre cement is more prone than fully compressed sheet, to wear at fixing locations due to abrasion resulting in reduced durability of the roof.

Products In Practice A new dairy farm situated in Bancyfelin is providing a healthy and sustainable setting for cattle

due to the installation of 1,100 natural grey Cembrit Cemsix fully compressed fibre cement corrugated sheets, along with Cembrit open protected ridges across the full area of the dual pitched roof.

“We have installed Cemsix on a number of other projects in the past,” says Kevin Lloyd, Partner at LKL Construction, the project contractor. “Cemsix has always been an ideal solution as it not affected by destructive fungi, vermin or insects, and will not rot or decay during the lifetime of the building. The Cembrit open protected ridge system provided effective building ventilation by allowing efficient outflow of the rancid and contaminated humid air present in the roof space of the building. This was able to positively aid animal welfare and comfort within the building.”

To view Cembrit Cemsix, visit the Cembrit stand (3A139) at LAMMA in January 2017.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Slurry

SlurryKat launches new tanker dribble bar range SlurryKat in Northern Ireland has further stamped its mark on the slurry spreading industry with a brand new range of budget farm line dribble bars. lready firmly established as market leaders in slurry handling equipment and pioneers of the dribble bar system, SlurryKat has now launched a new affordable range designed specifically for farmers.

This new range further adds to the company’s existing ‘two-line’ market approach, consisting of premium ‘pro-line’ products, designed for contractors and larger intensive farmers, as well as a more basic ‘farm line’ budget range of equipment.

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“The new dribble bars can be fitted to any tanker without the need for a rear hydraulic linkage” This approach has been very well received in the market over the past few years according to

24 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

SlurryKat CEO Garth Cairns. He said: “We now have a product for everyone with premium and basic spec products from a shear grab to a slurry tanker.”

Having launched the range of Panterra tankers almost a year ago, Mr Cairns added: “The Panterra tankers have been an amazing success for us in the past 12 months or so and we continue to build on this success with continuous product development, helping to give our customers the best market leading farm equipment at affordable prices.”

Features of the new dribble bar range demonstrate the usual high manufacturing quality expected from SlurryKat. There are two models available in the more popular 7.5m and 9m working widths.

Other innovative features include spring loaded booms that automatically reset, if they accidentally come into contact with an obstacle such as a post during operation, therefore preventing damage.

The dribble bars use a Vogelsang macerator/distributor, the same unit as used in the other premium dribble bars lines from SlurryKat, to ensure perfect spreading distribution across the entire width.

The units are also 50 per cent lighter to eliminate any balance issues when fitted to existing tankers.

“The new dribble bars can be fitted to any tanker without the need for a rear hydraulic linkage, which saves costs and unwanted weight,” said Mr Cairns.

The new dribble bar range coincides with the recent launch of the Farm Modernisation Grant scheme in Northern Ireland where farmers can benefit from financial assistance of dribble bars fitted to their existing tanker or as a complete new tanker and dribble bar unit.

Prices start at £6750 for the 7.5m model.

SlurryKat can be contacted for more information on 028 38 820862 or sales@slurrykat.com

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| Slurry

For permanent or tempory storage think bags...

Tramspread, the slurry and digestate handling specialists, have been importing the Albers Alligator range of storage systems for 12 years, and as such have unrivalled knowledge and experience of their innovative and cost effective flexible storage systems or ‘slurrybags’ as they are simply known to most customers. ermanent Albers Alligator Bagtanks can be supplied in any capacity up to 7000m3. They are installed into an earthwork resembling a shallow lagoon and as standard, include fill/empty pipes with double valves and spillage vessels, Electric or hydraulic submersible mixers, full protective underfelt, and vegetation barrier for the banks.

Other pipework and valve options are also available.

For temporary storage their solution is the NurseBag. This simple high capacity tank is used in conjunction with the NurseBag Reeler, which can be either linkage/fork tine mounted or a slow tow version mounted on a twin axle chassis.

A NurseBag is simply reeled out onto smooth level ground, and using the two standard 6” inlet/outlets can then be filled by tanker whilst liquid is simultaneously pumped out for spreading. The large capacities minimise downtime in the field, with up to 350m3 available to be

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pumped as opposed to the typical 40 – 60m3 of a conventional steel nurse tank.

When a block of land has been spread, the Reeler reels the NurseBag onto its spool, expelling any remaining liquid as it goes. It can then be transported to the next site with the minimum of downtime. Multiple NurseBags can be served by one Reeler For information on the Albers Alligator range, or any other slurry or digestate handling equipment, call the Tramspread team who will be happy to offer advice based on their many years of experience.

Tel. 01449 766133 www.tramspread.co.uk

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Animal Health

Leading vet campaigns for radical rethink in parasite control It’s a fact – according to the World Health Organization – more than two billion people are infected with parasitic worms, including tens of millions of young children and pregnant women. n the UK alone, it is estimated that up to 40 per cent of children under the age of 10 may be affected by worms at any one time.

Nearly 20 years ago, respected scientific studies argued that the impact of worms on human health was as great as malaria or tuberculosis and while the treatment of these diseases has advanced dramatically since then – the approach to worming has not.

Wanting to highlight the issues around resistance to wormers across both animals and humans, leading holistic vet, Nick Thompson has called for greater awareness of this global issue.

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“Every pet owner, farmer, horse or poultry owner needs to rethink their approach to worming now. Anyone who owns or cares for animals needs to ask themselves whether they are helping to tackle this very serious problem or are, in fact, making it worse” His campaign is underway with the production and development of two top-level films which highlight the problems we face today due to anthelmintic wormer resistance.

Says Nick: “These parasites cause malnutrition, diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia and sometimes death in humans and animals alike.

“They also exacerbate many other medical conditions with the economic impact on the worldwide livestock production substantial.

“It is not surprising that treating pets, livestock and other animals regularly with a wormer has become the norm with worming now considered an essential part of owning a pet or farming livestock.

“Basically worming has become part of the responsible animal owner’s basic care routine but the drugs we rely on to treat worm infestations in both humans and animals are becoming less and less effective.”

To bolster the campaign and get people to take note of this serious issue Nick has launched two films which can be viewed on the Verm-X facebook or by using the following link http://bit.ly/2fgDgep Nick adds: “The emergence of resistance to wormers as a serious problem is no surprise.

In fact for decades the drugs used to treat these parasites have been based on only three types of chemicals, which all act in similar ways.

“Resistance to one type inevitably leads to resistance to another, with more and more worms developing resistance to all three which

26 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

Nick Thompson

is commonly known as multi-drug resistance.”

Nick points out that it is understanding how current wormers work – or don’t work – that could be the key to finding a sustainable solution to wormer resistance.

“The major challenge is not the worm’s ability to survive a dose of a drug that would normally be lethal but the fact that this ability to survive can be passed on to its offspring.

“The flaw in all de-worming drugs is that they have never been 100% effective. There are always survivors and with less worms to compete against, the survivors do what they do best – thrive and reproduce, establishing a new generation of worms with the ability to resist the only drugs available to kill them.

“So the more often drugs are used, the easier it is for the survivor worms to thrive. It is widely believed that the routine use of wormer drugs in animals – food producing animals in particular – is a major cause of drug resistance.

Multi-drug resistance is now a global problem because all the de-wormer drugs we rely in

show significant resistance.”

Looking at the options to overcome the issue Nick highlights a number of ideas including making wormers ‘prescription only’, introducing strict quarantine measures for livestock, selective dosing of herds and introducing further herbal worming methods and techniques.

“It is not surprising that treating pets, livestock and other animals regularly with a wormer has become the norm” Concludes Nick: “Every pet owner, farmer, horse or poultry owner needs to rethink their approach to worming now. Anyone who owns or cares for animals needs to ask themselves whether they are helping to tackle this very serious problem or are, in fact, making it worse.”

For further information contact Dr Nick Thompson on (01225) 497778

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Do food retailers hold the key to on-farm AD success?

The move towards sustainable food retailing shows no sign of slowing down, with consumers more aware of environmental issues than ever before. esearch from Globescan revealed that 92 per cent of shoppers think food companies should focus their efforts on securing the future sustainability of food, with twothirds believing that farmers should be paid more for their produce. As more food retailers start to reap the benefits of marketing lower carbon products, will they now put their money where their mouth is and support the supply chain in developing new anaerobic digestion (AD) infrastructure?

“The vast majority of the UK’s 200 on-farm AD plants have been built with Feed-in Tariff support,” says Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA). “With that incentive heavily reduced and constrained, we are now looking at how we build the next 200.

As many retailers enjoy the ‘green halo’ that comes from marketing low carbon products, is it now time for incentive cuts to be compensated by the support of supermarkets and large food retailers?”

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The scale of the opportunity will be a key topic at the ADBA National Conference The role that retailers can play in the future of AD is just one of the topics on the agenda at the ADBA National Conference 2016, taking place at One Great George Street, Westminster on 8 December. Now in its eighth year, the 2016 event will bring together industry, academia and policy makers to assess how the UK’s changing relationship with the world and the priorities of a new government can create future opportunities. Key speakers include Matthew Bell (Committee on Climate Change), Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP, Richard Court (National Grid), Chris Huhne (Former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate), Alison Fergusson (Ofwat), Iain Gulland (Zero Waste Scotland) and David Newman (President, World Biogas Association).

Taking a lead on food waste Another keynote speaker at the ADBA National Conference is WRAP’s Dr Richard Swannell, who will present on the current global food waste challenge and how food waste recycling and AD can help reduce food waste. “The UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 sets out a clear challenge to tackle food waste. The aim is to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, and reduce food losses along production and supply chains. There is a strong case to reduce food waste and to increase separate collection and recycling around the world, not only for the benefit of the environment but also consumers, food producers and the AD industry. My talk will consider how the world might manage food waste more successfully, looking at the scale of the challenge ahead of us and also the size of the prize for the sector.”

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Global AD industry set to reach $1trn AND deliver green energy more cheaply than coal The rewards to be had are great – with its current value set at $19.5bn, significant improvements in AD efficiency and plant operation, through advances in R&I currently being discussed, will see the global biogas industry growing exponentially and producing green energy more cheaply than coal. At the same time AD will be playing a critical role in addressing some of the world’s most imminent and critical challenges, including climate change, waste recycling, wastewater treatment and sanitation, and food and energy security.

According to Charlotte Morton, the UK’s strong research and development base – in partnership with its mature and robust operational sector which comprises over 540 AD plants – means the UK is well placed to take a leading role in the global AD revolution: “Improving the AD process – for example, by looking at ways to match the digestion efficiency being achieved in nature – is just one area of focus for our world-leading academic

researchers. With a return to a more supportive policy environment, this could start to deliver the industry’s huge potential around the world.

The UK has a golden opportunity to be a global leader in what has the potential to become a $1 trillion biogas industry, exporting expertise and equipment worth billions of pounds, and creating tens of thousands of jobs to replace those being lost in the fossil fuel industries.”

The scale of the opportunity will be a key topic at the ADBA National Conference, which will also cover why England is still lagging behind Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in regard to separate food waste collections; where green gas fits in the UK’s energy strategy; how water sector deregulation is changing organic waste markets; and how the biomethane sector will develop between 20172021.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Forestry

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

The Paris Agreement: The Sweet Smell of Sweat Johan Ostlund, director at CooperOstlund – the UK’s leading gas engine specification and maintenance expert – discusses the Paris Agreement on climate change. he Paris Agreement on climate change came into force on 4 November. It is ambitious and brave, straddling the globe with a bold vision, but with the minor annoying fine print of ‘just don’t sweat the small stuff.’

The Agreement is certainly ambitious and commits the UK (and 194 other signatories) to limit the increase of global average temperatures to ‘well below’ 2C and to target efforts to keep temperature increases to 1.5C.

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So how are we going to do it?

The UK will need to create its own voluntary plan to reduce emissions (the key words being ‘create’, ‘voluntary’ and ‘plan’).

Whilst we don’t as yet have that plan, what’s clear is that there will be no silver bullet to achieve our targets (and let’s be unambiguous - these are big targets). The likelihood is that it will be a series of incremental improvements across a wide range of activities and sectors – in other words, the small stuff.

Let’s take our part in those incremental improvements within

New AD map celebrates over 500 UK plants The UK anaerobic digestion industry now has over 500 operational plants, and following the launch of ADBA's interactive map they’re easier to see and find than ever. he industry association’s database features 540 sites which are producing biogas from food waste, agricultural materials, industrial effluents and sewage.

ADBA’s map enables suppliers, developers and waste producers to find plants near them or to view a particular type of plant across the UK. ADBA member companies are able to access enhanced features including sites in planning and construction.

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the combined heat and power (CHP) marketplace. Natural gas should be a prime example of how you achieve the Paris nirvana of providing an income and security of supply, all while benefitting the environment. It does do this to an extent, but only when managed properly (again we’re back to the small stuff).

When people create AD facilities, the engine that sits at the heart of it is typically one of the most expensive acquisitions, but also the most crucial to its success (measured by environmental impact and the bottom line result).

Often people consider it job done when the plant goes live but fail to recognise that the details matter.

The small things in this case are calibration, maintenance, servicing – not headline grabbers that politicians will grandstand, but the things that make the difference between success and failure.

By way of example, we often see poorly calibrated and badly installed CHP engines that have been running at less than 50% efficiency for years at a time. One client was operating an engine for more than six years, which should

have completed 48,000 running hours, but had only completed 10,000, as it was offline with issues so often. Poor advice from the outset, a lack of attention to detail, combined with a rushed installation to save labour costs, had seen the engine generate less than a fifth of its potential (fortunately in this instance a twohour service was able to transform the project, which is now running at maximum efficiency, 24 hours a day).

The big problem is that too many people aren’t using their CHP units to maximum potential, which when considered cumulatively is a real issue.

If we are ever to achieve our ambitious Paris targets we need to educate people and make them appreciate the details. As more technologies come on stream with greater sophistication and impact, this will be even more pronounced. Of course, there are other macro issues in play, from nuclear power to Donald Trump’s prospective environmental policies, but let’s not sweat the big stuff!

"The growth of the AD industry to 540 operational sites is hugely welcome” Responding to the launch, Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), said: “ADBA's market reports and data already provide the most comprehensive information about AD in the UK, and our interactive map makes it even easier to find and use than ever before.

"The growth of the AD industry to 540 operational sites is hugely welcome, providing the equivalent of over 700MW capacity for green electricity

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generation and offering a sustainable option for food waste, farming and water treatment.

“The benefits that AD is already delivering show why the industry should be supported to continue to grow: we desperately need the government to set out its plans for the RHI, expand support for renewable electricity and take action to ensure that food waste is collected and recycled.”

The map is available via the ADBA website, http://adbioresources.org/aboutad/ad-map

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Energy

Vivergo Fuels calls for E10 fuel to support UK farming Vivergo Fuels, the UK’s biggest producer of bioethanol, is calling on the Government to provide greater certainty to UK farmers by pushing forward with the introduction of E10 fuel, which will cultivate an alternative domestic market for their produce. n the back of the harvest, the UK’s major wheat buyer, Vivergo is boosting the fortunes of farmers to the value of £1m per month, compared to the smaller export value they would receive. The company takes up to 100,000 tonnes of animal feed grade wheat each month to create its ethanol, which is then blended into petrol.

However, Vivergo, which operates a £350m plant at Salt End near Hull, says it can play an even bigger role and is asking the Government to increase the ethanol blending ratio in petrol from current levels (5%) to 10%, through the introduction of greener fuel, E10. This will boost the UK economy by supporting UK farmers and UK jobs, as well as helping to meet strict and legallybinding environmental targets.

Mark Chesworth, Managing Director of Vivergo Fuels, said: “It is essential that the UK Government is supportive in terms of increasing the current bioethanol blending ratio in UK petrol, so that Vivergo Fuels and the wider industry can provide a long term, sustainable and secure domestic market for UK farmers.

Increased demand for bioethanol will allow farmers to sell their wheat in the UK instead of exporting, increasing their earnings. This in turn will benefit the wider UK economy and

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support jobs throughout the supply chain, further boosting UK industry.”

Vivergo Fuels, which opened in 2012, is one of the biggest investors in the Humber region and has supported thousands of jobs so far, directly and indirectly, with scope to support many more in the future, particularly in the agricultural sector.

NFU President, Meurig Raymond, said: “The UK biofuels industry is incredibly beneficial to farmers across the country, as it adds value to grain and oilseeds for feed and fuel markets. The process ensures that animal-grade wheat is bought at a fair price, and the bi-product of animal feed creates a collaborative process that benefits both the farmers and the biofuels industry.”

Vivergo also believes that E10 represents the most cost-effective and straightforward channel for the UK to meet its legally binding, transport-specific targets and air quality challenges, this has been echoed by the Select Committee.

By 2020, all European countries, including the UK must ensure that 10% of transport fuel is sourced from renewable sources to reduce transport’s environmental impact, which is increasing year-on-year.

This mandate is parallel to the UK’s own strict carbon reduction goals. E10 will help to reduce global emission levels, mitigate the rapid rate of climate change, and improve air quality.

30 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

For more information on how Vivergo produces home grown,

sustainable feed and fuel, visit www.vivergofuels.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Big brands say “stop the solar tax hike” Over 160 NGOs, schools, academics, energy providers and public institutions ask the Chancellor to stop the proposed rise in business rates for solar panels. ig companies such as Sainsbury’s, IKEA, and Kingfisher PLC – who own B&Q and Screwfix - have joined over 160 diverse groups calling on the Chancellor to drop the solar tax hike. The group, which includes two former directors of Big 6 energy companies, as well as senior politicians, the Federation of Small Businesses, campaigning groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and senior academics have signed the letter asking the Chancellor to stop the forthcoming rise in business rates for selfconsumption solar power.

Changes to business rates paid on solar power could see many systems become uneconomic.

The changes will see rates rise up to eight fold for organisations that own solar panels and use the power themselves. This would see the most efficient use of solar, consumption at point of generation, bizarrely penalised by the tax system.

The change will only affect systems where the energy is for self-consumption; companies who export their power to the grid or a third party are rated on a different calculation. This means that the tax rise is most likely to hit smaller companies, who are less likely to have set up different ownership schemes for their panels, as well

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as public sector organisations such as state schools and hospitals.

Paul Barwell, STA CEO, commented: “The sheer diversity of groups willing to sign this letter demonstrates the breadth of feeling on this issue. Now that the UK has signed the Paris Agreement it goes without saying that the Government should support organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprints, not penalise them. It is essential that solar energy is treated sensibly within the tax system.”

In a speech to Energy UK Greg Clark MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, said he wanted decentralised energy to compete with large-scale new generation because “the competitive tension is best for consumers.” However solar power is being increasingly disadvantaged in the tax regime; for example gas combined heat and power devices have been exempted from business rates since 2001, but not zero carbon solar. This is in addition to tax breaks for fossil fuel extraction such as 100% capital allowances for oil and gas production in the first year, which are not available to solar energy.

The letter reads it is “disappointing that over the past year major policy changes have led to rooftop solar deployment

falling by over 80% in the UK. Instead of stabilising the industry, it has been further jeopardised by surprise business rate rises for organisations that own and supply themselves with solar power.

Businesses, schools and others with solar face a sharp 6-8 fold tax hike from next April. If this proceeds it will also restrict future investment in solar rooftops all over the UK and put the British solar industry at a disadvantage, both at home and internationally.”

Sir Tim Smit, Co-founder of Eden Project, commented: “The folly of this measure will be seen unkindly by history. I urge the Chancellor to ensure common sense prevails and creates a business climate that promotes a sustainable, independent, future, demonstrating that Britain remains serious in its ambition to play a

part as a global citizen.””

Mike Cherry, National Chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The inclusion of solar panels in the business rates calculation could leave small businesses with a rooftop solar installation facing a huge eight-fold tax hike. For many small firms who may have already been impacted by recent changes to low carbon subsidies, this is an extra financial burden that they will struggle to cope with.”

The letter concludes “New Ministers have described climate change as ‘one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threats to our national and global security’. We agree. It would be extraordinary if the Government penalised businesses and communities for taking positive action. We urge you to stop the solar tax hike.”

World-class factory opening in Hull marks new era for Britain’s offshore wind industry RenewableUK says today’s official opening of Siemens’ new offshore wind plant in Hull represents a major stride forward for Britain’s rapidly-expanding offshore wind sector. he £310 million redevelopment of Alexandra Dock by Siemens and Associated British Ports will create 1,000 jobs, 700 of which have already been filled by local people.

The site, which is the size of 78 football pitches, includes a factory which will manufacture blades 75 meters long and a dockside plant assembling turbine towers 82 meters tall.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Hugh McNeal, who’s attending today’s ceremony, said: “Innovative, large-scale manufacturing for Britain’s

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offshore wind industry, as Siemens are doing here in Hull, is a key part of our nation’s modern industrial strategy”.

“It’s great to see a major international company building on Yorkshire’s proud manufacturing history. Siemens is one of many trailblazers investing in this sector right across the UK. Offshore wind developers are committed to maximising the amount of locallymade kit in their projects, to ensure that we all reap the economic benefits of renewable energy – including opportunities to export, capitalising on Britain’s global lead in offshore wind”.

“The offshore wind industry

is bringing well over £20 billion in investment to the UK over the course of this decade, creating thousands of new jobs, from apprentices taking their first steps into high-tech, to experienced workers making the transition from the oil and gas sector into renewables”.

Within the last few weeks, JDR Cables in Hartlepool announced that it has won a major contract to design and manufacture subsea power cables for what will be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, off the coast of East Yorkshire. In Belfast, Harland and Wolff secured a significant deal to supply steel foundations to a

“It’s great to see a major international company building on Yorkshire’s proud manufacturing history” project off the Suffolk coast. MHI Vestas Offshore Wind on the Isle of Wight has announced it is recruiting 70 extra workers to manufacture turbine blades. CS Wind based in Campbeltown in Scotland is recruiting 160 more staff supplying turbine towers for Siemens as well as other international companies.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 31

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| LAMMA

Bumper LAMMA ’17 event predicted

LAMMA is set to underline its position as the UK’s largest farming machinery, equipment and services show when it returns in the new year. ver 900 exhibitors are expected to showcase their wares at LAMMA ’17, which takes place on 18 and 19 January 2017, at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. The event attracts more than 40,000 visitors.

The figures reflect the continuing importance and appeal of LAMMA across the agricultural industry, despite the economic pressure being felt across all sectors, said Elisabeth Mork-

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Eidem, group head of events at Briefing Media, which owns LAMMA. “Our exhibitors value LAMMA for the quality face-to-face time it provides with current and prospective clients, no matter what uncertainty is in the market.

“Their fantastic support means LAMMA ’17 is shaping up to be another excellent event, providing visitors with unrivalled access to a vast array of machinery, equipment and services, which could help improve their farm productivity and bottom line.”

34 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

It’s a sentiment shared by LAMMA’s new headline sponsor for the next three years, Asset Finance Partners.

Matthew Smart, head of asset finance for AFP, said: “We are proud to be associated with the long tradition of LAMMA and to have been selected as headline sponsor for such an influential event.

“LAMMA is the agricultural industry’s premier event for ‘doing business’, offering a complete range of industry-leading manufacturers, suppliers and

service providers exhibiting their latest innovations.

“The event provides the perfect opportunity for farmers of all types, sizes and backgrounds to look at and learn more about the very latest developments in agricultural equipment and services.

“We look forward to welcoming old, existing and new customers alike to the show.”

What’s on show?

As with last year, the 2017 event will host the most extensive array of farm machinery to be found in one location anywhere in the UK.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA Whether you grow wheat in Lincolnshire or milk cows in Somerset, produce caulis in Kent or manage an estate in the Highlands, there will be plenty of interest at LAMMA ’17.

Most leading manufacturers have signed up to attend, and many will be showing new tractors, combines, drills and cultivation equipment. Some of this will be making a first appearance on the global stage, and some will be making a UK debut, maintaining LAMMA’s reputation as a launch pad for key machinery manufacturers.

However, it’s not just the largest companies that draw the crowds.

LAMMA’s ethos throughout its 36year history has been to host smaller agricultural engineering and machinery companies from across the UK and, through realistic exhibiting costs, encouraging them to showcase a wide range of products.

This combination of large and small, unique on this scale in the UK, gives visitors access to a vast array of innovative products that they will not encounter anywhere else. They can use the event to compare and contrast almost any machinery, equipment and services they might require in the flesh, rather than relying on print or the internet.

Key sectors are zoned around the showground to help visitors

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find what they need with the minimum of fuss. Livestock supplies, forage machinery and associated equipment are grouped together as is postharvest technology and roots machinery.

The popular Workshop Area returns to the event, where visitors can buy almost anything they need to tackle the simplest repair job or the most sophisticated selfbuild project.

Other non-machinery areas continue to develop at LAMMA. A range of companies will be demonstrating the latest advances in agronomy, and visitors can catch up on the latest business and farm management advice.

The Dealers’ Den returns to LAMMA ’17, where the main traders dealing in second-hand kit will be exhibiting. Visitors looking for used equipment can track down machinery there and then or build contacts to help them secure the right piece of kit at the time they need it.

CPD points Visitors can earn six BASIS and two NRoSO points by attending the event and, for BASIS, by taking part in the LAMMA knowledge trail.

This will use the stamp card system introduced in 2016. Visitors can drop in on any of the exhibitors taking part in the process and their card will be stamped upon successful

completion of the individual exhibitor’s knowledge trails, to claim a maximum of six points.

Planning your visit To help plan their trip to LAMMA, those intending to visit can sign up for the event newsletter to find out all the latest show news and exhibitor updates.

Go to www.lammashow.com and click on the newsletter sign-up sidebar.

A new LAMMA show app contains all the event information, an onsite show map which is easily accessible, exhibitor listings and news and also exclusive

competitions. Register to download the app now via the LAMMA website.

Visitors using the app will also have access to free WiFi hotspots at the show.

A new interactive show map is also available on the website.

Visitors can plan their day more effectively by panning around the site in 3D. For further information on LAMMA ’17 go to www.lammashow.com Follow LAMMA on Twitter @lammashow

Essential information LAMMA ’17 takes place on Wednesday 18th January between 7.30am and 5pm and Thursday 19th January between 7.30am and 4.30pm.

Venue: east of England Showground, Oundle Road, Alwalton, Peterborough, PE2 6XE. Parking and entrance to the show is free of charge.

Car parks will open early and visitors arriving between 6.30am and 8am can enjoy an early bird breakfast. LAMMA all-day breakfast is available from 8am.

A free shuttle bus service will run between Peterborough train station and the East of England Showground. The service starts at 7am until 5pm. The shuttle bus drop-off and pick-up points will be at main gate (3) near the security office. Two 53-seater buses run throughout the day.

A detailed show guide will be handed out at the entrance gates on arrival. It contains a full listing of exhibitors and a map to help navigate around the showground.

Visitor WiFi available.

For further information on LAMMA ’17 go to www.lammashow.com

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 35

| LAMMA

JC Machinery digging in at LAMMA with the Imants Culter 3.0 subsoiler and enhanced Vredo overseeders JC Machinery will be using LAMMA 2017 to display the latest innovation in agricultural machinery from Imants, the Culter 3.0 subsoiler.

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his machine is an excellent addition to their existing spader range, and perfectly meets the need for a cultivator that can be easily combined with a spader at a low cost with less tractive

force.

The machine is designed to be mounted close to the tractor, with the spader coupled very closely to the ‘Culter’ without the tines making contact with the spade shaft when bolts shear. The Culter 3.0 makes it possible to rip and spade, just to rip or just to spade. The machine is very versatile in this regard. The Culter can also be combined with other tools such as a loose roller, power harrow, rotovator or disc harrow.

The machine comes with six straight Culter tines as standard. These tines have been designed with the aim of requiring minimal tractive force, creating optimal yields and reducing costs per hectare. The tines are made of high tensile steel with easily replaceable

36 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

wear parts.

They ensure even lifting (and breaking) of the subsoil without unwanted displacement of the upper layer and with a uniform soil profile across the entire working width. As a result, oxygen penetrates the soil and facilitates capillary action.

The newly revamped Vredo overseeder range will also be on display at stand R67. The improvements begin with the lid and rear of the seed hopper, which now both have sleeker round shapes. The curved edges encourage the funnelling of seed towards the cam wheel, providing even greater accuracy through a more reliable seed flow.

Lid chains have been replaced by cleverly placed gas springs, allowing the lid to close simply and smoothly, making the machine safer

when filling the hopper, whilst LED lights have been added and a new look stripe.

Functionality has also been a priority in the upgrading process, with the option of a seed grill to protect the agitator shaft, whilst serving as a sieve to protect the seed from straw and any other small debris.

The transformation isn’t limited to exterior functionality. The gear box, which is also used to set the seed dosing rate, has a new spindle adjustment, making the calibration of the seeder much easier, whilst improving on the already impressive accuracy.

For further information or a demonstration please contact John Campey at J C Machinery Tel: 01260 224568 or Mobile: 07736 953143 email info@jcmachinery.co.uk www.jcmachinery.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

Datatag warn farmers of the rise in theft Datatag has issued a warning to farmers concerning the rise in rural crime highlighted by the Met Police’s Plant and Agricultural Intelligent Unit (PANIU) in a recent report. onger winter nights mean it’s more important than ever to improve farm security to protect machinery, livestock and farm equipment from thieves. Insurance provider NFU Mutual is advising farmers to upgrade security measures following a recent spike in farm theft claims in parts of the UK. Thefts of high-value tractors, mostly from arable farms in the Eastern counties of England, are the most expensive claims, but NFU Mutual is also seeing increasing numbers of medium sized tractors, quad bikes and utility vehicles and Land Rover Defenders being stolen.

Thefts are carried out by both professional and opportunistic criminals on a daily basis with over £1m worth of equipment stolen every week. The impact on farms is not limited to the cost of the theft itself as consequential loss of production and income can soon exceed that. It’s therefore vital farmers do everything they can to keep the criminals at bay.

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Datatag ID Limited is the number one provider of security registration systems, including the official Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) Scheme for equipment. CESAR marking for large and small agricultural equipment is supported by the majority of major insurers, as a powerful deterrent.

Major insurer’s support the adoption of the CESAR Scheme and offer insurance premium discounts of up 25% on all CESAR marked equipment. Recently John Deere has adopted CESAR as standard on all of their Gator models. John Deere tractors are already protected by CESAR. The CESAR security system is made up of state of the art Datatag technology including transponders, RFID tags and nondestruct warning labels with unique registration numbers.

CESAR has been proven, since its launch in 2007, to be both a deterrent against theft and as an invaluable aid in recovery. CESAR has contributed to a 70%+ reduction in the theft of equipment.

2016 saw the 225,000th CESAR registered machine, a New

Holland combine, that belongs to TV personality and BBC

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson.

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| LAMMA

New TopDown to be launched at LAMMA LAMMA 2017 will be the launch for Väderstad’s new generation TopDown cultivator in working widths of between 3m and 9m. Extensive updates include a new double SteelRunner packer option, a reinforced frame, new hydraulics and stronger tine arms. he new TopDown has 12.5cm disc spacing, 27cm tine spacing, an adjustable hydraulic stone release up to 700kg and can cultivate down to 30cm depth. With DeepLoosening points the depth increases to 40cm. TopDown remains a one pass shallow or

The levelling board has an updated design too including better working angles, while the new adjustable packer double SteelRunner creates a very effective full depth reconsolidation and clod breaking function. Its open design results in minimized bulldozing and a low draught requirement.

Come and see us at LAMMA

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deep cultivation tool with effective levelling and reconsolidation.

The front of the machine has an aggressive TrueCut 470 disc module for effective cutting and mixing soils. Updated hydraulics with enlarged accumulators ensure more intensive loosening, distributing and mixing, irrespective of the conditions on the field.

See us on stand B64 at LAMMA

38 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

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| LAMMA

Tong to showcase latest equipment 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 range of equipment for 2017, on stand R37. urther to advancements in the company's Auto-Touch HMI controls, which have seen the introduction of Pro-Series control features including safety, diagnostics and maintenance features for more efficient running and minimal downtime, Tong is set to showcase the latest model of its market-leading Caretaker mobile grader, featuring the new advanced HMI control system.

Available as an option on all its latest equipment, Tong’s ProSeries controls can be specified as part of the Auto-Touch HMI control system, adding a level of control and system intelligence that brings users advanced system

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monitoring and reporting.

And to make it even easier for visitors to see how the new controls can make a difference when specified as an option on the latest Caretaker, Tong will be offering demonstrations of the ProSeries HMI control features on stand at Lamma, with an interactive control panel, which will simulate typical operating situations, and show how these can be quickly controlled, adjusted and rectified directly from the touch-screen.

“Our Caretaker grader is continuously developing to ensure it offers efficient and advanced handling to meet the demands of progressive potato and vegetable growers,” says Nick Woodcock, Sales Manager at Tong

Engineering.

“We are proud to offer our Caretaker in a range of models to suit a wide range of handling needs, from smaller growers looking for effective cleaning and grading at lower throughputs, to larger growers and processors who have throughput needs in excess of 50 tons per hour. Having said that, one thing that all our customers have in common, no matter what their throughput requirements, is that they need a reliable machine that not only offers quality cleaning and grading results, but also saves time, and requires minimal maintenance,” explains Nick.

The latest controls include a sophisticated diagnostics module for pro-active, real-time notifications of the status of the line, as well as automatic alerts that pin-point the exact location of any issues that may arise, enabling quick and easy problem solving and resetting. This includes information on emergency stop alerts, motor and inverter faults or any area that may require attention.

“With our new pro-series controls,

we are introducing advanced technology to the vegetable handling industry to make equipment control, diagnosis, problem solving and maintenance, much quicker and easier than ever before," says Nick. "This is resulting in much more continuous operation, reduced costs and increased productivity of growers' and processors' handling facilities.

The new controls are extremely user friendly, and as the display is largely pictoral, it is easy for users of any nationality to operate. This, coupled with our Blue Inverter Technology featuring all electric inverter direct drive, ensures our Caretaker graders, like the one that will be on stand at Lamma, really bring noticeable efficiencies."

“We look forward to seeing farmers and growers from all over the UK at Lamma and demonstrating the capabilities of these latest controls as well as discussing their requirements for the year ahead. As always, we will welcome visitors with hot refreshments in our heated marquee!”

New features and equipment on work hungry JCB The latest JCB TM320S telescopic wheeled loader with enhanced equipment and features will make its debut at the LAMMA 2017 event. eveloped in line with JCB’s policy of continuous product improvement, the new TM320S has a revised cab interior with new instruments and storage facilities, extended service schedules for the air conditioning filters and bearing assemblies, and enhanced lighting for easier operation in the dark.

The JCB TM320S combines the central driving position and all round visibility of a wheeled loading shovel with the reach and lift versatility of a telescopic handler – a combination that creates a formidable machine for agricultural handling and loading operations.

On the latest version, JCB’s proven SCR system enables the 4.8-litre JCB EcoMAX engine to meet latest emissions rules without the added cost and potential service demands of a diesel particulates filter (DPF). The generous power output of 108kW (145hp) combines with torque lock-up direct drive in the six-

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speed JCB Powershift transmission to give the machine great climbing and roading performance.

The loader’s telescopic boom, which can lift a 3200kg load to 5.2m and support 1750kg at 2.95m forward reach, now features graphite impregnated bronze pivot bearings that extend the greasing schedule from once a day to every 500 hours. This conveniently matches the service interval for the engine (after the initial 100 hour service), the four-wheel drive prop shaft and the articulation joint, which also now uses the new selflubricating bearings.

Cylinder end damping for boom extension as well as retraction and lowering further refines the operating experience, while additional work lamps make it easier for the operator to use the machine in dark yards and buildings.

A larger right-hand rear threequarter window improves visibility from the cab, where the air conditioning filters have been doubled in size to extend the

service interval and a dedicated storage box installed in the righthand footwell provides a secure location for tools, couplings and other equipment.

Daily checks for engine oil, coolant and washer fluid levels no longer have to be performed outside the machine as they are part of the start-up procedure displayed on a new full colour instrument panel that provides information and warnings in a clearer at-a-glance format.

An improved control arrangement for the auxiliary service in the 160-litre/min load-

sensing hydraulics system makes it more intuitive to use, including the venting valve that makes life easier for the operator when connecting hose couplings on JCB AGRI attachments such as forks and buckets using a third service.

Where the loader operates mainly on hard surfaces or undertakes a lot of road travel, the new block-tread Michelin Bibload tyre option is more resistant to hard surface wear and runs more smoothly on the road with less noise and vibration being transmitted into the operator’s cab.

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| LAMMA

New Bauer BSA steel tank slurry and digestate spreaders to be launched for the UK and Ireland at LAMMA show Bauer is expanding the range of slurry and AD digestate tankers it offers in the UK and Ireland by launching a new range of steel tankers at the LAMMA 2017 show in Peterborough next January. he Bauer BSA Profiline tankers, with capacities from 10,000 to 26,000 litres (10-26cu m), are top specification models designed and equipped for contractors and large-scale farming operations.

“This new range to the UK and Ireland will complement our established poly tank spreaders, which have the advantages of lower weight and lack of corrosion as a result of using Bauer’s special hand-built polyester tank structure,” says Adrian Tindall, sales manager.

“But for operators who want the familiarity of a steel tank, the new Bauer BSA Profiline models cater for that preference with flexible specifications and high-quality components and build.”

As standard, the new tankers will come with double corrosion protection for the vacuum tanks to provide maximum resistance to aggressive liquor from anaerobic digestion plants. First, the welded steel tanks are hot-dip galvanized inside and out; then they receive a high-quality powder coating paint finish.

Bauer slurry equipment specialist Rob Jackson says this double layer of protection

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against corrosion will help maintain the integrity, appearance and re-sale value of the Bauer BSA Profiline tankers.

“Buyers can have their tanker in the standard Bauer BSA blue or a colour of their choice – to match the colour of their tractor, for example,” he adds.

One or more internal baffles are fitted to minimise liquid surge in the field and when travelling on the road, and a weight management system is available to help stability and traction when working on hilly ground or a cultivated surface.

“This guarantees that the rear two-thirds of the tank empties first, so plenty of weight is kept on the drawbar and the tractor’s rear wheels,” explains Rob Jackson. “The system then automatically switches to emptying the front compartment.”

Also available is an active traction system that uses a hydraulic cylinder to transfer weight to the tractor if operators anticipate working in situations where traction may be especially difficult.

Automatic filling stop is one of the features provided by the Bauer BSA Comfort Control switchbox. But this can also be operated

through the higher-spec Signo Touch colour display isobus terminal that also provides steering guidance, bout and total area recording and other precision farming functions.

The 20,000-litre (20cu m) unit being displayed at LAMMA before being operated as a demonstrator rides on twin ADR axles with parabolic spring suspension and four-wheel airoperated anti-lock braking.

A steering rear axle minimises field surface damage as well as scuffing of the 750/60 R30.5 flotation tyres, and on-board tyre inflation management is among a host of options available.

Bauer’s familiar E6000GLD eccentric rotor pump, giving positive displacement of liquids for filling and spreading, is also part of the specification, along with a hydraulic filling arm and couplings for taking on loads fast without the operator leaving the tractor seat.

Category III four-point rear linkage and an 18m dribble bar from an extensive range of surface and sub-surface applicator options is also part of the show unit’s specification.

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| LAMMA

Pacepacker launches TWO robot solutions that flex to agricultural packers needs With agricultural food packers facing higher demand from retailers to pack produce in numerous sizes and formats, Pacepacker Services is unveiling TWO versatile, future-proofed systems at LAMMA 2017 in January. (Stand 3A118) or highly efficient palletising, the FANUC M410iC robot has the payload and multitasking ability to stack anything, ranging from 25kg potato sacks, to tubs of animal feed and bales of pet bedding. For increased flexibility, this high-speed robot can be fitted with different end effectors to suit any task.

What’s more, the robot can be easily moved to other production areas to suit business demands, boosting an agricultural packer’s investment even further.

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“Eliminating tedious and labour intensive tasks, these two robots can handle multiple products simultaneously” Also on show at LAMMA 2017 for the first time is the FANUC M10 pick and place robotic arm. With a payload of 12kg and capable of picking and packing up to 80 items per minute, the arm can be fitted with any end effector to suit the application. There are more than 80 to

choose from, including mechanical grippers for gently cradling fresh poly bags of produce, or delicately transferring potatoes and freshly harvested root vegetables into bulk display units, to suction cups for loading tubs and pots into retail ready trays.

Catering to the seasonal demands of the agricultural industry, both systems are designed to offer complete flexibility, durability and reliability. Pacepacker’s Commercial & Information Systems Manager, Paul Wilkinson, explains: “For contract agricultural packers that serve a wide customer base and have to accommodate peak demands, case loading and palletising robots need to be able to react swiftly to varied products and packaging sizes.

“Eliminating tedious and labour intensive tasks, these two robots can handle multiple products simultaneously, pick up different types of packaging, and can even place down the pallets and add layer or slip sheets, without requiring additional peripheral equipment,” adds Paul.

Pacepacker will also be showcasing its upgraded FastPac Sack Placer and Total Bag Control system at Lamma 2017. Visit Stand

3A118 to discover how today’s robots can cater to tomorrow’s packing contracts, with a surprisingly quick return on investment.

The Tyre Equipment Company returns to LAMMA This January, The Tyre Equipment Company is returning to the LAMMA farm machinery and equipment show in Peterborough to showcase its range of workshop tools and equipment. s a longestablished online supplier of workshop tools to a cross section of transport sectors, the company offers a ‘no minimum order’, free packaging and delivery service throughout the UK for all of its products.

The Tyre Equipment Company works with leading equipment manufacturers, such as Gaither Tools and PCL, to stock an extensive range, including Jacks and Lifting Equipment, Tyre Puncture Repair Materials, Tyre Safety Cages and Tyre Bead Breakers.

Speaking of the return to LAMMA this year, Phillip May, General Manager, comments: “Last year’s LAMMA show was

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the first time we had exhibited at the show and we had a fantastic time showcasing our agricultural range of products, designed to provide a more economical and practical solution to tyre equipment related issues.”

“Last year’s LAMMA show was the first time we had exhibited at the show Visitors to the stand – number 498a – can look forward to a healthy discount on all items displayed and also can take part in a daily competition to win one of three off-road tyre repair kits.

The show takes place at the East of England Showground on the 18th and 19th of January.

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| LAMMA

Kubota launches its new series MGX III of multifunction smart tractors Kubota, leading machinery manufacturer launches MGX-III tractor range boasting machines from 90 to 140HP, building on the success of its ever-popular MGX-II range. he four-cylinder engine, combined with its eight-gear powershift transmission allows users to quickly switch between multiple applications without losing power ensuring difficult daily challenges are overcome easily with the modern engine technology .

The new range comes complete with Intelli-Shift, a smart powershift transmission system, which makes changing gears easier, either automatically or manually; particulatly useful when undertaking work on difficult ground conditions such as slopes.

Available in five models M95GX, M105GX, M115GX, M125GX and M135GX – the series is fully equipped to provide farmers increased output and improved productivity, more comfortable driving and full visibility from its large cab.

Complementing the range, the MGX III series incorporates two new front loaders, LA1955 and LA2255, offering optimum versatility whatever the application.

Offering the perfect choice for those farmers who are looking for a high-performance engine, the range boasts great manoeuvrability, thanks to Kubota’s BI-speed technology that boasts a high lifting capacity and outstanding visibility of almost 360º from the cab, the best in its segment.

The newly designed torque curve of the new MGX III tractors provides 26% more efficiency compared to the MGX-II, to continually contribute to increasing productivity and the reduction of

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fuel consumption. In addition to responding to the growing demand for greater operator comfort, including in the case of medium power tractors, the MGX III range incorporates the suspension option on the front axle on all models.

Inside the cab, all the important elements of the control panel have been positioned ergonomically so that they can be reached easily, beneficial for operators who spend long periods in the seat and demand high levels of comfort.

The tractor also stands out for its low level of noise in the airconditioned cab, which contributes to creating an optimum environment for confronting long working hours.

The excellent traction and manoeuvrability unique to the

42 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

MGX III range allows easy access to small spaces without having to back up or make wide turns. This is possible thanks to its patented BI-speed system that, based on a

rotation angle of 35°, automatically increases the speed of the front wheels.

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| LAMMA

CLAAS launches new JAGUAR 980 and 970 Already successfully established for many years, for 2017 the JAGUAR 980 and 970 models from CLAAS have been enhanced and are now available with many new equipment features. hese include a continuously variable front attachment drive, an enhanced crop flow system, redesigned running gear and the CLAAS AUTO FILL system for automatic trailer loading to both the side and rear.

Hydrostatic drive adjusts front attachment speed automatically The optional new continuously variable front attachment drive enables efficient power transmission at varying speeds.

This is particularly advantageous when harvesting with the PICK UP and the ORBIS maize front attachment. If the chop length changes, the system automatically makes a corresponding adjustment to the front attachment speed.

The result is a very even crop flow and improved chop quality.

Furthermore, the operator can react to changing harvest conditions at any time by manually adjusting the automatically controlled front attachment speed.

Efficient front attachment drive for every requirement The constant-speed mechanical drive that has proven itself over many years of practical use remains standard. However, the mechanical drive can now also be combined with the continuously variable drive.

This split-power variant with mechanical and hydraulic drive provides high power transmission at a constant speed. This allows the DIRECT DISC and maize pickers to be driven powerfully and extremely efficiently.

Optimal crop flow by automatic adjustment of the drum concave

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The latest JAGUAR 980/970 models also feature a new enhanced crop flow system. One of its key features is the hydraulic clamping system for the shear bar which allows the shear bar to be adjusted both accurately and quickly.

During shear bar adjustment, the hydraulic clamp is released allowing the shear bar to be adjusted without resistance, and so allows the shear bar to be set more accurately and puts less stress on the shear bar components. Once the shear bar has been set the hydraulic system clamps and holds the shear bar into position. This not only improves chop quality but also helps to reduce wear.

In addition to the shear bar improvements, the sharpening system has also received an update with improvements to the access and maintenance of the sharpening system. Better guidance of the sharpening stone also helps to ensure that the chopping cylinder blades are in optimum condition.

The new models also work with an automatically adjusted chopping cylinder concave. The chopping cylinder concave is attached directly to shear bar mounting system and is automatically moved with the shear bar when it is adjusted. This means that the distance between the concave and the chopper cylinder remains constant as the chopping cylinder blades wear, thereby ensuring an even crop flow, regardless of the condition of the blades. Furthermore, this arrangement saves fuel and reduces wear.

Launch of the new Manitou agricultural range "NewAg" The Manitou group, global leader in all-terrain material handling, is launching a new range of forklift-trucks dedicated to agriculture, a sector in which it generates one-third of its sales. his new MLT (Manitou Loader Telescopic) range, named "NewAg", provides a response to the current and future requirements of farmers. Presented at a convention in Sardinia to an audience of more than 600 dealers and around 60 journalists from across Europe, the NewAg range will also be exhibited at the EIMA exhibition in Bologna from 9 to 13 November and EUROTIER in Hanover from 15 to 18 November. Composed of 9 models, this range is characterized by a wide choice of transmissions, an entirely new cab with "Easy step" access, optimal visibility, improved soundproofing and numerous innovations providing comfort, performance and efficiency. Associated with a complete range of services, the NewAg has a lower total cost of ownership, the lowest on the market.

Why a new range?

In order to best meet the current and future expectations of farmers, the Manitou group has been working for nearly 3 years on a complete range of machines and innovative services, including those related to connectivity and consumables. "As requirements for comfort, performance and productivity are increasingly high on farms, we have to offer a choice of machines that are adapted to these constraints, and of course compliant with the Euro Stage IV engine standards. We have chosen to call this range NewAg because this name reflects the changes in the agricultural world and is understandable by everyone. The range fits perfectly within our REDUCE TCO* (Total Cost of Ownership) program,

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thanks to the numerous services offered, which can reduce the total cost of ownership still further", says Arnaud Boyer, Vice-President Marketing & Product Development for the Manitou group.

More than 100 attachments are offered with the NewAg, including the new CBG 2450/1700 bucket.

With a total capacity of 1,700 liters for improved efficiency, this attachment is available with grapnels that are mechanically welded or forged to the bucket.

The volume is adaptable as the forged grapnels can be dismantled from the sides of the bucket. This very high-quality bucket is perfectly adapted to the NewAg range.

It is important to emphasize that all of the MLT models in the NewAg range are "CE Tractor" approved. The maximum towing capacity (MLT + trailer) for this new range is 28 metric tons.

Thanks to a wide range equipped with numerous innovations, the Manitou group is providing excellent solutions to the problems currently faced by farmers, who have to cope with ever increasing productivity and efficiency. The targets have been met, namely to provide a solution combining comfort, performance, efficiency and services.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 43

| LAMMA

Hypro Pentair standard 24m spread width for Pentair spray nozzles, pumps and sprayer components are fitted by the world’s premier manufacturers of spray equipment. s well as agricultural, turf and pest control markets Pentair nozzles and pumps are used in a diverse range of industrial areas such as car wash, component washing, food processing, fire protection, line marking, construction, environmental control, irrigation, drainage, steel making and paper processing.

The company is located at New Brighton, Minnesota, US where Hypro roller, Centrifugal, Transfer, Diaphragm, Piston and Plunger Pumps have been made since 1947. The Hypro nozzle business is based at Cambridge UK, where spray nozzles and components have been manufactured since 1954 and the Shurflo business is headquartered Southern California, US. Hypro have market leading positions in their domestic markets, and reach more than 30 countries globally either directly or through a network of independent distributors and sprayer manufacturers. The European distribution centre located at Cambridge, UK runs on lean principles to offer customer service and responsiveness to distributors and customers throughout Europe.

A range of additional sprayer components including; filters, nozzle holders, tank accessories

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and many other fittings are also offered.

Pentair plc delivers industryleading products, services and solutions for its customers’ diverse needs in water and other fluids, thermal management and equipment protection. With 2015 revenues of $6.4 billion, Pentair employs approximately 30,000 people worldwide.

Hypro and Shurflo research and development programmes creates new products to make spraying operations increasingly accurate and efficient for the farmer.

Engineering teams at both New Brighton and Cambridge work in close partnerships with both customers and scientific institutions worldwide such as the AEA, ASABE, BCPC, AAB to identify opportunities and develop innovative product solutions.

According to Managing Director Mr Mark Campbell: “Farmers are operating in a highly competitive market with sometimes a slim margin between profit and loss. Improved spraying technology makes a significant contribution to getting the best out of costly sprays and makes operations more efficient. It can also help farmers address the burdens of new legislation and controls through for example; reducing contamination, more precise spray delivery and reducing drift”.

44 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

latest Xcel 1250 spreader The unique Hi-Spec Xcel 1250 spreader is 10 years old this year, and as part of its ongoing development Hi-Spec Engineering has given it a complete overhaul. ased on extensive field trials and customer feedback, the new Xcel 1250 incorporates significant improvements over the previous model, including the ability to accurately and evenly spread to 24 metres.

The XCEL 1250 is unique in that it uses a rotary chain and flail system to achieve a good break up of material, which is then spread using a pair of spinning discs. As part of the updates, the spreading disc speed has been increased, resulting in the Xcel 1250 now having the capacity to achieve an even spread pattern up to 24 metres, compared to 20 metres previously.

This will have the benefit of reducing wheelings in the field, but where Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) is carried out, this will allow the Xcel 1250 to be run on the permanent tramlines up to the widest 12m spacing that is increasingly being adopted.

The shredding rotor carries 22 heavy duty chains, which in turn carry 12mm Hardox flail heads, carried under a 4mm Hardox hood, that shred all the material to an even consistency and ensure no lumps are deposited onto the spreading rotors. New on the 2016 model is an adjustment plate on the shredding rotor hood, which improves the spread pattern as the manure is now better placed onto the spreading discs.

The Xcel 1250 has a capacity of 12 tonnes, typical discharge time is 3-5 minutes and it is able to spread all types of material such as farmyard manure, sludge cake,

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muck lime, wood mulch and chicken compost.

Other updates include a move to straight body sides and a larger opening towards the rear of the machine, which helps prevent material bridging. To improve feed to the shredding rotor, the material is moved rearward by a new single slat marine grade floor chain design, which now incorporates floor slats with closer spacing than the original models. Individual floor chain tensioners are placed to the front of the machine. Drive to the floor chain is via hydraulic motor with overload protection and variable speed adjustment.

Drive to the shredding rotor is via a PTO drive through heavy duty (200hp) Comer gearboxes. At the rear, a hydraulically operated, vertical slurry door can be used to regulate flow of material to the shredding rotor, and at the spreading discs an option of lighter vanes can be specified for low density material, such as chicken compost.

Galvanised steel is used extensively for the lower chassis, access ladder, rear hood and slurry door, while the Xcel 1250 body is shot blasted and finished with two pack epoxy paint. The standard specification includes 580/70-R38 radial tyres for low rolling resistance and low compaction; it also includes a commercial axle fitted with hydraulic brakes.

For even greater accuracy, factory fitted weigh cells can also now be specified, along with a further option of GPS application mapping.

The Xcel 1250 retails at £32,400

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| Business Innovation

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| Business Innovation

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| Tyres

Perfect performance with BKT tyre lineups for all soil tillage operations Puncture resistance, reduced soil compaction, driving comfort, and fast transfer and transport both in the fields and on the road. These, and many others, are the distinguishing traits of the BKT branded tyres designed for tractors and their implement that till the soil and prepare it for cultivation.

KT has specifically developed ranges for soil tillage operations, i.e. tires designed to equip latestgeneration tractors that make it possible to quickly transport very heavy loads, offering a tangible contribution to the farmer’s work and optimizing the productivity of the farm. An additional confirmation of BKT’s ability and readiness to meet the modern needs of the sector with suitable solutions that are perfectly in sync with the operators’ preferences, working side by side with them so they can grow and face everyday challenges.

Indeed, soil that is hard-packed and compacted due to the effects of wheeled equipment loses a great deal of its fertility. Yet, this is precisely the situation that farmers have to deal with. Agrimax Force, the high-end product of BKT, comes to the farmers’ rescue. This tire is a winning combination of flexibility, efficiency and productivity, since it possesses all the ideal characteristics for equipping high-power tractors, floating gently on the soil. Availing itself of the IF technology, which has been further developed by BKT, Agrimax Force works at low inflation pressures, thus reducing the phenomenon of soil

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compaction. The tire is available in not less than thirteen different sizes.

Optimizing soil tillage for cultivation purposes is now possible thanks to Agrimax Fortis, which improves soil performance, ensuring the utmost comfort even while carrying heavy loads. Seven different sizes available.

Another range being part of this product family is Agrimax RT 855, a tire that stands apart for its driving comfort, best traction and excellent self-cleaning features, in addition to fast transfer from field to road. High load capacity and outstanding flotation on the soil complete the distinctive features of this tire, perfect for preserving crop productivity. The tire is available in forty-four different sizes.

Next to Agrimax RT 855, there is the radial agricultural tire of the ’70 series made of a new-generation compound to operate under the harshest conditions. We are talking about Agrimax RT 765, the ideal line for tractors engaged in heavy-duty operations, thanks to it exceptional resistance against cuts and wear. The highest efficiency combined with excellent traction and minimum soil compaction for maximum gentleness with the crops. Agrimax RT 765 is available in thirty-four sizes.

Another excellent tire for this type of operation is RT 857.

Polyester belts, a strong casing along with a special tread compound is the winning mix against the danger of punctures, cuts and stubbles, necessary when tilling the soil in order to prepare it for future crop cultivation. The tire that also guarantees excellent driving comfort comes in eight sizes.

Another perfect product for the specific purpose of soil tillage is the Agrimax RT 657. Comfort, exceptional grip and resistance are the main strengths of this versatile and reliable tire. Suited for working in the field as well as for road transport, this tire is made of a special compound, so that the tractor can travel long distances in addition to significant savings in terms of operating costs. Agrimax RT 657 is available in twenty-two different sizes to best equip a vast range of equipment.

Not to forget the RIB 713 tire, specifically designed to reduce soil compaction and resist punctures. It is available in two sizes, IF 240/80 R 15 and IF 280/70 R 15, both featuring IF technology, which allows a lower inflation pressure, load being equal, compared to a standard tire with the same size. This quality, combined with a larger footprint, ensures uniform weight distribution on the ground, guaranteeing a tire with

outstanding flotation properties. Its steel-belted structure improves the puncture resistance and, in particular, provides increased protection against damage caused by stubbles present on the ground. Lastly, RIB 713 is classified with a “D” speed rating, and can reach a maximum road speed of 65 km/h (40 mph), for quick transfers from one field to the next.

Last, but not least, AW 711, a tire designed for agricultural implements. Resistant, long-lasting and highly productive, it ensures extraordinary fuel economy turning into significant increases in company profits. BKT offers the AW 711 tire in five different sizes.

Yet, a really extensive range for a specific application. The result of the constant commitment to research and development of long-lasting solutions suited to single issues and requirements providing outstanding performance, with the aim of ensuring better soil protection.

Highly performing products that are the result of a work philosophy and experience that has always been based on respect for the farming land, to the benefit of the equipment and the productivity of the entire supply chain.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 47

| ATV

Spaldings Limited Lincoln, Lincolnshire T: 01522 507500 www.spaldings.co.uk

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

Lakedale Power Tools Croydon, Dartford & London T: 020 8683 0550 www.lakedalepowertools.co.uk

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

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

Mawsley Machinery Brixworth, Northampton T: 01604 880621 https://mawsley.stihl-dealer.co.uk

DM Chainsaws Arundel, West Sussex T: 01243 554065 www.dmchainsaws.co.uk

Davenport Western Yeovil, Somerset T: 01935 425311 www.davenportsaws.co.uk

48 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

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| ATV

Honda ATV

Autumn maintenance made easy With autumn well upon us, farm woodland and hedge maintenance is well up the list of jobs to get done when the weather allows. trong load racks front and rear make Honda ATVs ideal for transporting tools and other equipment wherever needed. The ATV’s compact size allows access to tight areas where larger golf course-type UTVs would be too wide, and flotation tyres exert less ground pressure than a human footprint, reducing ruts and allowing travel over sensitive land areas, including young crops.

The Honda line-up includes models from 250–680cc, with manual or automatic transmission as well as selectable two or fourwheel drive, all with superb suspension and well-padded seats to ensure comfort. Options including power steering improve ease of use and heated handlebar grips are ideal for cold winter days.

Powerful and economical 4-stroke petrol engines are ideal for operation in challenging terrain and pulling off-road trailers, transporting heavier or bulky items including firewood and hedge trimmings.

Honda’s Power Equipment range includes models to suit both garden and estate maintenance

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needs. Exceptional ease of use, dependable, easy-starting 4-stroke petrol engines and premium build quality for a long working life have made them a firm favourite with domestic and professional users.

Products popular with farms and estates include a line-up of single and double-bladed hedgecutters, powerful blowers and a range of brushcutters- most with efficient shaft-drive, making it easy to keep large areas in order.

Recent additions to the range include the Honda Versatool. One engine provides power for up to eight different attachments, all with quick push-and-click fittings for safe and easy swapping as needed to tackle different tasks.

Engine options include 25 or 35cc, the larger engine ideally suited to more demanding applications, and operator harnesses ensure comfort during long working days.

The long shaft drive makes it easy to reach target areas without bending or stretching and tools, which have already proved particularly popular with farm users, include a handy tree pruner with a small chainsaw blade, a long reach hedgetrimmer and a line trimmer as well as a 3-tooth heavy-duty blade.

New this year is a range of cordless equipment. Sharing a common battery the line-up includes a hedgetrimmer, a leaf blower and a grass trimmer, and standard or high capacity batteries are available, extending operating time between charges. The cordless tools offer great ease of use, with simple switch operation and batteries are recharged from a mains supply in just 40 minutes, or 80 minutes for the high capacity version. Operating capabilities are impressive, and battery-powered motors make the range quiet and comfortable to use. The powerful turbine fan of the leaf blower produces an air flow up to 120mph, easily matching the performance of most petrol models despite being significantly quieter, while the grass trimmer is ideal for controlling grass and

weed growth around fences and outlying buildings.

Honda’s superb network of main dealers will be delighted to help you select the most suitable new or used ATV for your intended application, and will also have access to a wide range of attachments including trailers, mowers and sprayers to make farm maintenance tasks easier.

Free of charge European ATV Safety Institute (EASI) operator training is provided with every new Honda bought through a main dealer, and is highly recommended.

With winter just around the corner and soft ground conditions making it difficult to access outlying areas using other farm vehicles, it’s an ideal time to invest in a model from the best-selling Honda range.

www.stalhameng.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 49

| ATV

Suzuki ATV increases national reach with two new dealerships Suzuki GB is delighted to welcome two new Dealerships into its national network. he appointment of Carters of Swanwick in Southampton and Agroco Trailers in Ipswich gives the brand even better coverage across the country. They join a network of 70 other franchises who are available to talk to customers about the Suzuki ATV range and special offers.

Paul Tanner, Company Development Manager at Carters of Swanwick, said, “We are very proud to have been appointed a Suzuki ATV Dealer in our 95th year of business. With our ever increasing groundscare and domestic commitment, ATVs play a very important part in our product line up.

“Having a pedigree name and outstanding product support, we see Suzuki being a great asset to Carters of Swanwick. We look forward to many years in a successful relationship with Suzuki GB.” Dale Evans, Sales Manager of Agroco Trailers, said, “We’re really looking forward to hitting the ground running with Suzuki. We know that there is a demand in the area for these reliable Suzuki ATVs, and we’ve already sold our

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first one! We will also be promoting some special Suzuki ATV Black Friday offers next week on 25th November for people in the local area to get to know the brand.”

George Cheeseman, Head of ATV for Suzuki GB, says, “We’re excited to welcome these new Dealers to our family. With them joining our existing partners in the franchise, it makes our extensive dealer network even stronger.

They bring a wide range of expertise and experience into the fold, and give the brand excellent geographical coverage allowing our customers to conveniently access us.

“Suzuki is dedicated to establishing a strong UK-wide Dealer network to look after our customers. We are pleased to be working with such well-established and knowledgeable businesses, and excited that more Dealerships want to sell Suzuki.”

Suzuki has some 70 Dealers in the UK selling the manufacturer’s range of utility and sports ATVs – all offering customers the fantastic benefits that come with choosing Suzuki: Try before you buy Knowing that customers want an ATV that is comfortable, reliable

50 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

and hard-working; Suzuki offers customers the chance to try before they buy in order to help them get a feel for the right model and the company’s expert dealers are onhand to help customers to find the right ATV for them.

Free Suzuki workwear kit Suzuki knows that customers will be riding their ATVs in all weathers and conditions. So when customers buy from an Authorised Suzuki Dealer, they will receive a free Suzuki workwear kit, consisting of a branded bodywarmer and overalls.

Courtesy ATV Scheme Suzuki understands that customers rely on their ATVs and therefore gives a courtesy Suzuki

ATV to keep customers’ businesses on the move when they take their machine – whatever the make or model – in to an Authorised Suzuki Dealer for service or repairs.

Theft deterrent as standard FREE on all new Suzuki utility ATVs, the CESAR Security System powered by Datatag gives each ATV a unique ‘fingerprint’ with an identity that cannot be erased, which acts as a strong theft deterrent and a tool for recovery should the worst happen – plus, it reduces insurance premiums too!

For more information, and to find your local Suzuki ATV Dealer, visit suzuki-atv.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

New

Kawasaki

MULE SX range

shows its Pro credentials Most compact in terms of their engine capacity and physical size, the 2017 model year MULE SX range join their Kawasaki Utility Vehicle stablemates with PRO series inspired updates for the new season. ffered in two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions, the MULE SX machines pack a considerable punch in terms of carrying and towing capacity while enjoying diminutive dimensions that mean they can be transported in the back of many flat-bed vehicles and full-size pick-up trucks.

Just 1335mm wide and with an overall length of 2710mm, these sturdy work partners enjoy a 181kg cargo capacity in their tipping load beds while a generous 500kg towing capacity is available for those that need to move mountains in rugged, durable style.

In terms of looks, the 2017 model year machines have large volume bodywork inspired by the successful PRO series MULE Utility Vehicles, a new LED headlamp design and operator features such as a PRO style dashboard design and steering wheel configuration which now also includes a handy tilt function.

For operator and passenger alike, the convenience of cup holders and a glove box plus a standard fit DC socket are complemented by capacious under-seat storage and a massive 60 litre front storage area that is easy to access.

Proving easy to control yet torquey thrust, the dependable, air-cooled 410cc four-stroke OHV

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power plant is tried, trusted and respected in the Utility Vehicle community being both compact and lightweight. Fed by cool air supplied via a snorkel intake routed through the overhead protection frame for strong performance and maximum air filter life.

Both MULE SX variants offer minimum ground impact and disturbance via load spreading tyres and lockable rear differentials.

Chassis-wise a simple and effective ladder type frame combines rigidity and ride comfort allied to new front and rear suspension settings increasing stability and off-road bump absorption. The increased preload of the front suspension results in an improved front/rear balance while softer rear settings deliver increased ride comfort.

While the bigger picture reveals updated machines with a strong automotive and family feel, the MULE SX detail touches are just as important in terms of everyday usability. Good examples are the new seat material which is resistant to cold and maintains its suppleness at extreme temperatures and the special textured black paint in the cargo bed that offers a degree of “grip” to stop cargo items moving in transit. Allied to an extensive Genuine Accessory range, there is a specification available to suit all users and uses.

The importance of a handbrake

Together with the MULE PRODXT and PRO-DX the two MULE SX machines available in the European market comprise a four machine Utility Vehicle line up for Kawasaki in 2017 covering a diverse range of needs and budgets while maintaining

Kawasaki’s position as an innovator and major player in the working vehicle market.

Guide pricing for the MULE SX 2WD is £6049 + VAT and the 4×4 version is expected to be £6749 + VAT.

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

Mike Garwood Ag. Engineers East Worldham, Alton GU24 3AQ 01420 84458 www.mikegarwoodltd.co.uk

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

C.J. Keitch Engineering Dunkeswell, Honiton Devon EX14 4LH 01404 891796 www.cjkeitch.co.uk

Day & Coles Ltd Newton Close, Park Farm Ind. Est. Wellingborough NN8 6UW 01933 673900

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Motors

Revised Mitsubishi Outlander diesel offers improved specification and safety The revised Mitsubishi Outlander Diesel is now available in showrooms across the UK, offering a host of new features to align it with the 2017 PHEV. mproved and updated interior detailing adds more luxury and refinement to the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Diesel, while keeping functionality and value for money in mind. A new centre console and shark-fin antenna appear on all variants as standard as well as front footwell lamps, console box illumination, a 12V socket in the boot and rain and dusk sensors.

The 2017 Outlander provides an improved driving experience; the rear shock absorber has been altered with a new valve, enhancing the stability and comfort of the ride. Outlander 4 in particular boasts additional safety features, including blind spot

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warning, rear cross traffic alert and a 360 degree camera. This variant also welcomes an electronic parking brake and auto hold button on automatic versions, offering a more compact and sleek interior design, in line with the leather upholstery.

All variants have a technologicallyadvanced 2.2-litre diesel unit, in both automatic and manual transmission. The manual version has a six-speed gearbox, which delivers a top speed of 124mph, while the automatic variants reach 118mph. The on-demand 4WD system improves stability, traction, fuel economy and emissions. The Outlander Diesel is kind to the planet; manual variants produce CO2 emission of just 139g/km and are capable of 53.3 mpg on the

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combined fuel economy cycle.

Automatic versions produce 154 g/km and return 48.7 mpg.

The Outlander Diesel Range Outlander 2: Seen as the entrypoint Outlander for private buyers, it comes fully loaded with equipment perfect for potential purchasers, boasting clever technology such as Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC), Auto Stop & Go (AS&G), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and an adjustable speed limiter. Cruise control comes as standard, as does dualzone climate control and there’s a radio/CD/MP3 player with six speakers and front electric windows. Airbags and 16-inch steel wheels also feature, as well as roof rails, auto dimming rearview-mirror and LED daytime running lights.

Outlander 3: Outlander 3 steps up the game with a brand new electronic parking brake which features on the automatic versions, as well as a Brake Auto Hold button. This variant also boasts a third row of full seats for comfort and convenience, which can be split and folded with ease. In addition there’s dual-zone air

conditioning, front fog lamps, rainsensing wipers, power-folding door mirrors, colour LCD display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth hands-free with steering mounted controls, privacy glass and silver roof rails. Manual and automatic versions are keyless operation with a start/stop button.

Outlander 4: New additions to the Outlander 4 include a heated steering wheel, LED front fog lamps, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert, electronic parking brake, Brake Auto Hold button and a 360 degree camera with steering wheel switch (automatic version only). This variant also has leather upholstery, a heated and electric driver’s seat, LED headlights, Mitsubishi Multi Communication System with sat nav and rear-view camera, as well as DAB radio.

The Outlander Diesel range is backed by five year, 62,500 mile warranty. The Mitsubishi Service Plan covers scheduled maintenance for the first three years and is available for £700.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

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| Motors

54 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

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| Motors

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| Motors

Ready to Rok. New Volkswagen Amarok goes on sale Volkswagen Van Centres across the UK have started taking orders for the new Amarok model, with first customer deliveries expected in January 2017. eplacing the previous model’s 2.0-litre TDI engine, the new Amarok has at its heart a 3.0litre V6 TDI engine, making it the only six-cylinder model in the segment. The top-of-therange version of this 3.0-litre V6 delivers 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque channelled through its standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, giving a top speed of 119 mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 8.0 seconds. An overboost function on the 224 PS takes the power up to 240 PS. Further iterations of this V6 TDI engine include a 204 PS version which is available to order at launch with an automatic gearbox, plus a manual 204 PS and a 163 PS manual to follow later in 2017.

Combining car-like comfort and technology with full off-road capability, UK customers can choose from selectable (with manual gearbox) and permanent (with auto) 4MOTION fourwheel drive. An optional mechanical rear-axle differential lock is also available for demanding off-road use.

From the outside the new Amarok distinguishes itself from the previous model through new front bumper and radiator grille design including front fog lights, new alloy

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wheels and a third brake light with LED technology.

Inside the cab the changes are more prominent with an all-new dash panel design which incorporates Volkswagen’s MIB infotainment system with touchscreen, radio and new technology including the option of navigation, Guide & Inform, Car-Net and AppConnect systems. Bluetooth and DAB digital radio are also now standard features.

A comprehensive list of safety equipment comes as standard on every new Amarok, including four airbags, Electronic Stabilisation Programme and Volkswagen’s award-winning Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.

Additional highlights including Park Pilot and a rear-view camera also enhance comfort, convenience and safety.

UK specifications follow the previous model’s pattern and are familiar to buyers of Volkswagen’s other commercial vehicles. As such they range from Startline (later in 2017), through Trendline to Highline. Special editions will also be offered during the model’s life, for example the range-topping Aventura, 240 examples of which are available from launch.

The Aventura adds, on top of the Highline’s already generous equipment list which includes

items such as bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, a host of special features including 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 wide tyres and arch extensions.

The bed of the Aventura’s cargo box also has a matt black Durabed coating. The interior is no less exclusive with ‘Discover Media’ navigation system and mobile online services. The Aventura also comes with ParkPilot automatic parking system, featuring front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. This model is available in exclusive Ravenna Blue metallic paint finish.

From the outside the new Amarok distinguishes itself from the previous model through new front bumper and radiator grille design At launch, prices for the new model start at £32,493 (RRP OTR) for the Trendline with 204 PS. The limited edition Aventura launch model costs £39,381 (RRP OTR).

For further information on the new Amarok, visit your local Van Centre or go to www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

SsangYong launches the Tivoli 4x4xFree As the cold winter weather starts to bite, SsangYong is introducing a 4x4 winter upgrade offer on its 1.6 litre turbo diesel Tivoli SUV and extended bodied Tivoli XLV models.

The offer applies to current EX and ELX models, manual and automatic, and registered before 31st January 2017. omprehensively equipped, the Tivoli EX 4x4 features cruise control, smart steering (normal, comfort and sport modes), an RDS/Bluetooth radio and seven airbags, grey or beige leather upholstery, 18” alloy Spiral wheels, dual zone climate control, 7” touch screen smart audio system with rear view camera, heated front seats, front fog lights and a luggage load cover.

The top of the range ELX 4x4 adds the choice of manual and automatic transmission, and features Diamond cut alloy wheels, a smart instrument cluster, smart keyless starting, front & rear parking sensors, privacy glass, rear spoiler, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, full TomTom

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navigation system with 7” touch screen, rear view camera, and the option of the styling pack and red leather pack with My Tivoli.

Sharing the same platform and 2,600mm wheelbase as the Tivoli, the Tivoli XLV SUV estate features a lengthened body from behind the C pillar, an increase of 238mm over the standard car, expanding the load capacity to a huge 720 cubic litres of space.

Four-wheel drive performance The SsangYong Tivoli 4x4 employs an intelligent and advanced all-wheel drive torque on demand system that senses the road surface and driving conditions, and distributes the power to the wheels that need it most.

Under normal driving conditions, 100 per cent of the engine’s torque is delivered to the

MTC Subaru

Cambridge Subaru

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

Cambridgeshire Tel. 01223 841 616 www.cambridge-subaru.co.uk

Perkins

Central Motors

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

Somerset 01460 64747 www.centralmotors.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

front wheels so that the car runs with optimised fuel efficiency. On icy or slippery roads or when driving on wet off-road conditions, power is distributed to both the front and rear wheels to ensure a safe, stable and dependable drive. The technology operates to give a smooth and safe departure when driving away from a standstill on a steep slope, while a lock mode distributes power equally between the front and rear wheels at speeds below 25mph to optimise traction.

In conjunction with the standard

electronic stability program (ESP) with hydraulic brake assist and 4channel anti-lock braking system (ABS), the four-wheel drive system provides the best possible grip and control whatever the conditions. Hill start assist (HSA) and active roll-over protection (ARP) also feature.

The Tivoli 4x4 also features multi-link rear suspension for a comfortable drive on the road, and increased wheel articulation for optimum grip off-road.

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 57

| Motors

Get behind the wheel of the Discovery Sport and discover our most versatile compact SUV to date. Intelligent technology including class-leading Terrain Response makes it perfect for the great outdoors. With a generous loadspace of up to 1,698 litres and the clever option of 5+2 seating, call us to book a test drive and experience the great indoors.

Stratstone Land Rover Swansea 01792 311500, www.stratstone.swansea.landrover.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Stourbridge 01384 424288, www.stratstone.stourbridge.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Newcastle 0191 229 3000, www.stratstone.newcastle.landrover.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Doncaster 01302 323344, www.stratstone.doncaster.landrover.co.uk

58 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Guy Salmon Knutsford

Duckworth Land Rover, Boston

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

01205 449758, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen

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

01673 799393, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Conwy Land Rover

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

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

Rybrook Huddersfield Land Rover

Stafford Land Rover

01484 516016, www.rybrook.huddersfield.landrover.co.uk

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

Rybrook Copley Land Rover

Yeovil Land Rover

01422 363340, www.rybrook.halifax.landrover.co.uk

01935 426600, www.yeovil.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 2016 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Motors

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Discovery Sport range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 5.6-6.4 (50.4 - 44.1); Extra Urban 4.5 - 4.7 (62.8 - 61.4); Combined 4.9 - 5.3(57.7 - 53.3). CO2 Emissions 139-129 g/km.

60 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

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| Motors

Land Rover Discovery 4 is the ‘Best Used SUV’ at Car Dealer Used Car Awards The Land Rover Discovery has added yet another accolade to its enviable roll of honour by scooping the inaugural ‘Best Used SUV’ award at the annual Car Dealer Used Car Awards. he award adds to the Discovery 4’s enviable and diverse roll of honour already topping 85 awards globally including ‘Tow Car of the Decade’ awarded in June of this year by the jurors of the annual Tow Car Awards.

Each car is judged on the traditional benchmarks of three-years/30,000 miles and the figures show that the Discovery is the clear winner by retaining the highest percentage of value from new, while also spending less time on the forecourts of retailers and used car specialists.

Upon selecting the Discovery, the expert judging panel from Car Dealer Magazine, said: “We’ve researched the numbers thoroughly.

We’ve obtained data from Auto Trader, CAP HPI and Glass’s, looking at figures relating to residual values and the number of days it takes to sell. Therefore, the Best Used SUV award goes to the Land Rover Discovery.

“Few things are better than riding around in comfort and luxury in a car that can go just about anywhere, and our best SUV manages both of these things in fine style. It has been incredibly popular amongst both dealers and the public since it was first launched in 1989 as a result.”

The all-new Discovery, unveiled in September this year is set to continue this precedent after industry body CAP calculated class-leading Residual Values for the premium family SUV retaining 59% over three years.

For business customers the strong Residual Values significantly reduce the Total Cost of Ownership of the All-New Discovery, which benefits from seven full-sized seats and a new 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine with a 21,000 miles or two-year service interval.

The new Discovery which is available to order now, goes on sale in the UK in quarter one 2017 with a starting price of £43,495 on the road.

To search for your next Approved Used Land Rover Discovery 4, visit http://www.usedvehicles.landrover.co.uk

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Driving home for Christmas with the MG GS Whether stocking up on festive treats, taking the kids to the school panto or picking up last minute presents ahead of the Christmas rush, MG Motor UK’s all-new SUV, the MG GS, perfectly blends style and practicality – the ideal car for the festive season! un, affordable and available with a whole host of great practical accessories, the GS will stand up to every challenge you throw at it.

With space for the whole family, the fully collapsible 60:40 split rear seats create a massive 1,336 litres of space to fit even the most lavish shopping trips.

Optional roof top bars paired with a 360-litre top box provide even more space in the GS. Automatic headlights and cruise control come as standard, even on the entry-level Explore model, while the mid-range Excite adds rear parking sensors and reversing camera, along with DAB radio and Bluetooth.

The top-spec GS Exclusive features an integrated sat nav, electric seats and state-ofthe-art Xenon headlamps – what more could you ask for!

With all that snow, mud and sludge, winter can be a nightmare for keeping your interior clean. Fortunately, the GS comes with a range of stylish rubber mats (from £30.00) for the front, rear and boot. Simply wipe clean to get that showroom-fresh look, whatever the weather.

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Until the end of December, the MG GS comes with a selection of special offers*.

With OTR prices starting from £14,995, the GS is currently available with either: • 0% APR with just a 20% deposit monthly finance option • £660 contribution towards your deposit when financed on a PCP/PCH basis • A five-year/80,000-mile (whichever occurs first) manufacturer parts and labour warranty Automatic headlights and cruise control come as standard, even on the entry-level Explore model To find out more about MG’s latest models, visit www.mg.co.uk/gs. For more information about the full range of accessories available, visit www.mg.co.uk/owners/accessories/gs/

December 2016 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Motors

The eagerly awaited all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV is available to order now Volkswagen Van Centres across the UK have started taking orders for the new Amarok model, with first customer deliveries expected in January 2017. he eagerly awaited all-new Peugeot 3008 is an important arrival in the SUV C segment market, a rapidly growing category of vehicles throughout the world, and is now available to order in December, with first vehicles arriving in Dealership showrooms across the UK timed for 28th January 2017.

The new Peugeot 3008 SUV arrives at a time when customers are ever increasingly expecting differentiation and new experiences, with very strong assets. Whether through its revolutionary, latest generation Peugeot iCockpit®, its remarkably inspired style, or its high-tech equipment, the new Peugeot 3008 SUV aims to establish itself immediately as a key player.

The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV is a wellequipped, sophisticated and stylish vehicle that combines efficiency, high-specification, highlevel of safety and technological equipment and unique features. The UK range starts with a ‘level 2’ specification vehicle (no level 1 in the UK) – so that every model will feature the latest Peugeot i-Cockpit®; compact steering wheel, the very latest configurable 12.3" head-up digital instrument panel and an 8.0" capacitive

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touch-screen.

The range starts from £21,795 with a wellspecified ‘Active’ model that has so many standard features, key among which is a host of safety equipment ordinarily only available on top-of-the-range models. These include; AEBS – Automatic Emergency Braking System, adaptive driver and front passenger airbags (includes passenger airbag deactivation function), driver and front passenger side, front and rear curtain airbags, CDS - Dynamic Stability Control and ASR - Electronic Anti-skid System, driver attention alert system, Isofix child seat fittings (x3) in the front passenger and outer rear seats, programmable cruise control and speed limiter, and speed limit recognition and recommendation. As a consequence of these and other safety features, substantially reduced repair costs and a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating, the all-new 3008 SUV has insurance ratings from just 11E

(20A on the previous model).

There is a choice of four trim levels – ‘Active’, ‘Allure’ (expected best-selling version), ‘GT Line’ and the top-of-the-range ‘GT’ and a wide choice of engines is available, with CO2 emissions from just 103g/km.

Petrol engine versions are 130hp and 165hp, with CO2 emissions of 117 to 129g/km, with the 1.2-litre PureTech 3-cylinder turbo engine, voted Engine of the Year in its category for the second-year running and the 1.6L THP. The PureTech 130 is available in 6-speed manual or EAT6 automatic transmission while the 165hp is mated to the 6-speed EAT6 automatic.

Four Diesel engines are available, model dependent, with advanced BlueHDi technology that makes it possible to keep the CO2 emissions low, between 103 and 124g/km, with power ranging between 100, 120,150 and 180hp.

Mitsubishi L200 takes home Best Pickup at the 2017 Carbuyer Awards The Mitsubishi L200 has secured another major award, this time for Best Pickup at the 2017 Carbuyer Awards at the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema, The Brunswick, London. he panel of judges for the 2017 Carbuyer Awards were particularly impressed with the latest Mitsubishi L200, saying it is ‘better than ever’ thanks to its combination of impressive offroad capabilities with car-like on-road dynamics, while also offering competitive pricing and high standard specification.

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The latest generation Mitsubishi L200 went on sale in July 2015 and has claimed numerous accolades since launch Stuart Milne, Editor of Carbuyer commented: “The Mitsubishi L200 name has been with us for more than 30 years and the latest model is better than ever. It delivers on its promise of

62 | Farming Monthly | December 2016

rugged ability with some neat detailing and an impressive amount of equipment, while it packs a strong 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that allows you to tow over three tonnes. It’s also the most car-like pickup to drive on-road and extremely capable off-road. Despite all this, it can return more than 40mpg. Combine that with competitive pricing and a number of desirable high-spec models and it’s clear why the L200 is our best pickup.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, commented, “Tough and rugged vehicles like the L200 and Shogun are what the Mitsubishi name has been built on over the past 100 years and our engineers continually strive to ensure our 4X4 vehicles remain the benchmark in their segments. We’re delighted that Carbuyer has recognised the qualities that have made the Mitsubishi L200 a critical and commercial success.”

The latest generation Mitsubishi L200 went on sale in July 2015 and has claimed numerous accolades since launch. Priced from £17,999.00 (CV List Price), the Mitsubishi L200 is available in single, club and double cab body styles and has a payload of up to 1,045kg and a towing capacity of up to 3.1 tonnes (braked).

The fifth generation Mitsubishi L200 is currently available with zero percent finance.

The Best Car features on Carbuyer.co.uk and the awards that underpin them have been ranked by Carbuyer’s team of motoring experts, which collectively have dozens of years of experience and have tested thousands of cars between them.

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