Farming Monthly National - July 2022

INSIDE: Advance payments issued to farmers page 13

Farming MONTHLY National

July 2022

Also in this issue...

I Early harvest can salvage drought-stressed cereal crops page 22

297 07

Women in Farming July 2022

Also inside this month..

| Choosing the right building to help reduce heat stress in your herd! page 58

The Glamping Show

Ford Raptor supports LGBTQ+

PLUS: Arable| Grain | Potatoes | Energy | Farm Safety & Security|Grass & Silage| Livestock| ATV | Motors

• • • •

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CONTENTS J u l y 2022

FEATURES

20 Arable

78 Livestock

84 Muck and Slurry

30 Grain 34 Potatoes & Root Crops 44 Grass & Silage

FM REGULARS National

48 Glamping 52 Diversification

6 News

88 Machinery

54 Women in Farming

58 Buildings

96 ATV

74 Farm Safety & Security

68 Energy

102 Motors

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

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Farming MONTHLY National

Agriculture. Covered.

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A British Manufacturer Supplying the British Farming Industry July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

Discover farmer-led research at events this month armers, advisors, and researchers are invited to discover findings from farmer-led research in a series of events being held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Innovative Farmers network.

The benefits of predatory insects, trees, herbal leys and much more are set to be discussed during the roadshow, with workshops and farm walks led by farmers who have spearheaded the trials Now in its 10th year, Innovative Farmers is running these events to celebrate the success of more than 120 field labs that have placed farmers in the driving seat of agricultural research.

The network, run by the Soil Association and funded by The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund through the Duchy Future Farming Programme from the outset, enables farmers to investigate solutions to their own challenges, on their own farms.

Results from the last decade have shown that putting farmers at the centre of scientific trials like this bolsters research into sustainability and sparks positive change on farms, with the model garnering interest globally.

Innovative Farmers manager Rebecca Swinn said: "These events are a great chance for everyone to get together and showcase the role that farmers are playing in vital research into more naturefriendly farming practices.

"In a decade we have catapulted the notion of farmer-led innovation into the mainstream in the UK, creating a true community of creative and determined farmers and researchers who are making positive change happen.

"We hope to see even more farmers inspiring each other and the rest of the farming industry at these events, as well as hearing more ideas for where we can take farmer-led innovation."

The events: Attracting predatory insects for pest control

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A farm walk with the farmers taking part in the field lab that is investigating how farmers can better harness the power of flowers to fight pests, by attracting predatory insects.

The six farmers involved in the trial – supported by researchers from AHDB, Newcastle University, ADAS, and Stockbridge Technology Centre – hope to unlock more knowledge about how to attract and support the right insect populations. They are looking at when and where they are most needed, by assessing the impact of flower establishment techniques, flower species mixes, and distribution of flowering features on farm.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

To find out more about Innovative Farmers visit the website or sign up to our monthly newsletter for updates from the network and news of future events: https://innovativefarmers.org/register/

Innovative Farmers 10-year anniversary network event 19 July – Launceston, Cornwall

Join farmers and researchers who have been involved with field labs past and present to celebrate the power of farmer-led research in advancing nature-friendly practices.

Workshops and talks will be held throughout the day on subjects including agroforestry, herbal leys, and how farmers can reach net zero. There will also be the chance for ENCE NO LIC ED farmers to suggest ideas R REQUI for new research.

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KEPAK ANNOUNCES £5.5M SITE INVESTMENT

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eading food company Kepak has announced plans for a £5.5m investment at its Merthyr site in Wales to help meet rising demand for its

products.

The significant investment is being made

by Kepak to enhance the Merthyr site’s CPM (Central Prepared Meats) packaging facility. Investment will also be made in bringing in new technologies to support the upweighted demand, including innovative technologies to enhance the company’s strong sustainability credentials.

This development follows the plant’s securing of access to the US market and will additionally lead to a consequent an increase of the site’s livestock requirements, significantly increasing demand from local farmer suppliers.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

The investment will also result in over 100 new jobs at Kepak Merthyr, which currently employs more than 850 people, with a broad spectrum of roles being created across manufacturing, operations, IT, engineering, and technical.

Kepak CEO Simon Walker said: “We are very pleased to be investing in our Merthyr plant, which is a strategically important site for Kepak. As a growing food business, Kepak is committed to continually investing in its sites to ensure we are optimising the work we do through innovative methods. The enhancements that will be made to our Merthyr plant will not only help us to achieve greater capacity, but to importantly grow the number of colleagues we employ at the site and support local farmers with a significant uplift in demand for livestock.”

Kepak Merthyr General

Manager Chris Jones said: “We are delighted to be announcing this significant investment at the Kepak Merthyr site, including the creation of 100 vital jobs supporting the local economy.

This investment will bring about enhancements to our facilities, ultimately doubling the site’s CPM packaging facility, significantly increasing our demand for livestock, which is excellent news for local famers. At Kepak Merthyr, we are committed to supporting local communities and being a good employer, and this investment is further evidence of that commitment in action.”

News follows the planting of 1,000 indigenous tress at Kepak Merthyr and plans to install a second wind turbine at the site, in support of the leading food company’s ambitious sustainability goals.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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t is the time of year again where hay making is upon us. All the machinery is serviced and ready for work, but it cannot answer the question which raises it’s head every year – WILL THE WEATHER BE FAVOURABLE.

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No matter how much money is put into the latest tedders and balers if the hay is to wet to bale it will produce poor quality forage. The most cost-effective weather insurance is Baler’s Choice hay preservative. It allows the moisture window to be increased from 0-15% up to 30% moisture with no need for single use plastic and all the disposal and handling issues and cost plastic causes.

Baler’s Choice is the strongest hay preservative on the market form as little as 1.9 litres per tonne up to 22% moisture on round bales and 20% on large square. It has been proven and tested in all grass and straw types.

There is no compromise on reliable, repeatable results. Baler’s Choice for hay and straw up to 30% moisture is applied using the latest application technology available. For those users who do not want to commit to the fully automatic applicator then we off the smaller budget then we offer the PFC Forage Solutions applicator.

This is a digital control unit with a 12 litre per minute acid compatible gear pump. Setting the dose per tonne and the machines output the system will apply product reliably. All balers 8|

Farming Monthly | July 2022

can have the precision moisture meter installed.

Once the crop is baled tarpaulins are the final quality storage solution when shed space is at a premium.

With an average life of 5 years and costing as little as £0.45p/bale for a 120x70x240 size. The tarpaulins have many unique features providing a strong and secure fastening system suitable for the UK winter winds. Once secured all stacks will settle so we recommend checking every 3-4 days for the first fortnight then once monthly or before and after strong winds. A tight tarp is a secure and long-lasting tarp.

The super Cinch is an easy way to just pull and secure and pull down and out to release mechanism. For round bales the tarp is secured to ropes placed under the bales during stacking.

Large square bale tarps utilise the bottom row twine. The steel JHook simply hooks into the bottom twine and allows the side ropes to

run through the steel eye. Leaving both ends open allows for any wind to pass through the stack and there is no pressure change under the tarpaulin. Due to the securing mechanism and the manufacturing process of the tarpaulin it provides confidence in the long life of the product. Simply put, secure it, check it and store it for the following year.

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Weather Proofing Your Hay and Straw www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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For all Bale types and sizes

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July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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LEAF Open Farm Sunday strengthens public trust in British farming • 85% visitors report LOFS had increased their trust in British farming • 79% visitors learnt something new about British food or farming • 72% visitors said they felt the farming industry is adapting to help combat climate change • 56% of visitors report the farm visit had positively changed their opinion of food production or the farming industry • 49% of visitors said the visit had inspired someone in their group to consider a career in farming EAF Open Farm Sunday has long been the industry's annual open day, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors on farm every year.

This year's event held last month was no exception, attracting 175,000 visitors, 20% of whom had not visited a farm before and over half (52%) coming from urban areas.

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Visitor feedback shows the true impact of LEAF Open Farm Sunday, with 72% of visitors reporting feeling positive about what the industry is doing to help combat the climate change crisis. In addition around half (49%) visitors said the visit had inspired someone in their group to consider a career in farming.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) who have been managing

Open Farm Sunday since it began in 2006, supported over 250 farmers to open their gates from Jersey through to the Shetland Isles for this year's annual event, raising awareness about food and farming and offering fun, interactive and informative days on farm for families from all walks of life.

The messages shared by farmers resonated with visitors this year, with 10 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

95% rating events as 'good' or 'excellent', 79% said they learned something new about British food or farming, and a further 85% reported that visiting a farm on LEAF Open Farm Sunday had increased their trust in British farming.

who have taken part, all their helpers, the thousands of visitors who supported them and to our sponsors for their finan‐

Annabel Shackleton, LEAF Open Farm Sunday Manager said: "We are thrilled with the hugely positive impact that we have had this year. Farmers are being hit hard by labour shortages and soaring costs, and the fact they have still jumped at the chance to showcase British farming is testament to their commitment and passion when it comes to sharing their story. We've once again demonstrated the power of LEAF Open Farm Sunday in connecting people – from both urban and rural areas – to where their food comes from, how it is produced and the farmers who make it all hap‐ pen.

It has been wonderful to read comments from visitors who care deeply about how their food is produced and are inter‐ ested in wider issues around sustainability, climate change and animal welfare. We're delighted to hear the take home messages this year have been particularly strong surrounding careers and climate change. LEAF Open Farm Sunday provides a unique channel through which we can all unite to show‐ case our industry, ignite interest from the public and harness their support for our industry and all it delivers.

Our thanks to all the fantastic farmers

cial and in-kind support. As we progress our plans for next year's LEAF Open Farm Sunday on 11th June 2023, we will continue to adapt and respond to input from host farmers, sponsors and stake‐ holders to ensure its continued positive impact as Britain's leading on-farm public outreach event."

LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2023 will take place on Sunday 11th June, registrations are already open for farmers wanting to take part: www.farmsunday.org LEAF Open Farm Sunday long-term principal sponsors are: AHDB, Arla Foods, Asda, BASF, Co-op, Defra, Farm‐ ers Weekly, Frontier Agriculture, John Deere, LEAF Marque, NFU, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

LEAF Open Farm Sunday, 12th June 2022 in numbers: • • • • •

251 farms 175,000 visitors 1 in five visitors had not visited a farm before 52:48 urban:rural slpit 95% of visitors rated events as good or excellent www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Urgent action needed to prevent rising costs impacting on British food production, NFU survey warns piralling costs are forcing Britain’s farmers to make significant changes to their food production plans, with some facing the prospect of going out of business, according to a new survey of farmers’ intentions by the NFU.

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The survey reveals that a third of arable farmers have made changes to their cropping plans in the last four months, which 90% of growers attribute to rocketing fertiliser costs. The survey also indicates that farmers are beginning to switch from growing milling wheat for bread to feed wheat for animals, because it has a lower fertiliser requirement.

A survey of dairy farmers shows that 7% of producers believe they are likely to stop producing milk by 2024, which nationally could mean 840 producers leaving the industry. Over the next two years, dairy farmers were most concerned about prices of feed (93%), fuel (91%), energy (89%) and fertiliser (88%).

These rising costs are denting farmers’ confidence to invest. With the importance of food production recognised in the Government Food Strategy, the NFU is

now asking government to put these words into action by introducing a statutory duty for Ministers to assess the impact any new policy or regulation will have on domestic food production.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “We have some of the world’s best farmers who are passionate about growing a plentiful supply of food, produced to world leading standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and sustainability. Britain’s climate is perfect for growing and farming a diverse range of food. It’s more important than ever that we all value that and don’t take it for granted.

“However, costs are rising rapidly on farms across the country and across all sectors. It’s already having an impact on the food that we are producing as a nation as well as leading to a crisis of confidence among Britain’s farmers.

These survey results clearly set out what we have to lose if nothing is done.

“It’s incredibly positive that the government now recognises in its Food Strategy how important British food production is for the nation and its resilience. We now need to see this embedded across government business,

with a new statutory duty for Ministers to consider how any new policy will impact on food production.

“Farmers are at the heart of delivering many of the ambitions government holds – whether that is food production, environmental protection, or reaching net zero. That’s why it’s so important for all departments to have a duty to consider food production, so there is a crossgovernment approach that truly values British food and farming and delivers for Britain.

“Farmers are up for the challenge and playing their part in the solution but investment and commitment from government is crucial along this journey, particularly when they are battling costs like never before.

“Farming has always been a volatile business but with fertiliser prices doubling, feed and fuel prices rising, and the variable role of the weather, the decisions farmers are making now will feel more like a gamble than ever before.

We now need government to put words into action and ensure the nation can continue to enjoy high-quality British food.”

RECORD BREAKING ORCHARD TECHNICAL DAY FOR NACM

ider makers welcomed more than 250 guests to their Orchard Walk and Technical Day which returned for the first time in three years. The event provides a unique opportunity for the cider industry to thank those who work so hard growing apples for them and to celebrate the importance of British grown cider apples.

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However, there was also some caution from the cider industry, due to the unprecedented challenges from Brexit, Covid and more recently escalating costs

The event was opened by James Crampton, National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) Chair and Corporate Affairs Director at HEINEKEN UK. He thanked Tom Powell and the Foxley Estate at Mansell Lacey, Herefordshire, for hosting the event and welcoming such a large group of growers to his orchards.

James went on to explain that “Growing cider apples is at the heart of the cider industry and Great British ciders are a part of the heritage and traditions of our rural communities. Cider makers and apple growers have worked in partnership for decades, creating a platform that supports farming, employment, biodiversity, tourism and of course cider making.“ www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

especially around energy and fuel. In addition, long term decline of the cider market has recently accelerated, and the apple cider market fell by nearly 20% in the last two years as the hospitality sector was impacted by Covid lockdowns.

proposals to reform alcohol duty, planned for introduction in February 2023 and asked cider apple growers to join the NACM and cider industry in continued talks with local MPs about their concerns.

Impacts on the cider industry will be significant for cider leaving beer and spirits mainly unchanged. Cider will see a significant increase in excise duty rates, adding red tape and complexity to HMRC paperwork, all ciders over 4.6% ABV will see an increase in excise duty, with some seeing increases as high as 40%. The most traditional ciders will be hit the hardest, especially those around 6% to 7% ABV. Two thirds of cider makers will be negatively impacted.

Following the opening remarks, guests were invited to walk around the orchards, where a number of technical talks gave more detail into how the orchards are managed on the estate, as well as tips for improving biodiversity. The morning ended with an opportunity to visit a number of trade stands highlighting latest developments in orcharding and harvesting equipment and supplies.

James further highlighted HM Treasury July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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Farmers speak out about transition to alternative protein production A

New report looks at how farmers can secure sustainable, financially viable future new report based on interviews with 20 national and international groups representing 300,000 farmers reveals the opportunities and challenges around transitioning to alternative protein production.

The report, called "Amplifying farmers' voices: farming perspectives on alternative proteins and a just transition", was published today (22nd June) by food awareness organisation ProVeg International.

The report acknowledges the impact of climate change on farming and how the majority of food-related emissions come from animal farming. It then asks farming associations, predominantly from the US and Europe, what incentives and barriers are present for them in shifting to alternative protein production.

"The interviews provide a very valuable insight into the challenges faced by farmers. It also shows that there are many opportunities for farmers from different regions to transition to alternative protein farming," Stephanie Jaczniakowska-McGirr, International Head of Food Industry and Retail, at ProVeg said.

"Farmers are clearly open-minded about what they produce but need to know that there are markets for their produce which will secure a financially viable and resilient future for them. I would encourage all food and ingredient suppliers to support farmers in making a viable transition," she added.

The report explores a range of alternative-protein solutions, along with farming perspectives on each one of them. Solutions include: • • • • • • • •

Transitioning from grazing dairy cattle to growing alternative protein crops.

Producing plant-based milks using crops grown on-site.

Fermentation-derived protein.

Cultured meat.

Vertical farming Algae aquaculture.

Regenerative farming.

Carbon credits for alternative landuses.

Along with the need to secure a viable income, the report reveals how concern about climate change is prevalent among farmers.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

"Farmers are acutely aware that net zero and averting climate change is essential," said one British farming representative quoted in the report. "Farmers would love to reduce livestock numbers and their climate footprint, but we have to be financially viable to do our environmental work. If you're talking about replacing lost animal income with something else, then money talks."

This concern is reflected in the comments from a European-based farming association.

"It's a really difficult time. At the end of the day, farmers just want someone to put down the numbers so that they can make an informed choice about their ROI in 10-20 years' time and understand what it means for their families and succession plans," the association said.

A German farming association notes that nothing would prevent a transition to alternative proteins "if the demand and revenue become higher than for livestock production".

The report addresses these concerns, noting the manifold opportunities to participate in alternative protein production.

The report also states: "The good news is that plant-based products typically require a blend of ingredients to achieve the desired nutritional and taste profiles.

This means that farmers have access to a broad global market if growing conditions don't align with the types of plant protein being demanded by local manufacturers."

Impact of the transition Farmers are having to deal not only with the impact of climate change on yields and the weather volatility on the global supply chain, but also with the reduced demand in the Global North for conventional animal-based products as well as the economic pressures that come from intensification and consolidation across the industry.

transition to alternative proteins, supported by automated processes, AI, and regenerative farming techniques.

This would provide an opportunity to adopt best practices and reduce food waste, while improving yields (especially for healthy calories), and supporting plant-rich diets. By doing this, the report says that farmers can: Help to reduce total global emissions by at least 13% – thus helping to protect their land and their business in the long term through climate-change mitigation1.

Potentially eliminate all emissions from food production and actually sequester carbon (by regrowing forests/grasslands on agricultural areas), resulting in net GHG negative emissions2.

Improve yields, capture carbon, and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides – thereby increasing eligibility for environmentally-targeted subsidies.

Future-proof their output by meeting the increasing consumer demand for plantbased milks and alternative proteins.

Refine and produce the alternative proteins they grow – thus also becoming food manufacturers and unlocking greater revenues from crops.

The report recognises that transitioning to alternative proteins will also bring some new risks for farmers. These may include new growing challenges, initial yield uncertainties, and dependency on new machinery.

"ProVeg is working with businesses across the food sector, including ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, to help mitigate these risks for farmers – through co-financing arrangements, flexible long-term contracts, political engagement, and the open sharing of knowledge," the report states.

The report describes how a solution to these pressures is offered by a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Advance payments issued to farmers B asic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payments are now being issued to farmers and will reach bank accounts in the coming weeks, the Rural Payments Agency announced today (19 July).

In May, Environment Secretary George Eustice announced that payments would be made in two instalments each year for the remainder of the agricultural transition period to help farmers with their cashflow. Around 50% of the overall payment will be issued from July with the remaining balance expected from December.

Paul Caldwell, Chief Executive of the Rural Payment Agency, said: “We know that cashflow during the summer season can be concerning for many farm businesses, particularly this year due to issues exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. I’m pleased to confirm

that we have started to make advance BPS payments to farmers, and expect to issue the majority of payments by the end of July.

“These twice-yearly instalments are a permanent change to bring BPS in line with what will be a more regular payment system under the new environment land management schemes.”

The RPA expects the large majority of farmers to receive their BPS advance in the coming weeks. A small number of claims will require additional checks, which will take longer to process. The Agency will be in touch with affected farmers.

Advance payments will be approximately 50% of the total, and Lump Sum Exit Scheme applicants who have claimed BPS in 2022 will also receive an advance payment.

The proportionate amount of progressive

reductions will be applied to both the advance and balance payments.

All farmers should make sure the RPA has their up-to-date bank account details.

Once a payment has been made, a remittance advice is sent in the post confirming the amount paid. A claim statement will also be sent to explain how payments have been worked out.

This builds on a package of measures to support farmers announced in March, including: a delay to changes to the use of urea fertiliser by at least a year; revised and improved statutory guidance on the Farming Rules for Water; slurry investment grants to help meet those rules; and the opening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive which will ensure longterm food security by investing in the foundations of food production: healthy soil, water, and biodiverse ecosystems.

Defra has worked with more than 4,000 farmers to test and trial the new approach.

RABI announces ‘return to school’ grant for farming families

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n response to the unacceptable financial choices farming families will face in the run up to the new school year, RABI has launched a ‘return to school’ grant to help cover the cost of school uniforms, P.E. kit and other equipment.

“Worryingly, almost 70% of parents across the UK are concerned about the expense of covering the cost of return-toschool clothes and equipment,” explains Caron Whaley, director of services at RABI. “The farming community has been heavily impacted by rapidly rising costs. The added pressure of buying clothes and equipment, for the new academic year, can add significant

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

stress. These financial worries can have a detrimental impact on mental wellbeing of the entire family. We want to support farming people through this difficult time,” she continues.

“Nobody should face tough choices about where to cut back on other essentials and we are here to support you with a £500 grant per child.

“Callers to the helpline will be put in contact with their local support manager who will guide them through a short and simple application process.” she says.

Grant applications can be made throughout July and August, start the process by making a call to RABI’s 24/7 helpline on 0800 188 4444.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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Farmer-led research gets royal backing he Duke of Cornwall joined 150 people in Cornwall today (Tuesday 19 July) as they celebrated a "remarkable" 10 years of farmer-led research with the Innovative Farmers network.

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His Royal Highness saw demonstrations from farmers and scientists who brought findings to the farming community from field labs that are pioneering sustainable practices – such as using satellite data to manage grasslands and combining trees with farm animals in agroforestry.

Now in its 10th year, Innovative Farmers is celebrating the success of more than 120 field labs that have placed farmers in the driving seat of agricultural research, with the network connecting with around 12,000 UK farmers.

Hosted by Trefranck Farm in Cornwall, the Prince met farmers, government advisors and influential farming organisations like ADAS, the Organic Research Centre and the Royal Veterinary College to hear how farmerled research bolsters innovation into nature-friendly practices.

Addressing the event, His Royal Highness said he was "very proud" to have been able to support Innovative Farmers and that the event was a 14 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

"wonderful opportunity" to see so many people doing "remarkable things all over the country".

He said: "It's been fascinating to see the results of these field labs and I've learned quite a lot, and I'm particularly interested, I must say, in living mulches, which is the next interesting and very critical area I think which I shall be particularly fascinated to see, and in agroforestry and silvopastoral possibilities."

He added: "I've always felt that nature herself has so many of the answers and that if we read the book of nature carefully enough, we discover that she's created this astonishing, miraculous really, waste free circularity. And that's what I hope we can all build on, because technology can't provide all the answers, the combination of the two, the precision technology and so on, and these extraordinary lessons we've learnt from nature can be hugely beneficial and very powerful."

During the event, the Duke of Cornwall spoke to triallists from several field labs, including one that is investigating "living mulch". This is a practice of growing a permanent understory of clover that crops can be sown straight into, reducing the need for ploughing, weedkillers, and artificial fertilisers.

Living much field lab triallist James Alexander said: "His Royal Highness was really interested in the living much trial and he said he likes how if we do something, then he can look at the results and learn from where we've gone wrong. And that's what Innovative Farmers is all about – learning from each other.

"We all do trials year after year, whether it's by accident or intentional, but never with quite the support that Innovative Farmers gives you. It's great that farmers can do research they want on their own farms with the knowledge of getting actual scientific results with the help of the partners."

The event showcased results from the last decade that have shown that farmerled research could improve the health of thousands of animals, eliminate tonnes of harmful chemicals, and save the farming industry millions of pounds.

Triallists and co-ordinators shared insights on nature-based farming solutions – such as using woodchip to tackle weeds, predatory insects to fight pests, and using on-farm lab kits to cut antibiotic use in dairy cows.

It also offered the chance to share with farmers Innovative Farmers' involvement www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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with Farm Net Zero, a National Lottery Climate Action Fund supported project that will be collecting data from farms including Trefranck Farm to showcase how farming can contribute towards the UK's net zero goals.

Addressing His Royal Highness and the crowd of attendees, Soil Association CEO Helen Browning described 10 years of Innovative Farmers as a "extraordinary achievement".

She said: "More than anything else, the thing that I celebrate about Innovative Farmers is that it has got farmer-led research on the map. The success that

you see when farmers come together to solve their challenges – together with a little bit of support and some rigour from the researchers – and you get rapid results that are taken up really fast. The hundreds and thousands of farmers and research institutes who have come together to make this programme such a success have shown us that when we work together, we can produce our food and farming in ways that are brilliant for profitability, for climate, for nature and ultimately for human health."

Sir Ian Cheshire, Chairman for the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund, said: "We have been delighted to give our

support to Innovative Farmers and it has been a pleasure to watch the network grow in strength over the last 10 years.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is very supportive of the Innovative Farmers network and that comes from his deep-seated conviction that we have to make fundamental change happen within farming."

Jake Pickering, Partner and Senior Manager for Agriculture at Waitrose and Partners, said: "Our customers understand that when they buy a Duchy Organic product, some of that money goes into this research being done within the Innovative Farmers network. That means that people who care about where their food comes from can have a direct impact on this really important change that these farmer-led research trials are driving. It has been an inspiring decade and we look forward to seeing what comes next from pioneering British farmers."

To find out more about Innovative Farmers, visit the website where you can join the network for free and where field lab information is available open source. You can also sign up to our monthly newsletter for updates from the network and news of future events: https:// innovativefarmers.org/ register/

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Return set for the UK’s largest dairy event

he Dairy Show is making its return on Wednesday 5 October 2022 at the Bath & West Showground in Somerset – and saver tickets are now available.

An essential date in dairy producers' calendar, the show is the UK’s largest dairy event and is dedicated entirely to the sector. Showcasing the latest innovation, trusted merchants, and firstclass stockmanship, it is a real coming together of like-minded producers and allied industries.

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The dairy sector is a fundamental part of British agriculture, says acting head of shows, Jess Chiplen. “We’re in the heart of it here in the South-West – within the sector are world class farmers and agricultural companies who are responsible for pioneering new technology, genetics and practices. It’s a privilege to host many of them here.”

The Dairy Show’s theme this year will be muck, with the focus on ways organic

manures can be collected, stored, optimised and applied to maximise soil health and, ultimately, the performance of crops and grazing livestock. “At a time when milk price and costs – like feed and fertiliser - are so high it’s important that ideas and knowledge are shared to capitalise on marginal gains and opportunities.”

Remaining at the show’s heart are the dairy cattle, with exhibitors travelling from all over the country to compete in a variety of breed classes before respective champions go head-tohead for the sought after Supreme Champion title. “The Ayrshire, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey breeds will all be well represented,” says Ms Chiplen.

up-and-coming talent we have in the industry.”

For the first time ever, the British Cheese Awards will be taking place at the Dairy Show, providing an impressive display of dairy produce including cheese, butter, yoghurt and cream.

Judging of the awards will take place on the day, with visitors able to view the display and take part in the all-important People’s Choice Award.

Advance tickets are available at £15 per adult, increasing to £18 on the gate.

Students, with proof, will have discounted entry at £14 and children under 15 years old will have free entry.

“We are delighted to be welcoming everyone back to the show,” says Ms Chiplen. “It’s particularly exciting to encompass the British Cheese Awards, providing the perfect platform for producers to showcase the complete journey from farm to fork.”

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“The Jersey breed society will be holding its national show here. On top of that, we have calf classes and the popular showmanship competition, the latter is always a fine example of the incredible

Find out more and book tickets at https://www.bathandwest.com/thedairy-show/about

Welsh Conservative comment on Sustainable Farming Scheme

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he Labour Government have published their plans for a new Welsh farming subsidy scheme.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz MS said:

“The Welsh Government’s announcement has come a long way from what was touted back in 2018, and this movement has rightly been welcomed by the farming unions.

“Whilst a universal set of actions for all Welsh farmers is a positive, flexibility must also be present, given the varying types of upland, lowland and costal farms found in Wales. Also, I would like to have seen more done to protect food security, the Welsh language, and the vitality of rural communities.

will rightly come with concerns given that for some this will be impossible. The industry wants to play its part in supporting nature and improving our climate, but hard and fast rules can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

“I’m also disappointed – but not surprised – that this plan has been published without numbers on the finances, denying farmers the figures they need to run their business. The finer detail of the scheme will show whether it will be a success or not.

“I’m pleased to have played a small part in pushing the Welsh Government to do better in its support for farmers and I’m happy that some of my concerns have been taken on board.

I’ve always said farming needs a friend and I’m proud to stand up for our important industry.”

“Asking all farmers to have 10% tree covering on their farms 16 |

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| News

Supermarket egg price increases must reach producers, farmers warn

he British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) is calling on supermarkets and egg buyers to ensure that the recent price rises in shops is reflected in the money paid to farmers.

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"Not one retailer has done what was asked and increased egg prices by 40p.

Only then will many producers be able to break even.

"Farmers cannot continue producing free range eggs at a loss and the last thing the British public wants to see is a

The latest data seen

by BFREPA shows shoppers are paying 20p more for a dozen free range eggs, but farmers are only receiving an extra 4p.

The cost of living crisis rages on and has worsened the situation for farmers who have been hit with soaring feed and fuel costs that show no signs of abating.

BFREPA has repeatedly warned that if egg producers don't receive at least 40p/ dozen more, some will leave the industry or pause production, leading to shortages of British eggs in six-tonine months.

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BFREPA has campaigned to prevent farmers from going out of business since following a year of growing costs.

At a crisis summit held at this year's Pig and Poultry Fair, retailers' refusal to engage with farmers was highlighted with shadowed cardboard cut-outs standing in place of the supermarkets' missing representatives.

Meanwhile, there has been no let-up in the pressure being put on producers as the cost of feed, fuel, and other essential inputs shows no sign of reducing.

Chief Executive Robert Gooch said: "We welcome the small rise in egg prices in supermarkets but it needs to go further and the money needs to make its way to farmers, not into the pockets of the supermarkets and the egg packers.

"Retailers will likely make up the shortfall with imports from countries which don't adhere to the same high welfare and safety standards we have here in the UK."

watering down of its excellent animal welfare and food safety standards – but that is exactly what is coming as a shortage of British eggs on the shelves hurtles towards us.

The situation for UK producers is unsustainable with many producers already contacting BFREPA to cancel their membership after deciding to leave the industry.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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CONSUMER TRUST IN UK FOOD DROPPING AS COST-OF-LIVING BITES

The second Red Tractor “Trust in Food” Index reveals that food from the UK is still more trusted than anywhere else in the world but highlights increased concerns from British consumers as eating and shopping habits change. Key findings include: • 8 per cent dip in trust in UK food since the first Trust in Food Index as many consumers change shopping habits • Four in ten shoppers say they don’t trust supermarkets, as people perceive that the quality of food they are buying is declining • Consumers who switch to value ranges assume that production standards are weaker, despite many of these products being assured to high UK specifications • 43 per cent of consumers fear that UK standards will be undermined by changing regulations and trade deals ew research from YouGov commissioned by Red Tractor and YouGov has revealed a significant drop in consumer trust across almost all British institutions, with food and energy seeing the biggest deterioration since 2021.(1)

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The research, conducted with over 3,500 adults across the UK, found that trust in food has declined by 8 per cent overall, and this increases to 13 per cent for those in skilled, manual employment.2 The swings in trust come as shoppers are forced to change their buying habits because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Almost half (46 per cent) of people say they are changing what they buy to feed their families. 30 per cent of consumers are buying less meat, this increases to 35 per cent for those from lower income households. Almost a quarter of shoppers (24 per cent) say they are trading down, buying what they perceive to be food produced to lower food safety and animal welfare standards, which increases to 29 per cent for people on lower incomes. Finally, and worryingly, our research shows that 13 per cent are buying less fruit and vegetables, which again rises to 19 per cent for people with less disposable income.

Last year, 78 per cent of people said they trusted the safety and quality of food purchased from supermarkets. This year, only 58 per cent said they trust supermarkets. The striking 20 per cent change in trust suggests that as people switch and trade down to value ranges,

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the standards for these ranges are assumed to be weaker.

However, when it comes to food and farming, the UK is one of the most regulated countries in the world. The strict regulations on food safety, animal welfare or environmental protection apply to value lines which use assured British produce.

More than half (55 per cent) of shoppers who trust UK food said the UK’s system of high standards and regulation was their number one reason for doing so. Assurance schemes and labelling also play a major role in confidence. Seven out of ten (69 per cent) people look to food marques and assurance schemes to ensure food is safe and produced to a high quality, with British Lion, Red Tractor and Fair Trade the most recognised among consumers.

Of those marques, only British Lion and Red Tractor ensure that produce is British.

Christine Tacon, Chair, Red Tractor, said: “With the impact of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis taking hold, it’s no surprise that confidence in so many aspects of daily life has fallen. While British food continues to be highly trusted, our latest Trust in Food Index shows that as people are forced to trade down into cheaper products, they lose confidence

in the way the food is produced.

“That’s understandable – but it’s also unnecessary. Whilst some shoppers now struggle to afford the prime cuts and choice ingredients, if they buy assured British food, the strict regulations on food

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News safety, animal welfare and other aspects of food production, apply equally to value ranges as they do to premium products. We must tackle this before the drop in trust becomes toxic, by making it clear to people doing their shopping.

“Identifying products as assured through schemes like Red Tractor or British Lion can address people’s perception that “cheaper means lower standards.

Retailers should play their part by adopting food assurance marques on all applicable value ranges.”

“As an industry we must work together to reassure people that whatever their price range, they can be confident in the standards and safety of food produced in the UK- people should never have to choose between price and food safety”.

seek to grow more food ourselves, it will be vital to maintain trust in the UK food system and to ensure that no one has to compromise standards for price. The Red Tractor scheme plays an important role in raising the public’s awareness that our food is produced to high standards.”

Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability, said: “Customers are more price focused than ever but still expect retailers to deliver high standards in animal welfare and the environment. Red Tractor addresses that challenge, ensuring high standards of UK food production, whilst delivering on value.”

Farmer performance

Sir Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby and Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said: “This report provides valuable insights into the impact that the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living are having on the choices the public face when they buy food - and the trust they have in those choices.

“It is encouraging to see that despite these pressures, overall trust in UK food remains high. This reflects the excellent quality of UK produce and the high animal welfare, safety and environmental standards our food is produced to.

“As the Government looks to grapple with the increased costs that our food producers and consumers face - and the impact this is having on our food security - we may have to revisit the balance we strike between the food we import and the food we grow ourselves. If we are to

Overall trust in the role of famers in the food chain remains high4, at 77 per cent.

However, this has declined since the first report, with just over half (52 per cent) of people believing that farmers are performing well on animal welfare, compared with six out of ten (59 per cent) of people last year. Consumer also perceive that the farmers are not performing well on issues around climate change, fertilisers, food and plastic waste.

Sustainability and welfare Consumers continue to care about high welfare standards and sustainable production, with three quarters (75 per cent) of consumers saying they value good animal welfare standards. Two thirds of people value reducing plastic waste (64 per cent) and low use of chemical fertilisers (60 per cent), in the production of their food, with 49 per cent of shoppers saying that labelling which indicates that a product is sustainably

farmed would positively influence their buying decisions in a supermarket or restaurant.

However, the research also found that many consumers do not understand a lot of the terminology relating to farming methods or sustainability. While two thirds of people said they could explain what organic means, (5) only half (49 percent) of respondents said they felt confident explaining terms such as room to roam.

Brexit and trust outside the UK In other findings, the Index found that people believe Brexit is having an impact on food – 26 per cent of respondents said they felt the quality of food in the UK has been falling over the last two years.

Furthermore, 43 per cent of consumers believe that new trade deals will reduce standards of food in the UK further. The U.S. and India – both countries the Government is seeking trade deals with – have very low levels of trust. 27 per cent and 18 per cent of consumers trust food that originates in those countries respectively.(6) At the other end of the spectrum, Ireland and New Zealand are the most trusted countries for imported food among survey respondents, followed by many European and Nordic countries, such as Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, and Germany. The Index found that 58 per cent of consumers look at the country of origin before buying a product.

Wyke Farms support FareShare South West with 3 tonnes of cheese and butter to help children at risk of holiday hunger this Summer yke Farms, the UK's largest independent cheese producers and producers of renewable energy, today announce their contributions to FareShare South West. As the largest food redistribution charity in the region, FareShare South West is partnering with local authorities and partner charities to deliver food to more than 50 sites across the South West throughout the Summer break. The 'Food for Holiday Projects' work aims to help children and families facing food insecurity over the school summer holidays.

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Wyke Farms have previously supported the project with generous donations in 2019 and 2021 when the charity supplied food for over 6 million meals, benefitting more than 50,000 vulnerable people across the South West. This year the company are providing even more; there will be 6 donations at 536 kg each over the summer period, totalling 3.2 tonnes of cheese and butter. Wyke Farms have selected butter and grated cheese for sandwiches as well as block cheddar for children to use in cooking activities.

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Jennifer Gray, Head of Marketing at Wyke Farms, says: "We are delighted to be contributing again this year. School holidays can be a challenging for families and we hope our donation has positive impact for those who need it".

Lucy Bearn, Director of Operations at FareShare South West says: "There are more children at risk of holiday hunger than ever before. When the school gates close for the Summer, families who typically rely on free school meals to keep their children fed are left without a lifeline. With support from suppliers like Wyke Farms, charities like FareShare South West can stop children from going hungry this Summer. " Wyke Farms' cheese and butter is made with the milk from their cows grazing the lush pastures of the Mendip Hills in the centre of the Cheddar making region in Somerset.

Wyke Farms products are available in selected Lidl stores and in South West UK ASDA, CO-OP, and Tesco stores. All products are available online at: www.wykefarms.com/shop

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Brassica Alert better targets agronomy decisions

rassica crop growers and agronomists now have the chance to better tailor disease and pest control programmes to specific threats this season, with the more advanced and targeted Brassica Alert monitoring and forecasting decision support tool.

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Created and managed by the Allium & Brassica Centre, sponsored by Syngenta, Brassica Alert now utilises new more sophisticated pheromone trapping and monitoring of early pest presence, coupled to disease spore trapping and powerful weather modelling, to provide real-time risk assessments.

Brassica Alert gives traffic-light style warning for impending risk of ringspot and white blister, along with major pests, thrip, diamond back moth and silver Y

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

moth. Growers and agronomist can opt to receive text updates to view the latest reports on the Syngenta website.

Early season reports had seen a low initial risk of ringspot in dry conditions, but high-risk warning for white blister, which requires only limited leaf wetness to develop. Silver Y moth had been identified at red warning high-risk populations on 90% of monitoring sites across the eastern counties, however thrip and diamond back moth were at low numbers.

Carl Sharp of the Allium & Brassica Centre said: “Brassica Alert has allowed growers the flexibility of going from what was an industry-standard fixed spray interval disease control programme, to targeted applications choosing products most suitable at the time of application.

“In our independent trials has shown that two targeted fungicide applications indicated by Brassica Alert, gave comparative disease control, marketable

yield and quality as using the standard four to five spray programme.

“The combination of climatic data and spore trapping has given consistent results with regards to reliability,” he added.

Syngenta digital agronomy specialist, Ed Flint, highlighted Brassica Alert has proven the potential for forecasting tools to help growers better target treatments and strengthen decision making.

“The greatest benefit comes when you start to couple decision support tools together,” he advocated.

“Growers who use Brassica Alert in combination with Syngenta Spray Assist, for example, can identify appropriate spray window opportunities for application timing ahead of pest or disease outbreaks – along with advice on the optimum application technique for the intended target, to get the best results possible.”

Brassica Alert is particularly well suited for preventative brassica fungicide programmes including Amistar Top and Plover, along with pest control programmes including Hallmark Zeon and Minecto One. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Contact your nearest dealer: Agratech NW Ltd Unit 8 Dale Mill Burnley Road East Lancashire BB4 9HU 01706 211399 www.agratech.co.uk

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July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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Early harvest can salvage drought-stressed cereal crops ew advice has been issued to cereal growers which offers a good chance of salvaging a drought-stressed crop in the face of this month's hot, dry weather.

Many crops of spring barley, and even winter wheat, are already dying in the field, and will shed seed and lose yield if left to ripen.

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Instead of harvesting at the usual time, growers have therefore been advised to make the most of the hot, dry conditions and cut their crops at the earliest opportunity. This could mean harvesting at grain moisture contents of up to 45%, at which point they can be preserved by crimping, instead of stored dry.

Using the preservative CrimpSafe 300, the grain should be rolled and treated on the day of harvest and stored in a clamp or plastic tube. These processes can be carried out on almost any farm and undertaken by a reputable contractor.

Crimping is carried out up to three weeks before traditional, dry harvest and captures far more feed value from the cereal crop. Crimp also offers proven livestock health and performance benefits in comparison with dry grain.

A further attraction to arable farmers and contractors is the spread of harvesting workload and the extra time created by the early harvest for autumn cultivations.

Michael Carpenter, technical director from feed Ben Parker and Adam Brown preservation specialists, Kelvin Cave Ltd, says: "It's been a difficult year for farmers in so many respects, and the last thing they need is to lose part of their cereal crop in scorching weather conditions.

This will happen on three fronts because the grain becomes shrivelled and loses yield; the crop will lose feed value as it dies off and more grain will be shed from the ear.

"Treating with CrimpSafe 300 – or CrimpSafe Hi-Dry for lower moisture grain – provides a way of 22 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

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| Arable

attractive as the price of the desiccant has almost doubled since last year," he says.

"Similarly, drying grain adds an unnecessary financial burden in the face of escalating fuel costs.

"There is also a massively growing interest amongst livestock producers for buying feeds direct from neighbouring farms, and cutting the cost of bought-in, bagged concentrates," he adds. "Cereals can readily be traded from farm to farm either as a standing crop, at the time of harvest and crimping, or later in the year as crimp from the clamp." harvesting right now at the optimal feed value, and making the most of good harvesting conditions," he says.

"The alternative of desiccating unevenly ripened crops with Glyphosate is far less www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Farmers who wish to either buy or sell feeds in this way can trade them, free of charge, through a new trading platform accessible through the Kelvin Cave website (www.kelvincave.com). Called

Home Grown Feeds Seek & Sell, the platform is open to those who wish to either buy or sell crops treated with Kelvin Cave Ltd products.

For advice about options for feed and forage preservation, please contact Kelvin Cave Ltd on 01458 252281 or Michael Carpenter on 07817 977701.

Preserving moist grain from an early harvest • • • • • • • • • •

Any moist grain (up to 45% moisture) can be preserved by crimping at the time of harvest A product from the CrimpSafe range (CrimpSafe 300 or CrimpSafe HiDry) is required The preservative is applied through an applicator on a grain roller and the grain is ensiled Harvest is taken up to three weeks earlier than traditional cereal harvest Grain is preserved at its maximum nutrient value and digestibility The maximum dry matter yield is achieved per hectare due to lack of die-off and shedding Crimp is ensiled anaerobically in a plastic tube or clamp, readily created on most farms Significant savings can be made over the cost of drying and dry grain storage Crimp is independently proven to achieve outstanding rumen health and animal performance Agronomic benefits come from early harvest including extra time to establish autumn crops

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Patience needed to stop soils slumping O

ver-cultivating seedbeds, or cultivating them too soon after harvest, risks damaging soil structure and impairing following crop establishment, Hutchinsons technical manager Dick Neale has warned.

Speaking at a recent open day at the firm’s Helix West demonstration farm in Oxfordshire, Mr Neale urged growers to be patient before going onto land with the cultivator after harvest.

There was a particular risk where shallow or minimal cultivations were carried out too early, leaving soils exposed to weathering for several weeks before drilling, and potentially leading to seedbeds slumping, capping and less able to infiltrate water.

“Poor water infiltration is a fundamental problem on many UK farms,” he said. “It is often exacerbated where seedbeds are over-cultivated or where shallow tillage is done too early in the season, leaving the same weathering time as would be allowed for deep-tilled seedbeds. All too often soils then breakdown too much and growers find seedbeds have slumped by the time they get to drilling in September or October.”

Mr Neale urged growers to tailor cultivation timing more closely to the type of machine used, soil type and time required for weathering or further cultivations before drilling.

But he also acknowledged that workloads and time constraints at such a busy time of year, together with uncertainty about the weather as autumn approached, often made it difficult to make such a decision.

Therefore, where ground had to be cultivated earlier, he recommended establishing a fast-growing multi-species catch or cover crop to stabilise aggregates, build natural structure, retain nutrients and add organic matter.

“One of the best ways to stop soils slumping is to keep growing roots in the ground at all times and let soil biology do the work for you.”

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He said a constant supply of organic material, such as from crop residues or catch/ cover crops, was essential for “feeding” the active soil biology that drove aggregation of soil particles, as exudates produced from bacteria and fungi breaking down organic matter helped bind aggregates together.

“The only way to get energy from the sun into the soil food web is with a green, growing plant to feed the biology.

Improving the natural structure and aggregation of soils, had many benefits for crop productivity, not least in leading to better water infiltration and allowing soils to store water more effectively, he added. This would support growth during dry periods, boost the activity of worms and other soil biology, and improve nutrient flow and crop uptake.

Mr Neale countered suggestions that there was not enough time to establish a catch crop between harvest and drilling by demonstrating the rapid root growth that two Hutchinsons mixes (MaxiCover and MaxiCatchCrop) had put on in grow

tubes in just two to three weeks (see images).

MaxiCover contains eight species of legumes, forbs and brassicas, offering a diversity of rooting depths and a varied food source for soil microbes.

MaxiCatchCrop contains three fastgrowing species of buckwheat, mustard and berseem clover, designed to get living roots into the soil in the narrow gap between cash crops.

Mr Neale advised growers looking to sow a cover or catch crop to choose a multispecies mix containing a range of different rooting types and depths. Any cover or catch crop should be tailored to deliver the functions required from it in individual situations and soil types, such as soil conditioning, alleviation of compacted layers, nutrient capture, nitrogen fixation and/or building organic matter.

To find out more about Hutchinsons’s cover and catch crop options, go to www.hlhltd.co.uk/products/seed

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| Arable

Farmers Warned to Secure Winter Feed, Minerals and Fertiliser Urea as Further Increases Expected armers should secure their winter feed and minerals now and assess their rations to ensure they are not overfeeding amid fears that prices could hit highs later in the year as supply dwindles.

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Speaking on a Market Updates Webinar organised by Mole Valley Farmers last week (12 July), Daniel McCreadie, Head of Agri Procurement at Mole Valley Farmers, said farmers could lose more than they would gain by holding off their purchase.

Soya Soya is steadily increasing week-onweek at about £10-£12/t, with jumps of £20 in a day also reported.

He added: "Markets are volatile and moving aggressively. From a risk management perspective, it makes sense to secure your needs for winter.

"Grain prices will rear their head as we head into September and October when there is less. We may see prices rise dramatically due to supply and demand," he said.

Minerals and Vitamins

Grain "It may be a bit earlier than usual, but you could wait and gain £5/t or lose £15/t. The market for grain and protein has bottomed out and is now a rising market rather than a falling one," he warned.

Mr McCreadie described the grain market as 'bullish' with prices this month (July 2022) hitting a high of £360/t before falling back to £260/ t. Ukraine did not enter the shipping programme this week, and combined with the weak pound to the dollar, has resulted in prices rising again.

Neil Berryman, Site and Procurement Manager at Mole Valley Farmers Feed Supplement, also suggests farmers look at their winter requirements for minerals, with volatility affecting the market. He advised farmers to look at their mineral requirements first by assessing the rations to ensure they are not overfeeding them.

He said: "Phosphates historically have tended to be overfed, which will come at a significant expense."

Farmers should also expect to see hikes in products like dry cow minerals as magnesium prices rise due to the volume

of gas used in its production.

Vitamins, on the other hand, are relatively stable. As a result, Mole Valley Farmers has covered material to take advantage of the pricing Fertiliser Urea Craig Paterson, Head of Fertiliser at Mole Valley Farmers, explained how urea for September delivery would see some increases. Still, there could be an opportunity for farmers to buy on discounted spot value in August.

He added: "The availability of the product from normal origins is significantly reduced, so we will see further issues with curtailing production. My advice is to get some product on farm sooner rather than later.

"If you are producing muck, get it analysed and utilised into a plan with bagged product," he added.

Mr Paterson said the weak pound to the dollar is adding up to £50/t to granular urea alone. "Prices are being issued and pulled in the hour. A £30 increase is the new £2 increase," he said.

Combine harvester fire warning as temperatures soar

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eatwave conditions could spell financial ruin for farmers if they are not protected against fire risk, an insurance expert has

warned.

The potential for outbreaks has been heightened by this summer’s high temperatures, and Rupert WailesFairbairn, of Lycetts insurance broker, has stressed the importance of thorough safety checks.

“One of the main causes of agricultural fires at this time of year is combine harvesters, and they should be a notable focus of attention,” he said.

“Every year, fires caused by harvesters devastate crops, costing farmers thousands. This month alone they have already been responsible for a number of significant blazes.

“Accumulated dust and chaff in the machinery, along with electrical wires in close proximity to fuel, are a constant risk. When you factor in the tinder dry conditions we are currently experiencing, this risk intensifies. In one recent case, it was overheated bearings that proved incendiary.

“Combines go from many months of inactivity to intense use. It is therefore

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vital they undergo careful inspections and stringent maintenance checks, in addition to being regularly cleaned and tested.”

Other recommendations include using a compressor to blow away debris, keeping a fire extinguisher on the combine, using water bowsers when harvesting and cleaning equipment at the end of each day. Mirrors on stationary equipment can cause fires, so care should be taken to keep them out of sunlight.

“It is also sensible to have a communication system in place so remote workers can be contacted in the event of a fire. The What3Words app, for example, can help emergency services pinpoint your precise location in farm fields.

“Fires can cause severe disruption at one of the busiest times of the farming year and, in some cases, even destroy livelihoods.

“Garnering advice from an experienced and specialist insurance broker can help guard against this.

“In addition to the risk to life, crops and machinery – new combines can cost more than £500,000 – wildfire can spread rapidly to farm buildings, homes

and storage facilities. Leaving aside the cost and disruption to the business, of equal concern is the long waiting list for new equipment should a combine have to be replaced at short notice.

“Safe storage can significantly reduce fire risk and farmers should comply with the stack and distance limits specified by their insurer. Splitting stacks and keeping them in different locations is a sensible precaution.

“Farm combined policies will cover damage caused to a farmer’s own buildings by spreading wildfire, and Public Liability will provide protection if a fire spreads from a farmer’s land to a neighbour’s.

“It is essential the value of cereal crops is reviewed as they are being put into store.

Commodity prices have recently been 50% higher than this time last year with prices fluctuating dramatically, so it is imperative that the sums insured are adequate.

“Produce needed to feed livestock throughout the winter is expensive to replace and, once again, farmers should ensure they have sufficient insurance in place for this eventuality.”

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Farmers urged to capitalise on organic’s potential elegates at the UK’s largest organic conference, OF&G’s National Organic Combinable Crops (NOCC) heard how market opportunity, and increased recognition of organic’s benefits, should encourage increases in organic agricultural land area.

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Deputy director and policy manager of IFOAM Organics Europe, Eric Gall, told the audience, that 16 countries in Europe have more than 10% organic land area. Currently, the UK only has around 3% dedicated to organic production, despite being the third fastest-growing organic retail market in Europe.

“The UK has the eighth largest market for organic food sales worldwide, but current low production levels leaves plenty of scope for growth. Organic farming is a ‘climate smart’ solution and the leading model for a transition to more sustainable food systems. It is time to capitalise on this opportunity,” says Mr Gall.

Referencing the newly published French Court of Auditors report, which makes 12 recommendations to meet the ambitious objectives on the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy, Mr Gall concludes that policy support for organic farming remains insufficient.

OF&G’s chief executive, Roger Kerr, adds that the independent French Governmental report, published on 30 June 2022, provides further confirmation that organic processes assure positive outcomes.

“The Court of Auditors has evaluated public policy support for organic farming

based on a review of extensive scientific literature,” says Mr Kerr. “It highlights the scientifically proven benefits for health with less cancers and diabetes in organic consumers, as well as benefits for water quality, less GHG emissions and greater biodiversity. If we’re told we have to follow the science, then organic has been proven to deliver.

“France and other EU countries are committed to providing substantial support for the development of the organic sector through research and innovation.

There is widespread recognition from our nearest neighbours that organic farming can be an effective public policy tool in reaching environmental policy objectives. If we wish to succeed in the transition to more environmentally friendly practices then we need to facilitate higher organic conversion rates,” he continues. “It’s great to hear such positive dialogue at NOCC, and elsewhere, but we have yet to see that formalised in policy measures.”

During the conference, NOCC attendees also had a guided farm walk around Henry Edmunds’ organic arable, beef and sheep farm. The award winning Cholderton Estate was specifically selected as host farm to showcase its impressive record in nature recovery as

described in a Natural Capital Account delivered through Defra’s Test & Trials programme in 2021.

Mr Edmunds said; "It’s been a great day, and wonderful to welcome so many people on to the farm. I believe that improving biodiversity is a win-win opportunity and hosting the NOCC conference has enabled us to show people what can be achieved with right management."

Mr Kerr concludes by saying; “The economic and environmental success of Cholderton has been achieved through organic’s advanced regenerative practices. People have told us they have been buoyed and inspired by what they have seen and heard at Henry’s farm today. Organic represents a real economic and environmental opportunity for farmers seeking to ‘de risk’ their business and we would recommend Government and farming businesses take a very serious look at this opportunity.”

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Strengthen OSR against CSFB

he sustainability of OSR yields in the UK has been questioned since the restrictions on neonicotinoids. However, a series of trials has shown that strengthening the crop using silicon can help to guard against cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) by strengthening the plant. Technical Manager, Kate Williams, from silicon specialist Orion FT, explains how using silicon can reduce losses.

“Using a silicon enhanced product such as Sirius, in the tank with an insecticide, will strengthen the plant by increasing cuticle thickness and leaf hair density.

This makes the plant less appealing and

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up by the improvement in CSFB control.

“After 7 days the crop sprayed with Sirius showed almost no sign of CSFB, whilst the untreated crop showed over 15% feeding damage. This gap further increased at day 14 when the untreated sample was over 25%, but the Sirius sample showed less than 5% feeding damage,” she explains.

By combining silicon with the insecticide there was no additional machinery time required to apply the product and, as a biological product, Sirius can be used in

all farming systems. “For those looking to sustain the number of beneficials or establish an OSR crop in adverse conditions, using silicon-based products will help to guard against pest damage. It can be used to help the crop get off to a good start and then subsequently to boost yield by improving the overall health and weight of the crop. With mild winters and increased resistance to pyrethroids, taking a new approach may help farms that want to continue growing this valuable crop,” she concludes.

palatable to pests in general, but we have trial data to show that it is especially efficacious against CSFB.” Applied at growth stage 10, or first leaf, the silicon is absorbed by the plant and begins to strengthen it. In trials this saw the silicon content of the plants treated increase by 14% after an early postemergence application.

“This was then boosted further by a second application in March which saw the silicon content of the crop increase by 34% by the middle of May,” she says.

The impact of increasing the silicon in the plant was subsequently backed www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

27

| Arable

Planning OSR Desiccation

Top Tips for successful OSR desiccation

Timing is key: Don’t go too early as this will compromise yield and increase chances of crop rejection due to red seed Crop should look like the colour of a hares back Take 20 pods from main raceme and if 2/3 have changed from green to brown then glyphosate can go on in 4-7 days time Use robust rates and an appropriate adjuvant to improve efficacy Use a pod sealant to prevent pod shatter Mechanical desiccation should only be used where crops are very thick and leaning iming is key when ready for dessciation, it should sure to use the required adjuvant. desiccating oilseed resemble the colour of a hares rape as going on too back. Samples should then be “As glyphosate is very early can impact taken from the main raceme as susceptible to cations in the water quantity and quality of this will ripen first. Take about 20 which can cause lock up of the yields is the advice from Cam pods and if 2-3 have changed active and reduction in the ability Murray, Hutchinsons northern from green to brown then this the for the herbicide to work technical manager. early timing and from this stage effectively, it’s worth adding an on glyphosate can be applied adjuvant that can condition the water and accelerate the uptake of the glyphosate.”

He adds the importance of reading the labels carefully with regards to rates.

“Remember that adjuvants have a growth stage cut off for use with 100% dose of pesticide.”

T

Mr Murray recommends using a pod sealant as modern pod sealants act in providing a mesh like structure around the developing pod which protects against the potential of pod shatter in exposed locations, helps the plant hold onto pods for longer where there is variable maturity within the field, or if harvest is delayed it offers an additional layer of protection.

“If preferring a non chemical route then swathing is an option - but really only tends to suit crops that are thick and are leaning. Its important when swathing to keep the swathed crop off the ground to allow for air flow.”

Desiccating the crop before it is ready can damage the seed filling procedure and can also lead to an increase of red seeds due to uneven ripening. Anything more than 5% of red seeds will result in rejection issues, he reminds growers.

“The best guide for getting desiccation timing right is to go with the overall crop appearance – take particular notice of the seed colour,” he says.

“As a visual guide if the crop is 28 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

over the next 4-7 days.”

“Glyphosate is now the only chemical option for desiccation with the loss of diquat. However remember that seed moisture needs to be 30% or below for application and aim for about 14-20 days prior to harvest. It cannot be used on seed crops.”

Mr Murray recommends using robust rates – at east 1440 gms of active- and where a generic product is being used then be

“Of course, if a crop is weed free and very even, there is the option to do nothing, and leave it to ripen naturally. This is useful if there are large areas of OSR to harvest and you are trying to spread out the harvest window.

However the crop will take longer to ripen which means this is not really an option the further north you go due to the lower temperatures and higher moisture levels.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Global wheat production can be doubled, say scientists

F

ine tuning their genomes would help regional wheat varieties feed growing population

A first-of-its-kind analysis of the untapped genetic potential of wheat shows global yields are only half of what they could be.

The international team, led from the UK’s Rothamsted Research, says this ‘genetic yield gap’ could be closed by developing wheat varieties tailored to each region by utilizing the vast genetic variation available in global and historical wheat gene banks with modern techniques such as speed breeding and gene editing.

Dr Mikhail Semenov and Dr Nimai Senapati, who co-led this study, define a crop’s ‘genetic yield potential’ as the highest yield achievable by an idealised variety – in other words, a plant with an optimal genome that allows it to capture water, sunlight and nutrients more efficiently than any other.

Dr Semenov said: “Current wheat cultivars are, on average, only at the half-way point with respect to the yields they could produce given the mismatches between their genetics and local wheat growing conditions.

“Global wheat production could be doubled by the genetic improvement of local wheat cultivars -without increasing global wheat area.”

Using existing data on the contribution of different genes to individual plant traits such as size, shape, metabolism and growth, the researchers ran millions of computer simulations to design ‘perfect’ wheat plants that were tailored to their local environments.

When compared to the performance of locally adapted cultivars, in all cases they found current wheat varieties were underperforming for grain yield, with an obvious ‘genetic yield gap’ between reality and possibility.

According to Dr Senapati, closing www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

the genetic yield gap would go a long way to feeding the growing world population and would reduce pressure to convert wild habitats to farmland.

Wheat is the world’s most widely grown crop, and in terms of human consumption, is the second most important crop after rice, with global harvests in the region of 750 million tons.

Since the 1960s ‘Green Revolution’ yield have, on average, tripled – but this study suggests there is a lot more to come.

It is the first time this type of analysis has been done globally with the study, published in Nature Food, looking at a total of 53 wheat growing regions across 33 countries and covering all global wheat growing environments.

Using a state-of-the-art wheat model, called Sirius, the team first calculated the potential yield from a total of 28 commonly used wheat varieties grown at these sites, assuming the best possible cultivation conditions for each one.

This gave harvests of less than four tons in Australia and Kazakhstan - compared with 14 tons of wheat produced per hectare in New Zealand.

Next, they designed ‘idealized’ local varieties within their model, which optimised several plant traits that contribute to yield and whose underlying genetics will allow them to be improved by plant breeders.

Simulations were based on extensive data on the natural genetic variation underpinning the traits. These included tolerance and response to drought and heat stresses, the size and orientation of the light-capturing upper leaves, and the timing of key life cycle events.

The results showed that by optimizing these key traits, genetic yield gaps could be anywhere from 30-70% across different countries, with a global

average genetic yield gap of 51%. Therefore, global wheat production could be doubled by exploiting this existing genetic yield gap towards achieving global food security in a sustainable way.

“Not unsurprisingly, the countries with the lowest current yields could gain the most from closing their genetic yield gaps,” said Dr Senapati.

“That said, even improvements in those countries with a medium genetic yield gap of 40 to 50%, but with a large proportion of global wheat harvest area - such as the leading producers India, Russia, China, USA, Canada, and Pakistan - would have a substantial effect on global wheat production due to the larger wheat cultivation areas involved.”

Before this study, the size of these genetic yield gaps at country and global scales were unknown.

The genetic yield gap idea contrasts with the longerunderstood concept of traditional yield gap due to sub-optimal management where harvests are smaller than the best-case scenario as a result of factors such as pest or diseases, lack of nutrients, or sowing or harvesting at the wrong time.

“Our analysis suggests that such genetic yield gaps due to suboptimal genetic adaptation could, in relative terms, be as large as the traditional yield gap due to imperfect crop and soil management,” said Dr Semenov.

“Wheat was first domesticated about 11,000 years ago, but despite this – and not to mention the sequencing of its entire genome in 2018 – the crop is still some way from being at its ‘genetic best’,” he added.

Also involved in the study were leading wheat experts from Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Mexico.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

29

| Grain

A British Manufacturer Supplying the British Farming Industry

erry Engineering have been supporting the British Farming industry since 1947 when founder Tom Perry, the son of a farmer, used to drive from farm to farm fixing machinery. Over the years that developed into designing and manufacturing machines in his shed and has now developed into a multi-million pound business.

P

One of the highlights of those 75 years of Perry manufacturing history has been seeing Perry machinery on BBC Countryfile.

BBC Countryfile (26th June Cotswold episode currently on iPlayer) ran a feature on alternative fertilisers, one produced from potato waste and the other from human waste. These two fertiliser processes that were highlighted both used Perry drying and handling equipment.

The drier utilised in both facilities was a Perry belt drier which is ideally suited to drying almost any non-flowing product, or, more granular products that require a lower

30 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

throughout capacity.

The belt drier range, along with all the other Perry machinery ranges, are designed in-house by the very experienced Perry Design Team. The team have significant experience in designing drying, handling & storage facilities for a full range of bulk materials with a primary focus on supporting the farming industry.

The depth of experience in the Perry’s Design Team was recently recognised by the Global 100 when Perrys were awarded their “Best Designer of Bulk Materials Handling, Drying & Storage of the Year – UK 2022” Perrys design and manufacture a full range of handling, drying and storage solutions

for small farms up to commercial grain stores, for a variety of products. Contact Perry today for all your handling, storage & drier requirements on +44 (0)1404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk, and receive a free, no obligation quotation.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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The UK’s Most Experienced Manufacturer of Grain www.farmingmonthly.co.uk 31 July 2022 | Farming Monthly | Drying, Handling & Storage Equipment

| Grain

Beat The Heat This Harvest With Martin Lishman Grain Cooling Systems

W

ith harvest 2022 looming on the horizon, reports of a barrage of hot weather to sweep across the UK over the next few weeks could mean an early start for some.

With expected hot grain temperatures, ensuring optimal ventilation of the stored crop with a powerful airflow will help drive temperatures down as fast as possible. A suitable automatic fan control system is equally as important in taking advantage of the rare occurrences during the summer months of low ambient temperatures to cool grain and will significantly reduce the energy needed to do so.

Fans suck cool air through the stored crop and extract the warm air out of the heap to achieve safe storage conditions. The PileDry Pedestal design is modular, meaning they can be placed in almost any existing grain store, even in grain at depths greater than 17 metres.

Powerful cooling Martin Lishman Green Pile-Dry low volume grain cooling fans have become the ultimate in fast cooling performance. With highly efficient IE3 motors and uprated design to ensure long lasting reliability, when used in conjunction with Pile-Dry Pedestals farmers can cool crops faster

Regular grain temperature monitoring With higher-than-normal temperatures expected, frequently monitoring the grain to ensure the temperature is consistent throughout the store is crucial to preventing any form of deterioration.

Martin Lishman offers systems to monitor stored grain that cater for a range of budgets, including the well trusted MiniTemp hand-held temperature monitor, its new Bluetooth brother, MiniTemp Blue, and Barn Owl Wireless, the fully automatic wireless monitoring and automatic fan control system.

Automatic fan control An automatic fan controller can bring with it many benefits. Automatically turning cooling fans on and off to make the best use of ambient air conditions ensures the fastest cooling possible but can also save at least 40% of energy costs. Plus, there is the bonus of reducing trips to the store to manually operate fans, or simply avoiding forgetting to do so.

Crop storage specialists Martin Lishman Ltd have reported their customers are already gearing up ready for an early harvest this year and opting to increase the cooling power in their stores.

With nearly 50 years' experience in grain storage technology, Martin Lishman Ltd have developed a wide range of grain quality and crop storage products with thousands of satisfied users worldwide.

Driven by demands from the industry, the Martin Lishman line-up supports farmers in their on-going battle to preserve the highest grain quality whilst also reducing energy costs. The company's industry-leading innovations include the award-winning Barn Owl Wireless automatic fan control and crop monitoring system and the UK's number one crop cooling system Pile-Dry Pedestals and Fans.

Unrivalled ventilation Martin Lishman Pile-Dry Pedestals continue to be the fastest most efficient vertical crop cooling system on the market, operating at 20% above the required rate.

Pile-Dry Pedestals will cool grain straight off the combine and chill the grain to avoid insects and harmful moulds.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

and more energy efficiently while preserving crop quality in all sizes of store and all bulk stored crops.

To get the best cooling results from PileDry Pedestals and Fans, Martin Lishman offers 4 key tips for success: •

Use at least one fan per 4 Pedestals

•

Increase this quantity for faster cooling

•

Move the fans between Pedestals as the crop cools

•

Use Automatic Fan Control to save energy and achieve the fastest cooling

"One of the simplest ways to improve the effectiveness of a pedestal cooling system is to use more fans," explains Gavin Lishman, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. "It is not uncommon to swap fans between pedestals when required, but this slows down the cooling process and requires more frequent temperature checks. Using one fan per pedestal ensures the cooling power is instantly available when needed and significantly reduces the possibility of hot spots in the grain or forgetting to move fans around."

Hot spot spears With spikes in ambient temperatures, hotspots in grain can take you by surprise and can wreak havoc in the store if not dealt with quickly. Martin Lishman screw-in Trouble-Dry aeration spears tackle hot spots by simply screwing the spear into the heap and using one of their high output green fans to suck cool air out of the affected area. They are ideal for cooling small quantities of grain, urgent spot drying and controlling unexpected insect infestations.

Don't forget about quality control!

The challenge of achieving the highest quality grain relies on more than just good ventilation. Making sure the store is fit for purpose and carrying out regular assessments can help identify problems before it's too late. Martin Lishman supplies a range of crop quality equipment such as insect traps to detect the presence of insects, sampling spears to cater for crop moisture testing or lorry load profile sampling, ambient air measurement devices and accurate moisture meters such as the Protimeter Grainmaster.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

ADM Agriculture Wheat and Oilseed Rape Market Report J

onathan Lane, ADM Agriculture’s head of grain trading, comments on the wheat market

Markets have been mixed over the past week due to uncertainty over macro-economics, weather and the Black Sea situation.

Chicago wheat futures (Dec22) edged up $2.76/t, but Paris slipped €7/t and London (Nov 22) lost £7.30/t.

Global wheat prospects remain mixed. Russia’s IKAR agricultural consultancy has raised its wheat production estimate for the country to 90.5 mln t, up 1.8 mln t on its previous figure. Export potential is put at 45 mln t.

French farmers had harvested 50% of this year’s soft wheat crop as of 11 July, with reports of much better crops in the north and east of the country.

Early harvest reports from Germany show an optimistic outlook for wheat yields and quality, offsetting earlier concerns from some farm groups.

The recent heatwave has allowed UK farmers to start harvesting wheat and, although early results show much variation on yields, quality so far appears to be very good.

Conversely, Canadian traders report that crops are still behind their normal stage of development due to adverse weather conditions across many of the provinces.

In addition, Rosario Grain exchange now sees Argentina’s 2022 wheat production at 17.7 mln t, from a previous estimate of 18.5 mln t, citing lower plantings and dry weather for the decline.

Buenos Aires Grain Exchange kept Argentina’s 2022 wheat planting area unchanged week on week at 6.2 mln ha. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Talks about establishing an export corridor from Ukraine to ease the wheat backlog are ongoing.

President Putin had said establishing such a corridor would depend on additional lifting of restrictions on Russian exports, including finance, payment, freight and insurance.

Analysts report that the Russianoccupied peninsula of Crimea is shipping more than 50 times the volume of grain it usually does at this time of the year, raising suspicions that seized Ukrainian grain is being taken abroad.

The EU has decided to amend Russian sanctions by unfreezing funds in seven Russian banks, provided they can prove the funds are being used for agricultural products.

Chinese customs data showed June’s wheat imports at 520,000t, down 31% year on year, with the year-to-date imports reported at 4.94 mln t, down 8%.

Egypt’s state buyer GASC is in private talks with several companies to import wheat. It has not purchased any tonnage in its latest tender due to high prices amid limited offers.

Meanwhile Pakistan has purchased 300,000t of wheat at an international tender, with a further 200,000t tender due to be issued on 25 July.

Will Ringrose, ADM Agriculture’s head of oilseeds, comments on the OSR market US weather is still forecast hot into the weekend, but then predicts isolated showers in most places and cooler temperatures for the next few weeks. As such, some weather premium is starting to come out of current prices. Funds continue to reduce market longs in beans and oil.

from 62% good/excellent to 61%.

In South America, consultant Safras estimates the 2022/23 soybean crop could reach 151.5 mln t, up 20%.

China’s lockdowns continue to plague the country’s economy. Just shy of 20% of the population remain confined to their houses.

Manufacturing is affected and product demand is still poor. In addition, China’s farmers are experiencing extreme heat and heavy rainfall, which seems to be worsening year on year. After nearly two months out of the US market, USDA confirmed a new crop soybean sale of 136,000t yesterday.

Energy markets rallied again before closing sharply lower in the last two sessions. Russia re-opened the Nord Stream pipeline on Thursday following routine downtime.

Malaysian palm oil prices closed down 1.95%. Indonesia has decided to cut export taxes and is rumoured to have delayed the increase in biofuel mandate to 35%.

Canadian canola futures closed lower this week after heavy rain spread across Alberta and Saskatchewan over the past few days, which will help crops.

Canada’s agriculture ministry reported that most crops in Saskatchewan are in fair to good condition.

Matif rapeseed traded lower again, back close to levels seen before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Better EU rapeseed yields added to ample seed supply on the nearby positions, pushing prices lower.

Low water levels on the Rhine are causing logistical delays, but prices are now a long way from the season’s highs, which is not enticing any farmer selling.

Soybean ratings fell 1% this week July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

33

| Potatoes & Root Crops

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JD Cooling Group is the UK’s leading independent supplier of bespoke temperature control systems, working with many industry specialists and customers within the agricultural sector. We provide design, and installation of state-of-the-art cooling systems, as well as tailored service and maintenance contracts throughout the UK.

With our ability to offer turnkey cooling and heating solutions to the many agricultural sectors, combined with our in-house design capability, we are able to deliver environmentally responsible solutions using sustainable technologies. The JD Cooling Team are always here to support your needs.

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JD Cooling Group are currently working towards Net-Zero and reducing our carbon footprint, alongside our wider long term group strategies. Net-Zero refers to the target of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute towards global warming to zero by balancing the amount released into the atmosphere. Achieving Net-Zero will require significant changes across all sectors of the economy and one of the major changes in the agricultural sector will no doubt involve large-scale investment and innovation which will be needed to provide technologically viable and economically competitive alternatives to fossil-fuel-intensive technologies in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide.

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34 |

INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk Farming Monthly | July 2022 | EMAIL info@jdcoolinggroup.com | WEBSITE www.jdcooling.com TEL 01533 767446

| Potatoes & Root Crops

SPONSORED BY SPUDS: FEEDING LINCOLNSHIRE’S CHILDREN OVER SUMMER

T

hanks to national potato supplier Branston – more than 2,200 children across Lincolnshire will receive a portion of spuds and delicious recipes to inspire their

cooking.

Lincolnshire County Council is running the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which will support children in the region who are eligible for free school meals during the summer break.

Backed by Branston, the initiative will help children and their families realise the versatility and economical nature of fresh potatoes.

food education from a young age ensures children are aware of how their food is grown and the best ways to cook it.

“As part of our support, we’re providing recipe cards with simple and tasty meals to help families stretch their spuds for maximum output. The recipes include bubble and squeak patties, creamy

on cookery demonstrations and education around ‘field-to-fork’ food.

Simon added: “It was important to us that we offered the children some skills and education as part of the programme. We’re pleased to have the involvement of Eamonn to build a buzz around food. The aim of the sessions is to get kids

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many and the school holidays can be a cause for concern for families, with parents forced to look at ever more cost-effective ways to keep their children fed and entertained whilst at home.

The government funded HAF programme supports thousands of children across the county, who are invited to attend fun activity sessions across 85 venues in Lincolnshire, including sports centers, community halls and schools.

Encouraging healthy eating is a key part of the programme. So, Branston has donated over three tonnes of potatoes along with recipe cards featuring a range of tips and hacks to save time, energy and money.

The programme will not only teach kids some basics of home cooking, but the potatoes will provide part of a meal for a family.

Simon Telfer, HR director at Branston, said: “Getting involved with the local community is incredibly important for us. Providing

mackerel stuffed skins and plenty of helpful tips. There are tips on cooking in a microwave or on the hob, reducing the energy required for an oven and removing the barrier for those families that don’t have access to one.”

In addition to donating potatoes, Branston has also funded a series of cookery classes hosted by Eamonn Hunt, which has been set up through his social enterprise, GoGro. Eammon will present 20 sessions, sponsored by Branston, to children on the HAF programme, which will involve hands-

passionate about what they’re eating and showing them that a simple spud can be turned into a tasty meal.”

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We’re very grateful to Branston for their generous donation, which will greatly benefit the children taking part in the HAF programme.

The HAF programme is a way of ensuring all local children have a happy, healthy school holidays, and it’s wonderful to see local businesses lending their support, either by making donations like this or helping organize and run the clubs themselves. This summer’s programme looks set to be one of the best yet, so if your child is eligible don’t miss out.”

The HAF programme will run from 25 July to 2 September throughout the school holidays in the region. It is accessible to any child aged between five and 16 years in receipt of free school meals or other benefits related to free school meals such as young carers and refugees.

You can find further details at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ school-pupil-support/holidayactivities-food-programme.

For more information on Branston visit www.branston.com.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

35

| Potatoes | Potatoes & Root Crops

Sustainable Potato Sprout Control Biox-M: • Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry, • Is approved for use on organic potato crops, • Has no harvest interval or MRL, • Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage, • And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes, • Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development when crop is processed, • Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated,• And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.

Biox-M is the only 100% natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes. rowers approach the 2022 potato harvest surrounded by uncertainty. Costs for many inputs have jumped – fertiliser, electricity, diesel the most significant. There is no obvious sign that they will get cheaper any time soon. At the same time, the demise of BPC/AHDB Potatoes means that growers are much less aware of market conditions in the UK. How many hectares have been planted? Is the area sharply down, or have growers taken a counter-cyclical view and increased their acreage? How many growers have left the industry completely? And in a season which has seen crops held in store for longer than usual (the result of a series of unexpected movement delays), how much 2021 crop remains in store with a (fading) hope of movement.

G

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

Two years on from the demise of CIPC in Europe, it seems that the rest of the world will play catch-up.

End users in North America and Australia are increasingly uncomfortable and looking for alternatives. Biox-M is well established in European markets, with growers increasingly confident in using a product, which has seen a step-change in store management. The focus for many store-keepers and growers has turned to fine tuning store management to extend the return interval, to reduce the number of applications and to understand the fine points of detail, which will enhance economic performance.

Fog distribution during application is very important; it should be as even as possible through the store, and particularly through boxes. Thus, fan speed and intermittent fan operation during fogging should be

considered. Fan running time and speed during the closed period after treatment can be reduced in almost all circumstances if a really good, even distribution of fog (and then vapour) has been achieved during fogging. Fan operation during the closed period serves to ensure that an even distribution of vapour remains so. Intermittent and slow speed is sufficient. Many growers are also extending the closed period, if store and crop conditions allow.

And, in spite of regular exhortation to leave stores closed for at least 48 hours (and 72 is better still) following treatment, we still come across incidences of stores with doors left open shortly after treatment. Biox-M is a volatile product, which will escape if given an opportunity to do so.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes

Natural.

Effective.

Powerful.

100% Spearmint Oil sprout inhibitor for use on ware potatoes in store.

Peter Hall peter@junopp.com 07973 172 722 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Nick Tapp nick@junopp.com 07775 785 748

MAPP 16021 www.junopp.com July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

37

| Potatoes & Root Crops

Grand Opening of Tong’s new manufacturing facility an eye-opener A fter a continuous threeyear, two-phase project to build a purpose-built manufacturing facility on the edge of the company’s hometown of Spilsby, Tong Engineering officially opened its brand-new doors to visitors on 6th & 7th July in a celebratory Grand Opening event.

The two-day opening event marks a key milestone for the vegetable equipment manufacturer, with the new 90,000 ft2 factory now in full operation.

“Since we commenced works on our first-phase building at the end of 2019, we have been working towards the day where all departments of the business can operate from one site,” explains Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “It has been a pleasure to finally open our factory doors to showcase our new manufacturing facilities, as well as

demonstrate the part that every employee and each department at Tong Engineering plays in manufacturing our wide range of custom-built handling equipment.”

“During the build project we have been fortunate to achieve the sale of and smooth transition from our heritage site in the town, which we occupied for almost 90 years, and we are delighted that we now have the facilities and space to maximise our manufacturing capability,” says Edward.

Amongst the investments inside the factory is new shot-blast, paint spraying and powder coating facilities. The shot blast unit ensures materials are properly prepared prior to the highquality paint process which uses either powder or a twopart primer and paint, for a longlasting finish as standard.

Standing at 11 metres high, all three buildings

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

within the new facility are fitted with over-head lifting cranes, making equipment movements much easier as well as bringing huge benefits in the final assembly of large equipment and turnkey handling lines.

As well as a high-speed fibre lasercutter which precisely cuts large quantities of mild and stainless steel, Tong’s metal-preparation departments house press brakes, CNC saws and lathes, all of which are used to manufacture equipment parts and components which are subsequently assembled and welded within the mild and stainless fabrication departments.

Finally, alongside some traditional stores racking and shelving, the Tong stores department houses two 9m tall storage towers, which store over 20 tons of spare parts and components in

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes & Root Crops

THE COMPLETE HANDLING SOLUTION

Designed with you in mind each tower. At the touch of a button any tray within the storage tower can be called upon for easy picking of parts before it is returned to its shelved location.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN FROM FARM TO PACK

Of the new facility, Charles Tong, Chairman at Tong Engineering, comments “I am very proud that we have been able to complete this landmark achievement during my time in the business. It has been our goal for many years to operate from a purpose-built site, and very importantly in our hometown which thrives on the business that local employment brings. Our new facility now fully occupies the seven-acre site, and we are very pleased with the efficiencies that have been created with all aspects of the business now under one roof.”

“We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to visit our new factory during our Grand Opening event,” adds Edward. “We will of course be very happy to welcome more visitors over the coming months as we continue to demonstrate the manufacturing processes behind Tong equipment.”

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.tongengineering.com e: sales@tongengineering.com t: +44 (0)1790 752771

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

39

| Potatoes & Root Crops

Don’t overlook foliar nutrition during tuber bulking

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otato growers are urged not to overlook foliar nutrition during tuber bulking to ensure high quality final yields.

canopy that’s actively photosynthesising, so having a boost of magnesium and manganese is incredibly beneficial.

“To deliver the correct nutrients for tubers during this growth phase, I’d recommend growers apply foliar nutrition products including KuruS®, a highly soluble clear liquid fertiliser for a good potassium supply,” he says.

Chris Bond, commercial technical manager for crop nutrition at FMC, says that in light of high input prices growers will benefit from maximising nutritional applications, particularly. phosphate, potassium, magnesium and manganese.

“Making sure plants receive accurate nutrition during the bulking phase will ensure tubers grow to a marketable size and will also help to build starch content,” he says.

“Tuber bulking is an energy demanding period where phosphate has an important role in the formation of ATP, which helps to drive plant energy, so is crucial for helping plants to accumulate biomass.

“Potassium is also important as its helps to regulate water. Alongside energy,

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

KuruS® can be applied at the start of the bulking phase, with a follow-up application after 10-14 days if required.

As well as potassium, the product contains sulphur which is necessary for nitrogen utilisation and protein formation.

tubers need a significant volume of water during bulking, reduced water availability can cause quality problems, uneven tuber bulking, malformation of tubers and also cracking. This means a potassium deficiency can have a significant impact on tuber development and quality.”

Mr Bond also warns growers not to underestimate the power of magnesium and manganese, as these can help create a large and active green canopy.

“As energy is in such high demand during this period, plants need a good

“Foliar nutrition is particularly beneficial as it delivers nutrients directly to the plant tissue, bypassing the soil. It can also be built into blight programmes, so it isn’t too much of a laborious application process,” says Mr Bond.

“This year, conditions have been warm and dry, so most growers have experienced a good establishment period. Foliar nutrition will therefore help growers to capitalise on that potential, and deliver high quality final yields,” he concludes.

For more information on foliar nutrition speak to your agronomist or visit https:// fmc-agro.co.uk/

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes & Root Crops

THE ANGLO-SPANISH POTATO PARTNERSHIP ADVANCING HARVEST TECH

ESEARCHERS AND DEVELOPERS behind machine-learning driven crop insights tool HarvestEye are taking advantage of the Mediterranean climate’s earlier potato harvesting season - working with growers in Mallorca to conduct field trials of current and future iterations of the technology.

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and collaboration throughout the season.

Dr Mercedes Torres Torres, machine-learning team leader at HarvestEye, said: “We have established amazing partnerships with potato growers and exporters in Mallorca. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refine our existing technology ahead of the UK harvesting season, while also being the perfect test bed to trial a new version of our cutting-edge technology - of which findings will be instrumental to the product.”

The HarvestEye team worked with local growers to trial the technology, processing more than 200 tonnes of potatoes from six harvested fields.

HarvestEye is patented technology that fits to existing harvesting or grading equipment, providing timely insights on root crops as they are lifted. HarvestEye is a cost-efficient method to achieve targeted agronomic performance, whereby whole-field variation data is reported on an online portal.

In Mallorca, the HarvestEye team tested existing software and hardware, as well as a new unreleased iteration of the product, following four weeks of trials www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

incredibly important that we continue to engage with growers of varying scale and requirements of harvest insights to maximise their yields.

“An open dialogue with growers and exporters through trials such as we have done in Mallorca is vital to build supply chain confidence that HarvestEye will inform long-term sustainable growth that is so desperately needed at a time where climate concerns grow.”

Pedro Mateu, director at Mateu Exports, said: “We have formed an incredibly mutually beneficial relationship with the team at HarvestEye. The company understands our needs as growers and in turn the system has enabled us to better understand our crop performance and make accurate data-informed decisions.

HarvestEye will next be exhibited at Scotland’s Potatoes in Practice on 11 August from Plot F, before heading to the global stage of Potatoes Europe, held in Bockerode near Hanover from 7-8 September. Interested parties will be able to learn further about the actionable insights HarvestEye can provide from Exhibition area Z, stand A03.

Vidyanath (Vee) Gururajan, managing director of HarvestEye, said: “It is

For more information about HarvestEye, visit https://www.harvesteye.com/ July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Potatoes & Root Crops

GRIMME UNVEILS SIX NEW MACHINES AT ITS FIRST FARM DAYS EVENT L ast week more than 2,700 farmers and growers from across Europe attended GRIMME's first ever Farm Days event, with six machines taking centre stage at the GRIMME farm in Cappeln Germany.

attached and removed. The new haulm topper benefits from the increased input power and external hydraulic cylinders, allowing even more accurate height adjustments.

The fine haulm elevator and the ring elevator can now be individually and conveniently reversed from inside the operator cab to both remove and prevent blockages.

With the thirdgeneration machine, the direction of the extracting rollers can easily be reversed, giving the operator complete control of the separation process.

Over four days (21 – 24 June), GRIMME put the spotlight on a new VARITRON 470 self-propelled harvester, the EVO 280 ALL CROP two-row bunker harvester, the SELECT 200 two-row elevator harvester, the PRIOS 440 4row cup planter and two REXOR selfpropelled beet harvesters. GRIMME also used the event to announce that GRIMME Group's 2021 turnover had increased by 9.43% to €557.1 million.

The third generation of the VARITRON 470 self-propelled harvester has a new modern design and is available in wheeled and TERRA TRAC versions.

As well as adding a 460hp EU Stage V emission compliant engine to the VARITRON 470, GRIMME has simplified how the haulm topper is

The VARITRON 470 can be equipped with different intakes for harvesting potatoes, onions and carrots and when used in a two-phase harvesting system, it can pick up previously windrowed onions and potatoes.

The new Farming Monthly | July 2022

The 2022 EVO 280 ALL CROP two-row bunker harvester retains the previous model's compact footprint allowing it to be transported on public roads as it is less than 3m wide. However, GRIMME has made a considerable increase in another area, increasing the capacity of the six-ton NonstopBunker to 7.5 tonnes.

Beet harvesters were not neglected with GRIMME launching the REXOR 6200 (30m3 bunker capacity) and the REXOR 6300 (45m3 bunker volume). Both models feature completely redesigned digging attachments, which now feature

The 2023 wheeled version of the VARITRON 470 can be equipped with a proven 64cm bunker extension to reach both high-sided transport trailers and boxes in the second row of a trailer. At a row width of 75 cm, the transport trailer can drive in the spraying tracks and can be loaded across four rows without damage or loss.

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VARITRON 470 is equipped with the 12.1 inch operator terminal CCI 1200 as standard. With an eye on precision farming, the VARITRON 470 can be equipped with an integrated mass mapping system that produces a yield map showing areas of high and low yield. Combining this data with a Farm Management Information System, a site-specific application map for fertiliser, pesticides, or seed can be produced.

seven cleaning rollers to ensure a more powerful and intensive clean.

Both the REXOR 6200 and 6300 offer Oppel wheel digging units with four beet feelers rather than two, which are also used as feeler skids. The redesigned unit can be guided precisely along the row and at the optimum height, improving the auto pilot's steering behaviour when cornering. With this new concept of height guidance, the view into the digging unit is vastly improved as there is no need for a feeler wheel shaft between the chopper and the Oppel wheel.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes & Root Crops

The new generation of REXORs is available with a four-year guarantee for the first time, which is complemented by flexible rental models and competitively priced service packages.

GRIMME also introduced the SELECT 200 - a new two-row elevator harvester featuring the unique ActiveSteering system, a road transport width of less than 3m, and the patented VarioDrive, which combines the benefits of both mechanical and hydraulically driven main webs. The machine can be supplied with no less than four different separators allowing operators to adapt the harvester to suit the conditions.

depth and ensure optimum depth control and consistent emergence of the tubers.

With an eye on efficiencies and cost savings, the fertiliser box, barrel system and planting elements can be switched on/off individually via Section Control.

This can significantly reduce nutrient inputs into the environment, especially when creating spraying tracks or planting on wedge-shaped fields.

Unnecessary pulverisation of the fertiliser in the fertiliser box is prevented by the row-specific shut-off of the metering auger and the agitator shaft.

"It was fantastic to see so many people from across Europe attend the first ever GRIMME Farm Days. It was a fantastic four days and all of the new machines created a staggering amount of interest," says Patrick Graf Grote, managing director of GRIMME UK. "We are very much looking forward to receiving our demonstration models and showing UK growers these new models, which offer a fantastic combination of innovative features, performance, comfort and reliability."

To build up ridges with a smooth surface, the plastic ridging bodies combine with closed ridge crown plates or, for a loose, crumbly surface, with cage rollers.

For more information, pricing, delivery timings and details of UK demonstrations, please contact GRIMME UK on 01205 822 300 or by emailing sales@grimme.co.uk.

The final new machine on show was GRIMME's first fourrow cup planter – the PRIOS 440.

With a transport width of fewer than 3m, the PRIOS 440 can be combined with any common soil cultivator (rotary harrow, rotary tiller) thanks to its gooseneck drawbar coupled to an intermediate frame and a separate lifting mechanism.

The PRIOS 440 features a new depth guidance concept, with the depth control of the fertiliser outlet discs, furrow openers, covering discs and the ridge shaping unit all independent. Four feeler wheels at the front of the machine and two ultrasonic sensors in front of the ridge shaping unit detect the working www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

achieved by combining ridge crown plates and cage rollers. The unique "hybrid-ridge shaping unit" creates a ridge with stable, smooth flanks and an open-pored crown. This combines the advantages of a shaping board with those of a cage roller. The hybrid-ridge shaping unit can be converted and adjusted in the field without using tools, allowing flexible adaptation of the ridge shaping process to soil conditions and customer requirements. To increase the soil's water absorption and prevent soil erosion, the ridge shaping unit can be additionally equipped with the dyking system "TerraProtect".

For the first time, ridge shaping can be July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Grass & Silage

Ariens Joins Made in Britain Manufacturing Community

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riens, a leader in outdoor power equipment, is delighted to announce that it’s joined Made in Britain and will now proudly adorn all petrol zeroturn mowers for the EMEAA market with the iconic Made in Britain mark.

Ariens has an illustrious history of manufacturing machinery in the United States, but, to better meet the needs of its European customers, opened its first zero-turn production line at its UK plant over three years ago. This huge milestone means Ariens is able to manufacture its complete petrol zero-turn line-up of EDGE, IKON XD, APEX and ZENITH mowers - for the EMEAA market in Oxfordshire.

Made in Britain brings together the best of British manufacturing and only accredited organisations that meet its

high standards can use its mark. There is also a growing awareness among consumers of the importance of buying local as recent Covid-19 and Brexit issues have caused supply chain concerns and impacted the quality of imported goods.

Darren Spencer, VP of EMEAA is proud to be part of Made in Britain, “Although we find ourselves in uncer- tain times, both here and abroad, investing in manufacturing in the UK is critical to ensuring our EMEAA customers continue to receive the quality machinery they expect from Ariens. Being able to brand all of our petrol zero-turn mowers with the Made in Britain mark shows them just that.”

For more information on Ariens and Made in Britain visit ariens.eu

GRASS MANAGER

GRASS MANAGER-SR

PNEUMATICSTAR-MD

PNEUMATICSTAR-STI

AEROSTAR-CLASSIC

ROTARYSTAR

NEW

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

AEROSTAR-EXACT

Grassland Harrows (MD & SR), Seeders (MD, STI , MD-SR & PRO) & Weeders (Classic, Exact, Rotation & Fusion)

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•Breaking crusts with high working speed •Weeding in many crops as soybeans, maize, grain,…

•Soil aeration •Weeding in mulch-till •Encourages tillering

AEROSTAR-FUSION NEW

•Weeding of special crops (vegetables and herbs) and hillcrops etc.

•Extremely precise adjustment possibilities •The adjustment of aggressivity is done without bowden cables •The special frame design ensures smooth operation •Individually placeable support wheels and a unique, adjustable frame.

•Available to order for 2023

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TERRINGTON MACHINERY LTD Tel: 01553-828083 or 07966-417720

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grass & Silage

Planning is key based on first cut results to ensure quality silage this winter ith a significant range in the quality of first cut grass silage this year, producers are being encouraged to carefully plan the remaining cuts based on their individual analysis results, with there being plenty of opportunity to still produce good quality forage.

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The latest Trouw Nutrition data indicates that on average, first cuts have been relatively ordinary this year. Crude protein (CP) is slightly higher this year at 15.3% dry matter (DM) whereas metabolisable energy (ME) is down at 11.4 MJ/kg DM. The fibre content has been reported as the most notable difference, averaging 46.1% DM compared to 41.8% DM for 2021 first cuts.

While these results present the general picture, according to Lientjie Colahan, sales and technical support at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, there is a significant range in first cut results this year, so it’s important to plan the remainder of the silage season according to what’s in your own clamp.

“The weather window to take first-cut silage at the optimum time was very limited. As a result, some farmers have made excellent quality silage whereas others were at the mercy of the weather and quality has taken a hit,” she says.

While regional variation is always anticipated, Mrs Colahan says that this year, there has been a lot of variation in first cut silage quality even at a local level.

“In Scotland for example, a farmer following the Opticut silage system has managed to produce a high quality, highly digestible first cut, achieving 17.9% protein, an ME of 12.1 MJ/kg DM and an neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of 41.8%. By contrast, a farmer within the same region that narrowly missed the early weather window and had to cut later, has produced a far inferior first cut, analysing at 13.7% protein, 10.5 ME and 51.1% NDF. “The impact of this on ration options come winter is significant, with much less flexibility to formulate least cost diets, so careful planning for the remainder of the silage season is key.”

Mrs Colahan explains that NDF levels are not generally a problem with young first cut silages, but once it tips 48%, as may be the case for many this year, the high lignin value will reduce digestibility and lower dry matter intakes. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

“In this situation, producers would benefit from considering strategies to get the most out of the available fibre. This could include adding a rumen specific live yeast to the ration.”

Another scenario Mrs Colahan highlights is where farmers have been forced to take first-cuts in damp weather conditions.

“Due to the narrow weather window, we’ve seen several analysis results showing the production of low dry matter, acidic silages. This obviously isn’t ideal, and in this situation, you’d naturally look to produce a higher DM silage to mix in with first cut to balance the overall ration.”

While you can not influence the quality of silage already in the clamp, Mrs Colahan emphasises that there is still plenty of opportunity to make good quality silage this season.

“Incremental improvements in the quality of silage available makes a huge difference and will help in offsetting winter purchased feed costs.

This can be achieved by good planning and management, as well as the use of a crop and condition specific inoculant.

“Generally speaking, the three highest quality cuts are the first, second and third. But, by continuing to follow the Opticut system

beyond third cut, including regular precut testing, farmers can still produce high quality fourth cut with a potential ME of 11.5 MJ/kg DM.”

https://www.claas.co.uk The ARION 600 and 500 range - the new mid-range standard Assisting you, wherever it is needed.

One of our most popular tractors has just got even better thanks to a host of new functions developed by our engineers in consultation with ARION drivers.

After all, they work in the field every day, so they know exactly what they want.

For more information contact:

Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lodge Farm, Broughton Road, Frolesworth, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5EH Telephone: 01455 209300 https://www.sharnfordtractors.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Grass & Silage

20 years for KUHN’s i-BIO+ UHN has produced the i-BIO+ combination baler-wrapper for 20 years. Since its release in 2002 it has been continually developed, with the most significant update being a shift to KUHN’s patented twin film-on-film wrapping system. This system reduces wrapping costs and offers a complete bale-in-one operation.

K

The popularity of the i-BIO+, and its longevity, has been largely attributed to how it fits British farming systems. “With smaller, often undulating or hilly fields, many farmers have invested in the i-BIO as an ergonomic, efficient machine, that can make the most of unpredictable weather windows,” explains product specialist Rhodri Jenkins.

The compact combination baler-wrapper features a 2.3m wide pendulum pick-up unit with five tine bars and cam-track technology to maximise crop pick-up and transfer to the integral rotor system.

The i-BIO+ is fully ISOBUS compatible through the tractor terminal or, operated via a separate CCI 800 control unit.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grass & Silage

The i-BIO+ can be used with conventional net binding or film-on-film bale binding and wrapping to eliminate the need for separate netting. KUHN’s unique film binding system only requires two standard-sized 750mm rolls which removes the need to order separate binding and wrapping film. The rolls are loaded with ease as the rollers fold down enabling the 27kg roll to slide on comfortably.

“Switching between film and net binding is quick and simple as the two systems are separate, making it easy to switch from one system to the other for different customer requirements,” he adds.

The i-BIO features KUHN’s INTELLIWRAP system which enables the operator to select the number of film layers and to adjust film overlap so that 5 or 7 layers can be applied.

The high-speed wrapping ring applies film at up to 50 revolutions per minute and produces well-shaped, tightly sealed bales for improved crop preservation.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

47

| Glamping Show

The Biggest Glamping Show Yet he Glamping Show remains the only dedicated event in the glamping sector, acting as a hub for people across the UK (and even further) to get together and elevate the industry we all know and love.

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It’s the most comprehensive onestop-shop to discover the latest products and trends, all whilst networking with like-minded people in the industry. Be inspired by our community of suppliers, experts and experienced business owners to find solutions to any challenge and discover the ideas that will take your business to the next level.

Now that we’re officially face-to-face again, you will have the unique opportunity to meet the people behind the brand and see their products for yourself. These are the people that will assist in the future of your business, so, to put it simply: try before you buy!

Find a huge range of every type of structure: from pods to tipis, shepherd huts to safari tents, geometric domes to yurts, bell tents to converted containers, and tiny homes to bespoke treehouses. There will also be brand new companies with brand new structures, and innovations from 48 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

returning exhibitors who continue to develop their products every year.

Bigger & Better

TGS has continued to grow since its launch in 2015 and, quite simply, we ran out of space at the existing arena.

To continue to improve the show for both exhibitors and visitors we have moved to a new, bigger and better spot at the NAEC Stoneleigh with double the space.

And, for the first time ever, we’re offering VIP Packages available for visitors to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Glamping Show purchase, including afternoon tea, a two-course lunch and overnight camping at the NAEC! Seminars are Back We are so pleased to announce the return of our seminar programme! In a new, specially built structure, we will host a range of sessions covering every aspect of the glamping business. This is not one to miss, with some of our sector’s biggest names in one room.

Extended panel sessions will see experts discuss the major industry issues of the day and take a look into the future.

We hope you’ll join us in September – whether you’re seeking a fresh new look for your existing business or still have that faint “what if?” in the back of your mind. There’s no other place to find the most extensive collection of structures, products, accessories and services anywhere in the UK. Get your free e-ticket at theglampingshow.com.

Photo Credit: Donna @familyonthemarsh

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

49

| Glamping Show

If you’ve got the land, we’ve got the brand ! lamping, or Glamorous Camping is all about enjoying the great outdoors with all the essential comforts of home. We all have that inner child who longs to sit under the stars, enjoying the crackle of an open fire following a day of me-time and fresh air. It’s that break from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, the thrill of climbing up a mountain or diving into the sea. It’s your time to be adventurous, secluded, daring and free—glamping lets you do all of that and more.

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Over the last 10 years glamping has taken the UK by storm and no more so than the recent pandemic causing a meteoric rise in the demand for staycations. Searches for Glamping have increased by over 60% since pre-covid and it is a market that is still growing.

With the bewildering array of glamping options, Wigwam® Holidays makes it easy to choose, offering THE ultimate in glamping experience. A trusted brand with over 90 locations providing the ultimate in year-round glamping from the comfort of our range of environmentally friendly heated Pods and Lodges.

As the market leader in the rapidly expanding UK glamping sector, we partner with you from day one.

Whether you are an established, 50 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

quality campsite looking to expand, a farmer/landowner looking to diversify or an entrepreneur searching for your next venture; Wigwam® Holidays offers a unique opportunity to develop a fun, profitable and flexible business.

‘Wigwam Holidays offered the perfect fit with their proven, turn-key solution for diversifying our farm.’

John Hume, Wigwam® Holidays Moffat Our straightforward approach combined with the recent surge in popularity for stay-at-home glamping holidays has made Wigwam ® Holidays a market leader and the fastest-growing alternative holiday brand in the UK. Now, Wigwam® Holidays enjoys a network of over 90 alternative outdoor holiday sites across the UK; from the Shetlands to Cornwall, a rural retreat to the open vistas of a coastal viewpoint or the excitement of a working farm to the tranquillity of a National Park. Each a quality, natural destination in its own right.

Though each site is unique they do offer the same exacting levels of warmth, comfort and fun in our quirky, insulated, heated and ecofriendly Wigwam® Pods and Lodges – ensuring a holiday experience that your visitors will remember forever.

Wigwam® Holidays has an

established, high profile reputation for providing exciting, affordable outdoor holidays – thanks to our powerful and effective marketing division. We have the resources, expertise and passion to attract many thousands of visitors to the Wigwam® Holidays website.

We know that setting up a glamping site can be a daunting process.

That’s why we are here to help. Our expert Business Development and Franchise Delivery teams have a wealth of knowledge and years of hands on experience in helping people start their own Wigwam® Holidays site. Our partnership package supports you through every stage of the setup process and beyond, and our Menu of Support allows you to choose how you would like us to work with you - from producing a feasibility study to managing the entire design and application process, thereby saving you precious time and money.! We are the industry experts, let us maximise your chances of a successful planning outcome.

So with the growing demand for UK breaks, there really has been no better time to consider joining the Wigwam® Holidays family and cashing in on this golden opportunity.

Wigwam Holidays 0131 450 7126. hello@wigwamholidays.com www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Glamping Show

IF YoU’ve GOT THE LAND, We’ve Got THe BRAND! Visit us at: The Glamping Show

15-17 September, Stand 130

       

Planning Finance Site Survey Business Plan Feasibility Study Marketing Training Support

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Wigwam® Holidays has been leading the way in the glamping industry for 30 years. With over 90 sites and with a proven business model, we are with you every step of the way. From planning and feasibility right through to taking your first booking and beyond, we offer a turn key solution that earns you money while you sleep.

CHECK US OUT AT

wigwamholidays.com/start-a-site

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Diversification

New glamping pod venture with Lake District views proves success for family farm

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DIVERSIFICATION project into luxury glamping pods has proved a successful move for a Cumbrian family farm.

Since welcoming its first guests just over 18 months ago, Wellington Jerseys has been a hit with visitors with multiple repeat bookings and excellent reviews.

All six glamping pods have their own hydrotherapy hot tubs and panoramic views of the Western Lake District fells.

Located near Cockermouth on the edge of the Lake District National Park and just 20 minutes from the tourist hub of Keswick, the business is run by the Stamper family, who also operate a wellestablished cafe and tearoom at Wellington Farm.

Debbie Stamper, who manages the glamping pods, said they were expecting a busy summer, as the staycation boom continues throughout 2022.

She said: "We're delighted with how the pods have been received by visitors.

People love the rural location and the fact that they come with all the home comforts such as a double bed, an 52 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

ensuite bathroom, a living area with kitchenette, and an outside area with a barbecue and outdoor furniture.

"We wanted to make the most of the location by offering a first-class experience to visitors and, by investing in quality accommodation and extra details such as the hot tubs and double patio doors to make the most of the view, I think we have achieved that.

"We felt the potential was there to develop the business, so opening the glamping pods was a natural step for us and, because it's a family business, we wanted to build something for the future."

The Stamper family is a long-established

client of Carlisle-based H&H Insurance Brokers, which operates across the North of England, the Scottish Borders and Wales, and worked with the team to plan and deliver the diversification www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Diversification A flexible booking system allows people more choice on the duration of their stay, with the team on-site for changeovers and any guest requirements during their stay.

Established in 2005, Wellington Jerseys began as a post-foot and mouth diversification project when the family restocked their dairy herd with Jersey cows and used the milk to make ice cream for the newly opened cafe and tearoom at Wellington Farm.

The dairy herd was sold about 10 years ago to focus on the Wellington Jerseys business, with quality Jersey milk now bought in for the ice cream, which is made to the same recipe and only sold at the cafe. project.

Luke Conn-Goodman, who is the Stampers' Account Executive at H&H Insurance Brokers, said: "Wellington Jerseys is a brilliant example of how farming enterprises can adapt and change to create opportunities through diversification.

"Recent figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that 35 per cent of the total income for farmers in North West England was from diversified business activities.

"We work with businesses across the rural and agricultural sector providing

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support for clients looking to diversify, and also for those operating within the tourism and hospitality sector such as self-catering holiday lets, campsites, hotels and tourism experiences.

"Every business is unique which is why we work closely with our clients to ensure they are covered by an insurance policy tailored to meet their individual requirements."

The glamping pods at Wellington Farm, which launched in September 2020, have proved extremely popular with visitors looking to escape to the countryside, operating at an average of 80 per cent occupancy.

The fully equipped pods include kitchenettes with stainless steel worktops, a double electric hob, fridge/ freezer and microwave; living areas with a sofa and 32-inch Smart TV; a fully made up double bed with bedside USB chargers; and an ensuite bathroom with thermostatic shower, heated towel rail and fluffy towels provided.

Wellington Jerseys has remained close to its farming roots and includes a variety of animals which visitors can see on the site including alpacas, llamas, a horse, donkeys, a Highland Cow, a Jersey cow and peacocks. www.wellingtonjerseys.com

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arming was not something that I ever thought that I would do, as I wasn’t born into a farming family.

My dad grew up in North Yorkshire before carving his own path to become a patent attorney, and my mum, originally from Upminster in Essex started out as clerical staff at the same law firm where she met my dad. Then she retrained and has since opened up her own CrossFit gym.

I was born in Leeds and throughout my early childhood my parents rented a cottage on a family run sheep and beef farm. Livestock was in my life at the start but always on the peripheral and when we moved to the city (apart from my constant badgering to get riding lessons) they fizzled out of my life. As a little girl I always had more ‘sparkly’ dreams, a world famous ballet dancer was never feasible, as I have two left feet. I do remember vividly when I was about five or six, sitting down with my cousins planning how we would have a massive house filled with all these different types of animals. My life evolved and changed as they all do but I always kept the longing to have and look after animals. When I met my partner at 19 his grandad had some sheep and I helped out, learning everything on the job. We ended up getting a handful of our own border Leicester crosses but Bobby was more involved as I was studying full time at university. I had just completed a year's fine art foundation course in London and when I came back I went down the route of theatre design and completed BA degree.

I did start to work in the arts industry and spent a couple of seasons volunteering for a company in Stratford, as well as doing scenic designs as a self employed practitioner for a theatre company in Warwick. When COVID hit, everything changed for me, I was 25 and I had struggled with my mental health since I was living away from 54 |

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home in London. I had no work, no prospect of work and I felt completely broken. The only formal training I had was for an industry that has completely shut down overnight. The only other thing that I had experience in, was in my little flock which had grown to include other breeds, including a handful of pedigree Hebridean sheep. I felt really lost and worried about what I could possibly do. I knew I needed more experience within the livestock industry but I also knew there was only one way I was going to do that..so I decided to bite the bullet and I started my own little contracting company, KFM Farm and Smallholding Services. I started off small, a bit of foot trimming and worming but by lambing season I had four different lambing jobs lined up with over 5000 ewes between them. This season for me really was the turning point, when I ran around shearing round (machine and traditional blade) where I concentrate on small or primitive flocks that commercial shearers don’t have the time for. My lambing round has grown now with some really fantastic reviews from my returning clients, so this coming season, I will be starting in December and finishing at the end of April or early May! I’m also working on improving my tractor driving abilities, bale carting and stacking trailers with a loader, as well as attending “Red Tractor”standard courses, in things such as injections and medicines, so that I can be as flexible as possible in where I can work! And one of the main additions to my business has been the investment in Isla, my tri-Merle border collie. She was

in those sheds, with lambs coming out of my ears, I’ve never rememberd being so happy or in control of anything in my life. By the end of the season, I knew that this was where I belonged.

I'm now 27 and I work completely self employed under my contracting business. My most regular client is a mixed sheep, cattle and arable farmer, where I help mostly with the sheep work and helping rear the young calves. He has over 1000 Innovis highlander ewes that have been bred, to be easy to lamb outside with minimal interference, so I can take time away in lambing season for my lambing round. I also have a few semi regular clients including helping with a flock of pedigree Charolais sheep and holiday cover for someone with Kerry-hills and Suffolks. I have a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Hebridean sheep society has been a fantastic group of supportive people, most who are not large scale commercial farmers. All either have a non farming job, have small holdings or work for larger farmers themselves. Being part of showing and improving this beautiful hardy native breed, has given me a really positive outlook on my own future in the industry. For instance, I showed my first year of Hebridean shearling under my own prefix (Munro) this year and we achieved first place shearling ram and first placed pairs in the great Yorkshire show 2022. As well as coming reserve group of three interbreed champion and reserve wool on the hoof at Leicester county show 2022!

bred out of a high standard trials dog, my partner's border collie Flick and she’s well into her education as a sheepdog. She is just about to go into her second training residency, with a fantastic trainer in Cumbria who bred her father, so very exciting times ahead!

A lot of people have asked me what it's like to be a woman in the agricultural industry and if I receive any different treatment than my male co-workers. It is tough and I’m constantly comparing myself to these men who are built completely different to me and who are much stronger than me. But I have been incredibly lucky in the sense, to have had the opportunity to work for male and female farmers and no one has ever made me feel like being a woman was a drawback in the industry. Indeed during the lambing round, I had so many compliments about my careful nature with the lambs. And after chatting to many of the older generations of farmers I know, they are all very open and positive to the idea of women working on their male-dominated farm, which is incredibly encouraging as there are more of us than you think! The old dynamic, that traditionally the farmer was always the man and the woman was the one behind him bringing up the children and looking after the house is changing. With more and more farms being run by women and more and more women choosing this lifestyle and thriving in it too! I have recently seen a huge increase in women partaking in this industry, showcased particularly on social media. Fabulous ladies like ,The Red shepherdess, The Chief shepherdess, The Yorkshire shepherdess, and One girl and her dogs, are such an inspiration to people like me and if you message them with farming questions, they answer! My Instagram

This way of life has been such a learning curve for me. It is absolutely not all sunshine and rainbows. Some days test you..they get you down, like when you are wet through after pulling a sheep out of a river or sat shivering at 10 pm in a snowy lambing shed, far away from a nice warm fire. It's incredibly stressful but ridiculously enjoyable too. I have managed to make a life for myself, where I spend all my time around livestock.

If I’m not at work, I’m at home weighing my fat lambs or I’m at Bobby’s grandad's farm helping work their sheep or making hay or shearing!

I do still struggle with anxiety and depression and sometimes I feel very isolated, however, one of the big things being a shepherd has brought me, is being part of a larger inclusive community. The 56 |

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account @diaryofashepherdess is my day-today trials and achievements, it also helps me remind myself, how far I’ve come since I was that girl who had no idea what she was going to do. I’m also part of many female-focused agricultural facebook groups, particularly ‘The Artful farmer's wife’ wife, ‘Ladies who lamb Uk’, and one that I am a co-admin of; ‘She who shears’, I feel like social media is one of the biggest platforms of sharing stories, building professional and social contacts. I know that at the start of my shepherding life, I certainly learned lots from the ladies in my phone and I still do!

Now this previous year has brought its own trials for a contract shepherd, my hardest is the price increases for absolutely everything.

The cost of diesel is now so high that I struggle to work out how my lambing hourly rate is going to be worth it, particularly my long distance clients. But I do appreciate that a lot of the price increases don’t affect me like they would if I ran my own farm. I don’t have to buy fertiliser or run multiple tractors and I don’t have to pay staff. But I do have to be able to afford my home, vehicles, dogs, my flock and to afford to be able to keep doing the job that I love and the current climate is making it incredibly hard to do that. I worry that the more prices increase and the more restrictions are put into place for the farming community, the harder it will be for people who were born into it, to stay in. It will also be harder to attract new people into the industry but also make the jobs be attractive and progressive enough to make people want to stay in them.

I have a huge amount of faith in the industry however and I look to the future for improvements for myself and other women (and men) in farming and I plan to be a part (even if it's a small one) of that happening! One of the things that I always wanted to do, was share my experiences as a woman in agriculture and educate others, particularly young people as to where their food comes from. I would love to be able to provide an educational insight into where peoples food comes from, through a channel on my social media, inviting other farmers to share what goes on day to day, in their farm. And to make farming and education go hand in hand, as I believe learning about agriculture should be in the front our education system, particularly at the early years and primary school level. Things like Clarkson’s farm have been hugely positive for the farming community, as I believe that it has given lots of people a glimpse into a world that they didn’t know about, through the eyes of someone new to the industry too!

I’m still learning every day and who knows what the future will bring for me or for the farming industry as a whole but I hope to be right in the middle of it every step of the way!

Follow Katy’s journey on Instagram @diaryofashepherdess and on Facebook: KFMfarmandsmallholdingservices

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| Buildings

Choosing the right building to help reduce heat stress in your herd!

B

uilding design is very important for maximising animal comfort and to help avoid heat stress in the warmer months.

We have a number of options to help improve ventilation in the buildings to

reduce the key factors like; excess heat, vapour, dust & gases.

You need to carefully consider the roofing, ridge and cladding options for your building to suit your system and to avoid heat stress in the warmer months.

Here at Graham Heath Construction we can help your build your next bespoke building, offering a range of options to create the ideal building for your requirements.

First lets look at the roof

prove to be the most popular for agricultural buildings, allowing natural ventilation and absorbing some condensation. They also come in a vast array of colours; Natural Grey, Jasper, Anthracite, Juniper Green, Black, Slate Blue, Van Dyke Brown.

Fibre cement roof are also compatible with a vast range of ridges and accessories to suit every building type/ use.

Fibre Cement profile roof

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| Buildings

from the rain whilst efficiently allowing the air to flow.

Next let’s move onto Ridge options •

•

Lightridge – designed to improve ventilation in livestock buildings and improve natural light transmission.

Toughened waterproof PVC roof panels and wind guide plates will withstand most weather conditions.

GHC Raised Ridge System – with this flexible system that can be set at a height determined to suit your cattle, the raised ridge system allows airflow were most buildings will accumulate warm, moist and stale air. The ‘Cap’ projects the inside

•

Open Protected – With importance of airflow comes the importance of natural light which this ridge system offers. With a polycarbonate strip to minimise the driving rain, allowing natural light and potential to minimize the risk of heat stress on your cattle.

Next lets talk about the Cladding …

Yorkshire Boarding is the most popular with livestock buildings. Installed with a

25mm-50mm gap allowing airflow through the building. Providing important ventilation in the building to help remove heat, moisture and even bugs!

Most of the livestock buildings that we manufacture are left open on one side with a 4ft 6’’ cantilever, this provides ventilation and an area for the cattle to feed with easy access for machines.

If your considering a new building talk to us today for advice and a free quote on 01270 781158 Or get a quote online at www.ghconstruction.co.uk/quotation/

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CREATING THE PERFECT STEEL FRAME BUILDING

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ONE OF THE UK’s LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF STEEL FRAME BUILDINGS LIVESTOCK SHED OFFER 100’ x 40’ x 15’ + 4ft 6″ Cantilever From £25,500* Including panels. Ex. works

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info@gh-construction.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk@GrahamHeath Construction @GrahamHeathConstructionLtd

@GHConstruction

59 July 2022 | Farming Monthly | www.gh-construction.co.uk

| Buildings

Perfect concrete finishing F

ootings & Floors Concrete Finishing are a highly experienced industrial and residential concrete installation company based in Essex working throughout the South East of England.

We at Footings & Floors Concrete Finishing have the capability and skill set for all your concrete needs, no matter of size or surface finish required. We offer a variety of

services such as: • • • • •

•

Power Floated Easy Floated Dapple Bar Tamp & Brush Finish.

Install of suspended precast floors, polystyrene design or traditional block and beam.

Preparation for concrete consisting of membranes, mesh, and insulation.

Our install teams are all highly experienced and hold all the relevant Industry qualifications.

Each gang consists of a qualified SSSTS and first aid trained to ensure that all CDM requirements are met.

Our mobile operations managers are on hand to assist onsite and liaise with clients where needed. They will visit sites on a regular basis to ensure program dates and site schedules are meet throughout the course of your project.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

Working Together We offer a start-to-finish client experience and pride ourselves on our high level of customer service and product finish throughout your project.

Why Choose Us? We work with a whole array of different types of clients to produce high quality installs and concrete finishing across all of our residential, commercial and agricultural projects. Why not take a look at our gallery page and see for yourself.

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www.footingsandfloorsconcrete.com info@footingsandfloorsconcrete.com 01787 703116 / 07816988684

• Power Floated • Easy Floated • Dapple Bar • Tamp & Brush Finish

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk 59-61 High Street, office 5, Dunmow CM6 1AE

• Install of suspended precast floors, polystyrene design or traditional block and beam • Preparation for concrete consisting of membranes, mesh, and insulation

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Buildings

20 years of Roundhouse Development A

s the first Roundhouse agricultural building turns 20 years old this year, it has been interesting to see how the building has been embraced, not just by farming, but by the wider business community too. The benefits initially designed for animal welfare, are being recognised for other industries, particularly post Covid and the need for open air spaces, protected from the elements.

This year has seen Hampshire County Council build a Roundhouse 30 on their wartime farm as well as Hasty’s Adventure Farm and Matlock Farm Park utilising Roundhouses for their children’s play areas.

First opened as a farm museum in 1984, Manor Farm was the location for the historical documentary TV series ‘Wartime Farm’, broadcast by the BBC in 2012.

In 2019 Manor Farm became home to a Roundhouse livestock building.

The Roundhouse gets its roots from

The Bronze Age where it was used as the “family home” but today, Manor Farm’s 30 metre diameter building, made of galvanised steel and with a high tensile fabric roof, is the very latest in innovation. Visitors can climb the stairs to a bespoke gantry and look down on the animals that are held in eight separate pens.

houses deer, has recently been used for a craft and artisan market with over 50 stalls in and around the building. The first market was a roaring success with lots of public commenting on what a great space the roundhouse is and plans are afoot for more markets throughout the year.

This is the fourth viewing gantry we have installed and the feedback has been excellent for every one.

It’s not just in the UK that Roundhouses are doing well. With the Roundhouse blueplan the businesses Dutch Partners have built two timber Roundhouses in Holland and are about to erect the first 45 metre Roundhouse in timber. In England there is a timber Roundhouse with planning approval in Essex and one already in use in Somerset.

Both Matlock Farm Park and Hasty’s Adventure Farm have built Roundhouses to house their children’s play areas. Both businesses recognised the benefits of the free-flowing air and the sun and rain protection, meaning their play areas could have year-round usage. The appearance of the building itself is also something that is regularly commented on, especially by the children who have likened it to a UFO.

Twenty years in and continuing to evolve and find new purposes, the Roundhouse truly has made its mark as a revolutionary building.

In Lincolnshire, a Roundhouse that

A DESIGN AND HANDLING SYSTEM, THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD...

For more information call 01833 696 927 or visit s-and-a.co.uk 62 |

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| Buildings

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| Buildings

Building the future: Pass the planning F

uture buildings - what will they look like and how fantastical will their engineering be?

Recycled hardcore, low carbon concrete, zero carbon steel, recycled plastic pen divisions and photovoltaics everywhere. A petite bio-gas plant in the corner handling the livestock waste and powering the air scrubbers and a delighted consumer community paying a realistic price for UK produced food.

Aye, right.

respiratory diseases. In the Americas, Western Europe, Israel, and the developing Middle Eastern livestock production systems, it was obvious from the variability of animal growth rates, antibiotic use, malodours, and chronic losses to product quality that air quality was having a significant negative impact on animal health. One result of this was that a considerable amount of research was carried out in these countries about the environment inside livestock buildings.

What we can say about livestock buildings in the future is that they will mostly be those that get through the planning process. This simple fact means the planning process has a major influence on livestock building design to an extent that has never been seen before. Planning is likely to involve a lot more people than previously, all of whom have access to a global database of information as well as pre-meditated opinions on what they wish to see in their versions of the future. Here, we’ll look at one angle of the planning process - environmental impact.

There is considerable knowledge about how we can manage the livestock system to maximise aerial environment for livestock and by default, what is emitted from the building. We need to apply that knowledge to balance the increased numbers of people who claim to know about emissions from livestock buildings and support a ‘NIMBY’ (not in my back yard) approach to future developments.

Problems with animal health and welfare created by the first generation of ‘intensive’ animal production systems in the late 1960s and 70s had a major focus on 64 |

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It is always useful in the design stages to know what the predicted inputs and outputs of a system will be. Farmer opinion may contribute, but once the planning process is involved people will defer to standard published data and it is beneficial to know these numbers for two reasons. First, it demonstrates the

production side of the development is well aware of the standards (it is counterproductive for the planners to appear to have more knowledge than we do), and second that the proposal has already addressed available guidance in the proposed designs.

Any proposal, if competent, will also have addressed the “what if?” scenarios. For example, a period of prolonged rainfall or no rainfall on dirty water storage capacities, power outages, disease outbreaks, severe weather. These aspects of the design process should be included in a planning submission to demonstrate to the non-specialist that the proposal has considered and is designed to manage and minimise the negative impact of future risks.

It should be expected that future livestock building proposals will be subjected to a mini version of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The initial focus is on the impact of aerial emissions on the surrounding habitat and will commonly use an assessment model called Simple Calculation of Atmoshperic Impact Limits (SCAIL).

Visit www.scail.cehac.uk. The SCAIL model will identify impact risk zones within the reach of the proposed development site and will automatically create an estimated impact of aerial pollutant www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings concentrations on any sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the area. There are more than 6,400 sites in the UK, and if the details of a SCAIL assessment for the proposed development suggest a significant increase in concentrations/ depositions at an SSSI we cannot expect a lot of progress until a lot of questions are answered successfully. So forewarned is forearmed.

It is not difficult and very beneficial to utilise SCAIL during the design process, particularly as it will inform on the extent of environmental impact on specific locations and the effect of applying different building designs and locations within a site. It can be very useful at the planning application stage to note all the options that the design has considered: 1. Location around a farm steading.

Is best for business, worst for environmental impact at a

sensitive site?

2. Manure management. Scraped daily, automated, manure storage (and location of), farmyard manure? Impact of covers on stores.

• • •

3. Flooring design. Areas of emitting surfaces, grooved concrete, drainage slopes.

4. Ages and type of stock. Stocking density, feed management and targets, feed type, number of days housed.

The aerial impact of changes to the parameters noted above can be seen by using the SCAIL model. The model requires the National Grid or Land Ranger reference to precisely identify the new (or existing) building.

A drop-down menu then prompts on: • •

Animal source: Pig, poultry, cattle, or user defined emissions Source type: Housing, manure,

•

land spreading, grazing, outdoor yard Type of animal selected: For cattle this would be dairy cows, beef, heifers etc.

Number of the above animal type and basic building dimensions Slurry or straw based (for cattle option) Fan details if relevant

The SCAIL model will pull up the existing expected concentrations of ammonia (NH3), particulates (PM10) and odours on all sensitive sites in the surrounding 10 km radius and calculate the extent to which the proposed livestock building will add to the existing load, and if the addition is significant.

Going through this process as a standard for designing a livestock building has three benefits. The first is that it will provide an alert about sensitive local sites and the extent to which a new build might have impact. The second benefit is that by changing the input values of precise

Design detail: Grooved concrete reduces ammonia emissions

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| Buildings

Simple baffles to protect air inlets. Improved energy efficiency, better environmental control, reduced emissions location or precise design (floor type, manure handling, animal type or age etc.) in the SCAIL model we can begin to understand how the system design can make aerial impact better or worse at specific local sites. This type of detail may be picked up by others in the planning process, but it is much safer to make sure that the planning proposal spells out the positive parts of specific aspects.

This brings us to the overall benefit of using SCAIL; to inform the design process before planning, not afterwards.

SCAIL is the preferred option for scanning the impact of a livestock building. As a model it can cover a lot of data that would not normally be available, such as years of weather data, specific sensitive plants, and environments on 6,500 sites. All the other input values (e.g., type and class of pig) will automatically create average or standard values to be 66 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

assigned to the model. If all the input values for a new proposal indicate that the predicted environmental concentration/deposition exceeds a percentage of the existing relevant standard, planning is unlikely to proceed without changes, or may never progress. Note that once a red light goes on in this automatic process, more people seem to get interested in the proposal. However, models use assumptions, and the study of air quality in livestock buildings has revealed a variety of methods for improving air quality inside a building and, therefore, aerial emissions.

and diet management, and improving nutrient digestibility. A planning proposal can identify those aspects of the new livestock building and system that is ‘superior’ to the standard values used in current models. If we don’t inform other people of the benefits of investment in this new structure, we should not expect them to know, and we should show the benefits of being allowed to proceed.

Jamie Robertson RIDBA Livestock Consultant https://www.ridba.org.uk

For example, the SCAIL model will use a single value for ammonia production per unit of poultry production, but the industry knows values can be influenced by optimising stocking density, adjusting ventilation rates and temperature moisture controls, ration composition www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings

Animals left to nature always try to find shelter in the basic form, they use hedges, walls & natural hollows to get out of or reduce the impact of the winds.

Likewise, they will use trees for shade from the sun. riven by the simple principle of creating a healthy environment and that ventilation is not the volume of air in a building, but critically it is the rate of air exchange, simply clean air in and stale air out - Farmplus design and build to these principles.

D

Animals left to nature always try to find shelter in the basic form, they use hedges, walls & natural hollows to get out of or reduce the impact of the winds.

Likewise, they will use trees for shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.

When we look at buildings we should aim to replicate these basic principles of nature wherever possible. Remember that animals want in the basic form shelter from the wind, rain, shade from the sun, and plenty of fresh air. Ideally giving animals a shelter wall to be able to lie behind with a decent gap above for air to pass over. All air movements need to be above animal height so as not to create a draft.

Depending on the height of the wall, the gap above will often need some form of wind break material to reduce wind speed on bad days.

The best and cheapest form of ventilation is and always will be natural ventilation using the stack effect with sufficient gaps at the low eaves and open ridges. No fans using electricity, no moving parts & nothing to breakdown, so no ongoing expense.

In very high rainfall areas, special ventilated ridge capping’s can be supplied. For most situations, the best ridge treatment is still, simple upturned flashing, for these will make the outside air lift over the ridge of the roof. The base of any upstand should always be at a minimum 50mm (2” inch) back from the top edge of the roof sheet, so any water/ rainfall that hits the inside of the upright flashing can then drip of the heal and drain away down the roof sheet.

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| Energy

Highly efficient separators from Borger

ressure mounts to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport vehicles, for which biogas methane is proving the firm favourite.

P

Digestate separation trailers are large flatbed truck trailers that have been fitted out to hold up to six digestate separator units, with a common fibre discharge conveyor.

They provide a high throughput digestate slurry processing facility when parked up next to the digestate fibre storage bay at any AD plant and connected to an electric power source.

A few minutes after arrival, and once connected to a slurry source, they can be fired up using their own builtin pumps to convey the slurry to the trailer for separation. The digestateseparation trailer-operative will be an expert at digestate processing.

This has benefits for AD plant operators that include:

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•

No expertise required in digestate processing

•

No need for training in digestate separator equipment operation or maintenance.

The biogas plant operator can view the cost of the separation contractor's work as self-funding from the revenue generated from the value added to the digestate, or at worst, reduced digestate disposal costs.

After anything from a few hours to a day, the digestate trailer www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy moves on to another AD plant to repeat the operation. Investment in the separator equipment gains maximum return on investment and the Digestate Separation Trailer operators provide much-needed expertise in digestate processing.

If biogas plant operators can improve the quality of their digestate solids by complying with the WRAP PAS110 Standard, their composted solid digestate can be sold at a profit. So, this raises the intriguing opportunity of a new breed of farm contracting businesses in countries and regions where biogas plant adoption is high.

Digestate must fulfil the standards outlined in the Quality Protocol and BSI PAS110 specification (England and Wales) or the SEPA position statement (Scotland), in order to be sold as a biofertilizer.

PAS110 establishes minimum quality requirements for entire digestate, separated fibre, and separated liquor generated from source-segregated biowaste.

There is no requirement that items be dried or dewatered precisely, so

the extent to which this is done relates to the renewable fertilizer product's intended market.

When digestate is sold offsite, WRAP surveys show an average price of £3.73 per tonne, with comparable studies showing prices as high as £5 per tonne.

Digestate separation into the liquid with close to no plastic content and a solid fraction is an essential prerequisite to PAS110 compliance.

The solid fraction containing plastic residues are subsequently screened (or processed by a plastics separator) for plastics separation and another unwanted content removal.

The search for compliance with PAS110 has led to a demand for biogas digestate separators, which equipment suppliers such as Borger have risen to the challenge to provide.

Borger and their competitors have brought forward today's proven generation of highly efficient separators. These are a clever combination of lobe-pumps, with progressive cavity straining devices

EXCELLENCE – MADE TO LAST

OTHERS TALK. WE DO IT.

using wedge wire screen technology. The very latest models have even been made more reliable by a more robust proprietary predewatering stage before the wedge wire filtration starts.

Because land-spreading is the most frequent method of digestate usage, the justification for biogas plant operators for exploring further processing alternatives will be based on the availability of land to spread digestate. Where sufficient land is available, the higher costs of optimising storage, transport, and spreading using separator technology will be balanced against the cost of processing.

At the same time, the cost of separation is falling with continuous equipment improvements being offered by the manufacturers as a proportion of profits is poured back as further development money.

Many AD facility owners though will not want to invest in Digestate Separator Technology, and that's where the opportunity will arise for a new breed of separator equipped roving contractors.

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July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Energy

Signify supports grower Topline Gerbera with transition to full LED lighting ignify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, will help Topline Gerbera transition to full LED lighting this autumn. By doing so the company from Tuil in the Netherlands can drastically reduce their energy usage and produce better quality gerberas. The company selected the Philips GreenPower toplighting force, which will give them 55% more light than their current HPS lighting. The combination with the GrowWise Control System offers the option to dim the lights as needed, allowing the company to better manage their energy usage and speed of production.

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As energy prices continue to rise, the cost-benefit analysis was easily made for Topline Gerbera. The opportunity to invest in LED lighting has never been this attractive. “We weren’t ready as a company before,” says Rino Mans, coowner of Topline Gerbera. “Not even when we were building a new greenhouse in 2018. We felt there was not enough practical experience with LED in gerbera cultivation before.” But developments moved quickly over the past couple of years. A great deal of knowledge and experience was gained, with trials as well as in practice.

Dramatic decrease in energy usage The current energy market won Topline Gerbera over. “We have set a certain gas position for the two coming winters, but that is not enough to turn on all the HPS lights,” Mans says. “That means you have to buy additional gas, but you 70 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

can’t earn that back with the current prices. You can then choose to turn off half the lights, but that would decrease the quality and we don’t want that for our customers.” Mans found the solution in LED. “That allows for an instant decrease in energy usage”, the grower says enthusiastically.

Topline Gerbera and Signify discussed the plan extensively beforehand. Multiple calculations and scenarios were discussed in order to make a wellinformed decision. Signify customers often appreciate this level of advice and commitment.

Topline Gerbera decided to invest in Philips GreenPower toplighting force.

This is the ultimate LED grow light for gerberas and other light-loving crops.

Moreover, this can also replace HPS lights one to one. “By doing so, we will add a considerable amount of extra light to the greenhouse, which we expect to produce better quality flowers,” Mans explains. “The light level will go up from 135 to 205 µmol per square meter. At least, that’s when the lights are turned on for 100%. Because we have also chosen the GrowWise Control System, giving us the option to dim the LED lights to a desired percentage in order to save even more energy.”

Steering on production speed and energy usage Another reason for the transition at this time is the EHG subsidy which Topline Gerbera uses. One of the conditions of this subsidy is that the company uses a

maximum of 60 watt per square meters of power in LED lighting. The GrowWise Control System allows the gerbera grower to steer the production speed and adapt the lighting to their two CHP installations. This also gives them the option to return power to the grid. “When the energy prices allow, we can turn the lights back on for 100%.”

With 3.9 hectares of greenhouses, this September Topline Gerbera will install a large number of LED lights. Installation partner Stolze will replace the current HPS lights and install the dim components needed. “Stolze was involved with our newbuild in 2018,” Mans says. “Together with Priva they will make sure that the LED lighting can be controlled by our current climate computer.” Mans trusts the good cooperation with Signify as a supplier.

“Signify is a solid party that takes their responsibility seriously.”

Growing gerberas for a good cost price The payback period for the complete installation will depend on the developments in the energy market. “But we won’t have to buy any extra gas the coming two winters,” Mans says. “That makes this investment viable on the short term. The coming two years we can grow gerberas against a good price.

Furthermore, we are preparing our company for the future. I expect HPS to be out of the picture completely in a couple of years. We will have to manage with less energy going into the future.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Green light for £3m GreenShed N

ew funding for renewable methane capture system

A state-of-the-art shed which will use cattle waste products to power a methane capturing system and grow indoor crops has received nearly £3 million from the UK Government through its Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

Led by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), the GreenShed system will also produce low-carbon fertiliser and has the potential to remove the equivalent of 237 tonnes of carbon dioxide per farm per year.

After receiving £200,000 last year to refine the system's design, GreenShed has now received a further £2.9m from the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal programme, part of the UK Government's Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

It is hoped that the building of the shed, which is supported by partners at the University of Strathclyde, AgriEPI Centre, Edinburgh-based No

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Pollution Industrial Systems Ltd, Galebreaker Agri, Organic Power Ireland, N2 Applied and Saturn Bioponics, will begin in Midlothian later this year.

The shed's anaerobic digestion plant will use waste cattle bedding to produce energy to run a methane capture system. Excess energy will then be used to power a vertical farm and low-carbon fertiliser system.

In practice, farmers could benefit from an additional income stream of up to £40,000 a year, while it is estimated that a 100-cattle shed using the GreenShed system could also save them £1,000 a year in fertiliser and heat energy costs.

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: "GreenShed provides an innovative working example of how researchers, businesses and other partners can collaborate effectively to shape a more resilient, naturepositive producer supply chain that's aligned with the aims of the national

Food Strategy. We are hugely grateful to ministers for their support."

SRUC's Dr Carol-Anne Duthie, who leads the project, said: "We're thrilled to have received this funding to make the exciting GreenShed project a reality. The value of the project is clear: farmers will improve their profitability, expand their saleable food products, and reduce the environmental impact of beef production."

The GreenShed funding is part of a £54m government investment for projects across the country to develop technologies which remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said: "This £54 million government investment announced today will help establish a greenhouse gas removal industry in the UK, which could be worth billions to our economy, bringing in private investment and supporting the creation of new green jobs."

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

71

| Energy

New programme launched to fast track low carbon transport

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new programme has been launched to accelerate the next wave of low carbon transport in the South and East of England.

UK Power Networks is approaching the owners and managers of destination venues, property landlords and business workplaces who have long-term plans to install low carbon technology such as solar energy generation or electric vehicle charging hubs.

The electricity distribution network operator for London, the South and East of England wants to help identify common challenges across groups and sectors, that until now have not needed to work with their local energy distributor, then identify common challenges and design practical solutions to help.

The new Low Carbon Technology Customer Group will initially work with a broad range of trade bodies and individuals, representing sectors ranging from social housing landlords to emergency services, leisure and retail development owners, farmers and even caravan and camping destinations.

The group will collaborate with UK

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

Power Networks to identify common challenges they face in reducing their carbon footprint. Solutions could range from sector-specific toolkits to targeted, co-ordinated network investment programmes.

Adam Lakey, stakeholder engagement manager at UK Power Networks, said: “We want to help anyone who might be thinking about decarbonising their existing property asset but doesn’t know who to speak to. We’re looking for input from organisations like ambulance trusts or fire brigades to campsites or shopping destinations; anyone who knows that at some point over the next five-10 years they want to install low carbon technology like EV chargers or solar panels but doesn’t yet know how to go about it.

“We can offer advice and expertise about how to go about it in the most cost-effective way. For example, if you install solar panels and then add electric vehicle charge points it may work out cheaper than upgrading your electricity supply for the charge points then adding solar power later.

organisations that want to decarbonise.

By starting a conversation with us through this new group we can help people do it more easily, quickly and cost-efficiently.”

UK Power Networks is forecasting the number of electric vehicles connected to its networks will increase almost tenfold in the next five years, from 310,000 now to 2.6m in 2028.

Last year, UK Power Networks launched its Green Recovery programme, an unprecedented opportunity to address climate change by kick-starting 86 shovel-ready green energy infrastructure projects. In total, £66m is being invested, including enabling 11 motorway service areas to install more than 600 ultra-fast 150kW chargers. This investment, combined with collaborative work across the sector, aims to develop the energy infrastructure that inspires customers with the confidence to switch to an EV. To find out more about participating in the LCT Customer Group, please email LCT@ukpowernetworks.co.uk

“We know there’s a vast range of existing buildings, developments and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Time for a renewable energy revolution says FUW he Farmers' Union of Wales says Governments must act to boost on-farm renewable energy production in order to increase the UK's energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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of contributions to Wales' greenhouse gas emissions, and is the second highest contributor to

However, we need the restoration of incentives for that to happen - and it must not come at the expense of food production and large areas of farmland," said Mr Roberts.

The call is one of five demands which form the FUW's 'Five point plan', which comprises key actions which together will help relieve pressures for farmers, food producers and consumers in the immediate term, while bolstering food and energy security in the long term.

Following the introduction of Feed in Tariffs in 2010, there was a rapid increase in renewable energy production on Welsh farmland, but this incentive was withdrawn in 2019 and growth in such production has levelled off significantly.

"Both the UK and Welsh Governments must step up efforts that restore growth in the industry by incentivising on-farm production of renewable energy - thereby reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy.

Speaking at the Royal Welsh Show, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: "The pandemic and the war on Ukraine has not only emphasised the vulnerability of our food supplies to global events that are beyond our control - it has also brought into sharper focus our reliance on global energy and fuel markets and supplies.

Many farmers already play a key role in reducing that exposure through renewable energy production, but we have only tapped into a fraction of what is possible," he added.

Energy production using fossil fuels is second only to business in terms

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energy can be reduced by increasing domestic production, and farmers are keen to play their part.

emissions in the UK after transport.

In 2020, nearly 23% of the EU's oil and petroleum imports came from Russia, while Russian oil imports previously accounted for 8% of UK demand. Russia is the world's largest natural gas exporter, followed by the USA and Qatar, and previously accounted for around 45% of EU gas imports.

"Our reliance on imported fuel and

The Welsh Government's decision to remove business rate relief for privately-owned hydropower projects has also served as a significant barrier to investment, while obstacles such as landscape designations and disproportionate regulations continue to work against renewable energy production.

Government must therefore seek to remove barriers and restore incentives in order to boost agriculture's contribution to our energy security," he added.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

73

| Farm Safety & Security

ATVTrac continues to lead the fight against rural crime

TVTrac is urging farmers to take security more seriously, after a spike in ATV and side-by-side theft has been felt across many regions in the UK in recent months.

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Aside from the more obvious and conventional reasons behind theft, NFU Mutual reports that the global supply chain shortages are a new and more recent incentive behind many ATV and equipment thefts, as waiting lists for new products grow and the used and secondhand market demand increases.

NFU Mutual reports that in 2021, more than half the reported ATV thefts took place between September and December, a statistic that clearly runs parallel to the shortages of products - a trend that has continued into 2022.

Despite this relative doom and gloom, ATVTrac continues to lead the fight against rural crime, thanks to its intelligent functionality that protects farm

machinery 24/7, 365 days a year.

With flexible installation on many machine types, and using multi-tier technology, ATVTrac offers real-time location information, while informing the owner of unauthorised movement through text, email and phone call.

The firm’s Rupert Archer-Smith, explained, “The trend is pretty obvious when you think about it. When product is hard to come by, the thieves see a way to make money. Unfortunately, we as an industry have been too slow to respond to theft, and while our tracking product is a very real and valid tool in the fight against rural crime, so is simple education. It may sound obvious, but all too often simple actions like removing ignition keys, putting an ATV away at night or just locking up a barn are enough. More than anything we just need to be aware.”

Extra features include live tracking and machine over, helping with safety and duty of care by covering lone worker policies at the same time. Other useful functions include live battery information, service notifications, as well as journey history and usage reports.

Should a theft occur, ATVTrac has a 24hour manned call centre to track the device, liaising with police or partner company Securitas to recover the stolen asset and return it in a hassle-free way.

Of course, there will always be the more determined thieves, which is why ATVTrac now protects many ATV and side-by-side machines across the UK, and why manufacturers such as CanAM, CF-Moto, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, Kymco and many others endorse ATVTrac.

ATVTrac currently boasts a 98% recovery rate.

Revolutionising ATV & Asset Security A discreet ATV tracker that monitors the movements of your asset in real-time, allowing you to view status and usage history 24/7 with notification of unauthorised movements.

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

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| Farm Safety & Security

NFU Mutual issues farm shop security warning following spate of thefts • Organised criminals believed to be behind farm shop raids in North West England and the West Midlands • NFU Mutual working with farm shops to boost security • Thieves targeting farm shops because of remote locations FU Mutual has issued an urgent security alert to farm shop owners following a spate of sophisticated burglaries across North West England and the West Midlands.

Rupert said: “Coming after the huge struggle through Covid when we were one of the few places people could shop safely for food, and now the cost of living crisis, this raid has been a real kick in the teeth.

NFU Mutual farm shop security checklist •

Make sure PIR sensors are not concealed by shelving reducing their full operating angle

Over the last month the leading rural insurer has been alerted to raids on six farm shops in Staffordshire, Cheshire and West Yorkshire. CCTV images suggest that the same gang could be responsible. In each raid, the thieves appear to know the layout of the shop and in most cases have been able to avoid triggering alarm systems.

“The most important thing is that no-one was hurt because it happened at night.

However, it’s hugely unsettling for all of us to realise that criminals have obviously been in the shop working out how to return and break in.

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Ensure that the detectors have not been tampered with if they are in an area of public access

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“A window was smashed to gain entry to the shop. CCTV footage shows figures in dark clothes and balaclavas crawling across the floor to avoid triggering the alarm system going straight to the safe and emptying it in minutes. They knew the layout of the business, so it appears very likely that they ‘cased the joint’ before the attack.

Consider installing internal door sensors (not just external perimeter doors and windows) and ensure that movement detectors are duplicated where possible if all entry points cannot be protected

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Install window sensors on external fixed panes of glass (not just opening windows and doors)

•

“My advice is for farm shop owners and staff to be very vigilant about anyone on site acting suspiciously and to keep the cash held on site to a minimum. We’ve really had no option but to go cashless.

Almost all our customers are fine about paying by card, but we would like to take cash for those who prefer using it.”

Reduce your cash on site by banking more frequently – also consider any on site vending machines and removing the cash cassettes each night

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Safes should be fixed to the ground in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

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Check the amount insured in your safe and make sure your insurers recognise your safe

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If possible, move transactions to a cashless form to reduce the theft risk accordingly

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Change your alarm code regularly and deactivate any older or lost fobs

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For lightweight structures, consider installing a more robust inner security area where target stock can be retained overnight

•

Consider CCTV coverage with remote monitoring or links to mobiles to confirm any alarm activations

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Ensure, where possible, that target stock items such as alcohol etc are kept to a minimum if on display

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David Harrison, Sector Lead for Farming at NFU Mutual, said: “We’re very concerned that organised criminals are exploiting the remote locations of many farm shops to commit burglaries.

“As a mutual serving farm shops across the country we’re working closely with the Farm Retail Association and our risk management specialists to reduce the risk of other shops becoming victims of these raids.

“We’ve put together a security checklist in response to the new wave of breakins and are also helping individual farm shop owners with security guidance.

“It’s also important for shop owners to check that insurance cover is sufficient, as recent price increases may mean there is more cash going through the tills.

“While farm shop break-ins are sadly not a new phenomenon because of their remote locations, we haven’t had a series of highly-organised raids like this before.”

Farm Retail Association Chairman Rupert Evans is himself one of the victims of the current farm shop crime wave. Denstone Farm Shop, set up and run by his family near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, was hit by a gang who managed to break-in and steal takings from the shop safe despite its sophisticated alarm system.

The shop has now stopped taking cash to avoid the risk of another expensive break-in. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Two previous attempts to burgle the shop were thwarted by the alarm system going off.

Denstone Hall Farm Shop was opened 14 years ago by Rupert and Emma Evans after they gave up careers in London to move back to Emma’s family’s farm. From a small business set up in the old milking parlour, the shop has now moved to a purpose-built premises with a 100 seat café overlooking the countryside. Emma's parents continue to run the beef and arable enterprise and supply the farm with their home-reared beef.

NFU Mutual works closely with farmers and police to tackle rural crime across the UK. Last year it invested £430,000 in schemes set up to deter and detect criminal activity in the countryside.

In its Rural Crime Report, for 2021, NFU Mutual estimated that rural theft cost the UK over £43m the previous year.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Farm Safety & Security

A DECADE ON AND THE FARMING INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO HAVE THE POOREST SAFETY RECORD

Ten years after the first Farm Safety Week campaign, the charity behind it makes a plea for those living and working in the industry to do more to improve the poor safety record

• On its 10th anniversary Farm Safety Week 2022 aims to reduce the number of incidents which continue to give farming the poorest safety record of any occupation in the UK & Ireland • New figures released today show that fatal injuries on GB farms have shown a significant improvement – from 41 recorded in 2020/21 to 25 in 2021/22 • According to the Farm Safety Foundation, the charity behind the annual campaign, while there is an encouraging improvement on the ten-year average of 36, it is important to continue driving safety messages to avoid a rebound • 3 members of the public lost their lives in 2021/22 – 2 adults and a 9-year old child. igures released today from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in GB Report 2021/22, show that a decade after the first Farm Safety Week campaign, agriculture continues to have the poorest safety record in the UK and Ireland.

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Over the last year, 25 people have lost their lives on farms in Great Britain– an encouraging improvement on last year’s total of 41, but one life lost is one too many according to UK-wide charity the Farm Safety Foundation (or Yellow Wellies as they are known).

Of the 25 people killed in England, Scotland and Wales in the past year, 22 were farm workers and 3 were members of the public including a 9-year old child. For an industry that still has between 1 and 2 children being killed through its activities each year, this simply MUST improve.

The picture is similar in Northern Ireland where farming accounted for 6 of the 18 (33%) reported workplace fatalities in 2021/2022 (HSENI). In the Republic of Ireland, farming which accounts for 4% of the workforce (according to CSO’s Labour Force Survey) has 26% of all workplace fatal incidents.

Farming has changed so much over the past decade so why hasn’t its safety record?

From the 18th – 22nd July, the Farm Safety Foundation will hold their tenth annual Farm Safety Week, a campaign which brings together five 76 |

Farming Monthly | July 2022

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| Farm Safety & Security countries* over five days with ONE simple goal – to encourage farmers to make our farms safer places to live and to work.

This week, the Farm Safety Foundation will highlight some of the key issues facing the farming community, spotlight the work being done to drive a change in attitudes and behaviours and introduce ten inspirational farm safety heroes who have worked tirelessly over the past decade to reduce the injury risk for farmers and farming families across the UK and Ireland.

Agriculture is different from many industries in that it can present hazards to people not actively involved in the industry, such as children and family members living on the farm and visitors, in addition to farm workers.

Hazards can also exist for vets, delivery workers and even the emergency medical services personnel, as they provide assistance and care to victims of farm incidents.

According to Stephanie Berkeley, Farm Safety Foundation manager: “Despite an encouraging improvement in the HSE figures over the past year, these are very sobering statistics.

We must remember that these are not just statistics – behind every fatal notification is a worker, a visitor or a child. We cannot become immune to the impact that each and every death has on farming families and communities across the UK and Ireland. Ten years after our first campaign, we cannot continue to accept that risk-taking is part and parcel of farming – we have to work harder to make it safer.

Awareness of farm safety is at an all-time high with 66% of farmers in the UK (80% of under 40s) aware of Farm Safety Week according to NFU Mutual’s Voice of the Farmer 2022 survey - but the fact remains that, over the past year, 25 people lost their lives on GB farms so, awareness may be one thing but the time has come for action.

This is why, a decade on, a focus like Farm Safety Week is still important. When many voices join together to drive a change, this is when it can happen. We should be farming safely every day of the year not just during Farm Safety Week.”

Sue Thompson, Head of Agriculture, Health & Safety Executive, said: “I congratulate the Farm Safety Foundation for the great work they’ve done over the last

10 years to raise the profile of farm incidents and their consequences.

However, there are farming families left devasted every year when their loved ones are badly injured or killed while doing their jobs. We are starting to see safety improvements in some areas, but the pace of change is slow, and the rates of workplace injury and ill health in agriculture remain the highest of any major sector."

“Awareness of the hazards and risk have never been higher, and Farm Safety Week has played its part in this" she continued “But it’s regrettable that we’re not yet seeing the widespread changes in attitude towards safety, and the improvements in behaviour that will reduce the numbers of people hurt or made ill."

“Far too many farmers and farm workers suffer lifechanging injury and lifelong chronic illness resulting from poor health and safety management" “Everyone in agriculture has a role to play in making the changes we all want to see. Together, we can make farming safer.”

Stephanie added: “As a small charity that has delivered training sessions to over 18,000 young farmers in landbased colleges and universities across the UK and through the young farmers clubs network, the Foundation knows - and our research supports this - that the next generation of farmers are cultivating a better attitude to risk-taking and are starting to drive better safety behaviours in the workplace.

Farming is an industry where people do not retire at 65 so, with the oldest farm worker killed over the past year being 85 years of age, we need to look after our older workers so they can continue to support the farm business and carry out tasks are appropriate for their mobility, agility and health conditions.

But the truth is, farmers of ALL ages need to start challenging and changing their attitudes so we can make our farms safer places to work and to live.”

For more information on Farm Safety Week visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek

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July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

77

| Livestock

Sheep Breeders Round Table returns for a face-to-face conference F

ollowing two years of covid restrictions which led to 2021's online format, the Sheep Breeders Round Table (SBRT) are delighted to be back delivering their popular inperson conference this November, and you're invited!

This year's theme will be 'UK sheep genetics delivering for the nation' and the event takes place from Friday 11 Sunday 13 November 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel at East Midlands Airport.

their experience from current research projects, breeding programmes and farming practice to bring the topics to life.

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Ben Strugnell & Fiona Lovatt discussing the impact of disease amongst pedigree breeds

Key speakers and topics include:

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Matt Harding – Sheep Innovator of the Year 2021 shares his insight for the next ten years

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Phil Bicknell, CIEL, sharing the latest evidence and insight on net zero and livestock

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Tim Byrne, AbacusBio specialising in genetics to solve the climate crisis

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Daniel Brown, LambPlan, Australia specialising in meat eating quality

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Stuart Ashworth, former QMS provides a financial outlook for lamb markets

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Canadian Sheep Federation to provide an insight to genetic influences underlying meat quality

The conference is a platform for showcasing how we can become more resilient and be amongst the best sheep producers in the world. If you have an interest in sheep production, this event attracts a large audience of progressive farmers and breeders, combined with academic researchers and specialist vets sharing their thoughts and ideas.

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Ian McDougall MRCVS and his insight to the promotion of breeding techniques to make genetic advances within breeding programmes

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Pen Rashbass FAnGR discussing benefits of traditional selection methods

Plans for the weekend are in full swing and a range of speakers from the UK and overseas will join the conference throughout the weekend. They will share

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Janet Roden, geneticist discussing the impact of research projects and how they can be implemented for different benefits

SBRT is an industry initiative, with collaboration from all levy boards AHDB Beef & Lamb, Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AgriSearch combined with support from the National Sheep Association (NSA).

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Farming Monthly | July 2022

The SBRT conference will benefit this year from sponsorship provided by CIEL, the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock, to enable the Friday afternoon session.

Phil Bicknell, Head of Business Development at CIEL says: "Ideas and innovation happen best when people come together and CIEL is pleased to support SBRT's conference after the event's enforced break. Genetics is fundamental and we know that improved genetics deliver, whether that's around enhancing product quality, growing productivity or meeting net zero ambitions. We also know it can be a long-term investment – action now helps underpin continual improvement in the years and decades ahead."

The full programme will soon be confirmed alongside the opening of online registrations and tickets in June. In the meantime, more information can be found on the AHDB website https:// ahdb.org.uk/sheep-breeders-round-tableconference .

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

MEA launches new training scheme

he Milking Equipment Association (MEA) is changing the name of its accreditation scheme for dairy technicians and launching a new Category 4 Master Dairy Engineering Technician course. The Milking Systems Training Accreditation (MSTA) scheme replaces Parlour Safe, offering training courses and assessment for dairy technicians to improve their skills and gain an industry-recognised accreditation.

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Category 4 was launched at the MEA member meeting on 29th June and is an opportunity for experienced dairy technicians to be accredited with

To better represent the diversity of its members, the MEA has also had a brand refresh and launched a new website with a dedicated section for the MSTA. “Working with our members, we agreed that the MEA needed a new look to reflect the changes the industry has experienced. This offered the opportunity to create a new website resource which also better explains the MSTA courses that are available and how new and experienced technicians can apply to gain accreditation,” he says.

MEA Chair, John Baines explains: “The MEA has relaunched its accreditation scheme to reflect development in dairy systems. We no longer believed Parlour Safe to be an accurate description of dairy technicians’ experience because of the changes in milking systems, especially robots. Our MSTA courses reflect this, and we are also introducing a new Category 4 Accreditation for ‘Master’ dairy engineering technicians looking to take their career a step further.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

with the professional standards required for application to the Engineering Council for Engineering Technician (EngTech) registration. It is therefore a new benchmark for the milking industry and a goal for those wishing to lead,” he adds.

specialist status in the sector. The course is aimed at those looking for leadership roles that may require them to train or mentor others. “Category 4 is aligned

The new website has been launched and can be viewed at www.milkingsystems.co.uk and more information about courses is available at www.milkingsystems.co.uk/ msta

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

Cotswolds farmer makes steps towards a brighter future avid Barton is an experienced beef farmer in Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds. Like many livestock farmers of late, he has been looking for ways to improve the productivity of his animals whilst reducing costs and inputs. Having joined AHDB's Farm Excellence project as a Beef and Lamb Strategic Farmer in 2017, David is now coming to the end of the four-year programme and has made significant changes to improve

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also helps to lock up carbon from the atmosphere - assisting the fight against climate change and supporting biodiversity.

David says: "Our permanent pasture is species-rich Cotswold limestone grassland. This is very valuable to the environment and is further enriched due to the way the cattle graze it – the importance of which is often underestimated.

"I knew I needed to concentrate on the utilisation of grass and I

effect on my business as last year, when we had the drought early on, the cattle had more grass in front of them compared to previous years because it was given the chance to rest. This year, I've been using a mixture of clover and herbal leys which will help me reduce the use of nitrogen fertiliser, reducing my costs even further."

Focusing on nutrition has allowed David to improve cattle growth rates and improve finishing time to a minimum of 18 months, from up to 27 months which it was at the start of the project. Reducing finishing age has not had a negative impact on carcase weights but inputs such as feed are less, which is really good from an efficiency point of view and good for the environment too as the animals aren't around for as long.

David has also carried out a carbon audit, through the Strategic Farm programme. He says: "It's a good process as it makes you consider everything from the diesel you put in the tractor to the energy you use on the farm. The farm performed around 26% better than average which I'm pleased with, and it's identified areas which can be improved. It's also reassuring to know the steps I've taken are already having a positive impact on the environment."

the efficiency of his farm business and reduce his carbon footprint.

The 103 ha thin Cotswold brash farm supports arable enterprises, alongside a herd of Saler X Sussex homebred cows with youngstock taken through to finish. David used to describe himself as an arable farmer with beef animals, but is now a selfprofessed beef farmer with an environmental focus having worked with AHDB.

managed to achieve that through grass measuring using a plate meter, implementing rotational grazing and making better quality silage. The cost of baling and wrapping is a big expense despite whether the silage is good quality, so we wanted to make sure it was the best it could be.

This improvement has yielded better growth performance from our weaned calves.

David has accomplished numerous marginal gains whilst being a Strategic Farmer but the main changes David has made over the past four years have focused on getting the most from forage to reduce feed and labour costs.

"From an environmental point, rotational and efficient grazing continuously sequesters carbon. If we were just set-stocking our fields, the grass doesn't go through its growth cycles as vigorously compared to now, where the grazing platform is grazed, or cut for silage, up to six times each season.

His 200 cattle are outdoors for most of the year, grazing some of the most beautiful hillsides in England. Whilst working with specialist consultants, he has introduced a rotational grazing system to improve grass quality and quantity. This system

"The whole process means the grass is sequestering carbon much more efficiently and putting it back into the ground, which I think is a really important environmental benefit not always acknowledged in the metrics.

This has also had a really positive

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On-farm event closing meeting As David's time as an AHDB Strategic Farmer comes to a close, we will be hosting an onfarm event at his farm in Cirencester on Thursday 7 July, 11am – 4pm. The event is free for farmers to attend and will be an opportunity to hear about the changes he has made and see the results this has had on his business. To book your free place at the event, visit: https:// ahdb.org.uk/events/ gloucestershire-b-l-strategic-farmproject-successes-future-plansand-farewells AHDB's Farm Excellence network of Strategic Farms and Monitor Farms open up their businesses to share best practice, practical demonstrations of the latest research and networking opportunities through regional discussion groups. To find out more, visit: www.ahdb.org.uk/ farm-excellence/beef-lamb

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| Livestock

Focus on marginal gains and efficiencies to bolster bottom lines

roducers have doubled down on efficiencies and succeeded in boosting health, fertility, and margins across the board, according to the latest Kingshay Dairy Costings Focus Report.

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alone.

There are also the hidden costs of poor health; reduced milk yields, dumped milk due to medicine withdrawal and so on.

“And it’s important to note that these health costs don’t include the impact on

Looking at the main health incidences recorded in Kingshay Health Manager, producers have improved herd health and cases of mastitis, lameness, and other diseases have all declined.

In the last 5 years, cases of lameness and mastitis have fallen from 43 and 41 cases per cow to 35 and 30 cases per cow, respectively.

Downward trends can be attributed to more mobility scoring and improved foot management, and stringent culling protocols have helped reduce both lameness and mastitis cases.

Health directly impacts fertility, and the data sets demonstrate the correlation between improved health and fertility gains: Metritis is an important cause of infertility, with infertility being the top reason for culling at 25%. Compared with last year, cases of metritis have fallen by 18.8%.

Calving interval rolled back by four days to 393 days and services per conception also improved to 2.3 services per conception. And while there was no change to conception rate (38%) and culling for infertility (6.7%), there was an improvement in both the 100-day in-calf rate and the 200 day not in-calf rate, the latter falling sharply from 16% to 13%.

Economically, higher cull values and enhanced efficiencies have seen the cost of infertility drop by 9.6% to £1.87p/litre.

Producers are clearly on a strong trajectory of health and fertility improvements, says Kathryn Rowland, senior farm services manager at Kingshay. “But further gains can be made.” At a cost of £5.23/cow for each extra calving interval day, the sums quickly add up; £1,046 per day in a 200cow herd.

The average cost of all health issues was £29,068; a staggering 28% increase on last year’s average. Estimated costs per case have all increased on last year; mastitis and lameness going up by £90 and £109, respectively. Indeed, there still remains a huge gap between the top quartile of producers and the average – worth some £13,482 in health costs www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

fertility – that is costed separately,” advises Mrs Rowland.

When it comes to production and financial performance, producers have succeeded in boosting margins.

However, these gains are quickly being eaten into by soaring overhead and input costs meaning producers’ margins are still under pressure.

“The past year has been one of the most volatile in memory,” says Mrs Rowland.

“COVID, a delayed Brexit impact and the devasting invasion of Ukraine have caused record feed, fuel, and fertiliser costs.”

Ammonium nitrate (AN) prices rocketed from £228/t to £839/t between January 2021 and March 2022. Fuel prices have seen similar trends with red diesel up from 60p/litre in March 2021 to 96p/litre just one year later. Concentrate costs have risen on last year by 23.8% to £296/t and over a rolling 10-year trend, the average cost has risen from £223/t to £274/t.

Milk prices have soared by 24% to 36.79p/litre (March 2022). Spot prices now drive the market and the gap between the top and bottom 10% of milk prices has widened to 10.2p/litre. With prices changing rapidly, these figures will soon be out of date - more price increases have been announced for August.

Looking at production, based on actual figures from herds using Kingshay’s dairy costings service across the UK, average milk yields have dipped slightly on last year’s highs, from 8,512 litres per cow to average 8,456 litres. Milk from forage dropping back to 2,801 litres may be

linked to forage quality and cows not performing as expected.

“Surprisingly, milk from grazing was the lowest it has been in the past three years,” says Mrs Rowland.

When comparing production systems, all had an encouraging lift in margin over purchased feed (MOPF) on both a per litre and per cow basis. On average, MOPF increased from 20.16p/litre and £1,716/cow last year to 22.71p/litre and £1,920/cow this year – ending March 2022.

Average MOPF per litre had organic herds coming out on top at 29.94p/litre for the low/moderate yielders – although within the organic systems MOPF variation has widened to £117,252. Comparing MOPF on a per cow basis, saw all yearround calving with a housing focus take the top spot at £2,127. The production system figures provide producers with an opportunity to benchmark against similar herds and identify potential areas for improvement.

Organic herds made good use of grazing to help cut reliance on purchased feed, however, feed costs were still up by 7.1% on last year at 10.88ppl. Yields fell back by 4.6% to 6,646 litres, however, the 2022 annual yield performance is the third highest seen in the past 20 years.

As for crossbred herds, higher milk prices helped boost margins. There was a slight decline in yield, from 6,856 litres/ cow to 6,749 litres, but little change in concentrate use. The major difference was in total feed cost, increasing by 14.8% to 7.68p/litre.

Similarly, Channel Island herds experienced yield drops from 6,091 litres/ cow to 5,867 litres, with total feed cost rising by 16.6% on last year to 10.91p/ litre. However, butterfat and protein increased from 5.41% and 3.88% to 5.44% and 3.9%, respectively.

High milk prices and costs offer tremendous opportunities for small improvements to have a big impact. “It is important to know your cost of production and to focus on efficiencies to maximise potential income - marginal gains add up and bolster the bottom line,” says Mrs Rowland.

Download your free copy of the Dairy Costings Focus Report at www.kingshay.com or visit Kingshay at the UK Dairy Day on 14th September or The Dairy Show on 5th October.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

The Heat is on: Broiler Farms Urged to Assess Ventilation Systems

roiler farms need to prioritise maintenance of ventilation systems to ensure healthy and productive livestock as well as avoid unexpected costs, according to experts at leading ventilation company Hydor.

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With summer heatwaves in the UK becoming a more frequent and intense occurrence,[1] it is more important than ever that broiler farmers ensure ventilation systems

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are operating at peak performance.

According to John Lack, Business Development Manager at Hydor, farmers are too often neglecting such equipment during the colder months as more emphasis is placed on heat.

This can lead to bird welfare issues and reduced returns, as well as unforeseen maintenance costs when it comes to the peak ventilation seasons of spring and summer.

John comments: "A key problem for

broiler farms is that later-staged fans can often seize up through underuse.

As these fans are much less active until a heat wave approaches, they often haven't been checked, maintained and operated. This means the fans often fail to perform when called upon.

"Without proper ventilation, poultry is put at serious risk of heat stress which can lead to less feed intake or even fatality in worst cases. This obviously puts broiler farms in a

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| Livestock

position where production is significantly hindered and system repair costs have to be considered."

With these issues in mind, Hydor is urging farmers to take a proactive stance and conduct a thorough review of all air movement systems ahead of the summer months. A simple check of the motors, fan blades, belts and louvres can help to confirm that all fans are in working order. From here, a detailed audit of the temperature, CO2 and humidity

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sensors can be carried out.

John continues: "If later-staged fans do need replacing, it is recommended to install alreadyworking Stage One Fans instead of a like-for-like replacement. This way, farmers can look to replace ventilation systems with a more energy-efficient fan from our product range to help drive down running costs in the long term."

"By taking routine steps, farmers can

keep ventilation systems at peak performance when they are needed most. It is also just as important for the right solutions to be in place so that conditions are suited for maximum yield while keeping costs to a minimum".

For more information on of the range of ventilation solutions offered by Hydor, visit: https:// hydor.co.uk/product-category/ ventilation-cooling/

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Muck & Slurry

Offset high fertiliser prices by making best use of nutrients in slurry M aking best use of the nutrients in slurry can cut the amount of purchased fertiliser needed, providing a crucial opportunity to improve the bottom line as input costs continue to squeeze margins.

Slurry is a resource that livestock farmers have readily available and its nutritional value and utilisation can be enhanced through good management and the addition of a biological slurry inoculant, says Lallemand Animal Nutrition product manager, Lientjie Colahan.

“It’s a huge opportunity currently, with the price of artificial nitrogen (N) so high, and it will remain relevant even if fertiliser prices fall again,” she highlights.

Treating slurry with an inoculant can increase the available N content by up to 20% depending on the slurry’s initial composition, while reducing the amount of ammonia being released into the air. This is increasingly important given the Government’s target for the agricultural industry to reduce ammonia emissions by 16% by 2030.

During an on-farm trial in a slatted dairy housing system from November 2020 to February 2021, slurry treated with the biological slurry inoculant SlurriN PRO reduced ammonia emissions by up to 65.2%.

“The specific blend of enzymes and bacteria in SlurriN PRO help improve fibre breakdown during slurry storage, providing a nutrient source to the microbes in the inoculant which gives them a competitive edge,” Mrs

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Lientjie Colahan - product manager Colahan explains.

“As a result, the organic N content of the slurry is increased, this form of N is not volatile or leachable and as the organic N mineralises it becomes available to the

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| Muck & Slurry

soil and to the plant.”

She says that farmers that are treating their slurry with an inoculant are seeing the benefits in terms of improved available N. Mrs Colahan adds that there can be a significant variation in the nutritional value of slurry and by taking steps to increase the slurry dry matter (solids), its financial worth can be considerably increased as demonstrated in the table.

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“One agronomist trial based on a Shropshire farm found that the N content of the slurry went from 1.28kg/m3 to 1.75kg/m3 following treatment with SlurriN PRO, which is worth £40 per ha in terms of N and S inputs,” she explains.

One sachet of SlurriN PRO treats the equivalent of 1 months’ slurry production from 100 dairy cows. “The inoculant should be applied to slurry once a month by mixing the required SlurriN PRO into ten litres of water and pouring this directly into the store,” says Mrs Colahan.

Farmers should also make sure there is enough capacity to store slurry for up to four months, offering flexibility to spread when conditions are optimal, increasing the fertiliser value and reducing the risk of water pollution, she adds.

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July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Muck & Slurry

Retain nitrogen and reduce emissions with new slurry improver icroZyme slurry improvers have been launched in the UK by slurry specialist Tramspread. The biological slurry additive reduces solids and ammonia emissions whilst improving nitrogen retention. Managing director, Terry Baker says:

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“MicroZyme products will reduce emissions and improve the value of slurry to the crop and soil.

The unique bacteria in MicroZyme R (ruminant) and MicroZyme S (swine) break down fibre, starch, pectins, fats and protein residues to decrease solids and lower harmful emissions.”

The government’s Clean Air Strategy has demanded that emissions from slurry be cut by maintaining slurry stores and applying slurry more accurately. It is expected that splash plates will be banned in 2025 and that all slurry should

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be covered by 2027.

“These products will help farmers to meet these targets and will also make applying slurry more efficient.

Slurry treated with MicroZyme requires less agitation and will require less fuel to pump out. It will also make the slurry more homogenous which will improve application accuracy, especially with trailing shoe or dribble bar applicators,” adds Mr Baker.

Degradative enzymes in MicroZyme begin to act on the slurry immediately to decrease solids and reduce crust formation. This will also reduce the buildup of sediment that can lead to some storage, such as lagoons, reducing in capacity and becoming unsustainable.

The N, P and K value of the slurry and the uptake potential for the crop will also be improved following treatment. “This will make the slurry more suited to multicut silage systems and will reduce the need for bought-in fertiliser because the slurry will have more value to the crop and can be absorbed by the crop and

the soil more effectively,” he says.

Trials have shown that slurry treated with MicroZyme has lower levels of coliforms and E. coli. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are also lower.

This improves nitrogen retention and reduces sulphide and ammonia levels.

“These products are an important development to helping manage slurry both in storage and during application.

For farmers looking to improve the value of their slurry and reduce emissions it represents a cost-effective solution that is easy to manage and will bring immediate benefits,” he concludes.

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| Muck & Slurry

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| Machinery

Market-leading sales mark Vervaet’s 30th anniversary in the UK T

his year’s sugar beet campaign will mark the 30th anniversary of Vervaet machinery in the UK as importers J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd report a marketleading level of sales. Harvester production is well underway at the Vervaet factory at Biervliet in the Netherlands, and the company has also produced more than 60 self-propelled slurry applicators this year, a record number. Although parts shortages have plagued some manufacturers, Vervaet customers can remain reassured that everything is available from stock.

“We are very pleased with another market-leading year of sales to date,” says Matt Carse, sales manager at J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd. “We have sold considerably more harvesters than all of our competitors, and we also have a number of new slurry applicators now working in the UK. In these uncertain times we are glad to be able to provide maximum parts availability from

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our own extensive stores which are backed up by those of the manufacturer just across the water. As a company we are confident that we are offering our customers the best package available, with industry leading service and backup, and this fills me with confidence to push the Vervaet brand even further in the UK.”

“I’m extremely excited to see the new developments that Vervaet has made within the last two years,” continues Matt. “We have seen the launch of the Quad 550 self-propelled slurry applicator and the introduction of the rollerbed option for sugar beet harvesters, and I see an exciting future for both sides of the product portfolio. The market for self-

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| Machinery

propelled slurry applicators in this country is growing, and although the size of the beet crop is fairly stable our harvester customer base is actively increasing thanks to continued sales success. Knowing what Rileys as a company can offer, paired with these new developments from the factory, I anticipate this leading to an even greater market share than we have currently. With Vervaet and Rileys both being family-run companies we also retain the ethos of building long-term personal relationships between the customer, importer and manufacturer.”

“Vervaet and Rileys have a very strong relationship developed over 30 years and a market-leading position in beet harvesting technology,” says Jonathan Hoekman, sales manager at Frans Vervaet BV. “We’ve sold a record number of slurry machines in the UK this year, and the future is very promising. Vervaet is market-leader across Europe with our self-propelled slurry applicators, but we have been a little behind in the UK mainly due to not always having the right machine to meet British

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demands. But the Quad was designed with the UKmarket in mind, and it is proving to be the right machine. Rileys have a very professional team which is fully focused on service and customer care, and with the combined power of our two companies I envisage that we will become UK market-leaders in slurry application technology too.”

“There are three things that customers typically consider when investing in our machines: product, price and service,” Jonathan continues. “We now have an excellent range tailored to the UK market and our prices conform to the market but thanks to our factory-rebuild programme we can also offer a higher trade-in value for used machines. Combined with Rileys’ backup I am sure we offer an unbeatable combination. Our customers also appreciate the fact that consistency is preferred over maximum expansion and growth in our companies, and we have many long-term team-members which bring continuity.”

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Machinery

Thinks like a pro. Works like a beast.

Valtra Q Series is here!

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altra’s 5th generation model range is now complete with an allnew series that fits between the popular T and S Series. The Q Series, designed, engineered, and manufactured in Finland, is the ideal tractor for large farms and contractors that seek performance and integrated smart technology in the 230-305 HP range. By combining industry-leading design, high quality components and finishing, and outstanding aftersales support, the Q Series has the power, intelligence, and versatility to maximise productivity while driving down costs for large farms and contractors.

The Q Series is an easy-to-use, intelligent machine built for Pros allowing customers to perform any farming or contracting task and handle any implement with ease and efficiency thanks to the reliable 90 |

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7.4 litre AGCO Power engine and the industry-leading AGCO CVT transmission. Operator comfort is outstanding thanks to the large comfortable cab offering great visibility, excellent suspension and the award-winning SmartTouch user interface.

The total cost of ownership of the Q Series is very favourable. Easy to use precision farming solutions, a powerful, robust and reliable design, and excellent customer support enable Q customers to maximize their performance and ensure fuel efficiency, efficiencies in working hours, and reduced inputs. This is a winning combination that will deliver the best tractor experience for this horsepower segment.

“The Q Series is a high-quality tractor with a capital Q and customers deserve an equally high-quality service. To ensure the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery using the latest remote diagnostic tools to schedule predictive maintenance for when it best suits customers. At handover, special attention will be made to making sure the customer’s Q Series is set up with their implements and all smart farming capabilities from day one.

State-of-the art driveline The 7.4 litre engine features the biggest displacement in the market for this size tractor ensuring reliability and fuel efficiency. Maximum power is available at very low engine speeds of 1850 rpm and the maximum torque stays consistent in the range of 1000 to 1500 rpm. The long stroke engine easily generates the high power and torque that is available in the Q Series. Valtra's EcoPower principle has been applied to the entire Q Series range, further reducing fuel consumption. Maximum driving speed is achieved with only 1500 rpm. best tractor experience we have introduced a certification programme for Q Series dealers”, comments Sales Director Matti Tiitinen.

Q Series dealers offer expert knowledge in sales and aftersales service, a high level of spare part availability, service contracts, and flexible finance options for complete cost control. Furthermore, Q certified dealers offer a 100% connected fleet to guarantee maximum uptime

The transmission is easy to operate. The Q Series’ electronic transmission management automatically selects the lowest possible engine revs for the work to maintain the lowest fuel consumption, and distributes the power accordingly to the hydraulics, PTO, or transmission.

The driver simply adjusts the settings to whichever best suits the driver or task.

With droop control the operator can change the behaviour of the tractor for even more economic or intensive operating to save either fuel or time,

depending on customer’s cost-saving preferences.

The Q is not too light, not too heavy with a weight of 9.2 tons and protects soil from compaction. The maximum gross weight is 16 tons which guarantees a high payload and it means always transporting load legally.

The Q Series is compact, has a low total height and a long wheelbase. Therefore, the centre of gravity is low which makes the Q extremely stable. The Aires Suspension in combination with the long wheelbase increases the pulling force of the tractor and reduces power hopping.

The grip to the ground is increased because the air suspension has a faster reaction time compared to industry standard hydraulic suspension.

At road speeds, power is transmitted almost purely mechanically, which means fast and smooth acceleration.

Both the cab and the front axle are airsuspended and they are perfectly synchronized to ensure a smooth ride in any environment and any temperature, whether harvesting on a hot summer day or clearing snow from the roads in winter.

From Pro to Pro 230;245; It is time to release the beast!

MODELS

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| Machinery

The new Spaldings V Range subsoilers are available in three- to seven-leg sizes.

All-new Spaldings FlatLift V Range subsoilers n all-new design for the Spaldings FlatLift subsoiler has been unveiled to cater for higher horsepower tractors while maintaining its low running cost, high build quality and efficient soil loosening characteristics.

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The new design incorporates an exceptionally strong box-section frame to cope with the rigours of operating on powerful tractors in heavy soils, and its ‘V’ shape places the tines in the optimum position for effective soil loosening across the entire width but with low draft forces and good trash flow.

progressive lifting and aggregate restructuring action with the least possible effort and without excessive heave or soil ‘boiling’ at the surface.

“Maximum working depth is 500mm, the emphasis being on the ability to work at shallow depths just beyond any layers of compaction caused by field traffic during cultivations, ploughing, harvesting, and so on, or at greater depths if necessary,” explains Steve Constable.

“Restructuring compromised soils in this way helps maintain effective drainage, encourages rapid infiltration of water after heavy rain, and enables deeprooting crops – such as oilseed rape – to put down strong, healthy root systems.”

In addition to the standard soil-engaging fitments, the new V Range subsoilers can be upgraded with tungstenprotected and Spaldings’ own SPLUltra high-performance wearing parts.

Steve Constable, Spaldings managing director, said: “The original FlatLift started the trend towards shallower, targeted subsoiling that restructures compacted soils with minimal impact at the surface. The new FlatLift V Range implements maintain that core purpose and ability but are much stronger to match today’s more powerful tractors and offer auto reset leg protection.”

Key features from the original FlatLift design are retained, such as the slim legs with replaceable shins, and the prominent point and broad wings.

The wings are set back from the point and at a shallow angle so that these two components work together to create a

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The 800mm diameter Multipacka serrated ring finishing roller is standard equipment. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery Standard equipment includes multi-shot shear pin leg protection but a hydraulic auto-reset system is also available for work in more challenging conditions; and this system has the added ability to lift the legs for increased clearance during transport.

An 800mm diameter serrated ring finishing roller is also standard; the Multipacka is designed to provide a level, weatherproof finish while helping to maintain a consistent working depth, which is adjustable in small increments using the multiple pin-and-hole positions for the packer’s long trailing arms.

Three fully-mounted sizes of this important new addition to the Spaldings implement range distributed in the UK and Ireland are available: the three-leg

and all three are available with either shear pin or hydraulic auto reset leg protection, have a rigid frame incorporating a heavy-duty Category 3/4 headstock, and two pin-and-hole parking stands.

egs on the V Range subsoilers can be equipped with tungsten-protected and Spaldings’ own SPLUltra high-performance wearing parts.

FlatLift V3 with 900mm tine spacing to cover a working width of 2.7m; the FlatLift V4 with legs spaced 650mm apart for a 2.8m working width; and the five-leg, 650mm spacing Spaldings FlatLift V5 works across 3.6m.

There is also the 4.7m trailed FlatLift V7 deploying seven legs in vee formation on a frame that folds to a 2.9m transport width; like the mounted versions, it too is available with shear pin or auto reset protection.

Like all Spaldings products, the new FlatLift V Range subsoilers can be ordered online, via the company’s telesales department and in a face-to-face consultation with a member of the Spaldings field sales team.

Transport widths are 3.0m for the V3 and V4 models, and 3.6m for the V5,

Sharmans Agricultural Limited has announced an agreement in principle to acquire Louth Tractors

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ase IH main dealer for the central and northeast Lincolnshire area. The deal in principle has been agreed by both parties and the process is now underway to finalise the details over the coming months.

With its head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Sharmans is a family-run machinery dealership that currently operates eight depots from the Chesterfield area down to the M25. The business became a Case IH dealership in April 2020.

Commenting on the development, Jon May, Case IH Dealer Relationship Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "We are delighted that Sharmans are continuing to expand their business. This is the second depot they have added to their operation since becoming a Case IH dealer just two years ago in 2020, and we are excited to watch their business flourish. The team are especially suited to serve the professional farming community in this key geographic area and we very much value the excellent support and service they are providing to customers old and new."

Sharmans has been run by the Barclay family since 1981, with Managing Director, Scott Barclay, currently heading up the business. Scott explains: "Growth in this industry has become a necessity. However, as a family-run business, people are at the centre of what we do, whether they are the staff that make up the Sharmans family, or our customers and business partners. These decisions around growth are never taken

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lightly and Sharmans along with farming family AW Smith (Farm Machinery) Ltd, trading as Louth Tractors, have worked together closely, amicably, and openly in securing the agreement to the benefit of all parties.

"For our existing and new customers, the combined dealerships offers the ability to invest further in our team, our facilities and technologies so that we can go much further in supporting your businesses and delivering an exceptional customer experience."

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Rea Valley Tractors future lies with New Holland, JCB and Kuhn ea Valley Tractors, the West-Midlands and midWales farm machinery business, will become a New Holland dealer from 1st November 2022, while continuing to supply products from JCB, Kuhn and a number of other leading manufacturers.

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The appointment as a New Holland dealer for agricultural tractors and harvest machinery throughout Shropshire, part of Staffordshire, Cheshire, part of Lancashire, mid and North Wales, marks a significant change for Rea Valley Tractors, which currently operates four branches and employs 130 staff as the largest business of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in Britain.

Steve Petford, Managing Director, said: “In discussions concerning the long-term development of the company, the options presented by our current tractor supplier effectively involved either down-sizing or selling the business, scenarios that were emphatically opposed by RVT’s Chairman and main shareholder Simon Clarke, not least because of the impact on jobs”.

“Instead, we have taken an alternative route, taking charge of our own destiny by successfully negotiating to take on the New Holland territory for tractors and harvest machinery across an area that is

larger than the one we have today, and also an extended JCB territory that will include Cheshire from 1st January 2023”.

RVT will continue to support customers with repairs, routine servicing and parts for the John Deere products they have been selling, and are convinced that the potent combination of New Holland, JCB and Kuhn, together with our Bailey, Grimme, Joskin, Ag Leader and other important franchises, will be a long-term success.

Rea Valley Tractors has depots at Shrewsbury and Newport in Shropshire, Welshpool in Powys, and Sudbury in Derbyshire, with new branch locations to be announced in due course.

The company has applied for planning permission to substantially enhance the Shrewsbury depot with new buildings that will double the amount of workshop space and improve working conditions, provide a technical training facility and covered storage for used machinery.

The development will also enhance presentation of the Isuzu commercial vehicles supplied exclusively from the Shrewsbury branch.

There are also plans to significantly expand the workshop facility at the Sudbury depot, where the focus will be on JCB and Kuhn sales and support, to

increase servicing and repairs capacity and improve working conditions.

RVT Chairman, Simon Clarke commented “This is a new dawn for Rea Valley Tractors. After 38 years, we are really excited by the opportunity not only for our business, but customers alike by supplying and servicing machinery from world-class British manufacturers.

Combined with our skilled workforce, knowledge of the area and drive to move our business forward, the future is tremendously exciting”.

He continued “The decision to change RVT’s main franchise has not been taken lightly; but we were determined to protect the jobs of our dedicated staff by securing a profitable long-term future for the business. We look forward to sharing our plans with you in the coming months.”

Case IH dealership, JG Paxton & Sons Ltd is to take over J. Wood & Son (Bilsdale Ploughs) Ltd, expanding its business in the North East and Yorkshire stablished in 1853, JG Paxton & Sons Ltd is an independent family-owned agricultural machinery dealership currently operating four depots in Pity Me, Northallerton, Alnwick and Bentham. Following the retirement of former owner Mark Bentley, Paxtons has bought the J. Wood & Sons business in Kirkbymoorside, continuing the franchise of Case IH machinery in this area. All of Woods' staff are joining the business.

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"We would like to take this opportunity to welcome all Woods' customers to Paxtons," said Managing Director Peter Tallentire. "Mark Bentley was keen to find the right business to take over J. Wood & Sons to continue to serve his customers in this area. As a family-owned and -run business, we take

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this responsibility very seriously; myself and Will Paxton pride ourselves on being available to anyone who wishes to speak

of the takeover, Paxtons will hold Case IH, JCB, Kverneland, Vicon, Bednar & Ktwo franchises at Kirkbymoorside. It gives us great confidence that our major suppliers have the belief in us to go ahead with the expansion and it enables us to meet our customers' ever-changing needs."

Commenting on the development, Jon May, Case IH Dealer Relationship Manager for the UK and Ireland said:

to us and are very much looking forward to working with customers in the Kirkbymoorside area. On the completion

"The Paxtons team are well-known in the North East and this further expansion of their business strengthens the Case IH presence in this important farming community. We would like to thank Mark Bentley for his dedication to the Case IH brand as loyal, customer-focused dealer for many years and look forward to continuing to work with his team as they join the Paxton family." www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

New Distributor for Dammann

nother exciting and celebratory business venture for AgVantage UK Ltd as it announces the latest unison with Chantry Dammann UK Ltd, to offer the product range from reputable leading German sprayer manufacturer, Dammann.

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AgVantage is already home to the full line of Dewulf and Miedema brands and this latest development will see AgVantage now becoming an authorised distributor of the popular German agricultural spraying equipment, offering sales and support to customers in East Anglia and across Southeast of the country.

AgVantage Founder and Managing Director, Andy Carse, has almost 20 years’ experience with sprayers. “The Dammann brand, through Chantry Dammann, is growing. The www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

opportunity to showcase the Dammann products to UK farms is an exciting prospect. With their well-established machines, a reputation for being well built and reliable, I am very much looking forward to the journey ahead.

Dammann machines fit perfectly with my vision, to work with high end specialist equipment. Having sold two machines in the very short space of time from making the agreement and with several more in the pipeline I have great confidence for the future”, discussed Andy Carse when asked about their latest news.

AgVantage prides itself on always offering the best customer service, after sales service and customer support, which is one of the reasons it has become such a success since starting at the end of 2020.

Peter Chantry, of Chantry Dammann explained “It is of great importance to us to continue to meet our expectations of excellent customer support and with the growing demand for the machines, we recognise the need to expand our support network. Having known Andy for many years I can see the opportunity to further grow the brand but, in such a way as to continue offering customers the service that is expected of a highend sprayer. We look forward to continuing to work with Andy and AgVantage”.

For any information on Dammann or any other products, please contact our office on 01733 215921 and the AgVantage team will look forward to helping you.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| ATV

No substitute for Hondas in three-ATV fleet ontract gamekeeper Ben Jepps relies on a fleet of three Honda Foreman ATVs for mobility and transport tasks across three shoots in Hertfordshire. He has tried other brands, but quickly returned to Honda each time as he says nothing can rival their reliability and ease of use.

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Ben looks after the Lilley Manor Farm Shoot and Little Offley Shoot on behalf of estate landowners, and he runs Walnut Tree Shoot for a syndicate. Ben is the head keeper on all three shoots and is assisted by his brother Sam as well as under-keepers Louis Cole and Thomas Kitcher.

Heavy, sloping ground The shoots are on approximately 1,600ha of predominantly heavy land which includes some steep slopes, making transporting feed and supplies difficult during the wet winter months.

“The ground is easily damaged by heavy vehicles when it’s wet,” explained Ben. “That’s why we are so dependent on our Honda ATVs. They tread lightly which means we can travel across the same areas day after day without creating ruts, and they have plenty of power to pull loaded trailers and feeders up the steep slopes.”

Honda ATVs have been used by Ben for more than 15 years, and the current fleet consists of a 2015 Foreman TRX500, and two Foreman TRX520 FA6 machines which were both new in 2020.

“Our first Honda was a second-hand Foreman TRX400 which we bought in 2005, which was later replaced by a Honda Foreman TRX450. We also operated a side-by-side UTV of another brand as we believed that the ability to carry a passenger and a load on the rear cargo bed would be an advantage.

However, the UTV just couldn’t cope with the workload and operating conditions, so we suffered frequent breakdowns – most of which were 96 |

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caused by the belt-drive transmission.

We traded it in for an alternative brand of UTV and purchased a new ATV of the same make at the same time, but that proved a mistake as both were unreliable. We returned to Honda and invested in the Foreman TRX500.”

while the compact size allows it to transport tools and equipment for forestry and fencing contracts to sites away from the road and where access would be difficult for larger vehicles.

Busy fleet

Each of the ATVs works approximately 500 hours per year and Ben said he cannot remember an occasion when any

The ATVs are used for a wide range of tasks. For much of the year the main role is feeding the birds. Feed is transported to static feed stations in the woods, and spread in selected areas using feeders powered by the ATVs – one mounted and the other trailed.

Other tasks include patrolling the shoot and ensuring that young birds return to the relative safety of the wooded areas where they can roost safely in the trees at night, and delivering water supplies when the weather is dry.

Dual-purpose machines As well as running the shoots, Ben also has a gardening and landscaping business.

Trading as A&B Gardening Ltd, he offers a variety of services include tree surgery, forestry, groundwork, fencing, and landscaping.

One of the Honda ATVs is shared between the shoot and the landscaping business, and the Honda’s light weight and wide flotation tyres make it ideal for grass seeding, fertiliser, and spray applications,

Total reliability

Revolutionising ATV & Asset Security A discreet ATV tracker that monitors the movements of your asset in real-time, allowing you to view status and usage history 24/7 with notification of unauthorised movements.

www.atvtrac.co.uk Get in touch: If you would like to know more information about ATVTrac or anything else please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

+44 (0) 1327 317 980 (Lines open 9am - 5:30pm)

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

efficient and reliable.

of his Hondas has let him down. “We check the oil every day, but they never seem to use any and there is plenty of electrical power to run the feeders and other equipment, so we don’t suffer problems with flat batteries,” he continued. “We far prefer the quieter operation and smoothness of the Honda petrol engine compared to diesel engines used in some competitor models and, even though we work the Hondas hard, their fuel use is very reasonable. Running costs are low, and they have much better performance and more pulling power than diesel machines too.”

Useful features Ben’s current Honda Foreman ATVs have five forward gears with high and low speed ranges, and dual-mode transmission which allows the rider to select automatic or manual gear shifting.

“I prefer manual mode for the slopes as I feel it gives me maximum control,” Ben explained, “but on level ground automatic operation is easier. It’s great having the choice and because the Hondas have mechanical transmission and shaft drive rather than relying on belts and chains, they are extremely www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

“They have selectable twoand four-wheel drive, and although we tend to need fourwheel drive during the wet, winter months especially when operating on muddy slopes, we find that they cope with most of our work in twowheel drive mode.

It’s also possible to lock the front differential to maximise traction, but I have only used it once – although in exceptionally difficult conditions it’s reassuring to have it available.”

Superb ride The Foreman TRX500 FA6 ATVs have independent, double-wishbone rear suspension which makes them exceptionally agile over uneven ground and ensures a comfortable ride.

They also have electric power steering. “We spend up to eight hours per day on the seat at busy times of the year, but the excellent ride quality means that lack of comfort is never a problem.”

Hondas were all supplied by the local authorised main dealer – MKM Agricultural Ltd, and Ben said he receives excellent service from the MKM team. “I’ve been very impressed, and when the machines are in for servicing then we receive a phone call outlining any additional work required and the costs involved before it’s carried out.

When buying ATVs then the prices have always been competitive, and the team couldn’t have been more helpful.

Hondas backed up by the MKM team give us just what we need for our busy operation.”

Asked whether he would consider changing ATV brands again in future, Ben said that it would be very difficult to beat his Honda Foreman machines for reliability, performance, and ride comfort.

However, he is keen to try the new Honda Pioneer 520 UTV which has two seats and a rear load bed but is only slightly larger and heavier than a conventional ATV. “Sharing a similar engine and mechanical transmission to the Honda Foreman ATVs is reassuring, and the ability to carry a passenger as well as larger loads would be an advantage at times,” he explained.

Excellent dealer The three current July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| ATV

unning until the end of July this year, Polaris is pleased to offer its customers a special discount of 15% off all Polaris Engineered bumpers* within its accessories line-up; perfect for meeting life head-on and protecting your vehicle from whatever the day has to throw at it.

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Specifically designed to provide maximum protection for your vehicle, riders can choose from a range of front and rear bumpers to suit their individual needs, riding terrain and style preferences, including options for a sleek low profile, extended high coverage, extreme bumper attachment and brush guards specifically designed for increased protection around the lighting and fenders from brush and debris.

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For next-level style and function, most Polaris front bumpers are designed to effortlessly integrate a winch, plow or light bar – some with integrated mounting positions – and are designed for easy installation with included mounting hardware.

For all-around body protection, Polaris also offer full coverage fender flares, various rock sliders and rock guards, Aarm guards and body armour**.

All Polaris Engineered parts and accessories are designed and tested to the highest standards; made by the same people who design its vehicles and extensively tested in real-world scenarios for 100% confidence. With over 65 years of experience in the Powersports industry, Polaris is trusted by its millions of customers across the globe.

The 15% discount offer is available now until 31st July 2022 at participating Polaris dealerships across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Most Polaris vehicles are compatible with Polaris bumpers. Your dealer will be able to advise on your most suitable options and whether your Polaris vehicle is compatible. *Offer only available at participating dealers. For more information about what’s on offer in specific regions, please contact your local Polaris dealer or Polaris country representative. ** Only available on certain models. For more information and compatibility, please contact your local Polaris dealer or country representative.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

ast year, Polaris Off-Road redefined the off-road experience with the announcement of its all-new RZR Pro R and RZR Turbo R, introducing unprecedented power, strength and control straight off the showroom floor.

Now, the Turbo R is officially coming to dealerships across Europe, the Middle East and Africa*.

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Debuting in dealerships this summer, the RZR Turbo R in Ghost Grey delivers a driving experience that pushes the limits of what the most demanding and passionate off-roaders expect.

turbocharged power, delivers the stability to tackle challenging terrain. A fortified roll cage maintains the integrity of the machine and peace of mind for the rider, along with the one-piece chassis that is built to last and allows the machine’s superior suspension components to operate at peak performance.

RZR Turbo R is engineered with a massive suspension system, designed to capably withstand the most rugged and demanding off-road terrain. Sharing the same uncompromising front

Steve Menneto, President of Polaris Off-Road. “The reality is, passionate off-roaders are reinforcing their stock chassis and suspension, often spending thousands of dollars to make their machines stronger. RZR Turbo R bring[s] that next-level strength straight off the showroom floor.”

POWER The RZR Turbo R is unmatched among turbocharged side-by-sides, delivering uncompromising performance to die-hard off-roaders who demand the absolute best. Under the hood, a turbocharged four-stroke twin-cylinder liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine for hard-core power to the five-lug 15-inch wheels. Strong corner-to-corner acceleration, the power on demand to stay ahead, paired with low-end power delivery that offers plenty of torque at low RPM, and rolls on the power smoothly to capably crawl around demanding terrain.

STRENGTH The enduring strength and capability of the suspension, paired with the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

suspension as the RZR Pro R, the boxed dual steel front A-arms with threepiece stabiliser bars and FOX® 3.0 Live Valve X2 Internal Bypass shocks offer 69 centimetres (27-inches) of usable front suspension travel. The RZR Turbo R also boasts a rear suspension package that represents a massive stepchange in performance and strength from its predecessors: Substantial tubular trailing arms with boxed gusseting coupled with patented rear toe link, high-clearance radius rods, stabiliser bars and FOX® 3.0 Live Valve X2 Internal Bypass shocks keep the rear end planted and tracking with a generous 71 centimetres (28-inches) of usable travel. Combined, the factory suspension package and redesigned chassis make the RZR Turbo R a

dominant force whether challenging the wide-open terrain, or hard-charging through trail systems.

CONTROL The RZR Turbo R is firmly planted on a 74-inch stance across a one-piece chassis equipped with DYNAMIX DV and unyielding boxed steel, long-travel suspension. That beefy stance of the RZR Turbo R also has an optimised wheelbase with a 96-inch wheelbase, so riders feel stable with an optimal turning radius for tackling tighter, more challenging trails. Four-wheel hydraulic discs with triple-bore front and dual-bore rear callipers and aluminium top hat rotors give the rider control at the pedal with incredible stopping power.

On the homologated Turbo R Ultimate model, DYNAMIX DV active suspension offers the industry’s first independent compression and rebound control: Four new suspension & steering modes that monitor inputs from driver and machine hundreds of times every second and automatically adjust compression and rebound damping independently to keep all wheels in contact with the ground.

The innovation doesn’t stop there: Technology like RIDE COMMAND and Rockford Fosgate® audio, coupled with the refined design of fold-flat storage and bolstered bucket seats with four-way adjustability and multi-point harnesses bring next-level comfort and convenience to any ride. *The RZR Turbo R Ultimate in Ghost Grey will begin arriving in dealerships in July 2022. The RZR Turbo R will be available for European dealers with L7e homologation.

July 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| ATV

Kawasaki announce complete he 2022 utility range will feature the popular Kawasaki MULE Pro DX, Mule Pro DXT, Mule SX 4×4, and Pro-MX vehicles.

Also included in the range is the BRUTE FORCE 4x4i EPS ATV, which will be available in two colours.

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The MULE Pro DX and MULE Pro DXT remain the flagship vehicles in the range, with both machines retaining their current specification for 2022. At the core of each machine lays a 3cylinder, OHV water-cooled, 993cm3 Bosch fuel injected diesel engine; a feature of particular interest to multivehicle users pursuing a “single fuel” policy. Driving through a dual range CVT, both vehicles offer selectable 2WD and 4WD delivering 17.8 kW @

For more information

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3600rpm and 52.1 Nm of maximum torque at 2,400rpm.

For the MULE Pro DX, a spacious tipping load bed and impressive towing ability mean that almost no task is too big to ask of it. The MULE Pro DXT helps to push the range into new customer bases, thanks to the additional ability to move work crews into difficult or environmentally sensitive locations with minimal impact.

Featuring such user-friendly features as tilt adjustable steering wheels and speed sensitive electronic power steering plus front and rear independent suspension, both these sturdy vehicles certainly make light of heavy work and leave their operators fresh at the end of

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each demanding day.

The entry-level MULE range will again be comprised of the MULE SX 4×4 and Pro-MX. Both models offer outstanding value for money and boast selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Lo dual-range transfer case and a rear differential lock.

The MULE SX 4×4 relies on a sturdy and ultra-reliable OHV 410cm3 petrol engine delivering 9.9kW (13.5 PS) of motive power. Its 500kg towing capacity and 181kg load bed maximum are more than enough for many users while such “creature comforts” as a tilting steering wheel and Independent MacPherson strut front suspension, the SX faithfully delivers all day, every day.

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

e 2022 MULE and ATV line up

Its range partner, the MULE Pro MX cuts a real dash, not simply due to its sprightly turn of speed but, equally, an automotive styling approach redolent of a sturdy pickup truck. The singlecylinder CVT transmission equipped 695cm3 engine delivers 32.8kW (45 PS) for year-round working in even the harshest conditions with the added benefit of electronic power steering as standard fitment.

default option when value, reliability and rugged build quality are required.

The 2022 range will be available from August and will cost:

Completing the 2022 range is the 749cm3 Brute Force ATV models.

Featuring the powerful 37.3 kW {51 PS} @ 6,750 rpm water-cooled fuel-injected V-Twin engines, a 4×4 drive train and Electronic Power Steering (EPS), the ATVs will be available in Super Black or Camouflage Real Tree Xtra Green.

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MULE Pro-DX – £11,999

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MULE Pro-DXT – £13,199

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MULE SX 4×4 – £7,299

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MULE Pro-MX – £9,199

With disc brakes both front and rear plus the luxury of double wishbone suspension at both ends, the MULE Pro MX is both work and price friendly.

Offered in traditional Kawasaki Timberline Green, the MULE SX 4×4 and MULE Pro MX are, for many, the

The variable speed EPS, carefully considered ergonomics and vast spread of smooth all-conquering power make the Brute Force a logical number one choice when rugged power combined with a small vehicle footprint are required.

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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS – £7,799

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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Camo – £8,099

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Motors

• “Very Gay Raptor”’ (VGR) and Next-Gen Ranger Raptor to appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, reaffirming Ford’s long-term commitment to LGBTQ+ allyship • Gareth Thomas to host live sessions of “Tough Talks”, talking to guests from the truck bed of VGR to help challenge stereotypes and initiate difficult conversations • A new video released ahead of the event showcases the different personalities yet the same toughness and badass capabilities of VGR and next-gen Ranger Raptor

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ord will continue demonstrating its allyship with the LGBTQ+ community at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, bringing “Very Gay Raptor” and the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor along for the ride.

The sessions will explore how the automotive industry can foster a culture of inclusion and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community, covering a range of topics and featuring guests such as racing driver Abbie Eaton, comedian Catherine Bohart, and Lord March – the son of the Duke of Richmond, who founded the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival.

The appearance of “Very Gay Raptor” at the event will be used to further initiate important discussions and aimed at driving out discrimination in the automotive industry, and beyond. As part of this, Ford will be presenting live sessions of its new “Tough Talks” series at Goodwood from the truck bed of “Very Gay Raptor”, hosted by Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, the first openlygay rugby union player.

Created in 2021, “Very Gay Raptor” was born in response to a negative comment on social media, with Ford rendering its most badass nameplate in sparkling gold adorned with rainbow graphics. The positive response online was so overwhelming the manufacturer decided to make it real, and has been using it as a tool to help drive out discrimination ever since.

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In a video teasing the appearance of “Very Gay Raptor” and Next-Gen Ranger Raptor at the event, both vehicles speed through off-road trails covered in mud – at times taking different paths, facing off, yet displaying their equally impressive and tough abilities, regardless of their differing identities. (1) The Next-Gen Ranger Raptor, appearing for the first time as “Very Gay Raptor”, will make its European dynamic debut at Goodwood, tackling the challenging offroad track between runs up the famous hill, powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine delivering 288PS and 491Nm of torque. (2) #FordPresentsToughTalks #FordRangerRaptor #LGBTQ www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

(1) Professional driver on a closed course.

Always consult the Raptor supplement to the Owner’s Manual before off-road driving, know your terrain and trail difficulty, and use appropriate safety gear.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

(2) Ford Ranger Raptor twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 homologated CO2 emissions 315 g/km and homologated fuel efficiency 20.4mpg. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of

the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.

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| Motors

British Gas and Osprey Charging Network partner to accelerate fleet electrification

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ritish Gas, the UK’s largest energy and home services company, has partnered with Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s largest networks of rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points, to help transition its vehicles to an all-electric fleet and simplify the charging process for its drivers.

The partnership provides British Gas engineers with direct access to Osprey’s nationwide network of over 300 rapid charging stations throughout the UK, creating a simple driver experience and centralised fleet billing to support British Gas’ electric fleet operations.

With around 9,000 vehicles, British Gas is one of the UK's biggest fleet operators and is working towards converting its entire fleet to become fully electric under its net-zero ambition.

By partnering with nationwide charging networks, British Gas can create a convenient and seamless payment method via one electric fuel card, improving the EV public charging experience for its engineers and accelerating electrification. Osprey is the first network to deliver this innovative integration.

The partnership has been made possible via direct technical interoperability between Osprey’s proprietary software

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platform, Volo, and British Gas’ own fleet management system, providing the ability to centrally and automatically account for fleet public charging costs.

As part of the collaboration the British Gas fleet will also have access to the 150 high power EV charging hubs Osprey will deliver by 2024 as part of a £75 million investment programme to exceed drivers’ expectations for charger availability and speed.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging said, “We are thrilled that British Gas has chosen to partner with Osprey to unlock further EV adoption and lead the transition to the future of transport.

Our market-leading commercial and fleet roaming capabilities provide even more EV drivers with the ultimate charging experience via access to our nationwide, reliable and open rapid charger network.”

James Rooney, Fleet Engineering and Innovation Manager at British Gas, said, “It is essential that we support our engineering team with not just an accessible network of charging points, but a method of paying for charging that is hassle free. We know that around seven in ten of our drivers don’t have access to home charging and

partnerships such as this will help to provide the confidence required that making the switch to electric is achievable.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Solar car park investors hit 3ti funding target in under an hour •

3ti achieves 100% of £500k investment target using investment platform www.crowdcube.com/3ti, within minutes of going live to the public

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First round of EIS eligible, equity crowdfunding will continue to run for full term of 28 days

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3ti is now looking to exceed initial target in order to grow the business further and faster

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ithin an hour of opening its first crowdfunding round publicly, 3ti, the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs), has smashed its initial £500,000 investment target. Funding will accelerate the roll-out of the world’s first pop-up mini solar car park and electric vehicle charging hub, Papilio3, enable expansion of the 3ti team, and underpin continued clean energy technology development. The initial target on Crowdcube was exceeded within an hour, but the funding round will remain open for 28 days.

“Almost instantly achieving our initial investment target demonstrates a public belief in 3ti’s technology, our vision for renewable energy solutions and the team behind the two largest solar car parks in the UK,” says Tim Evans, 3ti founder and CEO. “The funding round provides investors with an opportunity to back a company committed to decarbonising the UK transport industry and buy into a dynamic, exciting and unique product: Papilio3. It is expected that 14 million EVs will be on UK roads by 2030. To optimise the environmental benefits of these vehicles replacing polluting petrol and diesel alternatives, it is crucial that an efficient, reliable and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Funding round follows launch of Papilio3, the world’s first pop-up mini solar car park and electric vehicle charging hub

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Funding will accelerate the rollout of Papilio3 to fast-track the proliferation of destination and workplace charging locations, and fill the gap in UK’s EV infrastructure

sustainable charging infrastructure is in place.”

Launched in May 2022 at the Surrey Research Park, hosted by the University of Surrey, Guildford, Papilio3 can be deployed within 24 hours and provides up to 12 electric vehicle (EV) charge points. It integrates three technologies that are normally considered independently – solar electricity generation, battery energy storage systems and EV charge points.

Crucially, Papilio3 harnesses solar power, battery storage and grid energy to optimise the reliability and carbon intensity of EV charging, particularly for drivers who are not able to charge at home.

“If we could capture it all, the solar energy that falls on the planet in just one hour is enough to power the whole world for a year. Yet currently, around 40% of UK electricity is still generated from fossil fuels,” continues Evans. “If EV drivers are rapid charging at peak times, then this carbon-rich, expensive electricity is what’s being used to replenish their batteries. This doesn’t need to be the case. Further investment

in 3ti through our Crowdcube campaign will enable us to accelerate the deployment of Papilio3 units and inspire a change of mindset for EV drivers.

Since launching Papilio3 a month ago, we have received over 100 enquiries worldwide and aim to have at least 30 units in operation by the end of the year.”

With an emphasis on sustainability, Papilio3 is built around a recycled shipping container and overcomes many traditional SCP barriers to entry, such as long lead times caused by complex planning and grid approvals and investment requirements. It is envisaged that Papilio3 units will be owned by 3ti and provided to customers on a monthly rental basis. The modular units support 36 solar panels and have battery storage capacity of up to 250 kWh, providing 12 fast EV charge points at 7, 11 and 22 kW. July 2022 | Farming Monthly | 105

| Motors

THE NEW MG5 EV DEBUTS AT GOODWOOD

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The new, updated MG5 EV makes UK debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed

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New version of the award-winning, all electric estate car features significant styling and equipment upgrades

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Multiple enhancements expected to further increase the appeal of this already popular, and practical all electric estate car

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G Motor UK has announced its attendance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will offer visitors the chance to be among the first to see the new MG5 EV. The first official UK viewing will take place on Electric Avenue from Thursday 23rd June, with the award winning all electric estate car taking centre stage at Goodwood’s dedicated EV section.

Revisions to the exterior design extend to new front and rear bumpers, redesigned LED head and rear lights, and new wheel designs.

First seen on the all new ZS EV launched in November 2021, the new MG5 EV will also come equipped with Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) capability, meaning users can power other electric devices using the energy stored in the battery, such as e-bikes, portable heaters or camping equipment.

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| Motors

The new MG5 EV has also received interior design and technology upgrades, including a 10.25’’ widescreen infotainment system with upgraded software, and is now capable of supporting iSMART connected car functionality through MG’s dedicated smartphone app.

The MG5 EV remains the only pure electric estate car in its sector, and has proved extremely popular for both private and business customers alike, with over 8,000 finding homes since it was launched in the UK in November 2020.

The model has secured a double win at the prestigious WhatCar? Awards, alongside recent victories at both the Auto Trader and WhichEV? Awards in 2022, due to its highly practical design, efficiency and affordability.

The new model will remain a strongly competitive option for customers looking for a full battery electric vehicle, reinforcing MG’s reputation for outstanding value for money.

Commenting on the announcement, Guy Pigounakis, Commercial Director at MG Motor UK, said:

“The MG5 EV has quickly established a strong following as a practical, affordable and efficient estate car and we’re seeking to build upon that success by offering customers an even more attractive, compelling design as well as a generous range of technology upgrades.

The MG ‘Get More’ philosophy is a key part of our approach – we believe our customers should get more and as standard - and we are confident that the new MG5 EV strongly reflects this.”

MG5 - New features at a glance •

Brand new front and rear design

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Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) technology

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New LED headlights

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New Alloy Wheel designs

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Revised interior fascia

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Widescreen 10.25’’ infotainment screen

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Connected car technology with iSMART

Further details on the New MG5 EV will be released soon, including announcements on UK pricing and expected delivery dates.

For more details about MG or to find your nearest dealer, visit www.mg.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

July 2022 | Farming Monthly | 109

| Motors

Home energy bills reduced significantly

by Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid project •

Electric vehicles provide a nationwide battery resource which can store green energy and feed electricity back into the grid during times of peak demand

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EV owners could be rewarded for providing such a service to the grid

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Western Power Distribution (WPD) in partnership with CrowdCharge has been trialling how such a system could work through the Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid project

t a time when the UK is facing a number of energy challenges, in areas including security of supply, increasing prices, and the need to achieve Net Zero, the Electric Nation V2G project has demonstrated that EV drivers can reduce their energy bills by using vehicle to grid (V2G) charging.

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Electric Nation, an Innovation project of Western Power Distribution (WPD), in partnership with CrowdCharge, recruited 100 Nissan electric vehicle (EV) owners in the Midlands, South West England and South Wales to take part in the trial of V2G smart charging technology. The project is now complete and the findings are being published.

Because, uniquely, the Electric Nation V2G trial had a number of electricity providers and tariffs, the project was able to show how tariffs influence charging behaviour.

Marie Hubbard took part in Electric Nation, using her Nissan e-NV200 campervan in the project. She comments: “As well as trialling the Electric Nation vehicle to grid charger, I have solar panels on the roof of my house, and an electricity tariff that allows me to import and export energy. So I set the vehicle to charge during the night when electricity prices are lower, and I exported energy from the vehicle to the grid during the peak times of higher demand.

Funded through the Network Innovation Allowance (NIA), Electric Nation is different to other V2G projects because it partnered with more than one energy supplier and allowed many different import and export tariff types.

This means that the trial was a more realistic simulation of a future world in which many streets will have a number of EVs using V2G chargers operated by different energy suppliers.

The project has proven that vehicle to grid charging works both from a technical point of view, and from the perspective of customer acceptance. It has also shown that EV owners can charge at offpeak times when energy is cheaper and greener, and by using V2G, they can sell this energy back into the grid, or use it in their home, to help minimise energy demand at peak times. This can help take the stress off the electricity grid and enable low-cost renewable energy to be used in the home when grid prices and the carbon content of electricity are high.

Participants who also had solar panels were able to charge their EVs with free 100% renewable energy. The trial allowed participants to transfer this green energy from the EV to the home at peak times, so further reducing demand on the grid.

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that we build and can contribute towards optimising the whole energy system in Britain, ultimately needing less generating capacity and reserve.”

Mike Potter, CEO, CrowdCharge, adds: “The Electric Nation V2G project has shown that households can save money on energy bills by using vehicle to grid charging, especially if they have solar panels. However there is also an opportunity for commercial fleets to take advantage of this technology in order to help lower their carbon footprint and achieve their Net Zero goals.”

In the Electric Nation V2G trial, each electricity supplier used their charger groups to test their various energy services utilising CrowdCharge’s demand management platform, which provides optimised charging sessions.

The Electric Nation project has proven that V2G works in a domestic setting, with households saving energy and therefore money, but there is also significant potential for commercial fleets to reap similar benefits, but on a larger scale.

“The result is that as well as reducing my electricity bill from £50 to £25 per month, I also made £25 per month by supplying energy to the grid. This shows that vehicle to grid charging has the potential to reduce people’s energy bills, as well as helping to reduce the amount of electricity generated by fossil fuels.”

Roger Hey, WPD’s Electricity System Manager, comments: “Vehicle to grid charging doubles the amount of flexibility in the electricity system, although in reality it brings even greater benefit because it also allows us to use the same unit of energy multiple times through charge/discharge cycles.

Currently, only Nissan EVs can be used for V2G charging due to their CHAdeMO technology. The majority of EVs have the CCS charging system, which is due to be V2G-compatible by 2025; from that point V2G should be possible for all EVs. Action will be required from the energy supply industry to make V2G work for consumers.

The V2G trial follows the first Electric Nation project from 2018/19 which at the time was the world’s largest EV smart charging trial, providing real life insight into people’s habits when charging their vehicle.

The Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid end of project report will be available soon.

For more information about the project visit www.electricnation.org.uk

“V2G has enormous potential to reduce the amount of new electricity network www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Don’t let tyres ruin your summer festival plans •

As many as 5 million people will attend festivals this year

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Extra passengers and luggage means more stress on a vehicle’s tyres

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Check pressures are correct for the load before you leave

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yreSafe is urging drivers to perform vital checks on their tyres before setting off for festivals to avoid compromising their summer party, as part of its annual summer campaign to promote tyre safety awareness.

According to Statista, the number of people attending festivals in the UK in 2019 was over 5 million, almost doubling since 2012, and with their long-awaited full return, that number could be even higher. Which means more cars on the road, longer journeys with friends and fully loaded vehicles.

Drivers should regularly perform checks on their tyres throughout the year, as they are the only point of the car in direct contact with the road, to ensure they are in good condition. However, when travelling to festivals with a fully loaded vehicle, drivers should be even more vigilant about the air pressure, condition, and tread (ACT) to make sure they, and their friends, arrive safely.

Driving with air pressures below the recommended settings makes them more vulnerable to a catastrophic failure

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or ‘blowout’, even with just the driver on board. When extra luggage and passengers are added, the likelihood of an incident increases if the pressures are not adjusted.

All cars have at least two recommended settings: one for when the car has a light load; the other when it is carrying multiple passengers and their baggage, such as ruck sacks and tents. The correct tyre pressure settings can be found in the owner’s handbook, in the door shut or fuel filler cap, or online via pressure look-ups. Drivers should use an accurate gauge to check all four tyres.

If you’re loading up with luggage and fellow ticket holders, you may need to adjust your tyre pressures accordingly.

Drivers should also check the tread depth of their tyres. The minimum legal tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, but if your tyres are approaching or below 2mm, is it worth considering a change, particularly as the ‘Great British Summer’ can present heavy rainfall and changeable weather. Drivers can use a 20p piece as a guide by inserting the coin at different points across the tread

pattern and around the circumference.

If any of the coin’s rim is visible, have a professional check the tyre.

Finally, drivers are advised to perform a thorough visual inspection on all four tyres, looking out for cuts, lumps, or bulges, which could indicate internal damage and should be checked by a tyre professional. Drivers are also advised to carefully remove stones or foreign objects stuck in the tyres’ grooves.

Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe Chairman, said: “The return to mainstream events and the promised sunshine is likely to make the festivals this year even more popular than ever. Nobody wants those plans to be ruined, so before you set off, please take a few minutes to check your tyres aren’t going to spoil the party. It could be the difference between making wonderful memories or having a nightmare. What’s stopping you?”

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NEW DS 7: REFINEMENT IS A JOURNEY

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he new DS 7 is an evolution of the first 100 per cent DS Automobiles design revealed in 2017, DS 7 CROSSBACK, which projected a new spirit of the avant-garde.

Acclaimed for its unparalleled interiors, its remarkable refinement and its cuttingedge technology, DS 7 CROSSBACK opened the way for new developments, now embodied by New DS 7.

“At the same time as respecting the personality and elegance of the existing shape, we’ve injected an additional touch of dynamism with sharp features.

New DS 7’s character is given a boost, particularly at the front and rear, while its design still fits into the current DS Automobiles range. It’s the result of cooperation between DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS, the technical team who’ve brought a great deal of technology and our manufacturing team who’ve succeeded in producing new features.

Styling touches added to the interior enhance the consistency throughout.”

Thierry Metroz, Design Director A design enhanced by sharp lines and lit up by DS PIXEL LED VISION 3.0 and DS LIGHT VEIL The character of the new DS 7 is formed from several stunning details. Always elegant, new DS 7 brings more dynamism with sharper, more structural lines and a coherent design.

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each feature. The DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS team worked closely with the production team at the Mulhouse, France factory to achieve exceptional results in terms of quality and solidity.

The light signature is developing with an even more expressive look. The combination of new slimmer DS PIXEL LED VISION 3.0 headlamps and DS LIGHT VEIL daytime running lights is seamless and carried out in the spirit of high fashion. The DS WINGS and the grille are larger and the valance has been redesigned with a range of colours depending on the model.

The slimmer scale-like LED rear lights with a vortex effect have also been redesigned with a dark metallic finish.

They emphasise the unique expression of new DS 7. The boot lid and badge have been reworked with sharper lines, while DS AUTOMOBILES lettering replaces the previous ‘CROSSBACK’ to sign off the visually stretched rear of new DS 7.

The wheels play a part in the profile’s character with new 19-inch alloy wheels, which are more aerodynamic and feature a design aimed at amplifying the impression of size, and exclusive 21inch alloy wheels, with a carved technical design, exclusive to the new DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4 360.

The window surrounds and roof bars are offered with a Gloss Black variant to emphasise the dynamism of the silhouette.

DS PIXEL LED VISION 3.0 DS PIXEL LED VISION 3.0 introduces a new technology that adds an extra dimension to the model. The PIXEL modules on new DS 7 optimise the management of light output, while maintaining three identifying modules that feature on the entire range. The PIXEL function provides optimum lighting as the light flow is more powerful, more regular and has an increased range of up to 380m on the main beam. In town the width of the beam is up to 65m. On the inner edge, two dipped headlight/sidelight modules illuminate together while the outer edge PIXEL main beam module features 84 LEDs in three rows. Lighting in corners is controlled by the intensity of the PIXEL module’s exterior LEDs which is altered by the angle of the steering.

DS LIGHT VEIL The daytime running lights were inspired by work on DS X E-TENSE and DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE.. DS LIGHT VEIL is made up of a daytime running light and four vertical luminous features made up of 33 LEDs. This innovation comes from the manufacturing process where the laser etched polycarbonate surface is painted on the inside, to give the impression of light travelling through the bodywork, alternating between light and parts that are body coloured. It creates an effect of depth and brightness like a piece of jewellery. DS LIGHT VEIL illuminates and goes out when the car is locked and unlocked.

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The best French expertise for lovers of beautiful materials Just like the largest Paris fashion houses, DS Automobiles bestows special care on the choice of materials and how they are treated. Through upholstery interior surroundings in the new DS 7 were created to make each journey different.

The height of refinement, new DS 7 OPERA is offered with two Nappa leather colours: Basalt Black and Pearl Grey. Over wider expanses, the highest quality part of the hide adds a natural and enchanting touch to the interior.

New upholstery introduces an engaging, visible and tactile result, specifically draped Nappa leather on the dashboard and door panels. Without seams or joins they keep the feel and appearance of natural leather. The hide is further elevated by embossing with lines reminiscent of the DS LIGHT VEIL signature.

The attention to detail of this interior is also shown by the pearl stitching offered in the new white and Zephyr colours, a steering wheel in full grain leather with a leather covered airbag, ‘Clous de Paris’ embossed inserts synonymous with DS Automobiles and watchstrap upholstery offered for the first time in Pearl Grey.

Refinement also features in the RIVOLI interior which introduces a Basalt Black colour and has a stitched padded trim that has been combined with Claudia leather upholstery, which has a more www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

pronounced leather grain.

The PERFORMANCE LINE interior features a deeper black colour with the microfibre textile Alcantara® throughout and gold and carmine touches that emphasise the dynamic appearance.

The BASTILLE interior has been refreshed with a new DS Canvas finish and a Basalt Black grain inspired by the scales on fish skin.

All these interiors are enhanced with ambient lighting that can be personalised and a new pattern based on ‘Clous de Paris’ embossed inserts.

DS AUTOMOBILES NAPPA LEATHER Drawing inspiration from the metal bracelet of a luxury watch, made of a multitude of parts fitted together, the DS Automobiles team created a seat base and back from a single piece of leather and without a bead of stitching, to create incredible comfort. The seat is made of high-density foam with more material than traditionally used for a classic seat.

The high-quality Nappa leather comes from cows raised for their meat, living in fields without barbed wire. Only the highest quality leather is used and dyed with a special colour in Basalt Black or Pearl Grey.

“New DS 7 embodies our vision of the art of travel French style. Beyond the basics of the segment, we are introducing some truly differentiating attributes, specifically to our interiors and the choice of our materials, and our

purely automotive expertise with a chassis that’s as safe as it is light and power units that are highly powerful and efficient. This combination brings to life the comfort and dynamism demanded by DS Automobiles.”

Agnès Tesson Faget, Product Director HIGH PERFORMANCE PETROL/ ELECTRIC HYBRID AND MULTIENERGY POWER UNITS As the multi-energy brand with the lowest CO2 emissions in Europe for the last two years and multiple Formula E champion, DS Automobiles has chosen to offer new DS 7 with a range of power units, including three plug-in hybrids with 225hp, 300hp and 360hp.

New DS 7 E-TENSE 225 has a PureTech 180 petrol engine and a 110hp electric motor fitted to the eightspeed automatic gearbox, with a twowheel drive transmission.

New DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4 300 and DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4 360 introduce a fourwheel drive transmission with a PureTech 200 motor as well as 110hp and 112hp electric motors on each of the axles. The 360 model is tuned by DS Performance. A 130 BlueHDi power unit will also be available.

A new 14.2 kWh battery gives up to 65km with zero emissions on the WLTP mixed cycle and up to 81km on the urban cycle. Charging time is about two hours on a 7.4kW charger.

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| Motors attributes of the entire DS Automobiles range, new DS 7 remains one of the most efficient cars in its class, specifically because of its wellcontrolled weight.

NEW DS 7 E-TENSE 4X4 360 The spirit of grand touring by DS Automobiles is embodied in new DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4 360. To go with the rush of power (200hp engine, front electric motor with 110hp and rear electric motor with 112hp), new DS 7 ETENSE 4x4 360 enjoys special tuning

by DS PERFORMANCE to optimise its energy management. It has a DS ENERGY COACH application that supports the driver improve energy recovery through braking. The chassis is lowered by 15mm, the track is wider (+24mm at the front, +10mm at the rear) and the front brakes are 380mm in diameter with callipers by DS PERFORMANCE. New 21-inch BROOKLYN wheels are added to a new Lacquered Grey colour which highlights the special curves and charisma of this model. Acceleration from zero to 62mph is achieved in 5.6 seconds and 1,000m start-stop is accomplished in 25.4 seconds.

TECHNOLOGY AT THE HEART OF THE WHOLE NEW DS 7 OFFERING The infotainment system is one of the biggest changes for new DS 7 with the inclusion of DS IRIS SYSTEM. This new solution introduces a totally reworked interface, that is completely configurable, reactive and seamless and supported by natural voice recognition.

The redesigned 12-inch high-resolution touch screen features a menu made up of widgets for accessing all its functions with a single movement: for controlling the connected navigation, the ventilation, the digital audio sources and journey information. This big screen also enables views front and rear to be displayed, provided by new high-resolution digital cameras, and access to the Mirror Screen function over wi-fi.

A new large 12-inch digital instrument panel, with displays that can be changed and personalised, features refreshed graphics with all the vital information such as energy flow on plug-in hybrid versions.

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UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SEGMENT New DS 7 also offers technology for more comfort and relaxation such as DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION and DS NIGHT VISION. DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION is a camera-controlled damping system that is completely unique in its class. It adjusts each wheel independently according to imperfections in the carriageway.

With DS NIGHT VISION, an infrared camera sweeps the carriageway and its edges to detect cyclists, pedestrians and animals at distances up to 100m.

The driver receives the information in the new high resolution digital instrument display, reinforced by a special warning in the event of danger.

Safety is optimised with DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING and DS DRIVE ASSIST level 2 semiautonomous driving. DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING analyses the driver’s level of attention with two cameras. The first checks the behaviour of the car in its surroundings and the second, positioned facing the driver, diagnoses where they are looking and their face and eyelid movement which translates to the level of sleepiness and attention. This is unprecedented in the segment. New DS 7 is equipped with DS DRIVE ASSIST, adaptive cruise control that

can initiate stopping and restarting without the driver intervening and an aid that enables the driver to keep the car either where it is or where they position it in the lane.

New DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4 360 LA PREMIÈRE A limited edition new DS 7 E-TENSE 4x4

360 LA PREMIÈRE is being offered at launch. Based on the new DS 7 ETENSE 4x4 360 OPÉRA, it introduces a new Gloss Black front bumper blade, black monograms and badges and a gloss black finish on the DS WINGS, the grille, the window surrounds and roof bars. The interior is available in Basalt Black and Pearl Grey. It will be offered in a choice of four colours: Lacquered Grey, Perla Nera Black, Platinum Grey and Crystal Pearl.

Made in France New DS 7 is made in Mulhouse (France) and will be available to order during August 2022, with first models appearing in DS STORES from September 2022.

For more information visit www.dsautomobiles.co.uk

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Richard McCutcheon of Station Garage and his Atholl Highlander colleagues with the SsangYong Rexton

STATION GARAGE EMPLOYEE TAKES PART IN CATERAN YOMP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ABF THE SOLDIERS CHARITY tation Garage is delighted to announce that its service manager, Richard McCutcheon has completed the Cateran Yomp and raised £5500 for ABF The Soldiers Charity. Richard, who is a member of Atholl Highlanders, a Scottish ceremonial infantry regiment, and two of his colleagues from the same division, were supported by two additional crew members and a SsangYong Rexton. The team massively exceeded their original monetary target of £400.00.

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The Cateran Yomp - a military term for a long-distance march - is the biggest, toughest event of its kind.

The event took place on 5th June 2022 in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, where teams battled a 54 mile distance in 24www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

hours across the rugged terrain of the Scottish wilderness.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity, created to provide support for soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. The organisation stands at the forefront of support for the Army family, and last year supported 60,000 people across 63 countries around the world. As one of the largest funders in the sector, ABF award grants to individuals and families, and fund leading organisations that support soldiers, former soldiers, and their families. ABFs policy is to respond to individuals and families in need within 48 hours.

Richard McCutcheon, service manager at Station Garage took part in the challenge and said: “We’ve

been working hard in preparation for the Cateran Yomp. One of the lads has lost two stones in training and during the last few months I personally have walked over 800miles. It’s a tough challenge - the constant changes to elevation, the length of the challenge and its completion in the dark, was very, very tough but totally worthwhile to raise £5,500 for ABF The Soldiers Charity.”

The Cateran Yomp takes place next year on 3rd June and competitors can sign up with friends, family, and colleagues to experience an unforgettable weekend whilst raising money for soldiers, veterans, and their families. Participants get to test their physical and mental limits whilst trekking through the truly breath-taking scenery of Perthshire.

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Electrogenic reveals revolutionary ‘drop in’ kit to easily electrify "working” Land Rover Defenders

Easy to install ‘drop in’ kit economically converts Land Rover Defender to fully electric power Specification aimed at working vehicles, with enhanced capability off-road Successfully tested in wide range of scenarios around farm Annual savings of circa £6,000 versus standard diesel Defender, kit can pay for itself in 4 years.

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lectrogenic is excited to announce the launch of a revolutionary ‘drop in’ kit to convert working Land Rover Defenders to fully-electric power. The conversion kit, aimed at the agricultural sector and landowners, has been in development and extensively tested over the past 18 months on Worthy Farm, host to the Glastonbury Festival.

The kit is designed to be installed by a suitably qualified mechanic and to be maintenance free. An electric motor is simply bolted to the Defender’s existing clutch bell housing, so the vehicle keeps all its gears. It packs 120 bhp and 235 Nm of torque – comparable power and torque to the original diesel engine.

52kWh of batteries are mounted under the bonnet gives 100+ miles of range onroad and considerably more when driving off-road or around a farm. As standard, the kit is equipped for 7.5kW AC overnight charging via a Type 2 connector. Faster charging can be specified as an optional extra.

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Electrogenic conversions retain the original Defender’s versatility and four-wheel-drive, while offroad ability is improved by the fitment of the electric motor. With readily accessible torque and linear power delivery, it is effortless to drive, even in demanding off-road scenarios.

Towing capability is also enhanced by the electric motor’s instant and abundant torque, while dual-stage regenerative braking enables ultra-controlled, brake-free off-road descents.

Steve Drummond, Electrogenic co-founder, said, “This new electric conversion kit is a really exciting development for us. We do high-specification conversions for road-warriors, but this kit is all about giving landowners an economic, sustainable option. It’s easy to install and uses Electrogenic’s proprietary technology. It gives Land Rover Defenders – long a trusty workhorse for farms up and down www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

the course of an average year of on-farm use.

Considering the conversion’s target price of £24,000 + VAT, the kit can pay for itself in four years.

the country – an affordable new lease of life, reducing running costs while enhancing performance and driveability around the estate. After an extensive development programme, in partnership with automotive experts at Cardiff University, we also know that it future-proofs the traditional Defender, readying it for decades of reliable, sustainable service as we enter the age of low-carbon agriculture.”

Having tested the electrified Defender alongside its dieselpowered counterparts, it is estimated that the electric version will save at least £6,000 in fuel costs over www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

In addition to the fuel cost savings, the EV conversion can also bring significant benefits in terms of wider running-costs. The electric powertrain is designed to be entirely maintenancefree, and operate happily for decades, while the batteries are similarly robust: good for 200,000 miles or more, giving

owners total peace of mind.

Drummond concluded: “Defenders fitted with our easy to install kits do everything required of them on the farm quietly and efficiently. They are always there ready for use – just unplug and drive away; no more factoring in trips to the petrol station, and instant heat on cold frosty mornings. An electrified Defender can also represent one more step towards a farm achieving its sustainability goals. The converted Defenders really deliver on all fronts, and we’re sure they’ll serve farmers ably for many years to come.

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Stellantis Invests €33 Million in Global Testing Hubs for Cutting-Edge Engineering tellantis engineering teams around the world are focused on creating cutting-edge vehicles that deliver clean, safe, and affordable mobility.

Stellantis recently invested a total of €33 million in two of its global testing facilities to support the Company's long-term strategy to achieve best-in-class electric vehicle (EV) performance and master the highest level of autonomous driving technology while ensuring safe and reliable technology for its customers.

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These investments, among other R&D Capex, expand Stellantis’ global capability to engineer the future of mobility, accelerate its transformation into a sustainable mobility tech company and propel the Company toward the goals of the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, notably a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from 2021 levels by 2030 and carbon net zero emissions by 2038.

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Wind Tunnel in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S., being scaled up with the addition of moving ground plane technology, simulating on-road travel and providing more accurate aerodynamics measurement of vehicles. Reducing wind drag benefits the driving range of BEVs.

"Our world-class tech hubs across the globe are doing the work today that will make tomorrow's Stellantis vehicles industry leaders in capability, performance and safety," said Harald Wester, Stellantis Chief Engineering Officer. "Our engineering community is fuelled by talent, diversity and global

reach, and we are intensely working with the other global functions, as our Monozokuri peers, to energise the core of our technological transformation. It gives us a comprehensive view of the challenges and enables us to consider and refine a full menu of mobility solutions that will put us in the front row of the race to innovate and improve."

Putting Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Driving to the Test Key goals of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan include reaching 100% of passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe and 50% passenger car and

The recent enhancements include: •

Orbassano Safety Centre, near Turin, Italy, is fully integrated with digital engineering processes and significantly upgraded to host four test tracks with four impact points and capabilities for full testing of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and automated driving technology for passenger cars, trucks, and light commercial vehicles.

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| Motors Orbassano's arsenal includes static and dynamic test fixtures for factors such as pedestrian impact, roof crush and rollover, and test sleds to evaluate seating and vehicle interiors. Seat and interior testing become more critical as the adoption of future automated driving technologies hold the potential for new cabin seating configurations.

A Better Breeze Aerodynamic efficiency is a crucial difference-maker in the drive to optimise the distances electrified vehicles can travel on a single charge. That requires simulating the real driving world as accurately as possible

light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030.

The €5 million in upgrades for the Orbassano Safety Centre give it the capability to test all types of electrified vehicles - mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The facility currently runs at least two crash tests a day and is on track to test more than 275 electrified vehicles this year. Vehicles tested at Orbassano can be certified to meet more than 175 international safety and technological standards.

the data is shared with Stellantis facilities around the world, including the additional safety testing centres in Belchamp, France; Chelsea, Michigan,

At the Stellantis wind tunnel complex in Auburn Hills, Michigan, construction is in progress to install moving ground plane technology (rolling road), which simulates on-road travel while allowing test vehicles to remain static. Stellantis is investing $29.5 million in the project.

The impact zone of the test tracks is fitted with a Messring movable block for front and side-impact tests, and Orbassano runs some of the industry's most-challenging tests including the passenger-side small overlap test being used by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Orbassano's test tracks include a computer-driven camera positioning system with 13 moveable outboard camera locations over the impact point.

In addition, the tracks include the capability for underbody high-speed video, while up to five cameras can be mounted on board the test vehicle.

U.S.; and Betim, Brazil, to refine digital vehicle development models.

This state-ofthe-art facility is fully integrated with Stellantis’ safety digital engineering process, allowing the most efficient vehicle development and virtually covering all possible field crash scenarios.

All these views, plus the instrumented data, provide Stellantis engineers with invaluable data for evaluating current and future vehicle designs. Additionally, www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

The new tracks are ready to accommodate future test modes related to the introduction of automated driving functions on all types of vehicles.

Belts enable wheel movement at all four corners of the vehicle while a fifth belt runs beneath the vehicle as if it were rolling over a roadway. Moving ground plane technology also enables measurement of ventilation drag, which is the resistance associated exclusively with wheels and tyres in motion. It accounts for up to 10 percent of total, real-world aerodynamic drag.

The existing aerodynamic test facility in Auburn Hills generates wind speeds up to 140 mph. The moving ground plane installation, part of an estimated $85 million commitment included in the Company's 2019 contract with the United Auto Workers, is scheduled to become operational in 2024.

The added capability will complement the world-class aero-acoustic wind tunnel in Auburn Hills as part of a global network of leading-edge centres also equipped with moving ground plane technology, including two facilities in Europe.

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MY AMI BUGGY LIMITED EDITION: ALL 50 UNITS SOLD IN LESS THAN 18 MINUTES

Limited run of 50 My Ami Buggy units went on sale from midnight on Tuesday 21 June, and My Ami Buggy sold out in 17 minutes and 28 seconds. itroën Ami is characterized by its entirely digital journey: from discovering the product and ordering to making a payment and selecting a delivery schedule, everything can be done easily online. Today, the fastest customer managed to complete the whole purchasing journey and secure their My Ami Buggy in only 2 minutes and 53 seconds. Thus, they will receive one of the 50 numbered units personalized with their name, which will be delivered during the second half of August.

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The huge public enthusiasm for the adventurous nature of the My Ami Buggy concept, unveiled in December 2021, brought on the desire from Citroën to create a limited edition model to satisfy the strong public demand. Almost 1,800 people expressed their desire to purchase this new exclusive version of Ami.

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| Motors My Ami Buggy is built for adventure and embodies freedom of movement with a holiday vibe thanks to its passenger compartment being open. Instead of doors, it features metal tube gates. Similarly, the roof has gone, and in its place is a canvas sunroof that can be rolled back so you can enjoy the open air.

It's difficult to not notice its adventurous style – with its unusual Khaki bodywork, its wheel arches, its

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front and rear bumpers and its golden wheel rims.

It's also difficult to resist its set of yellow accessories that gives a vitaminized look.

Available in 9 countries, Ami has already won over 21,000 customers in Europe since its commercial launch in April 2020. The dazzling success of this limited edition shows just how incredibly enthusiastic people are about exclusive versions of this vehicle.

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THE AWARD-WINNING

ISUZU D-MAX PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

2022

ISUZU D-MAX RANGE FROM

£21,999–£33,849† SMARTER. STRONGER. SAFER.

DRIVEN TO DO Duckworth Isuzu

London Road, Boston Tel: 01205 725 700 duckworth.co.uk/isuzu

Jeffries of Bacton Startin Tractors Stowmarket, Suffolk Tel: 01449 781 131 jeffriesofbactonisuzu.co.uk

Ashby Road, Twycross Tel: 01827 880 088 startintractorsisuzu.co.uk

York Van Centre Station Lane, York Tel: 01904 470 170 yorkvancentreisuzu.co.uk

Culverwell Cars Robertsbridge, East Sussex Tel: 01580 880 567 culverwellisuzu.co.uk

All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1 – 27.6 (10.2 – 11.2). Mid 31.4 – 36.4 (7.8 – 9.0). High 36.0 – 39.4 (7.2 – 7.8). Extra-High 29.0 – 30.8 (9.2 – 9.7). Combined 30.7 – 33.6 (8.4 – 9.2).

CO2 emissions 220 – 241g/km. †From price shown is an Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Single Cab vehicle on the road price with manual transmission. Model shown in image is a Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Double Cab Commercial vehicle on the road price of £32,349.00 with manual transmission. All prices shown include delivery, number plates, 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee, excludes VAT and mica/metallic paint finish. The Award-Winning Isuzu D-Max is Smarter Stronger Safer compared to previous model. Terms and conditions apply.