February 2021 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: The ALL New Isuzu D-max page 80

Farming MONTHLY National

February 2021

| Machinery

I 70 YEARS OF VALTRA TRACTORS A STORY THAT SPANS GENERATIONS

page 62

| News

Also inside this month..

| Urgent action needed to safeguard water and agricultural land for food production page 10

Doosans New DX57W -7

10% off LBC award winning footwear

Efficient use of straw

PLUS: Arable| Grain | Potatoes | Building | H&S |Sheep |Tyres| Livestock| ATV | Motors

CONTENTS

F e b r u a r y 2021

FEATURES 16

25

43

62

18 Arable

48 Feed and Nutrition

68 Sheep

24 Grain

50 Muck &Slurry

70 Tyres

34 Security 36 Health & Safety

REGULARS

38 Potatoes

06 News

60 Machinery

40 Livestock

16 On Topic

72 ATV

30 Buildings

80 Motors

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p24 Agriculture. Covered.

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Rural group calls for improved maintenance system to stave off flooding ndertaking regular maintenance of England’s main rivers would help improve flooding in rural areas, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has said.

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Recent storms have wreaked havoc across rural communities, damaging agricultural land and businesses as well as people’s homes.

The Government, as part of its 2020 Budget, pledged £5.2 billion funding for flood risk reduction - earmarked specifically for new infrastructure.

But the CLA, which represents 28,000 rural businesses across England and Wales, estimates an extra £75 million per year is needed for maintenance of floodrisk assets to help stave off flooding.

The CLA says 3.7 million acres of land in England and Wales are at risk from flooding.

CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: “Many farmers and businesses have suffered catastrophic consequences of flooding from extreme weather events, and it could get worse.

“In many rural areas the key issue is not a need for new infrastructure, but the fact that flood defences on main rivers are not being consistently maintained by the Environment Agency. This greatly increases the pressure on land managers who farm alongside main rivers, and those who manage flood risk further upstream – such as internal drainage boards.

“For flood risk management to be effective, everyone must play their part, and currently the Environment Agency is

vastly under resourced. For this reason, the CLA is calling for extra funding specifically to help the Environment Agency uphold their statutory responsibility to mitigate flood risk.

“Right now, some farmland is used to store water to protect communities downstream from further flooding. This is saving potentially millions of pounds’ worth of damage to local homes and businesses, but in the vast majority of cases it’s done without compensation.

Whatever crop happens to be standing in those fields is lost.

“While acts like these help the community, it still leaves a big hole for many flood-hit businesses in the countryside which is why Government needs to come forward with this extra investment to help mitigate the risk of flooding altogether.”

New agricultural bank puts farmers first ollowing the announcement of its launch last month, Oxbury, the new specialist agricultural bank, has now fully launched its savings and loan operations, bringing UK farmers reassurance that they are being supported during an unpredictable time.

Designed with a 100% farmer focus, the bank and its products have been built with the specific aim of benefiting farmers and offering straightforward lending and savings products tailored to their needs.

“Building relationships and getting to understand our customers, their ambitions and business goals is a cornerstone of Oxbury’s values,” says managing director and co-founder Nick Evans.

“Initially we are working with wellestablished and trusted partners – Frontier Agriculture, Hutchinsons, KW Feeds and Mole Valley Farmers - to help us build these relationships, and we will be adding more suppliers in the coming months. We want to work directly onside with farmers; their goals are our goals.”

To support farmers in their borrowing needs, the bank’s flagship account, Oxbury Farm Credit, will allow access to the cash needed for farm inputs such as feed, seed, chemicals, and fertilisers, he says. “This is a shortterm lending product which is a competitive alternative

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to a normal bank overdraft, and which can be opened now via discussion with a farmer’s input supplier.

“Cash management is vital for businesses and at Oxbury we recognise farm cashflows are not always smooth.

Oxbury Farm Credit is a short-term lending facility that allows farmers to buy now and repay when it suits their cashflow,” says Mr Evans.

Long-term loans, from £25,000 to £10m, are also available. These loans are targeted at farmers looking at land acquisition, funding succession planning, large capital expenditure like new dairy parlours and grain stores, or carbon positive initiatives including renewable energies and rural diversification projects. “We will support well thought out initiatives that enable on-going financial stability as well as environmental sustainability,” says Mr Evans.

In January, Oxbury launched their Farm Business Bonus Savings Accounts, which are now open for applications.

Initially there are a 95-day Notice Account and a one-year Fixed Rate Bond with interest rates that easily exceed the rates of the big four banks which farmers typically bank with.

“These savings accounts pay a bonus simply for being an active farm business (sole traders, partnerships and limited companies), so long as you have a Single Business Identifier (SBI) or County Parish Holding (CPH) number,” explains Mr

Evans. “The bonus isn’t reliant on any other factors - just being a farmer - and will offer an extremely competitive rate that can’t be achieved elsewhere.”

Later in the year, the bank will also be launching the UK’s first carbon mitigation savings account for the general consumer; a first in the banking industry.

This allows everyone to save in an environmentally conscious way while supporting tree-planting projects on British farms. It also brings more money into the agricultural sector, as all funds saved with Oxbury are only used to support lending to UK agriculture.

As well as offering access to accounts via online banking and a mobile app, Oxbury has integrated technology into its services to allow for streamlined invoice management, says Mr Evans. “Farmers will be able to manage their supplier invoices within the banking platform; either choosing to allocate the invoice to credit or pay it off straight away.”

Further integration includes with accountancy packages such as Farmplan and Xero. “Information will be exportable to whatever is being used for the farm accounts,” he adds. “So, it’s not just about competitive rates on working capital, but also about offering a tool that reduces the daily business administration – meaning more time to run the business and less spent in the office.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Vaccine centre opens at Royal Highland Centre he Royal Highland Centre (RHC), home to the Royal Highland Show, has today become a signification location for Covid-19 vaccinations.

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The RHC site, which hosts over 220 events attracting over 1 million visitors a year, has up until today been largely dormant due to Covid-19 restrictions.

However, from today the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) Members' Pavilion, a £5 million events venue completed days before lockdown in March 2020, will become a mass vaccination centre with

the capacity to vaccinate more than 1,000 people every day, seven days a week.

RHASS Chairman, Bill Gray, commented: "While this was not what we envisaged the first event at our new Members Pavilion to look like, we are delighted that we were able to offer it to aid in the battle against Covid-19.

"We can think of no greater use for this building than to support the national vaccine programme and we are hopeful that our efforts will contribute to the return of events in 2021, and indeed our own flagship event the Royal Highland Show.

"We are working to ensure the Royal Highland Show can proceed without impact."

The Members Pavilion joins other locations across Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and Queen Margaret University, that have been repurposed as mass vaccination centres to aid the rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine.

The Scottish Government has pledged to vaccinate 1.4 million vulnerable Scots by mid-February.

Roger Parry & Partners help secure the future of traditional family farms T

he future of Ioan Humphreys’ traditional beef and sheep farm near Carno, mid Wales, was uncertain when his father fell ill but after seeking the advice and planning expertise of Roger Parry & Partners he has turned his family’s fortunes around.

To give Felin Newydd farm a secure future, and to keep the family together, Ioan invested £1million in a state-of-the-art chicken shed and now keeps 32,000 free range hens.

Richard Corbett, Partner with Roger Parry & Partners said, “We were delighted to be able to help Ioan and his family gain planning permission for his chicken shed and we wish him all the very best for the future. We have turned the fortunes around for many traditional farmers by giving them good sound advice on what diversification would www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

partner. Around 30,000 eggs are produced every day on the farm which go to supermarkets in the main.

work best to future proof their farm business. Keeping chickens isn’t the answer for everyone but it suits Ioan and his family’s situation.”

Ioan has described his first year in his new business as ‘amazing’ and the successful young businessman is looking forward to a successful future.

Things have turned out much better than Ioan expected and the farm now provides work for his sister and her

Ioan said, “Some eight years ago dad fell ill and we had halved the number of stock on the farm so we were just ticking over really but it wasn’t sustainable so I thought investing in hens would help us and make things better. I feel that the chicken shed gives us a bit of certainty and secures the future of the family and the farm.”

Richard said, “Farms can be revitalised by the creation of a new enterprise. These opportunities are exciting and rejuvenate businesses and operations in the rural sector. Our team of professional chartered surveyors have a long and successful track record in helping farms diversify. If you would like us to help facilitate family discussions, consider values, or the planning landscape please feel free to get in touch.”

Visit Roger Parry & Partners website for details: www.rogerparry.net

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NEW CropSaver 7 Series Application Equipement for 2021 Season

ropSaver is launching the new 7 Series bale management systems for all types of large square baler.

The 7 Series builds on the precision and functionality of the previous 600 Series while reducing the overall capital cost of a system.

The H2O precision moisture sensor and

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sensor’, the simple answer is accuracy and reliability with ease of use whether it is integrated to he baler or as a smart device standalone system. Why should a baler operator accept data that is less accurate from a rub pad or moisture probe? With the twin star wheel system, the operator can have full confidence in the data produced.

In the near future a secondgeneration RFID bale tagging system will complement the wet bale marker that provides a simple low-cost option to highlight bales that exceed the operators defined moisture limit. Marking with a food grade colour of the high moisture bales allows the bales to be separated at the stacking point so that the number of waste or poorquality bales are reduced.

is the building block for additional 7 Series modules. Accurate measurement of moisture is key to understanding further improvements in the management of your baling operation. The H2O moisture sensor with its 24 years of infield experience is built for the latest generation of high density large square balers.

The technology used to read moisture is market leading +/- 1% accuracy with zero calibration requirements in different crop types or density. The twin star wheels measure by pulsing an electrical signal through the entire bale flake profile. The CropSaver team is often asked ‘why we would pay more for your moisture 8|

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adjusting CropSaver pH 6.0 buffered acid application in real time.

CropSaver pH6.0 animal safe buffered acid. This is an integral part to assist in the baling of high moisture hay and straw when the weather is fighting you all the way to the barn. We have all heard stories of straw baled too wet and turns out like cardboard or hay baled to wet and the usual comments of ‘leave it in the field for a few weeks to sweat’ or at worst self-combust. Once you exceed 16% moisture just as with grain there is varying degrees of spoilage unless using our high-quality bale preservative.

NEW 7 Series is the most cost-effective tool to assist in your baling operation.

Improving your understanding of moisture in crops and being able to manage high moisture bales with the wet bale marker or utilising the ultimate bale management applicator system.

CropSaver is available from your local New Holland Dealer

The third component is the automatic variable rate applicator which is suitable for all large square balers. The new 7 Series is approximately a 20% saving in capital cost.

CropSaver uses the balers onboard sensors such as the electronic bale length and weigh scale to monitors the balers performance, www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

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“Cow In A Crash Helmet”, a new Children’s Book by Pauline Tucker ave you got bored children at home, fed up with home-schooling?

“Cow In A Crash Helmet”, a new Children’s Book by Pauline Tucker, could be just the thing to make them smile.

“For as long as she could remember, Myrtle had wanted a motorbike. The field she lived in was next to a road and she loved to watch the motorbikes as they roared past the gate and round the corner.

Myrtle decided to save money until she had enough to buy the bike of her dreams. ‘I must get a shiny new helmet and some gloves as well’ she thought.”

Myrtle is a Little Cow with Big Ideas, who is interested in all the goings-on round the farm. But she is even more interested in the motorbikes hurtling past the farm gate and sets about earning the money to buy one. Doing odd jobs, baby-sitting the calves, seeing the ducks across the road…

Eventually she persuades the farmer to take her into town to make her

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dream come true.

A shiny blue motorbike is loaded into the trailer, and Myrtle and the farmer drive carefully home. Imagine the looks on the other animals faces as she proudly puts on her crash helmet and gloves, clambers on the motorbike and starts it up!

She enlists the help of Tom the Sheepdog, and the fun really starts!

Who would have thought a cow could possibly ride a fast, noisy bike? Of course, not everything goes smoothly, but that’s half the fun.

Add in Hang-gliding and Water-skiing and you’ve got Cow In A Crash Helmet. Children of 3+ love to hear the stories, and independent readers 6+ enjoy reading the book themselves.

Published by Onion Custard Kids, part of Wordcatcher, it is available online as paperback and e-book from Waterstones, Foyles and Amazon, where it has received 5-star reviews.

Paperback costs £6.99, e-book from £3.99.

Urgent action needed to safeguard water and agricultural land for food production he NFU has today launched a new report calling for urgent action to bring the nation’s water infrastructure up to date to better cope with extreme weather events, from flooding to drought. It urges government, water companies and farmers to properly invest in water management as a critical response to climate change.

The report sets out why a long-term, collaborative approach is needed, and how the NFU is calling for farmers and land managers to be part of the solution and take on-farm action to help achieve these goals.

The report reveals that: • Significant investment in water infrastructure is crucial to protect existing farmland and food production during extreme weather events, increase our food security, and help deliver the NFU’s ambition for farming to be net zero by 2040.

• 57% of farmers say they have experienced extreme weather conditions, such as flooding or drought, in the past 10 years. This shows why there is a pressing need to further equip farmers with tools to manage extreme weather events.

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• The creation of a multi-sector integrated water management strategy would help secure a fair share of water for agriculture and establish the agri-food sector as an essential user of water.

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts said: “We saw last week the impact of Storm Christoph leaving hundreds of acres of productive farmland under water. As the entire nation continues to deal with more volatile weather, now is the time to look at the bigger picture, as these extremes are impacting British farming’s ability to produce food.

“We need to think long-term instead of reacting every time we’re hit by a severe storm or a spell of hot, dry weather.

Cooperation and collaboration between farmers, government and water companies is vital in our response to managing flooding and drought risk, to protect productive farmland and ensure farmers are getting their fair share of water.

“Critical to this will be significant investment in our water infrastructure – an ambitious upgrade of ageing flood defences, drainage and waterways. We should embrace Britain’s great engineering and science skills to look at ways of how we can collect and store

water when some parts have too little and others too much. This could enable farmers to grow more fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, or other crops here in Britain, in addition to farming smarter to bring down our emissions and help achieve our net zero ambition by 2040.

“Crucially, farmers are ready to play their part. There are already great examples of farmers adapting their businesses to make them more resilient to extreme weather by developing on-farm rainwater harvesting systems and using precision irrigation.

They can do much more as long as they have support and the tools to do so; being able to access funding to build more onfarm reservoirs and to invest in new irrigation equipment would help alleviate flooding and secure more water.

“The series of recent floods and droughts has highlighted the vulnerability of the entire country to extreme weather and climate change, from farmland to our towns and cities. A serious commitment by government, water companies and from farmers to upgrade and invest in our water infrastructure will have benefits for everyone.”

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| News

Funding up for grabs for ‘shovel ready’ biodiversity projects T

he impact of COVID-19 on communities in the Midlands has led Severn Trent to release a one-off, limited-timeonly, funding pot of £250,000 to support anyone wanting to improve biodiversity in the region, no matter how ambitious their ideas.

Zara Frankton, Severn Trent senior biodiversity coordinator, says that individuals, groups, and businesses in the region can apply for funding, so long as their project is over 0.5ha or 0.5km and must be completed by 31 March 2021.

“We’re open to any ideas, on any scale, but the more creative the better – the sky’s the limit. Previous projects have included wetland restoration, hedgerow planting, wildflower meadow creation and habitat management for native birds and mammals,” she says.

“Given the tight deadline, applicants need to make sure any proposed work can be started right away. We’ll also consider projects that have already started but remain unfinished, perhaps because they ran into financial difficulty. We need these to be up and running by the spring to give habitat and other wildlife the best chance to thrive.”

This funding is a part of Severn Trent’s major commitment to preserving its region’s natural environment and tackling climate change, known as the Great Big Nature Boost. This ongoing project has ambitious plans to work with the community to enhance nature over 5,000ha, plant 1.3 million trees and restore 2,000km of rivers by 2027.

To apply for funding, please email ecologymatters@severntrent.co.uk to express your interest, as soon as possible.

For more information, please visit www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/ environment/great-big-natureboost/. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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British Lion eggs crack on with extensive 2021 marketing campaign ritish Lion eggs has launched a £1.3m marketing campaign for 2021 to drive awareness of the Lion mark and capitalise on unprecedented consumer demand for eggs in retail.

With retail sales growing by 18.4% in the last year (52 w/e 27 Dec 2020), the equivalent of around 1.2billion extra eggs, this year’s campaign will focus on keeping eggs top of mind and maintaining the sales boost delivered by lockdown and consumer desire for quick, healthy meals. In addition to inspiring recipe content, targeting millennials in particular, the campaign will also seek to build pride in the Lion against the backdrop of Brexit and the expected rise in demand for British produce.

Olympic diver, foodie and parent, Tom Daley, will continue his role as the figurehead for British Lion eggs as he builds towards representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games this year.

Daley, an advocate for healthy living, will front a digital ad campaign in partnership with health and food media outlets including BBC Good Food and Men’s Health, as well as creating and sharing Lion egg recipes with his 7 million+ social media followers.

A partnership with inspirational digital food platform Tastemade will help to encourage consumers to experiment with new ways to enjoy this versatile food.

British Lion eggs is also tapping into the huge popularity of podcasts, sponsoring various food and health focused series, which will generate an estimate of 400k weekly impressions and reach an audience of which 70% are aged 18-34.

The campaign will also have a strong foodservice focus, with food safety professional Dr Lisa Ackerley continuing to work with British Lion eggs to highlight their benefits to EHOs and hospitality through social content, training and liaison with key industry influencers. This messaging will be shared through partnerships with respected industry bodies including The Royal Society of Public Health and Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Social and digital media partnerships targeting caterers with food safety messaging will follow.

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Respected nutritionists and dietitians will continue to work with British Lion eggs to leverage their food safety and nutritional benefits, targeting health professionals and consumers, across health professional and consumer media.

To communicate and educate new audiences about the FSA advice that only British Lion eggs should be consumed runny by vulnerable groups, a new partnership is being launched with Charlotte StirlingReed, a Registered Nutritionist and high-profile influencer with 204k followers on Instagram, as well as an advertising campaign with top parenting sites, including netmums.com. The long-standing partnership with Annabel Karmel, the best-selling author on baby food and nutrition, will also continue.

Seasonal, calendar and health opportunities, including British Egg Week, will be maximised year-round across digital, social and print media.

British Lion eggs and encourage increased usage.

“We enter a post-Brexit world expecting increased demand for British produce and with huge confidence that we can continue to inspire customers and end consumers with motivating messages around the nutrition, versatility and affordability of eggs produced in the UK and educating all stakeholders about the highest safety and quality standards that British Lion eggs offer.”

British Lion eggs will continue to inspire retail, foodservice and care home channels with new research, motivating experts, ambassadors, education, training and advertising across print, digital and social media as well as at exhibitions and events in the latter part of 2021.

Andrew Joret, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, says: “While retail sales have been on the up for more than a decade, last year we witnessed an incredible increase in egg sales, due to lockdown. Healthy, quick and easy to cook, as well as versatile, consumers are using eggs as a meal solution throughout the day, which gives us a fantastic opportunity to try to maintain those consumption levels throughout this year and beyond.

“Conversely, there have been huge challenges for hospitality as a result of lockdown but we are optimistic the sector will start to recover when lockdown eases and our marketing programme will highlight the benefits of 12 |

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| News

FARMERS CHOSEN AS MOST TRUSTED GROUP WITHIN THE FOOD SECTOR BY EUROPEAN CONSUMERS onsumer trust in the food sector has increased over the course of the COVID19 pandemic, a new report from Europe's leading food innovation initiative can reveal.

When it comes to confidence in food products themselves, consumers believe that food safety on the whole has improved, with an 8% increase from 2018 in those agreeing that food is generally safe, to a total of 55%. In the UK, this rises to 74%.

Study of 20,000 consumers across 18 European countries reveals trust in the food sector has increased over the course of 2020, yet the majority of consumers don't consider the sector to be working in the public interest.

In regard to health, however, despite seven in 10 (71%) claiming they choose healthy options over unhealthy where they can, less than half (43%) of European consumers believe that food products are generally healthy. Meanwhile, just four in 10 (40%) have confidence that the food products they buy are generally authentic, rather than fake or artificial.

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The EIT Food Trust Report surveyed 19,800 consumers from 18 European countries to measure trust in the food system and confidence in food products. The study was conducted by a consortium of pan-European academic partners including the University of Reading, the European Food Information Council (EUFIC), Aarhus University, KU Leuven, and the University of Warsaw.

The report shows that consumer trust in all parts of the food sector has increased, and with it the confidence they have in food products, with overall increases of between 3% and 8%.

Farmers hold public trust – but governments and manufacturers lag behind Of all players within the food sector, farmers are the most trusted by the public, with two-thirds (67%) of European consumers reporting that they trust farmers compared to just 13% that do not.

Retailers are the next most trusted group, with 53% of consumers expressing their trust – a rise of 7% since 2018, potentially associated with the COVID19 pandemic and the gratitude felt by some to the sector for maintaining food supplies and access.

Trust in both government agencies and food manufacturers, however, has lagged behind, with less than half of consumers across all countries (47% and 46% respectively) stating that they trust these groups. Meanwhile, over a quarter of consumers (29% and 26%) actively distrust government authorities and manufacturers respectively.

UK consumers consider the food sector to be more caring than European peers do In the UK, consumers consider the food industry to play a more caring role than other Europeans do, with seven in 10 (72%) believing that farmers act in the public interest, compared to a European average of 56%.

The same is true for retailers, with 61% of UK consumers agreeing that retailers listen to public concerns and 55% thinking retailers act in the public interest – compared to averages of 44% and 41% across Europe as a whole.

Likewise, just three in 10 consumers (30%) are confident that food products are generally produced in a sustainable way (meaning environmentally friendly, resource efficient and ethically responsible), compared to 42% that consider them to be unsustainable.

This is at odds with consumer values, with more than three-quarters (76%) of Europeans reporting that they feel a moral obligation to use environmentally friendly products, while six in 10 (60%) say that when given the choice, they will buy sustainable goods over those that are not – demonstrating a clear opportunity to match consumer demand for more environmentally friendly products.

Professor Klaus Grunert, Department of Management at Aarhus University, said: "As the global population moves towards 10 billion by 2050, we need innovative technologies and collaborative approaches from farm to fork to deliver accessible and healthy food products in a sustainable way. The EIT Food Trust Report shows that there are clear opportunities for the food industry to demonstrate how it is acting in the public interest and meet consumer demand regarding health and sustainability."

Saskia Nuijten, Director of Communication and Public Engagement at EIT Food, said: "The events of 2020 have shown many consumers how vital our food infrastructure is, ranging from keeping products on supermarket shelves to considering how our food production impacts the environment. As we look to our economic recovery in the coming year, helping to build trust between consumers and the food sector will be critical to improving food for everyone.

"Ultimately, to create a future-fit food system, we must put consumers at the centre of the development, production, distribution and promotion of food. Many of our EIT Food projects work directly with consumers to increase transparency, thereby empowering healthy and sustainable food choices."

Consumer demands on health and sustainability not being met by industry www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Arrowquip and P&D Engineering partner to bring innovative cattle handling equipment and squeeze crushes to farmers in the United Kingdom &D ENGINEERING HISTORY P&D Engineering is a family owned company which was originally founded in 1976. They service and sell a variety of agricultural machinery including tractors, Merlo telehandlers, utility vehicles, and livestock handling equipment from their location on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border.

Their fully trained staff provide customers with the best experience possible through their purchasing journey, and skilled engineers who continue to provide support long after their purchase has been made.

P&D Engineering joined the Arrowquip Dealer Network in June 2019 and have been providing best in class livestock handling equipment to producers in the UK ever since.

ARROWQUIP HISTORY Philip Firth created his first cattle crush in 1988 because he needed a better way to manage the cattle on his family farm in Tamworth, Australia. The cattle crush that he made was quickly recognized by local veterinarians as a safer way to complete processing tasks, and that is how the Arrowquip story began. Now, over 30 years later, Arrowquip has expanded to serve cattle

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producers around the globe with the mission: “To influence the livestock handling industry globally through the practical application of animal science and welfare standards, and increase producer safety and profitability with innovative equipment”.

Arrowquip is proud to be the only cattle equipment manufacturer to employ a full team of engineers and experienced cattle producers who are solely dedicated to crafting cattle handling equipment and livestock crushes. Every piece of equipment designed by their team must be the safest, easiest, and most efficient it can be for producers and their livestock.

Just a few short years after entering the market, Arrowquip has quickly become the most sought-after cattle equipment manufacturer in the United Kingdom thanks to their industry-leading innovation and unmatched 7-Year No Bull Warranty.

THE 700 SERIES – A NEW ERA OF CATTLE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Arrowquip’s 700 Series takes cattle handling to the next level with advancements like you’ve never seen before to provide cattle farmers with an even easier, quieter, and more efficient cattle handling experience. The Q-Catch 87 Series is the next generation of the Q-Catch line. Every feature on this model is engineered with purpose and precision, with over 87 quiet points from front-to-back, and the NEW 3E Q-Catch Head Gate. Guided by low-stress handling techniques and cattle behaviour research, Arrowquip’s engineers have crafted a unique cattle crush that is the perfect combination of quiet, easy, safe, and reliable. All this is backed by an unmatched 7-Year Warranty to provide producers with the confidence that their investment will last

for years to come.

The Q-Catch 87 Series squeeze crush is also available in a hydraulic model that features a unique pivoting control arm, enhanced fast-touch hydraulic controls, and truly silent operation. The Q-Power 107 Series is designed for maximum cattle control, while providing a safe and effective space for producers to manage their cattle.

The 700 Series cattle crushes are available in manual, hydraulic, stationary, and portable models with a variety of accessories and add-ons. To see the full lineup of Arrowquip cattle handling equipment, visit arrowquip.co.uk/cattle-equipment or contact P&D Engineering.

DESIGNED WITH TB TESTING IN MIND All Arrowquip cattle crushes are designed with tuberculosis testing in mind, and feature a 324mm TB access area so producers and veterinarians can perform testing quickly and effectively.

For further information regarding P&D Engineering, contact Tim Pinney at tim@panddeng.co.uk or visit their website, www.panddengineering.com

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| On Topic

Treway farm go from strength to strength e are Will and Kate Martin and along with our ‘mini farmers’ Charlie and Flora farm at Treway Farm in mid Cornwall. We have 150 acres at Treway and then we rent a further 150 acres in the local area.

We are both first generation farmers and acquired Treway in 2011 when Will finished at Harper Adams.

In our 11 years at Treway we have gone on quite the steep learning curve journey to where we are now.

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At the start we were offering a ‘bed and breakfast’ service for a neighbours dairy heifers whilst we started our own suckler herd. All of our original stock was bought as calves from Truro Livestock Market and reared on. We were selling a percentage of animals as stores (when cash flow required) and aiming to take the majority through to fat.

Meanwhile in 2015 we decided that we needed a diversification project to add much needed finance into the business. We settled on the idea of Christmas Turkeys and little did we know how this would change our entire farming life course. In 2015 we bought 200 bronze poults from Farmgate Hatcheries and set about rearing them with the idea we would direct sell them to customers through the farmgate. Well somehow we made it through our first turkey season and ended up selling out, the turkeys were met with rave reviews and we realised we had hit upon the right idea!

Since then we have upped our flock numbers every year. Last Christmas we produced 1100 bronze free range turkeys and 80 free range geese. 800 of which were sold direct to customer with the majority being picked up from the farm. Our access down to the

farm is through fairly narrow lanes so much planning goes into one way systems and traffic control!!

Our customers love our collection days and it has become such a highlight of their Christmas traditions as we lay on mulled wine and mince pies and make it quite the festive affair. This year was of course a little different but still enjoyed by all – at a distance of course!!

Whilst building the turkey business we kept getting requests from our

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| On Topic

customers asking to buy our beef. We decided that we wanted to have a breed of cattle that would match our native/heritage feel of the bronze turkeys so went out and bought some pedigree Shorthorn heifers. We have found them to be docile (a welcome change after many

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adventures and stories to tell of flighty Limousins!) easy calvers and excellent grass converters. Plus they are easy to finish on grass, produce the most amazing marbled meat and are oh so beautiful to look at. In the past few years we have built up our pedigree herd to 20 and this year all of our 60 commercial cows are also in calf to Shorthorn bulls.

Last year we focused our efforts on selling as much of our beef direct to customer as possible. At the start of the year we were hoping that with the ‘wind behind us’ we might sell one bullock a month….. So we invested in having a new logo drawn for the ‘Treway Farm Pastured Beef’ venture.

Gradually the beef really started to take off and we are now selling 1 whole bullock per week all direct to customer. This is through nationwide shipping, farmgate collections and a weekly pitch at our local farmer’s market in Truro.

Social media has been a totally invaluable tool for us to build the business and raise the awareness of our farm and produce. We post to instagram/facebook daily and really try to show the full behind the scenes journey of farm to fork.

We have found that customers really engage in what is going on

at the farm and it gives them real confidence to buy our meat.

This year we are hoping to keep building on last year’s progress with selling more turkeys and geese this Christmas and of course more of our Shorthorn beef every week. The dream is to be able to sell every animal we produce here direct to customer. We see this as the most financially stable future for our family and the farm where we are the driving force setting our price not chasing a fickle beef trade price. trewayfarmturkeys.co.uk Instagram: @trewayfarm

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| Arable

ollowing a varied winter and worries of more severe weather to come, now is a good time to review cereal crop performance and give them a boost with a biostimulant going into spring.

David Newton, product manager at Timac Agro, explains as the temperatures warm, crops will be starting to grow and will need all the help they can get to meet yield potentials.

“At this time of year, crops are at a critical growth stage and they are coming into a period where they will be setting yield. So, it’s essential they’re given everything they need to achieve their optimum yield,” he says.

“Cereal crops on the whole have established well this year, as early

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autumn conditions were generally good. Therefore, it’s worth investing in the crop to make sure it maintains performance going into spring.”

David advises growers monitor crops for any yellowing or obvious nutritional deficiencies.

“It’s also a good time to look at tiller numbers to see if the crops are where they should be.

“According to the AHDB winter wheat guide, the benchmark maximum for a late September to early October-sown winter wheat crops with 260 plants/m2 is 1,020 shoots/m2.”

If any crop is found to be lagging behind, David recommends using biostimulants to resolve the issues.

“Applying a biostimulant, such as Fertiactyl Starter and Fertileader Vital, at the end of February to early March will help to reinforce the plant against any adverse spring weather or other stress factors such as herbicide applications,” he says.

“These biostimulants can help crops

prepare for the spring as they stimulate root growth, boost photosynthesis and improve overall plant vigour.

“The humic and fulvic acids in Fertiactyl Starter help to make nutrition in the soil more readily available for plant roots to scavenge,” says David.

To help save time and travelling David suggests applying biostimulants with your liquid fertiliser or early fungicides.

“Applying with a liquid fertiliser is ideal as the biostimulant can help with uptake of these nutrients. It’s especially important when applying nitrogen with early applications as it can improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE),” adds David.

“Farmers today have to deal with a variety of challenges posed by the climate, moisture and the soil, so anything that can help achieve the full potential out of a crop should be actively considered.”

Yara invests £7.5 million in its liquid fertiliser business ince 2016, Yara has been undertaking a rolling programme of improvements across three of their liquid fertiliser sites at Elvington, Chedburgh and Immingham. All sites now benefit from the most modern fertiliser production technology available.

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To date, Yara have invested over £7.5 million in the renovations which include everything from NPK blend plant upgrades and new storage tanks to mixer upgrades and infrastructure improvements. The investment also provides increased capacity and improved safety facilities, building on 18 |

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the company's impressive reputation for safety first.

All the renovations were undertaken whilst ensuring farmer supply to their liquid fertiliser product was uninterrupted, an impressive logistical feat. As Darren Glegg, Yara's Business Manager for Liquid Fertiliser says, "It has been challenging to manage such a large renovation programme without negatively impacting our farmers, but the team managed to deliver by doing much of it outside of the growing season."

The increased capacity these renovations offer, provides Yara

customers with increased choice and flexibility, allowing Yara to build on their reputation for delivering excellent product quality and reliable customer service.

Yara (formerly Chafer) pioneered the use of liquid fertiliser in the UK over 50 years ago. They are renowned for a combination of product quality, flexible delivery and excellent agronomic advice. It is in keeping with this dedication to quality that the improvements have been made, demonstrating how committed Yara are in delivering the best to UK farmers.

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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| Arable

SEAWEED BASED BIOSTIMULANT COULD BE THE NEXT BIG THING

ith increased scrutiny on the use of chemicals within agriculture, one Lincolnshire farmer is urging growers to consider a seaweed-based biostimulant as a way of increasing yields and reducing stress in the crop.

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Marcus Palmer owns Rose Villa Farm in Spalding, growing potatoes, sugar beat cereals and peas.

Since 2005, Marcus has been the sole UK importer and distributor of Algifol, a completely natural biostimulant.

Algifol is a concentrated brown algae, gathered from the North Atlantic, dried and refined to maximise its wealth of trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones.

"I have been promoting the use of natural products as a way of improving crop yield for more than 16

years, but it is only in the last few years that people have really taken notice," says Marcus.

"The government has really put the spotlight on removing potentially hazardous chemicals from the watercourse in recent years, and these days you can't open a magazine without reading about the latest consultation.

"I came across Algifol in 2005 and as many of the large chemical companies were promoting the benefits biostimulants, I was curious about whether or not a product derived from seaweed could help potatoes. I was open-minded, and when I heard that seaweed is the fastest growing plant on the planet, I thought it might be worth investigating further. In that first year we saw our yields and quality improve compared to our control area. The rest as they say is history, we have seen improvements in all crops since then."

As well as increasing yields, Algifol can help lower the carbon footprint of the crop by improving fertilser uptake through better rooting and improved photosynthesis, which reduces leaching and losses to the atmosphere.

Marcus was so impressed with the effects of Algifol on his crop that he approached the manufacturers NeoMed-Pharma of Germany - to see if he could sell it to other growers in south Lincolnshire.

"The farmers who have used Algifol are generally really happy with the effects. It is completely natural, improves yields, reduces stress caused by droughts, heat and heavy rainfall, and is incredibly cost-effective with just one litre being enough to spray one hectare."

Applied by knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers or planes, Algifol is used worldwide on a diverse range of crops, including bananas, grapes, tea, potatoes and cereals. In the UK, the majority of Marcus' customers are growing potatoes, oilseed rape and sugar beet, with the manufacturer NeoMed-Pharma recommending four applications of one litre of Algifol diluted at a ratio of up to 1:1,000.

For more information about Algifol or to make a purchase, with a 1 litre can costing just £21.99+VAT, visit www.mjpsupplies.co.uk, call 07702 293 727 or email marcus@mjpsupplies.co.uk

New BASIS Trainee Membership scheme launches ASIS is pleased to announce the launch of a new Trainee Membership scheme for those in the first stages of developing a successful career in the crop production and agronomy industry.

Aimed at those who don’t yet qualify for the full Professional Register and candidates who are likely to be undertaking BASIS courses or training in the near future, the Trainee Membership will be automatically upgraded to ‘full status’ upon completion of a BASIS accredited course.

Commenting at the industry launch, BASIS head of business development, Greg Hopkinson, says this is a way to support the future of the industry

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and individuals at the start of their career.

“At BASIS we’re passionate about championing the next generation of advisers and managers within the crop production and agronomy industry, and we believe the Trainee Membership scheme opens up access to resources to bolster their professional credentials,” says Greg.

The new membership offering comes with a host of benefits.

These include access to training resources via the BASIS Classroom and BASIS webinars, quarterly updates from Fertiliser Matters and annual seminars providing information on career development, CPD and BASIS qualifications.

“Trainee Members will also be associated with the most wellrespected professional register within the crop production industry.

This offers the opportunity to build relationships with a network of likeminded industry colleagues and raise the profile of members as candidates progress to the next stage of their career.”

The 12-month Trainee Membership runs from 1 June to 31 May, with an annual fee of £65/year. After application, members will receive a membership pack, including a Trainee Membership card.

Greg adds the scheme is also of benefit to employers. “By putting individuals undertaking BASIS courses on the Trainee Membership scheme, access to training opens up.

“We hope it also encourages new entrants to the industry to have a progressive attitude towards training and qualifications, and that it’s to the benefit of individual businesses,” he notes.

“Our aim at BASIS is to support people to improve standards and protect the environment for a sustainable yet productive future.

We believe the new Trainee Membership scheme will do just that, and we look forward to welcoming the first members in spring 2021,” adds Greg.

For more information on BASIS please visit www.basis-reg.co.uk/ trainee. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

New EAMU provides opportunity for linseed

ontrolling weeds in winter and spring linseed will now be much easier with the approval of an Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) registration for the maize herbicide Basilico.

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Manufactured by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific, Basilico contains 100 g/l mesotrione and is reverse engineered from the reference product, Callisto.

Previously used as a post emergence herbicide in crops of grain and forage maize to control annual broad-leaved weeds. Basilico’s new

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EAMU allows the product to be used on both winter and spring linseed as a pre emergence treatment. The maximum rate of use is 1.5 l/ha.

“The area of linseed is increasing in the UK as growers look for alternative break crops to oilseed rape, so it’s great news to be able to offer an additional herbicide option for this crop,” says Ruth Stanley, Life Scientific’s country manager.

“We have worked closely with Linseed

specialists, Premium Crops, who have helped us with the EAMU submission.”

“Basilico offers good control of difficult weeds such as polygonums and fat hen, and is our preferred herbicide option,” says Hannah Foxall, Premium Crops linseed agronomist.

“It’s important to recognize that the best results come from applications to moist soils immediately after drilling and rolling. Using Basilico often removes the need for further post-emergence herbicides.”

The EAMU can be downloaded from the CRD website or https:// lifescientific.com/wp-content/uploads/ Basilico-Linseed.pdf

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| Arable

Advanced crop protection from Kverneland

he Kverneland machinery range is set to grow with a full range of mounted and trailed sprayers being rolled out through the dealer network.

Choices include tractor-mounted iXter A and iXter B models with the option of additional capacity from an 1,100-litre iXtra front tank, plus an extensive line-up of iXtrack trailed models comprising T3, T4 and T6 versions.

Across the sprayer ranges, buyers can choose from a host of technologies to suit their budgets and requirements, including individual nozzle control, auto section control, iXclean tank washing programs plus prime and purge functionality, and boom line recirculation.

The iXtrack T3, T4 and T6 trailed models offer tank capacities from 2,600-litres to 7,400 litres, with a range of steel and aluminium booms extending from 18-40m. These include twin-fold aluminium HAS and steel HSS structures from 2430m, with wider options met using a three-part folding steel boom from 32-40m.

Boom performance comes from a suspended parallelogram rear frame, and working height is managed by a choice of Boom Guide ultrasonic ride height control

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systems. The pinnacle is Boom Guide Pro Active which uses three levelling sensors on the central boom section allowing faster reaction to changes in ground terrain, via a central slope correction cylinder.

Wider booms, typically on 24/36m formats, can now be equipped with five ultrasonic sensors, which operates with two outer sensors at the wider working width, and one outer sensor when operating at 24m. All iXtrack models are fully ISOBUS compatible.

Kverneland’s iXspray hardware and software provides the very latest in application technology, and operators can take advantage of intuitive touchscreens with smart electronics to manage individual nozzle control or boom sections, boom line recirculation, and onetouch boom, spray line and tank cleaning processes.

IsoMatch Grip adds further control, with up to 44 fully customisable functions available from a single joystick, while ErgoDrive headland management allows boom raise/ lower and axle steering to be managed by a single button press on the joystick.

Nozzle control includes pneumatic

or electric operation, suiting those using GPS for automatic section control and auto start/stop at headlands. Individual nozzle control is available with iXflow E, which also offers remote App control of nozzles when outside the cab, to simplify pattern testing and checking nozzle flow.

Tractor-mounted iXter A models offer tank capacities from 800-1,200 litres, with a range of booms spanning 12-21m, while the more sophisticated iXter B is available with 1,000-1,800 litre tank capacities, and booms ranging from 15-30m.

A semi-automatic or fully-automatic liquid management system available with the iXtra front tank provides a fully-mounted combination boasting 3,000 litres.

Typical price for a popular-build Kverneland mounted model is ÂŁ21,593 for a 12m, 1,000-litre iXter A, while a trailed, 24m, 3,200-litre iXtrack T3 model is priced from ÂŁ65,026. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Signify’s expanded GrowWise Control System helps growers boost operational efficiencies ignify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has expanded its GrowWise Control System, allowing for higher levels of automation and reducing manual labor and operational costs. This can be achieved by automating the lighting planning for their crop’s full growth cycle, up to one year ahead. The software tool brings dynamic lighting to greenhouses and vertical farms and fits seamlessly with modern climate computers and greenhouse management systems. This enables growers to automatically adjust light levels to maintain consistent levels on cloudy days, save energy on sunny days and simulate sunrise and sunset throughout the day or season.

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Growers, like the Italian vertical farm, Planet Farms, and the Belgium greenhouse, De Glastuin, are already using the expanded system providing additional value within their growing facility.

“Using the GrowWise Control System is ideal for us,” says Luca Travaglini, cofounder of Planet Farms. “We want to automate as many aspects of our operations as possible to become more cost efficient. Now we can easily create custom light recipes and set them to run year-round to provide the right light recipe with the right light intensity at the right time throughout the crop’s growth cycle. By automating our full light strategy during the growth cycle, for the whole year, we can run our operations very efficiently and keep our manual labor costs low. That makes it easier for us to maintain consistent quality as we scale up our production.”

The demand for the GrowWise Control System is increasing for greenhouse applications as well. “The lighting can be used much more efficient, since it gives us the flexibility to reduce light levels at any moment we need to,” says Wouter de Bruyn, owner at De Glastuin. Lettuce grower De Glastuin is using the GrowWise

Control System to control the Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact grow lights via its climate control system.

“The climate computer is equipped with a daylight sensor that sends actual light measurements to the GrowWise Control System so we can adapt our light levels automatically to ensure an even light level throughout the day and season. This results in a continuous high-quality crop. In case the electricity is the limiting factor, we are still able to use the LEDs evenly for the whole greenhouse in a lesser intensity.”

“Dynamic lighting in a greenhouse is the next step in improving the cost-efficiency and quality for the cultivation process,” says Udo van Slooten, Business leader Horticulture LED solutions at Signify. “It allows growers to effortlessly maintain a consistent level of light throughout the day to produce the best possible crops. The system compensates for cloudy weather and creates a more controlled growing environment for your crop.”

Leading Crop Production Specialists Hutchinsons have appointed Gary Mills-Thomas

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utchinsons is one of the UK’s leading agricultural input advice and product supply businesses providing agronomy advice on over one million crop hectares.

Arable Agriculture is facing a major period of transition, with less state support, more environmental demands, and evolving end-user requirements. Gary Mills Thomas’s appointment as Arable Business Director, reflects the company’s ambitions to accelerate the growth of the business, through continued focus upon outstanding agronomic advice, in conjunction with the continuing development of a wide range of

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specialist services.

development of its people, which in my view cannot be matched anywhere else in the industry.”

Previously as Syngenta Country Head for the UK & Ireland for eight years, Gary brings a wealth of experience to the role with more than 30 years leadership at Syngenta, Seed and Crop Protection Business.

“I am excited to be joining a business that is so heavily committed to investing in the future of agronomic advice and supply, not just through its innovative technologies, products and services such as Omnia and TerraMap, but also through its phenomenal investment in the training and

“As we plan for the future, it is essential that the Hutchinsons business continues to develop and deliver the most profitable, innovative and environmentally sustainable crop production solutions to farmers. To do this, we will continue to invest in our people and services to match our customers’ needs. We are delighted that Gary shares this vision,” says Chairman, David Hutchinson.

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| Grain

BDC Systems Ltd maximises its unique position to successfully serve commercial grain operators he provider of complete grain plant solutions, BDC Systems Ltd, today announced that to drive continued business growth, it will be focusing sales efforts to significantly increase its market share within the commercial grain handling sector.

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"Having already successfully supplied grain handling, cleaning and drying equipment within the grain handling marketplace for customers including grain co-operatives Coastal Grains Ltd and Tynegrain Ltd, foodstuff manufacturers such as Lloyd's Animal Feeds, and maltsters including Muntons, we recognise that now is the right time to put BDC firmly on the radar of the commercial operators," explained Andrew Head, Managing Director of BDC Systems Ltd.

BDC Systems, renowned for its superior customer support and comprehensive technical service ability, offers an extensive range of grain drying, cleaning, storage, handling, ventilation, milling and mixing equipment, together with other specialised solutions. In the UK, the company represents a number of world leading manufacturers and suppliers (incl: Skandia Elevator, Svegma, Zanin, and BM Silos) providing outstanding technology, quality, durability and value for money.

Neil Baker, who has vast experience of selling to commercial operators, has recently joined BDC, from one of its perceived competitors, as BDC's Commercial Sales Manager and will be spearheading efforts to grow the company's footprint across this sector.

"I took the decision to join BDC because it is uniquely placed to serve the commercial marketplace," said Mr Baker. "Unlike its competitors, BDC can design and supply plants with equipment from multiple world leading manufacturers ensuring it can exactly meet operators' individual demands. BDC's commercial customers have an extensive choice of the best equipment to deploy and are not constrained to the solutions available from just one particular manufacturer."

BDC is able to offer a range of leading-edge, high quality, robust and reliable equipment due to its sole UK agent partnerships with both Skandia Elevator, manufacturers of handling equipment which provides capacity ranging from 30-600tph and Akron Svegma, which manufacture dryers offering capacity ranging from 5-to over 100tph. In addition, BDC's portfolio also includes grain cleaning solutions from Zanin, modular silo solutions from BM Silo, ventilation and dust extraction equipment, and other specialised solutions.

"Despite the continuing effects of COVID to the UK economy and the uncertainty around Brexit, BDC is entering an exciting phase in its growth," said Mr Head. "We are confident that commercial operators will be looking at our long and proven history of successfully delivering complete grain handling solutions to farming enterprises of all sizes, and will want to understand how we can replicate that success for their commercial organisations."

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www.bdcsystems.com 01672 810851 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

ADM to promote direct sourcing for its UK wheat supply chain into Tilbury At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industryadvancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com DM is pleased to announce a new supply chain initiative in which ADM’s UK origination business, ADM Agriculture, will become the sole supplier for ADM Milling’s Tilbury site from harvest 2021.

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ADM has a desire to work closely with farmers, shorten supply chains and build strong working relationships with the region’s farmer suppliers. The flour mill in Tilbury serves bakeries www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

throughout London and the South East and UK-produced wheat is the key ingredient in its production.

Lewis Wright, ADM Milling Trading Director, said: “Provenance and sustainability are becoming increasingly important and ADM is part of this evolution, as we work together with UK farmers to adapt to the changes and incorporate new agricultural practices.”

Jonathan Lane, ADM Agriculture’s Head

of Grain Trading, added: “By facilitating the direct purchase of milling wheat for our Tilbury flour mill, we intend to shorten the supply chain and increase the value and opportunity for all parties involved within this region.”

This announcement will see ADM Agriculture increase its on-farm presence in the region with specially tailored on-farm contracts to support this new opportunity.

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| Grain

Drying, Handling & Storage from a brand you can trust With over 70 years experience in manufacturing bulk materials handling, drying & storage equipment, Perry of Oakley Ltd. provide high quality machinery to a wide variety of industries, including farms, commercial grain stores, waste & aggregate industries, feed & pet food, pharmaceutical & biomass industries, and many others. They have supplied machines to over 25 different countries across 4 continents. ith over 70 years experience in manufacturing of handling, drying & storage equipment, Perry of Oakley Ltd. provide high quality machinery to a wide variety of industries, including farms, commercial grain stores, waste & aggregate industries, feed & pet food, pharmaceutical & biomass industries, and many others. Perry have supplied machines to over 25 different countries across 4 continents.

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Perry specialise in manufacturing continuous mixed flow grain driers. Two models are available: the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah” series. The two drier ranges provide driers to fit requirements and 26 |

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budgets from commercial grain stores to farms. Savannah Series driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, which can be linked to any smart phone for full control of the drier from any location. This technology is designed and programmed in house allowing UK engineers remote access for diagnostics and adjustments. The auto control uses both the exhaust air temperature and hot grain temperature to give advanced control of the drier, to maintain a consistent moisture content of the discharged grain. The Mistral series drier is controlled via a hard-wired control panel, though this is easily upgradable to the Perry PLC touch screen control panel.

grain down the grain column, even in very wet conditions, all Savannah Series Driers are fitted with pneumatically controlled shutter discharge. This ensures precise and even movement across the whole bed.

The Mistral range of driers are fitted with Perry’s proven roller discharge as standard (shutter discharge is optional).

Along with Perry’s full range of grain handling and storage equipment they can provide a solution for all handling, storage and drying requirements.

Contact Perry of Oakley Ltd. on +44 (0)1404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk, and receive a free, no obligation quotation.

To promote consistent movement of www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Grain

Outstanding Merlin spring oat launching to the market

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erlin is a new outstanding addition to the spring oat market launching exclusively from Cope Seeds and Grain in spring 2022.

Delivering an unrivalled combination of yield, quality, agronomic features and disease resistance, Merlin’s trial results are so good that seed production has been fast-tracked.

According to Gemma Clarke at Cope Seeds and Grain, the UK agents of the new variety, Merlin is a standout oat for UK farmers and millers. “Merlin spring oat is suited to all regions in

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the UK and because of its early maturity, it will do well in wetter climates and the north of the country, where maturity is vital. It delivers consistency and quality to millers, due to its high specific weight, high kernel content and extremely low screening losses.”

“It was the highest yielding variety with the lowest screenings of any oat in trials and performs exceptionally well when grown organically or conventionally with the best standing score of 9.

“Also, for farmers looking to farm more environmentally with less inputs, Merlin has exceptional disease resistance scores

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| Grain

with a mildew score of 8,” adds Gemma.

Richard Monk, Hampshire arable farmer, has seen fantastic results with Merlin spring oats. “Merlin established well and has strong disease resistance. It was harvested on 22 August and despite the catchy weather at the time it was standing well and combined easily.

“The yield was 69t from 9.3ha and the germination was sound. This was a better yield than other spring oats we were growing, so I am optimistic that Merlin will be a good variety to grow as it becomes more widely available and approved by the

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millers. We will be growing a bigger area for 2021 harvest,” Richard Monk, Hampshire arable farmer.

Merlin Spring oats will be available from your local seed merchant from Spring 2022. In the meantime, to find out more about this exciting, new variety visit: https://copeseeds.co.uk/ products/exclusive-varieties/merlin-spring-oat/.

If you would like to express early interest in this variety please contact your seed merchant. To get in touch with Cope Seeds and Grain, email gemmac@copeseeds.co.uk.

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| Buildings

Fig. 1 East Lochside, Farm Steading, Aberdeenshire

History lesson

y head hurts and my heart sinks. Nothing to do with sport or politics, but a bulging email collection of data and images of new buildings where animal health is in trouble. How do we manage to get it so wrong sometimes, when we have so much information at our fingertips? Or is that the major problem? That our current situation is exacerbated by the difficulties in filtering the useful information from the useless? Maybe we should pay more attention to past experience. Today is always a good time to ask the question “what can we learn from the past? “

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The layout and construction of farm buildings is a balance of resources and desired function, with elements of form introduced occasionally. Livestock buildings have a challenging set of requirements because the contents are dynamic and require daily intervention of labour. They are not storage facilities but living accommodation for animals.

Design of facilities will accommodate the house, the bed, the feeding and watering, the effluents, the sick and when done well, the labour. My current focus is to ask if we are still doing all those things?

Fig 1 shows a typical medium sized farm steading from the late-19 century, from the earlier days of the centralisation of facilities which occur in modern farms. Storage of feed is above the livestock, with a midden for farmyard manure close by. All materials were moved between and within buildings by manpower, with good design making the most of the topography, the expected impacts of wind and rain, the need for water in specific locations, and gravity to be useful where it can. There are separate spaces for separate functions, and whilst considerable human effort was required to put hay and grain in the various lofts at harvest time, the six-month task of feeding livestock through the winter would by helped by gravity, for free.

Labour made a far bigger

contribution of resources for food production then than now, and good design acknowledged the value of labour inputs.

The increase in herd and flock sizes in UK agriculture has been accompanied by a substantial decrease in labour resources. Daily tasks previously carried out by manual labour have been displaced by one or maybe two people on a farm, plus machinery. Nobody will miss the physical rigours of manual labour on farms, but in the process of evolving into our current systems we have walked into an un-designed animal health and welfare nightmare.

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group size facilitates the observation of individual intakes of feed and water, and the physical signs of health and symptoms of disease in those individuals. The field barns of mid-19 century are very positive for isolation, but not so handy for labour (Fig 3.) Repeated close contact with humans would mostly (but not always) create a familiarity that would seldom create even subclinical stress levels in livestock. The daily task of shovelling and barrowing manures from many small rooms and buildings is not something we would repeat, but there were some important advantages of the old ways. Farmyard manures had a higher ‘value’ in the livestock systems of 19 century agriculture than is sometimes apparent today, with the result that manure management can be treated as an afterthought in some modern designs. A lack of design detail in waste management is seen in excessive labour cost moving muck with machines on a daily basis, for ever, compared with using a broader view at the design stage. Large volumes of wastes in one location can cause higher levels of negative impact, such as sedimentation in large slatted tanks, air quality issues, and localised diffuse pollution. These are all examples of design failure and they all impact negatively on animal health and welfare. Buildings need to be designed to be cleanable, with available time as a major design factor.

Fig. 2 Arrangement of buildings for a farm of 250 acres (SCMA, 1912) Fig.2 shows the layout of accommodation for a mixed farm of about 250 acres, with an array of discrete spaces around two yards, with some storage on an upper floor (TSCMA, 1912). The separation of animals into smaller groups of similar ages will have had significant positive impacts on biosecurity; the control of spread of infections. Small

The requirement for labour in the form of many persons spending www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings

Fig. 3 Field Barn. Edale, Derbyshire.

Photo: Andrew Critchlow many hours in livestock buildings is no longer a design requirement.

This is progress. But looking back to 150-year-old designs we should not ignore some of the inherent risks to animal health and welfare that will have changed, and not for the better.

A traditional layout may have 36 cattle in one room, the byre, another cart shed for calving cows and maybe a sick pen, and then three or four separate air spaces for various different ages of youngstock. A basic 2020 knowledge of epidemiology will inform us that this is a dramatically lower risk for spreading disease than the large, multi-spanned, 5m eaves height, concrete and steel edifice that is pictured in my inbox. The

design issue is that when livestock buildings are created with cost and not value as a primary outcome, and the long-term risks are not understood, there will be failures.

livestock production is common practice, but UK agriculture considers it ‘expensive’. Large area pens will require rapid turnaround times between batches, which too often equates to inadequate time for effective hygiene procedures. If we keep putting large numbers of livestock into unclean facilities, the R number can be expected to rise. A now familiar story.

The science is very clear on livestock buildings that are constantly stocked, and/or contain a mix of ages within the same airspace. The risk of chronic and acute diseases, particularly enteric and respiratory diseases, is significantly higher than buildings or spaces within buildings that can be managed on an all-in all-out basis.

And here comes the design punch: how do we currently design buildings with regard to labour and muck?

Most UK livestock farms use tractors designed for field work to clean out buildings, with machinery that requires high eaves heights, large areas of concrete, simple pen designs and flat floors, for a task that may take 20 minutes per pen and happen 6 times per year. In Europe the use of small machinery for

The design solutions for modern livestock systems should include an appreciation of what is needed for sustainable production and to allow labour to practice good stockmanship, including the provision of good hygiene. Providing six smaller pens compared with four bigger ones of the same total area may cost more to build, but pens that can be cleaned properly will always make more money than those that cannot.

The Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agriculture (1912) Vol. 3. p21 Edited

by Professor Sir P Wright.

Written by Jamie F. Robertson BSc., MSc., MIAgrE.

Ready reckoner calculates disinfectant needs

Sophisticated upgrade for pig alarm system

n easy way to work out the quantity of disinfectant needed for pig and poultry buildings has been developed by hygiene specialists, Hysolv. The company has produced a Disinfectant Ready Reckoner that, at a glance, converts animal housing floor area into a guide for disinfectant requirements for the whole house. Two pocket-sized laminated cards provide separate calculations for housing with either rough surfaces, such as brick or blockwork, or smooth surfaces. Each card has precalculated values for total internal surface disinfection on one side while the reverse side provides another set of calculations for the amount of disinfectant needed for particular control of coccidial oocysts, especially important for a quick turnaround in broiler production. A horizontal axis gives house length from 10 to 150 metres while a vertical axis gives house width from 5 to 75 metres. “Farmers just need to choose the length and width of the shed, then read off the figure where the two intersect. This gives a useful guide to the number of 10 kg disinfectant cannisters needed,” said Jim Bigmore, Hysolv managing director, who devised the device. The calculation is based on a one per cent solution of disinfectant. If a different strength is needed, then the total is simply multiplied by the concentration required – for example, times four with a four per cent concentration. A limited number of ready reckoners are available, free, by emailing: info@hysolv.com

armex is offering a clever upgrade to the software on its Dicam controllers for pig housing, to further safeguard the health and welfare of pigs when alarms are set in controlledenvironment buildings. An effective alarm system is a legal requirement to ensure pigs have sufficient ventilation.

Farmex is offering this upgrade on all controllers with an alarm function. It ensures that stockpeople cannot permanently deactivate the alarm, for example when emptying pens. If an operator mistakenly leaves a room ‘inactive’ when restocking or while it still has pigs in it, the high, or low, temperature will still trigger the alarm. “With multi-room controllers, the ability to inactivate individual rooms when they are empty, or when the power is to be turned off, is obviously handy,” said Farmex managing director, Hugh Crabtree. “The upgrade overcomes the problem of human error if a person forgets to reactivate the room when restocking. The change means that despite a room being set inactive, temperature alarms are still active in the background.”

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The upgrade, which involves a ROM replacement, costs £50.

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| Buildings

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| Buildings

Farmplus: Building it right 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. 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 rain. When we look at buildings we should aim to replicate these basic principles of nature wherever possible. Remembering that animals want in the basic form shelter

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Farmplus has thirty years’ experience in the design and supply of timber framed farm buildings and animal shelters.

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.

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.

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| Security

The first CESAR Champion of 2021 awarded to Northamptonshire Police supersleuth arlier last year the CEA launched its CESAR Champion initiative to recognise the efforts of any police officer who uses the CESAR technology to identify a stolen piece of machinery.

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Police Constable 'Hutch' Hutchings of Northamptonshire Police is the first CESAR Champion of this year and joins the prestigious 'Champions Club'.

Hutch is one of the UK's most proactive rural crime cops and a very worthy winner of the much-coveted CESAR Champion badge. Hutch contacted the secure CESAR Contact Centre over 50 times last year to check the provenance of agricultural plant machinery as part of

his commitment to drive down rural machinery crime.

Dave Luscombe head of special projects at the CEA presented the award to PC Hutchings in a socially distanced handover ceremony. Hutch said "During my career, I've worked in various roles ranging from road crime, road policing and now rural crime officer, and a vehicle and plant machinery examiner. One of the biggest issues whilst policing in these roles is being able to identify the unidentifiable. Where fitted the CESAR scheme allows simple identification and I'm glad to see it expanding across a variety of brands and machines."

PC Hutchings has run a number of 'CESAR-IT' days across the UK to

encourage local machine owners to protect their older machines with CESAR. Providing advice and information on how to fit CESAR to owners of machines through the dedicated CESAR network.

CESAR, powered by Datatag, can be fitted to any construction or agriculture machine that is at risk of theft. The tamper-evident label acts as an initial deterrent and the multiple layers of technology help to identify the machine.

All the owner and machine details are stored on the CESAR secure database for police to double-check any machine quickly and easily. For more information visit https://www.cesarscheme.org/ index.php

NFU and Crimestoppers - the story so far and combatting rural crime in the future ollowing a successful two years running the Rural Crime Hotline in partnership with the charity Crimestoppers, the relationship is changing and the hotline will be phased out by the end of the year.

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Feedback from the police and other rural crime stakeholders recommended using the main Crimestoppers reporting service, 0800 555 111, to make it easier for everyone involved in tackling rural crime, and to have a co-ordinated approach.

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crime and has helped direct hundreds of anonymous tips to Crimestoppers, and in turn law enforcement. Since its launch in July 2018, there have been more than 300 pieces of information gathered via the Rural Crime Hotline and, between July 2019 and June 2020 alone, over 350 pieces of information have been taken via the Crimestoppers phone line and online form, all of which have been sent on to law enforcement.

The NFU has successfully trained Crimestoppers call handlers in the detail of rural crime and how to identify the relevant information to send on to the police, following an anonymous contact.

The NFU will continue to work closely

with Crimestoppers to promote its service and how it can be a valuable tool in deterring and combatting rural crime.

How to report a crime The dedicated Rural Crime Hotline and online form has now been phased out and anybody who wishes to give information, 100% anonymously, about a crime can: Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Go online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Security

Livestock rustlers continue despite the pandemic

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ew figures released today

by leading rural insurer NFU Mutual reveal that farm animals worth an estimated £2.3m were stolen from UK farms last year, making rustling one of the most costly crimes for British farmers after vehicle and machinery theft.

Although the pandemic saw the cost of rustling in the UK decrease by a quarter, in the South West region the cost of animals stolen rose by over a third to an estimated £320,000.

In the Midlands a sharp fall of 44% in 2020 followed the successful prosecution of livestock thieves who horrified farmers and the public in 2019 by barbarically slaughtering large numbers sheep in fields in Northamptonshire and leaving their remains behind.

Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Last year’s overall fall is encouraging news to an industry which has worked hard through the pandemic to keep the nation fed.

“Tougher police enforcement certainly seems to have taken effect and the Coronavirus restrictions may have also deterred criminals who would have been easier to detect during lockdown.

“However, the latest figures from NFU Mutual’s claims are not a reason for complacency and we are deeply concerned this crime continues - even at a time of crisis. Modern rustling is a large-scale, organised crime causing suffering to animals, adding financial pressures to farmers and putting public health at risk.

“We are worried that when movement restrictions ease there could be a resurgence as thieves target the countryside again. We are urging farmers to remain vigilant and check stock regularly.”

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Rustling has always been an aspect of farming but ten years ago NFU Mutual would rarely see claims of more than a dozen sheep taken at a time. The insurer now regularly receives reports of thirty to a hundred sheep being taken in a single raid.

intelligence but also support the training of officers to work more closely with farmers and identify livestock theft. The insurer has also supported secure shelters for stolen farm animals so they can be cared for while police investigations take place.

Rebecca added: “As well as causing untold suffering to ewes, who may be in lamb when they are stolen, rustling is causing high levels of anxiety for farmers who have built up their flocks over many years.”

Preventing rustling

NFU Mutual has welcomed the successful prosecution and jailing of criminals responsible for horrific killings and butchery of sheep in fields, which shocked the nation in 2019. In November 2020, a further joint operation between Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Police resulted in the conviction of a man for the theft and slaughter of sheep in Rugby. More recently in January this year, a 20year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were sentenced in connection with the theft of a lamb in South Warwickshire.

Carol Cotterill, from the Warwickshire Police Rural Crime Team said: “Livestock thefts can be extremely distressing to both the animals who suffer, and also to the farmers who bred and raised them. This is not to mention the financial implications involved.

“Our Rural Crime Team is determined to reduce rustling offences and to investigate when they do occur, to ensure those who are responsible are brought to justice for their actions.”

To avoid buying unsafe stolen meat which has been slaughtered illegally, NFU Mutual advises members of the public not to buy meat from unusual sources and to look for the Red Tractor logo.

NFU Mutual is involved in a number of schemes with police forces around the UK which not only share valuable

Modern livestock thieves scout the countryside for targets and come equipped to steal with large vehicles.

Protecting flocks requires increasingly sophisticated measures. To deter livestock thieves, NFU Mutual advises farmers to: •

Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date

•

When possible graze livestock in fields away from roads

•

Check stock regularly - and vary times of feeding/check ups

•

Consider a high-tech marking system such as TecTracer which puts thousands of coded microdot markers into a sheep’s fleece

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Join a Farm or Rural Watch scheme to share information about rural crime in your area

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Ask neighbours to report any suspicious sightings to the police, or to give information 100% anonymously to the Crimestoppers Hotline 0800 555 111

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Dial 999 immediately if an incident is taking place - do not approach criminals

Advice about rural crime trends and protecting farms and rural property is available from NFU Mutual’s 2020 Rural Crime Report: https:// www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/ ruralcrime

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| Health & Safety

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| Potatoes

Grow Your Own Potatoes Programme to continue in 2021

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he Grow Your Own Potatoes (GYOP) Programme will go ahead as planned in 2021 with the support of the potato

industry.

Now in its 16th year, GYOP is an AHDB educational initiative that helps children learn more about where their food comes from, how it grows and the role potatoes play in a healthy, balanced diet.

Since it began, it has delivered positive messages about potatoes to more than five million primary school children nationwide.

Despite Covid restrictions meaning fewer pupils are in school, all parties involved agreed campaign kits should be sent out and GYOP should continue as planned.

These include main sponsor McCain, representatives from seed suppliers and the AHDB team.

The unanimous decision comes after primary schools across England, Scotland and Wales already requested more than 14,000 of the 15,000 kits available.

Sue Lawton, AHDB Education Manager, said: “This year we have put together a comprehensive project, including a sixweek block of work based around the theme of potatoes, with cross-curricular

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links to different subject areas designed to help teachers get the most from getting involved.”

The work is designed to fit between planting and harvesting and to align with curriculums in England, Scotland and Wales.

Sue added: “Children can study their potato plants as they grow and learn how to prepare a delicious potato salad when their own potatoes are ready.”

The closure of schools all over the UK as a result of the COVID19 pandemic has forced AHDB to adapt the GYOP project and create new ways to engage with thousands of children who found themselves being homeschooled.

“Back in 2020, following the first round of school closures, teachers involved in the scheme started putting plans in place to look after their growing plants while they were unable to access their classroom.

A survey shortly afterwards highlighted that 97% of those that responded had managed to do so,” said Sue.

as the Food a fact of life website meant that children at home could continue to engage with the project, generating more than 38,000 visits and 93,000 page views.

Regular correspondence with teachers, including links to potato related resources on the GYOP website as well

Teachers and children involved in the programme discussed their activities with AHDB in a podcast.

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| Potatoes

BRANSTON APPOINTS MANAGING DIRECTOR TO SUPPORT GROWTH PLANS National potato supplier Branston has announced that Richard Fell has joined the prepared team as managing director, to facilitate the company’s growth plans.

This appointment supports Branston’s planned investment of £12m to expand its prep factory, in order to provide more capacity to meet the increasing customer demand. The new venture will allow the company to introduce new technologies and capabilities, as well as a protein plant that will extract vegan protein from waste potatoes, creating a whole new product range and customer base.

James Truscott, managing director at Branston, said: "This investment will support our business growth plans and give us the ability to not only expand our prep business, but also develop new products and customers, enabling us to grow our workforce throughout 2021 and beyond.

“We have appointed Richard to lead this priority area for

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Branston, which is a new position within the business. He will be working closely with myself, our executive board and the wider prepared team throughout our period of expansion. Richard has a wide range of skills and experience and we are excited to welcome him on board.”

Richard has more than 22 years of high-level management experience in chilled food, bakery and milling businesses. He has a wide range of skills and extensive expertise having held previous positions at Rank Hovis Milling, Premier Foods and Princes Limited.

Richard added: “I’m really pleased to be joining the Branston executive board, it’s a huge privilege and such an exciting time for the business. I look forward to sharing my experience with the team and being a part of its new journey.”

Branston is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of potatoes – supporting UK retailers and wholesalers nationwide - as well as providing seed for potato growers.

For more information about Branston, visit www.branston.com.

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| Livestock

Customer focus: The key to better beef

onvoluted supply chains often prevent farmers from focusing on consumer needs – but better collaboration and data use could significantly improve British beef quality, farm sustainability and profits.

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According to Gavin Hodgson, buying manager for meat, fish and poultry at Sainsbury’s, successful businesses all have one thing in common: Customer focus. And that’s one thing which is often lacking in the farming sector.

Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference this month, he said: “Top businesses live and breathe their customer – everything they do leads back to the customer.” Convoluted supply chains make that difficult in agriculture; something which greater collaboration could tackle. “We need a customer-obsessed supply web so we can deliver what we need going forward.”

One difficulty is sharing data from the end user back to the primary producer, as it can often involve several different farms, explained Ian Wheal, founder of Breedr, which seeks to address this issue. “There are a number of barriers to achieving the true potential of British beef production, and collaboration is one of them.”

However, Breedr is helping farmers to form their own integrated supply chains, tracking livestock from birth to slaughter and identifying the best genetics and management to produce the perfect beef animal. In the UK there are huge variations in the age of finished stock, and only 55% of animals meet the target

specification, which affects the eating quality and consistency of beef on the supermarket shelf.

Through Breedr, 79% of users’ stock are now meeting the target specification and are finishing five months younger than average, saving farmers both time and money. “Productivity is going to be key over the next five years, as is our environmental impact and reporting,” said Mr Wheal. By finishing stock more efficiently and within customer specifications, farmers, the environment, and the consumer all win.

According to Phil Bicknell, market intelligence director at AHDB, there is a £50,000 difference in profit between the top and bottom quartile of producers, which demonstrates the scope for improvement. “That is not down to scale or resources – most of it is down to business decisions and actions,” he said.

As the Basic Payment Scheme is phased out in England, the average lowland livestock farmer will receive £17,928 in support payments in 2020, dropping to £8,964 in 2024 and zero in 2028. “In the long run, the big challenge is around preparing for a future with no direct payments,” said Mr Bicknell. “Only the changes we make on farm will give us the resilience we need for the future. We need to be more customer and market focused, rather than just producing a product and hoping to sell it.”

Panel – The farmer’s perspective Ian Sturmer finishes 600 head of beef cattle with his father at Sturmer Farms, East Sussex, and has completely

changed his system to improve the consistency and eating quality of his Ian Sturmer stock. “We used to buy in store cattle to finish within 30-90 days of arrival, but the finished product and physical performance was very variable,” he said.

Having spoken with chefs, supermarkets and abattoirs, he decided to focus on smaller carcasses with better eating quality and consistency. He invested in new buildings to increase the time on farm to 90 days – to better control the final feeding regime – and started working with dedicated calf rearers and dairy calf producers.

“It was a great opportunity to work together and create a financially and environmentally sustainable model,” explained Mr Sturmer. “We created welfare and feeding protocols so all of the rearers were doing the same thing, and we did a lot of work on ventilation and building design.”

Monitoring growth rates through Breedr helped to identify the impact of those changes, as well as the best genetics to use. “If you’re not measuring it you can’t manage it,” said Mr Sturmer. “If we’re going to compete with other meat products or vegetarian dishes then we need to ensure consistently good eating quality.”

GEA’S MILKING TECHNOLOGY WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

EA’s In-Liner Everything system for robotic miking operations has struck gold at Ireland’s Innovations Awards, held in conjunction with the prestigious National Dairy Show.

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The awards reward a new product or service which has been launched in the past 12 months that has revolutionised some aspect of dairy farming in Ireland, and the judges decided that GEA’s innovative technology fitted the bill in the engineering category.

stimulation, teat cleaning, forestripping, milk harvest and postdipping. This uniform, quick and comfortable process, all occurring within the teat cup, is key to harvesting excellent quality milk while maximising the number of cow milkings within a robotic milking facility.

Going for 38 years, the National Dairy Show is the premier indoor agricultural event in Ireland for the dairy farming community, while the Innovation Awards is a highly respected industry showpiece, though due to the Covid-19 pandemic the two-day event this year was moved online.

The system is a unique feature of GEA’s Dairy Robot R9500 which can operate during the relaxed processes in the barn with or without pre-and post-selection to suit the farmer’s needs and farm layout.

The equipment provides consistent accurate attachment, simple operational design with the flexibility and efficiency that brings a new level of intelligent milking to a farm.

A leading provider of farming technology solutions, GEA’s In-Liner Everything performs every step of the operation —

A working test Dairy Robot R9500 will be among the equipment

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at GEA’s new solutions centre being built in Cork – watch this space for more information on its launch next year.

Roy Clarke, GEA Farming Technologies, Ireland, said: “We’re thrilled to have been awarded such a prestigious national accolade. The gold award for our In-Line Everything system is recognition that GEA’s engineering expertise gives robotic milking operations in Ireland the potential to reach new levels of efficiency in production.“

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| Livestock

Evelina spring barley: The ideal choice for livestock farmers consistently solid performer, even in the difficult growing season of 2020, Evelina is proving increasingly popular with livestock farmers due to its high grain and straw yields.

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Available exclusively from Mole Valley Farmers, Evelina’s superb disease resistance makes it a versatile variety suitable for growing in all regions in the UK. “This alongside competitive grain yields, tall straw and high specific weights, makes it a very useful spring cropping option,’ explains James Henderson, arable trader at Mole Valley Farmers.

cost and straw height could be controlled to suit the end-use.”

Orkney grower, Grahame Wilson grew Evelina for the first time in 2020 and says it’s been a great success. “What I'm looking for is quality grain, straw, earliness and health and I believe Evelina ticks these boxes.

“The yield was around 5t/ha wet which given the field was quite reasonable and quality was good. We grew the crop mainly for the straw and we certainly weren't disappointed getting 365 small square bales and 28 4x4 round bales off 2.6ha, which was approximately 5.5t/ha.

Hampshire arable farmer Richard Monk has been growing Evelina since 2016.

“Overall, Evelina is an easy crop to grow and a tidy feed variety to go into ration mixes,” he says.

“We got it in the ground on 14th April, which is about average here, at a seed rate of 185kgs/ha but a dry spell followed, which was followed by a week or so of rain and while it came through the ground quickly the first few weeks were a bit challenging,” says Grahame.

“It’s easy to manage, combines well and produces a good-looking grain, with a decent specific weight. Its taller than the Recommended Listed varieties and has good resistance to lodging. The extra straw it produces will be of particular interest to livestock users. Any disease issues were managed without undue

“When sowing we ran short of seed and finished the field with 50kgs of Propino.

The difference was very interesting due to the increased straw length of the Evelina, as well as the earlier ripening, possibly a week sooner.

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100/ha it grew away well in May and June and stayed absolutely clean. In July/August the weather was ok but not especially sunny, however no disease came into the crop, and the straw length was impressive,” adds Grahame.

James Henderson explains that Evelina is a reliable variety for the mixed farmer.

“It boasts good grain quality with high proteins and specific weight, vigorous development, tall straw with good standing power and its early maturity gives farmers more flexibility.”

Gemma Clarke of seed suppliers Cope Seeds and Grain supports the grower’s comments on Evelina. “In UK trials, Evelina showed outstanding disease resistance with no weaknesses, the grains produced high specific weights and had low screenings. It has quick establishment and is early to mature and the straw was visibly taller than other varieties”.

To book your Evelina or for more information about spring cereal seed, please call the Mole Valley seed line on 01769 576232.

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| Livestock

Scott Donaldson Takes up Leading Role within the Livestock Industry fter over ten years with Harrison & Hetherington (H&H), the last two as joint Managing Director, it has been announced that Scott Donaldson will take on the role of Managing Director of the company. In taking up this position, Scott will be assuming what is undoubtedly one of the key roles within the UK’s livestock industry.

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Operating nine auction marts across the north of England and Scottish Borders and hosting regular digital sales, H&H is at the core of H&H Group PLC’s Agribusiness operations. With an annual turnover in the region of £180 million, this internationally recognised livestock business sees a throughput of in excess 850,000 head of livestock across its auction marts and online trading platforms.

In making this announcement, Richard Rankin, H&H Group Plc Chief Executive said: “Scott is the perfect man for the job. He has the right skill set and experience carried through from his previous roles.

His career path has demonstrated continuous professional development, and in working alongside David Pritchard for the last ten years he has developed an in-depth understanding of the business and its needs for the future.

Now is the time for him to step up and take overall responsibility.

Aged 53, Scott has worked within the livestock industry his entire career, and has an in-depth understating of the sector at all levels. Aged 17 he joined Perthshire’s Macdonald Fraser and Company Ltd part of the United Auctions Group as a trainee auctioneer. He quickly progressed, and in 1988 – aged only 21 – became the youngest auctioneer at the time, to take the Rostrum at the Perth Bull Sales to sell pedigree Simmental cattle. He joined H&H in 2010 and has moved steadily upwards. Well known, and a former President of the IAAS, Scott is highly respected across both the commercial and pedigree sectors, and in recent years has played a major role in the company’s growth and expansion.

Commenting on his new position and looking to the future, Scott said: “We live in a very fast-moving world now, far removed from what worked 10 or 20 years ago. As such, we have to keep reacting and responding to new challenges. So, in taking up this role, my main aim is to make sure that both Harrison & Hetherington and the team behind it are well equipped to move 42 |

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forward into the next decade and beyond, grasping the full potential of innovation.

“The great strengths of our team are its youth, enthusiasm and broad understanding of the livestock industry across the UK. I want to future-proof the longevity of our operations and management and aim to challenge our company’s next generation of leaders to step up. I plan to do so by always listening to their ideas and giving them responsibility early on, within structured and supported roles. Our team has great passion and is committed to building on our very strong foundations and setting benchmarks, and my aim is to enable this happen.”

Scott adds: “It is absolutely vital now that livestock producers can work with us in a far more modern and digital fashion.

However, I do not want to undermine the importance of the personal contact that comes through our network of auction mart centres across the North of England and Scottish Borders.

“Yes, in recent months major strides have been made and, thanks to online timed auctions, we are moving forward, but that is not enough. We are living in a digital world and now the industry and our customer base demands more. We need to give them this by streamlining processes and making certain that both buyers and sellers can access the information they require to streamline their own business, instantly.

“When things start to return to whatever the new normal will look like, we want to ensure we swiftly create environments that are as welcoming and protected as they can be. Our aim is for farmers to feel safe, and for that sense of camaraderie to return to our marts as quickly as we can.”

H&H’s head office and main livestock centre in Borderway Auction Mart, Carlisle, is one of the largest mart sites in the UK. Their farmstock business is highly respected by pedigree and commercial farmers both nationally and internationally and they are also the

appointed auctioneers for the UK’s major beef, dairy and sheep breed societies. In addition to livestock trading, H&H conducts regular live and timed digital auctions of agricultural machinery, tractors and farm equipment.

From its Borderway site, each year H&H also presents two of the UK’s leading livestock events: Borderway Agri Expo and UK Dairy Expo.

Richard Rankin continues: “A team player, Scott’s approach is all encompassing. He encourages internal peer support and development, which are aspects that really are key for managing and mentoring such a large team of staff.

Since the initial coronavirus lockdown, Scott and the wider H&H team have been key figures in altering the focus of traditional auctioneering. Almost overnight new platforms were investigated for selling stock, and pioneering online digital auction systems were created to ensure that the vital breeding sales would continue. Going forward, a major objective for Scott is to maintain H&H’s position as market leaders and continue its rapid development.

“As Managing Director of H&H, I know that Scott will become a major voice of the livestock marketing business. He will be an opinion maker both up and downstream of his role, and a driver of change from a broader industry perspective.”

Married and living in Bardon Mill in Northumberland, Scott’s spare time involves skiing, rugby, anything to do with the horse, and the countryside – if only to go for a walk. He is committed to the great outdoors.

In saying what he is looking forward to most, over and above working with a tremendous team to support livestock farmers, breeders and customers, Scott adds: “I am so looking forward to the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, so we can all meet and talk face to face again.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

New Educational Materials for Improving the Management of Costly Calf Scour Problems D Animal Health has launched a suite of educational materials to help calf rearers and their advisers improve the management of costly scour problems.

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The materials encourage a focus on three key areas for improved, sustained disease control: maximising calf immunity; identifying any causal agents and how to effectively manage an outbreak of calf scour on farm.

“Even with good disease prevention protocols in place, calf scour outbreaks can still occur. But when they do, remedial action should focus on these three key areas to resolve the outbreak as quickly as possible and reduce the chances of another costly event happening in the future,” says MSD Animal Health veterinary adviser Dr Kat Baxter-Smith.

Calf scour is highly prevalent on UK farms and the most common cause of morbidity and mortality during the preweaning period. According to a 2020 survey of more than 300 farms, over 80 percent of UK calf rearing units had seen a case of scour in the previous 12 months; with 50 percent of farms admitting to experiencing calf deaths due to the disease1. Costs are estimated at £57.94 per case but this does not include the longer-term impacts of the disease on future calf productivity.2,3 Dr Baxter-Smith says that when it comes to maximising calf immunity, quality colostrum provision and dam vaccination are the foundations of better scour control.

“Only feed plenty of good quality colostrum checked with either a colostrometer or Brix refractometer.

Boosting colostrum quality by dam vaccination can also help maximise the protection colostrum is able to give to the calf.

“However, if you do still have to deal with a calf scour outbreak, identifying any causal pathogens is also important.

This will guide subsequent treatment, management and appropriate longerterm disease prevention strategies.”

Dr Baxter-Smith says that faecal sampling is the easiest and quickest way of identifying the common agents involved in any scour problem. “On-farm test kits can pick up rotavirus, coronavirus, E.coli and cryptosporidium, which are the most prevalent infectious scour causing organisms. And once you have identified a particular causal agent or agents, you can then work with your www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

vet to implement the most effective treatment protocol and put in place measures to stop the problem happening again.”

environment is a cold environment.”

She adds that alongside pathogen identification, it is also important to look after any scouring calves and improve environmental factors.

“This should involve isolating sick animals to minimise disease spread, rehydrating via oral or intravenous fluid therapy as necessary, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the calf accommodation and any feeding equipment. Sick calves should also be made as comfortable as possible to aid their recovery. If calves are cold, energy reserves will be used up keeping warm and not fighting infection. Consider heat lamps, calf jackets and increasing the amount of dry, fresh bedding available.

Calf pens should also be well ventilated and drain well because a damp

The educational materials available include an easy-to-follow, practical scour management guide for farmers, a more detailed version for vets and an instore ‘Managing a Calf Scour Outbreak’ poster for display in animal health product retail outlets.

Farmers interested in more bespoke disease management advice for their own particular farm situation should contact their veterinary practice for further information.

Improving scour control on farm: •

Maximise calf immunity

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Identify any causal agents

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Manage and treat sick calves more effectively

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| Livestock

Harper Student Beats Off Stiff Rivalry to Win National Dairy Award final year student from Harper Adams University has beat off six other finalists and one of the highest number of entries to scoop this year's RABDF Dairy Student of the Year Award, sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers.

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Agriculture with Farm Business Management student Katie Ackland from Devon, won the award after going through a rigorous application process, which included writing a 1,500-word essay on a case study and delivering a presentation to the judges over Zoom.

The competition run by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers is designed to reflect real life challenges seen on dairy farms and wider policy issues as well as identifying some of the sectors rising stars and new entrants.

Katie, who takes home £750 and a trophy said on winning the award: "I am absolutely delighted to have won.

From growing up on my family dairy farm in Devon, through to completing my

placement year on a dairy farm in Kent, I have always loved working and being involved within the dairy sector. Winning this award will give me a great opportunity to be recognised within the industry."

Runner-up was second year Animal Science student Jessica Langton from Nottingham University. She hails from a small dairy farm in the Notts/Derbyshire border and has bold ambitions to grow the herd as well as diversifying.

was very competitive and a really difficult job for the judging panel."

Robert craig, RABDF Vice Chair and judge added: "The optimism and enthusiasm conveyed during the individual presentations was great to see and confirms the industry's in safe hands for the future."

Judge Chloe Cross from Kite Consulting, who set the case study, said the students had a great technical understanding.

She says entering the competition has increased her confidence and allowed her to demonstrate her passion for the industry to the judges. "It's been a great experience and will hopefully, help me on my career path in the industry."

"This year's finalists showed great understanding and sympathy toward the issues posed for the farming example set, touching on the ambition and desires of the family rather than just pushing for a system that they know and have experienced."

This year's competition saw some of the highest number of entries from universities and colleges right across the UK. The calibre of the entrants was so high that seven individuals were shortlisted in the finals rather than five.

Judge Robin Hawkey from sponsors Mole Valley Farmers said the passion and commitment from all candidates was admirable and to be congratulated.

RABDF Vice Chair and competition judge Di Wastenage said: "I was really impressed with the quality of the finalists in this year's competition. Students from six universities and colleges ensured it

"The entrants were of a very high standard, demonstrating good knowledge of the current industry, but also of the challenges the industry faces with ideas and suggestions for the way forward."

Efficient use of straw necessary this winter

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shortage of straw across the country has left many livestock farmers wondering how to make the best use of their available stocks this winter.

Paul Mardell, technical manager at Carr’s Billington encourages farmers to consider how they can make straw go further. “This year is all about preserving stocks. One way this can be achieved is using mechanised straw spreaders for bedding down, as opposed to manual spreading, which can help reduce straw usage by up to 50%.

“Using these machines means you don’t have to commit to using a whole bale to keep cattle clean and content and those, such as the Teagle Tomahawk, which chop and blow bales, produce a fluffier bedding layer that is more absorbent and stays in good shape for longer.

“Altogether, the result is that less straw is consumed through the housing period,” explains Mr Mardell.

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condition of your straw spreader when eking out tight supplies. The contrast between a well-used machine and one in tip-top condition can be an extra 15ft in the distance that the straw is blown and a third off the time taken to get the job done,” he adds.

“Machines with a dual chop facility that produce a finer cut have a role in making efficient use of straw in cattle diets too.

“Pre-chopped straw loaded into a diet mixer incorporates into the ration more easily and consistently than dropping in a whole bale. The short straw length is also increasingly recognised as the way to go in using the feed material to stimulate rumen function and improving nutritional value,” says Mr Mardell.

He notes that less costly investments that will make your bales go further include ensuring housing is watertight and well ventilated to sustain dry bedding conditions, while a diet that firms up loose muck will also reduce straw consumption.

“Avoiding overstocking by optimising growth rates to reduce time animals are on the farm, culling cows with health or

poor production issues and minimising movement between different groups to minimise aggressive or disruptive behaviour that churns up the bedding are other techniques that could be considered.

“Dressing the clean straw layer little and often is generally the best approach and modern machinery helps to do that,” concludes Mr Mardell. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Helping dairy farmers towards Net Zero with ultra-low carbon agricultural concrete olfenden Concrete are launching their unique SUPA GREEN products: an innovative ultra-low carbon range to help dairy farmers reduce costs, improve productivity and meet environmental targets.

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With the NFU’s ambition of reaching Net Zero emissions for farming by 2040 reflected in Government agricultural policy, Wolfenden are continuing investment in product development to help dairy farmers meet and exceed environmental requirements, while also helping to improve herd health and reduce costs.

Both Wolfenden and DB Group have significant track records for innovation.

Wolfenden launched the SUPA range in 2019, to help dairy farmers improve herd health through better housing, and to improve emission reduction through more effective slurry management.

These SUPA products are found in some of the country’s leading dairy units and the company is respected by both farmers and academics alike, having won a higher education New Product Innovation Award in the year of the range’s launch. Likewise, DB Group

managing director, explains the rationale behind SUPA GREEN, “With more than 40 years’ experience of

The new SUPA GREEN product range is the result of extensive development and Wolfenden are working with the multi-award winning DB Group, harnessing the unique properties of their innovative Cemfree® technology. The first products in the SUPA GREEN range, including diagonal slats and slurry channels are due to be launched in early Spring. Comprehensive testing of Cemfree concrete shows significant benefits to dairy farmers, including greater durability through improved acid resistance, assuring greater longevity and up to 62% reduction in carbon emissions. For a typical dairy installation, this represents an embodied CO2 reduction of nearly 5,000kg, equivalent to driving an average car nearly 25,000 miles.

recently won the Construction News™ Supply Chain Excellence Award in 2020, in recognition of the importance of the development of the Cemfree range.

As a totally cement-free alternative to conventional concrete, Cemfree is a ground-breaking milestone in low-carbon concrete technology and this, combined with Wolfenden’s innovative product design and expertise, represents a significant and timely development, given the announcement of the Government’s roadmap, ‘Path to Sustainable Farming’ in November last year and the proposed Farming Investment Fund.

Richard Moody, Wolfenden’s www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

working with dairy farmers, it’s always been our policy at Wolfenden to listen to our customers and to make sure we understand their issues as well as the regulatory landscape. The impact of Brexit on agricultural policy can’t be overstated and this, combined with the sector focus on emission reduction, led us to invest in the development of products that would meet farmers’ needs in a cost-effective way, while also helping them to achieve the carbon and greenhouse gas emission reduction that is increasingly important –imperative, in fact.

Accessing the innovative Cemfree technology from DB Group is helping us meet both these objectives – more durable products with a longer lifespan combined with massive reductions in CO2 emissions. The new SUPA GREEN range is an exciting development for Wolfenden, both innovative and timely.”

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| Livestock

NEW STUDY LOOKS TO CREATE ‘HAPPY COW MEASURE’ FOR DAIRY HERDS airy co-operative, Arla Foods, has been working with animal behavioural science and technology partners FAI Farms, Nedap and Alta Genetics to determine how, exactly, to measure the happiness of a cow. The project is being driven with the knowledge that the wellbeing of herds is determined by how they are managed within a given environment, rather than which type of production system the farm operates. The cumulative data is helping Arla and the wider dairy industry create a ‘happy cow measure’, which, for the first time in industry history, looks to automate the measurement of mental wellbeing for cows.

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The project is being led by the Arla UK 360 Programme, an initiative supported by Aldi and Morrisons and developed by Arla’s UK farmers, with the aim of making practices more sustainable, responsible and efficient. The Happy Cow project is being spearheaded at the Arla UK 360 Innovation Farm based near Aylesbury, where the herd are using Nedap sensor technology capable of tracking activity, behaviour and location. Sustainability experts at FAI Farms are now analysing data to identify key behavioural traits that signal changes positive welfare.

With many farmers across the UK already using technology to monitor and manage heat detection and early signs of illness, the potential to identify further uses for this data and technology investment is huge. The Happy Cow project is working to show that the data already being captured on farm in wearable technology can be further interrogated to monitor cow behaviour and mental wellbeing, something that until now, has always been a ‘feeling’ rather than a tangible measure for the industry to monitor.

Commenting on the study, Arla’s Director of Member Relations, Alice Swift, said “Animal welfare is one of the key pillars of the Arla UK 360 Programme, so while our farmers have always placed the wellbeing and happiness of their 46 |

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cows at the fore of what they do, this study is going to be a very helpful barometer and blueprint as we continually look to improve.

Ultimately the study will allow us to map and measure positive behaviour among cows and therefore promote better welfare as the learnings are shared with the wider Arla farmer network.”

key positive behaviour indicators.

With farmers well accustomed to utilising technology to assist their herd management when it comes to monitoring cow health and fertility, Arla sees a future opportunity to measure and manage herd behaviour and welfare by utilising the same sensor technology which is already in place on many farms.

Project details: examining positive behaviour

Maarten Idink, Sales Director from Nedap: “An important part of our mission is to leverage our technology and data to add value to the entire food production chain and to contribute to more animal welfare, sustainability and transparency.

Measuring animal wellbeing through our sensor technology and to make it a tangible measure could be hugely beneficial for both cows and farmers and ultimately, further connect farmers to consumers. We are proud to be Arla’s technology and data partner and excited to be part of this unique project.

FAI Farms began reviewing reports and analyses on what key behaviours can be measured, this was then tested by an animal behavioural scientist observing the cows at the Arla UK 360 Innovation Farm to verify and define key positive behavioural indicators which are demonstrated by individual cow and herd interactions. These key positive behaviour indicators included social grooming, synchronicity and brush use, which ordinarily would not be monitored and never before automatically measured. While this set the benchmark for monitoring, the study also set out to see how these principles could be automated, to eventually pave the way for a scaled-up system.

Annie Rayner, Research Coordinator from FAI Farms added “Displaying positive behaviours brings enjoyment and pleasure to an animal, improving its quality of life. This project will not only further our understanding of positive welfare indicators for dairy cows but will also make a start at automating these measures. As the adage goes - You can only manage what you measure - We hope that by creating a measure of positive welfare, we will help guide and encourage farmers to provide these positive experiences for their cows.”

Technology partners in the study, Nedap together with Alta Genetics, installed a network of receivers in the shed, which in conjunction with sensor technology worn by the cows, primarily for heat detection and health monitoring, can also track location and movement of the cows.

The project is now looking to interrogate the data captured by this sensor technology to measure the

Iwan James, Country Manager UK & Ireland from Alta Genetics: “We are excited and proud to work with our partners Nedap, Arla, FAI Farms and the Innovation Farm in the Happy Cow Project. This unique project will provide a new insight into the behaviour of cows with market leading accuracy and reliability.

Whilst improving the health and welfare of cows it will also give consumers confidence based on real data that cows can be healthy, happy and show natural behaviour regardless of the farming system.”

Neil Dyson, the farmer taking part in the study, said “We have housed and grazed cows on our farm and it’s been really interesting to see the same positive behaviours displayed across the groups, showing whether they’re indoors or outdoors, our cows are content and we’re looking after them well.”

The sensors and receivers will remain in place on the farm so behaviour can be monitored and mapped over time, with the farmer able to access the information and watch for any behavioural changes so they can act accordingly to ensure the cows’ environment is a happy one.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

New Dairy Code of Conduct a huge step in the right direction he UK farming unions say putting a new Dairy Code of Conduct into legislation will provide a more effective dairy supply chain in which farmers and processors can work together to ensure fairer and equitable terms for all dairy farmers, while delivering great value dairy products for consumers.

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The announcement by the UK government and the devolved administrations follows a landmark 12-week consultation last year which sought views from dairy farmers and processors about how dairy contracts and relationships could be improved.

In a joint statement, dairy farmer representatives¹ of the four UK farming unions said: “For too long, dairy farmers have borne far too much of the risk in the dairy supply chain and inappropriate contract terms are often at the

root of the problems. Contracts have been weighted too heavily in favour of the milk buyer who can change terms and pricing mechanisms, and even introduce price cuts without negotiation, while locking farmers into changes without recourse.

“The UK farming unions have been fighting for years to change the structure of how the dairy sector operates. We want more sustainable, progressive and equitable relationships between farmers and processors, so we can collectively tackle the issues we face. This is all the more crucial as we build back from the impacts of Covid-19 and work towards new trading arrangements outside the EU. “We have been monitoring closely how contracts work around the world. Although we recognise that our dairy market has some differences, for example

compared to Australia, we think there are lessons we can learn in building our own model. Even within the UK, there are clearly markets operating in different ways, such as Northern Ireland, and this will need to be taken in to account when designing the new code.

“Although we are delighted with today’s announcement, this is only the beginning. We must now work hard to ensure we get this new Code of Conduct right and that it works. We hope the whole industry will take on board the results of the government consultation and work collaboratively to find a positive way forward. It’s essential that the UK dairy market is fit for purpose for all parts of the supply chain, supporting innovation and resilience in UK dairy, and supplying quality dairy products for the public to enjoy.”

E SAV% 10 DE CO 10 FM

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Feeds & Nutrition

Improving the lifetime performance of farm animals is key to creating sustainable food systems xperts at the UN predict the human population will hit 9.7 billion people by 2050. If we want to feed this population, we urgently need to increase the amount of food available, producing 56% more calories by that date. However, animal farming already consumes a significant part of our global emissions budget, and for the sake of biodiversity we need to stabilise—or even shrink—the amount of land we farm. Addressing sustainability issues along the supply chain could help to resolve these problems.

Currently, 20% of livestock is lost annually to disease and ill-health; this represents 60 million tons of meat, in addition to 150 million tons of milk. The cost to the industry globally nets out at around $300 billion a year—a cost neither farmers, consumers, nor our planet can afford.

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According to a report by insights company, Nielsen, 73% of consumers would definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact.

This begs the question of whether farmers are equally willing to change their operational habits to reduce their environmental impact?

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) £1.5 million “We Eat Balanced” campaign has been running since January, working with stakeholders across a variety of sectors— particularly swine and ruminants—to represent the benefits of animal protein as part of a balanced diet. However, this comes at the same time as brands such as Oatly, the Swedish oat milk manufacturer, are running large campaigns focused on the damage caused by livestock farming.

Now more than ever it’s important that sustainability is at the forefront of planning decisions for farmers. It’s why we recently launched We Make It Possible, a strategic initiative partly aimed at shifting the narrative around what sustainability improvements could be made through changes in animal nutrition, increasing productivity while at the same time improving farm profitability. We Make It Possible constitutes six sustainability platforms, each supporting one another, which are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Improving the

New swine lead sets out gut health plans for Elanco

lifetime performance of farm animals is just one of these six sustainability platforms, but it will be vital for meeting SDGs numbers 2 and 3 (Zero Hunger and Good Health and Wellbeing), as well as many more.

To improve animal health and welfare, the focus should be very much on prevention— and with the imperative of reducing antibiotic use this becomes even more central. By addressing the causes of health issues, rather than the symptoms, animal health can be improved, leading to better lifetime performance without contributing to other humanitarian problems, such as diseases developing from over-use of antibiotics. Influencing the environmental profile of our industry, and therefore its perception amongst consumers, should be everyone’s responsibility. Despite what many fear, this can be achieved profitably and will bring long-term gains.

By optimising an animal’s diet, we can head off health problems before they begin, improving the immune system and preventing issues such as poor skeletal strength. For example, dairy cows have a number of severe issues that impact replacement rate and longevity, such as hypocalcaemia, acidosis, clinical mastitis, and fertility issues, all of which can be reduced through more precise nutrition Scientists at DSM have been pioneering research into nutritional solutions that could improve these types of problems. To address bone development issues, for example, optimising calcium levels is vital, and so we developed a solution containing a more bio-available form of vitamin D. Beta-carotene, a vitamin naturally found in grass, has sometimes been referred to as cows’ ‘fertility vitamin’. By matching a cow’s beta-carotene status to its unique requirements, farmers can begin to improve the success rate of first-round artificial insemination by 60%, and the number of normal embryos produced by 53%.

In swine, bone strength can be a major problem—approximately 50% of sows are replaced annually, with locomotion problems cited as the primary reason.

Again, the bio-available vitamin D found in DSM’s innovative product portfolio is crucial, improving bone density and extending a assurance and the company’s pig bed and breakfast unit.

lanco has appointed Jack Fellows as its new swine sales leader for the UK and Ireland to help offer solutions and support for pig farmers when it comes to gut health and antibiotic reduction.

“I hope that my involvement in the swine industry will help to provide value throughout the supply chain, working alongside vets and farmers to deliver the tools and advice required to help sustainably maintain healthy pigs, with a particular focus on improving piglet gut health,” he says.

With a broad range of practical farming as well as feed and nutrition sales experience, Mr Fellows joins Elanco from Anpario, where he worked as technical sales manager across all species. Earlier in his career he fulfilled various roles at Duffield’s Animal Feeds, within sales, quality

“The pig industry is set to face several challenges in the near future, with the upcoming zinc ban and uncertainty around high feed prices, and I believe Elanco is well placed to support the industry in rethinking current options and providing the tools needed to shift strategies accordingly.”

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sow’s lifespan whilst also enabling them to give birth to healthier piglets.

In the case of laying hens, this highly bioavailable vitamin D improves the absorption of calcium from the diet for eggshell development, meaning the bird is not required to take so much calcium from its skeleton, improving both skeletal and eggshell strength and reducing egg breakages by as much as 15%. This allows us to extract more high-quality food from the same amount of land and resources, generating huge sustainability benefits.

As an industry, we need to start focusing on broader nutritional optimisation—for instance, meeting the needs of individual animals based on their life stages and growth, all of which affect what kind of diet will work best for them. Based on these insights, we can start taking a strategic and science-led approach to tailoring feed to animals. By meeting these needs, the lifetime performance of all animals can be improved—increasing birth rates, meat yields, overall welfare and longevity— helping to shift the industry towards a more sustainable future.

These kinds of innovation could go a long way to achieving the 200% increase in farming productivity that the UN estimates we need to achieve by 2030 to feed our growing population. Only if we make our food systems sustainable can we feed our whole population into the future, allowing people, planet, and profit to thrive.

If not us, who? If not now, when?

Mr Fellows will be supported by Elanco’s Principal Technical Adviser, Dr. Lic. Frédéric Vangroenweghe, and technical nutrition consultant, Agustina Rodriguez, making up a highly experienced team of professionals, who will help producers stay ahead of antibiotic targets while maintaining profitability.

“I’m delighted and privileged to be starting in this role. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make a difference to a sector I’m extremely passionate about,” adds Mr Fellows.

To get in touch with Mr Fellows, please email jack_michael.fellows@elancoah.com and for more information about Elanco products, please visit www.myelanco.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Feeds & Nutrition

Premier Nutrition strengthens pig and poultry teams nimal nutrition specialist and premix manufacturer, Premier Nutrition, has strengthened its pig and poultry teams with two new appointments, set to support farmers, feed compounders and the wider industry with nutritional expertise and the latest research updates.

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Ralph Bishop Commercial nutritionist for poultry, Ralph Bishop, has joined the team following six years' experience in nutrition roles within the compound feed sector, after graduating with an MSc from the University of Plymouth.

“My new position involves supporting a base of customers, made up of farmers, integrators and feed millers. This

includes everything from formulating diets to auditing support and quality control.”

Ralph explains that he particularly enjoys working directly with customers and being able to make a real difference to their businesses on a daily basis.

“The role is a fantastic challenge, and I’m looking forward to being able to develop relationships with customers and apply my knowledge with the backing of an expert team at Premier,” he adds.

Sam Wootton Sam originally embarked on a role at Premier in 2018 as a crossspecies support nutritionist, but has just been appointed as research co-ordinator, as part of the pig team.

“Premier has four fully replicated UK trials facilities, run in partnership with

farmer clients. Two of these finish pigs from 35kg, including a new 80 pen farm opening in May 2021. The third is a growing and finishing unit, and the fourth facility looks at lactation feed specifications. We also gather and benchmark a lot of client performance data,” he says.

“So, I’ll be managing the work at these sites, weighing pigs, and collating data to take away and analyse.

“We also plan to run a range of different trials, based on improving sustainability, testing out options for reducing soya use, producing more from less, and considering the use of more sustainable raw ingredients.

“I hope the results will not only help producers improve their own performance, but in the long term make a difference to the bigger picture of the pig industry,” adds Sam. For more information about Premier Nutrition, please visit: www.premiernutrition.co.uk

Check suckler cow mineral status in run-up to calving

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uckler beef producers whose cows are part-way through gestation are reminded to review the micronutrient status of their feeds.

Many in-calf cows are said to be deficient in essential minerals and vitamins, which can potentially have serious consequences, ranging from retained cleansings and metritis to poor foetal development and growth. They can also be one of the biggest causes of stillbirths.

Tom Butler, technical manager at the Denis Brinicombe Group, says winter forages, especially straw, contain poor levels of micronutrients compared with grass grazed in spring.

“High forage diets in late gestation are important in the control of the dry cow’s body condition. However, because they’re likely to be fed with little or no concentrate – which tends to supply a base level of micronutrients – they’re likely to be deficient in vitamins and minerals,” he explains.

mineral status of their cows’ diets, which are often only balanced for protein and energy.

“Inconsistencies and deficiencies in micronutrients would ideally be balanced on a farm-by-farm basis, but this isn’t always practical.”

Instead, he says it is important to find a source of trace minerals and vitamins which can be reliably delivered in a sustained and consistent manner to ensure the animal’s base requirements are met.

This has proved a challenge to the feed additives industry and most delivery systems – whether bucket, loose minerals or bolus – have some limitations.

“The challenge has always been that we require just milligrams of each essential trace mineral and vitamin and we need them supplied in a constant trickle of the same quantity every day,” he says.

Using a rumen bolus is said to be a reliable way of achieving this, although Mr Butler adds some provisos.

This step-down in minerals is said to come at exactly the time the cow most needs an adequate supply.

“To get the real value from a bolus it’s important it delivers a consistent flow of essential micronutrients, while minimising the risk of regurgitation before it has fully released its mineral supply.”

He says for many spring calving herds it is not too late to address the situation and recommends producers review the

Manufacturer, Rumbol Products - who has developed the EnduraBol® range with the Denis Brinicombe Group - has

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

overcome this problem. The boluses erode only from the top, rather than leaching or eroding from their entire surface area.

“This original, patented technology ensures the same amount of micronutrients are delivered from the same surface area every day – a bit like a candle burning down at a constant rate,” he says.

“Once it’s completely used, the inert weight, which has prevented regurgitation through the life of the bolus, is now exposed to rumen fluids and simply dissolves.”

The same manufacturing company has also cracked a second problem, which is how to include vitamins in the bolus.

“Vitamins are denatured by heat, which is typical in bolus manufacturing, but Rumbol has perfected a cold-pressed process. This means they can reliably deliver both essential trace elements and vitamins in one bolus,” he says.

The EnduraBol® High Iodine bolus contains six trace elements and three vitamins and will deliver the base daily essentials of micronutrients for six months.

According to Mr Butler, a couple of months pre-calving is a good time to administer them. “This will cover micronutrient requirements around calving and well into lactation, helping set the cow up to get back in calf.”

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| Muck & Slurry

Slurry season brings renewed risk to farmers

he Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is reminding farmers of the simple safety measures needed to stay safe when working with slurry.

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The warning comes at the start of the slurry season which starts at midnight on 31 January.

“These are the issues the farmer needs to consider when slurry season opens.

Most critical though is that farmers MUST follow the slurry mixing code. Slurry gas kills, it is as simple as that. Farmers are fully aware of this but continue to take chances. If you follow the slurry mixing code there should be no issue.

“Stop and think SAFE before you mix slurry.”

The mixing of slurry comes with many risks as it produces a dangerous mixture of gases, including methane, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and the extremely poisonous gas, hydrogen sulphide.

The advice to framers is to follow the slurry mixing code.

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keep children away from the area at all times

Camilla Mackey, Principal Inspector of HSENI’s Agriculture and Food team, said:

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if possible, mix on a windy day

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open all doors

“It is that time of year again when our farmers start to prepare to empty their slurry tanks, some of which have filled up completely over the winter months.

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take all animals out of the building before starting to mix slurry

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use outside mixing points first

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if slats are removed, cover exposed areas of the tank beside the pump/ mixer to stop anything falling in

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start the pump/mixer – then get out and stay out of the building for as long as possible - at least 30 minutes

“Farmers will be considering a whole host of issues before they even start mixing and emptying slurry tanks such as, whether they can do this particular job themselves or do they need to hire in a contractor, where they can move their livestock to in order to mix the tank safely, what the weather and ground conditions are like, and whether they have the right equipment to do the job.

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any time you have to go into the building try to make sure that another adult knows what you are

doing and can get help if necessary •

if you have to re-enter to move the pump or change the direction of the pump, leave the building as soon as this is done – do not go back in for as long as possible – at least another 30 minutes

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rely on filter type facemasks

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use gas monitors as a substitute for working safely

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have naked flames near slurry, as slurry gas mixture is flammable

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stand close to the exhaust of a vacuum tanker when it is being filled

For more information about working safely with slurry or general farming health and safety issues please contact the HSENI helpline on: 0800 0320 121 or visit the farm safety topic page on the HSENI website: www.hseni.gov.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG develops, produces and distributes highly-engineered equipment that is easy to maintain. The head office is located in Essen (Oldenburg) in Lower Saxony. Founded in 1929 as a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, the company has grown to become a specialist in individually configurable machines for the agricultural technology, biogas, industrial, transportation, and wastewater sectors. At present, the mid-sized, innovative family business employs over 1000 people worldwide. Vogelsang ensures the highest production quality through its research, development and manufacturing operations at its location in Germany.

As an international company, Vogelsang operates manufacturing centers domestically and abroad. A continuously growing network of subsidiaries and representatives allows Vogelsang to be present in more than 25 locations worldwide, in all European countries and important industrialized nations in the world. The company has been awarded several times the title of “Germany's innovation leader” by the Prognos AG economic research institute.

Vogelsang attends the digital EuroTier and EnergyDecentral 2021 ogelsang GmbH & Co. KG will be taking part at EuroTier and EnergyDecentral (9-12 February 2021), which are being held in digital form for the first time. The focus will be on the latest product innovations for economical liquid manure spreading and delivery as well as technology and components for efficient biogas production.

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“We are excited about the digital realization of the two trade fairs and look forward to entering into dialog with visitors in this way. It is particularly important to us at this time to maintain our close relationship with customers and respond to market requirements,” says Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director of Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG. He adds: “For discussions and questions, several Vogelsang experts will be available via video calls or chat.”

Optimization and retrofitting of biogas plants In the biogas sector, Vogelsang will be presenting its proven product portfolio for efficient biogas production and digitization of biogas plants. The showcase will focus on powerful pumps, macerators and solid matter feeders as well as disintegration technology and intelligent control technology.

EnergyDecentral visitors can also inquire about completely preassembled system solutions. Vogelsang tests the entire unit in the factory before delivery, which means that it only needs to be installed and connected to the power supply on site.

Innovative technology for liquid manure spreading The agricultural segment revolves 52 |

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around economical distribution of liquid manure close to the ground. After its debut at the company’s virtual in-house trade fair in November 2020, Vogelsang will provide information about the UniSpread linkage and the BlackBird trailing shoe system with a working width of 24 meters at EuroTier. Further highlights include the SyreN process for

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stabilizing liquid manure and other optimized components for future-proof liquid manure management. 2 of 3 Vogelsang is also expanding its digital offering with its own 360-degree showroom. The virtual showroom lets visitors interactively explore new products from the agricultural

technology sector via various touchpoints.

Click here to access the showroom: https://www.vogelsang.info/int/ agricultural-showroom For more information, visit: vogelsang.info

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Twin macerator dribble bar by Mastek

his month we are looking at the Mastek twin macerator vertical fold dribble bar, this product has been available from the Irish based company for just over a year since launching at LAMMA 2020. Mastek are market leaders in umbilical pumping and application equipment offering pumps, reelers, dribble bars, trailing shoe applicators, lay flat hose and PTO driven compressors. The company started out selling a lot of rear folding dribble bars, but the trend has seen a move towards vertical folding dribble bars due to their compact transport dimensions. The company has been offering a single macerator 12 dribble bar for just over 3 years and launched the twin macerator as

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an addition to their range.

The twin macerator dribble bar is aimed at contractors and large scale farmers, particularly customers wanting to use a reeler mounted reeler as the twin macerator machine offers far greater visibility compared to the single macerator machines where the macerator is located directly behind the tractor cab. A new addition to the twin macerator machines is load sensing hydraulics, allowing the operator to control all the functions of the machine from either a switch box control or a touch screen display. This also makes hitching and unhitching the machine easier as the operator only has three pipes rather than six or eight individual pipes to plug in. The single and twin macerator dribble bars now also feature hydraulic accumulator break away on the arms. This means that if one of the arms of

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the machine comes into contact with a tree, fence or post the arm will fold back and then automatically return to its work position.

On this machine, Mastek have featured the new SuperCut Micro Macerator. This macerator is a smaller version of the company’s award-winning SuperCut Macerator.

Speaking to Mastek’s Managing Director Paul Quinn, he explains that “Our new SuperCut Micro Macerator is specifically designed to be both efficient and 35% lighter which is perfect for the twin macerator dribble bars where the macerator is mounted on the boom itself.” Just like the companies big brother SuperCut macerator the Micro www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

version is capable of macerating high fibre slurry, plastic and other foreign objects. The Micro SuperCut Macerator features four blades per macerator with “unique” Vshaped cutting teeth which, when rotating, will “shear long fibre and plastic” when it passes through the exit holes. Each hose outlet has an independent one-way air valve, which allows air to enter the outlet chamber of each outlet on the macerator.

The design of the machine and the macerators ensure the twin macerator dribble bar

evenly distributes slurry across the full width of the boom, even in steep conditions. Customers who have been operating the new machines have commented that the boom is both easy and safe to operate and maintain. The macerators are located at waist height when unfolded and feature easy opening access doors on both sides of the macerator which makes locating a foreign object very straightforward.

Users are also very impressed with how well the machine deals with long fibre and debris, something which is very important to contractors who want as little down time as possible. The machine also features stone traps on each macerator which have easy opening trap doors to let stones and grit out of the system. Paul Quinn commented “We have received feedback from a number of customers who have put a lot of sand laden slurry through their machines and are very impressed with the amount of usage they are getting from their macerators before needing to replace any parts”.

reeler. The rear reeler can be left on the dribble bar while spreading if ground conditions allow or can be dropped at the headland if required. Mastek have also recently launched their own flow meter which can be displayed on the same touch screen display which operates the dribble bar or via the tractors ISO bus display, this system allows the operator to vary the tractors speed to maintain the desired application rate. If you are looking for umbilical equipment do get in touch with one of Mastek’s two UK technical sales representatives and they will be more than happy to assist you.

The vertical fold dribble bars feature a heavy-duty umbilical drag arm with rotating swivel coupling and rubber bump stops, the drag arm is easily locked at 90 degrees for transport with a safety pin. All models come with a heavy-duty A frame on the rear to allow for a random wrap 800 or 1200m reeler, this can make users more efficient allowing one tractor to carry enough pipe for most jobs on a rear and a front

Featuring Mastek’s award winning SuperCut Macerator

MICRO TRAILING SHOE

UNIVERSAL DRIBBLE BAR

LINKAGE DRIBBLE BAR

NORTH OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND

SOUTH OF ENGLAND AND WALES

MARK ROBERTS : 07432 589562

BEN WILLCOX : 07930 876941

“Our Ambition is to cut Emissions” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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SlurryKat ups the ante with all new Premium Plus Super Tanker range

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orthern Ireland agricultural machinery manufacturer SlurryKat has introduced an all new range of its Premium Plus Super Tankers.

Based on the original range the new tankers now come with a host of new features included in the standard specification.

SlurryKat’s Premium Plus Super Tanker range includes models with capacities right through from 7,250 litres (1600 gallons) to 25,000 litres (5,500 gallons).

As SlurryKat CEO Garth Cairns explains, the new range of Super Tankers combine all the latest features introduced over the past 12 months together in the latest machines.

Garth said: “During the past 12 months you may have seen some new novel features on our tankers that we have been slowly introducing since the autumn of 2019.

“Having been encouraged by the customer response to these new features we have now unveiled the new range of Premium Plus Super Tankers that incorporate all the new features.

“These features have all been refined to the exact requirements our customers are demanding and we are rolling them out as standard base specification on all SlurryKat Premium Plus Tankers from December 2020,” he said.

In addition to lighter booms, new braking system and new drawbar the new features also include a new pump.

The full list of features on the new range are:

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•

5-point rear linkage system for all dribble bars and trailing shoes to be fitted to all models without any alterations

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high-speed vacuum pumps c/w crash protection system www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

and auto vein lubrication.

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150mm HD square beam axles 420x180 S Cam brakes on all models

system for more air flow and faster filling

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rear 3 & 4 point linkage for all spreading equipment

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load sensing braking system as standard

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flushable sight tube level indicator c/w tap as standard on all models

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automatic slack adjustment brakes on all models as standard

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paint coat system for even longer life and high gloss shine

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spring drawbar for an even smoother ride

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over hedge boom (46% lighter)

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•

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design laser press formed chassis

fill points connections for high speed filling

double ellipse fully galvanised bolt on mudguards

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internal anti-surge smooth ride baffle system

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auto fill system for 10m3 per minute filling speed

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Neon lights and light holders

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dribble discharge system at rear for faster, maintenance free application

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increased size over flow valve

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For further information on the latest range of slurry tankers and more contact www.slurrykat.com.

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Spread the load better with twin floor chains two, a well-known British manufacturer of innovative and lasting farm machinery, design their muck spreaders with twin floor chains to ensure an increased longevity, exceptional reliability, and a better spread of product along with many additional benefits over a single chain design.

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The floor chains in muck spreaders convey the material towards the rotors and require a constant and even feed to ensure all the load is spread accurately.

All leading manufactures now use heavy duty, mining conveyor chain systems which are far superior to the early light weight, flat link agricultural chain systems of the past.

Traditionally the market saw larger “trailer type” 2m wide muck spreaders designed using single floor chain systems, but when a large amount of material was tipped into them it did not support the floor well and it would bow and eventually stove in, impinging the conveyor system .The twin floor chain system naturally gives a more robust floor slat, but permits support to the centre of the spreader floor.

Ktwo muck spreaders have a flared body throughout which gives an increased volume capacity but also allows a stronger floor design. By starting to taper from the floor, the innovative design acts as a funnel to help move materials down to the chains increasing volume and allowing for easier emptying with less bridging. Even with the central gap between the two chain systems, the nature of the manure itself ensures complete emptying of the spreader. ‘’A single chain is a simple system that allows for easier slat bending and requires a bigger and more clumsy chain to achieve the required pulling capacity.’’ Explains Ashley Knibb, Ktwo Senior Design Engineer. “And 58 |

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suffers from inherently more chain wear on the gearbox drive side”, As observed over the years by Stewart Freeman Ktwo Service and Parts Manager. ‘’Spreading the load” across a twin system with four chains and two runs of slats, means it is not imposing such a big load onto the slats, a smaller more compact chain can be used and the floor is supported better.

With the exception of the Ktwo Bio which has more slats to give a very accurate rotor feed, Ktwo models have staggered chains to further help feed the rotors and ensure an even output and accurate coverage of the looser, lighter product, which is especially noticeable when spreading high value materials such as lime with the use of the slurry door to meter the load.

Ktwo muck spreaders include a sprocketed front roller with integral cleaning scrapers. This gives positive engagement with the chain ensuring the chains remain timed and aligned, with a consistent flow of material and preventing the chain derailing should a foreign object get into the drive roller,

thus every slat bending if one should fail.

Another consideration is the difference between the use of a bearing or composite bush. Ktwo have always fitted high quality ball flange bearings which are self-aligning allowing accurate individual chain tension and highpressure bearings which are much more resilient to wearing out. The composite bush produces resistance with its thin wall and its friction contact when under heavy load, unlike the ball flange bearing which eliminates this.

Robbie Polson, Ktwo Managing Director, says ‘’We have had great feedback from customers moving from a single slat spreader to our twin floor chain spreaders. Not only does it help spread the load better it allows for easy maintenance.’’ ‘’A single slat system has a no tool change design. These are a loose fit and then wear and become covered in product and corrode. This system also eventually corrodes solid. We often have customers comment on our four chain design, on its ease to maintain because they can get their tools in and around it and it is simple to remove bolts and slats no matter how worn and embedded they get.’’

Ktwo continue to stay ahead of the curve with their innovative and highquality machines that are designed to perform and built to last. The extensive Ktwo muck spreader range includes vertical and horizontal beaters all designed to give maximum output with consistent and accurate spreading.

Contact the Ktwo team today on +44 (0)1844 299290 or email sales@ktwo.co.uk For more information visit: www.ktwo.co.uk

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| Machinery

Exclusive launch of a limited series of NewAg telehandlers anitou Group, a worldwide reference in handling, personnel lifting, and earth moving solutions, is launching a limited series of two NewAg models, the MLT 737 and MLT 741. Available in Europe, this unique version has the latest innovations and has one of the widest ranges of equipment on the market.

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For farmers seeking a customized machine that offers even more comfort, Manitou Group developed two agricultural models, MLT 737-130 PS+ and MLT 741-140 V+, within the NewAg range. With two available transmission types (Powershift and M-Vario Plus), users will be able to choose the model that is most suitable for their needs.

These exclusive telehandlers have a unique design that uses a gray color called Volcano, which symbolizes performance and efficiency, contrasting with red and black to highlight its dynamics and suggest constant movement. For the first time since its launch on the market, this series has a 3D logo with the NewAg signature on the door, extending each user a personalized welcome. Camille Rouvrais, Product Manager for the MLTs, says: “With this limited edition, we would like to give our customers who are seeking an exclusive machine an even more customized solution. These two models are among the best equipped on the market. The design is also unique, with many new developments. We are convinced that our customers will appreciate this limited series!”

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The extensive equipment available for this limited edition can be divided into three categories. The first is equipment designed for user comfort. Telehandlers MLT 737-130 PS+ and MLT 741-140 V+ have a leather low frequency suspension seat that provides excellent seating comfort and a significant reduction in vibrations to protect the operator's back.

The steering wheel and armrest are also trimmed in leather, giving the interior of the cabin a higher-end look. Two SafeView cameras on the right and back of the machine offer enhanced security and more convenience for the operator.

Other equipment in the cabin includes a USB bluetooth car radio with microphone (100W) and a “Vision” screen for greater visibility of the information shown on the dashboard.

The second category of equipment relates to performance. Both models have Active CRC boom suspension in order to limit shocks when moving with a load while protecting the structural components of the boom. The Intelligent Hydraulics triptych (bucket shaking, return to load position, and combined movements of the boom and telescope at the same time) designed for greater productivity is available on the limited series MLT 741-140 V+.

The last category of equipment represented in this limited edition is profitability. Hydraulic locking of attachments, available standard, saves time for the operator. Available on the MLT 741-140 V+, the Regenerative

Hydraulics function offers gravitycontrolled boom lowering, which increases the speed of hydraulic movements and reduces the use of fuel.

This function also reduces noise, especially noise associated with the use of the hydraulics. LED work lights are installed in the cabin, and the work lights on the boom and main beam headlights are also LED. Representing 15% to 30% of total use time, idling speed costs the user approximately €10 per hour. This estimate takes into account the three main components of TCO, namely fuel consumption, machine depreciation, and maintenance. To limit these costs, Manitou Group has equipped this limited series with the Ecostop feature. This feature automatically stops the engine and the associated hour meter when the machine is idling without a conductor in the cabin.

Of course, the entire range of Manitou Group services are available on these two connected models, to include extended warranties, maintenance contracts, and financing solutions.

With 133 available machines, this limited series reflects Manitou Group's capacity to offer models that are always more innovative and truly customized. This collection will be delivered all over Europe starting in the first quarter 2021.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Proven Versatility TopDown

0-2cm depth

2-3cm depth

5-12cm depth

5-12cm depth

5-16cm depth

5-16cm depth

Following harrow tine

CrossCutter Disc

Disc 450

TrueCut 470

TrueCut 510

TrueCut 610

Carrier is a disc cultivator used for high speed primary tillage and seedbed preparation. The wide range of front tools, discs and packers enables Carrier to handle the versatile challenges of modern farming – from ultra-shallow cultivation to a deeper incorporation. The versatility it brings to the farm saves passes, decreases machine cost per hectare and provides the best start possible for the coming crop.

Learn more at vaderstad.com www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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VALTRA LIMITED R 2021 marks the 70th anniversary for Valtra. Your working machine since 1951, Valtra tractors are now on their 5th generation, and we are already thinking forward. Milestones are of course celebrated, but the work is never done o celebrate our anniversary we have launched a very special limited edition Valtra T Series in a deep, metallic red.The most powerful colour for a journey that spans generations and the original colour of Valtra. Edition models will be available on T Series T174e–T254.

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Exclusive features include: • Deep RED metallic exterior colour • 70yrs logo left door hinge • Tinted windows • Leather seat, steering wheel and passenger seat with • RED stitches ( Air+) • Soft black interior + SmartTouch armrest RED side rail • Black rims • 70yrs RST plate • Extra interior light (red) + Unlimited floor mat Only 70 limited edition machines will be available worldwide and for every Red Edition tractor sold in 2021, we will donate €500 for a good cause. valtra.co.uk/70years

Valtra Inc. develops, manufactures, markets and services Valtra tractors that are individu way customers work. Renowned for their versatility and reliability, Valtra tractors are eng deliver high performance in demanding working conditions and on extreme terrains. Valt worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation, being the leading tractor manufacturer in the No and one of the most popular brands in Latin America.

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| Machinery

REDITION THE STORY SO FAR When we started this journey, agriculture was powered by horses. Farms were rapidly growing in size and more power was needed. The demand for machines was there. We simply started making them.

For seven decades we’ve gone forward step by step. Improving safety, increasing efficiency and precision, utilising technology.

Generation after generation, innovation after innovation.

Everything we do is made by people like you. Dedicated, hands-on, rational. From the north, living off the land. People who listen rather than talk, and never waste time on assumptions.

ualized for the gineered to tra is a ordic countries

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Doosan Launches New DX57W-7 Stage V Wheeled Excavator

installed as standard, which provides a telematics management system for the excavator, by collecting data from sensors on the machine.

More Features Available on the DX57W-7 Other standard features include a stereo system integrated in the gauge panel (with a Bluetooth streaming function), together with a USB charger in the cab. The DX57W-7 also offers the options of a new all round view camera providing 360o views around the machine and ultrasonic detection of obstacles for increased safety in operation. oosan has launched the new 5 tonne DX57W-7 Stage V compliant wheeled excavator. In addition to a new Doosan Stage V engine, the DX57W-7 incorporates several new features for increased comfort, convenience and connectivity, whilst maintaining optimum performance, durability and fuel efficiency.

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The DX57W-7 has Doosan’s latest DoosanCONNECT system

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The steering wheel can be positioned to suit the operator. The position and angle of the seat cushion as well as the position of the consoles can be adjusted independently of each other.

Additional comfort is provided by the adjustable seat back and the lumbar support. A seat heater is available as standard. A cab light, sun visor and side mirror are also standard equipment.

The DX57W-7 is powered by the 42.5 kW (57 HP) Doosan D24 Stage V engine. Equipped as standard in the single tyre configuration, the operating weight of the DX57W-7 equipped with a 0.175 m3 bucket is 5.88 tonne. A dual tyre configuration is available as an option. The DX57W-7 offers two travel speed ranges, with a maximum travel speed of 30 km/h.

Wide Range of Applications In addition to the normal trenching and groundwork jobs, the superior stability and lifting capacity of the DX57W-7 allow the excavator to be used for applications such as truck loading and unloading and moving pipes and materials in the working area. For maximum safety during all operations involving lifting work, the DX57W-7 is equipped with an overload warning device as well as safety valves in the boom and dozer blade hydraulic systems.

The undercarriage consists of a rigid, welded frame which provides excellent durability. The routing of hydraulic lines, protection for the transmission and heavy duty axles make the undercarriage ideal for wheeled excavator applications.

For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

DEUTZ and SDF expand strategic partnership EUTZ and agricultural machinery manufacturer SDF- share a long common history and look back on a long-term business partnership that started at the end of the “80s. The on-going successful partnership has led both DEUTZ and SDF to renew their collaboration with a long-term supply agreement, with not only the supply of engines, but also focuses on enlarging the service business between both companies.

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The supply agreement includes engines in both the sub-4 litre as well as the above-4 litre range. In addition to the supply of DEUTZ TCD 4.1, 6.1 and 7.8 engines, SDF will also be introducing a complete new tractor range equipped with the EU Stage V compliant DEUTZ TCD 3.6 engine in 2021. On the service side, there are new business opportunities, including the availability of X-change.

The new collaboration is expected to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

generate annual sales in the mid double digit million Euro range.

"We are very pleased that the longterm supply agreement will help us to further strengthen and expand our partnership with SDF. The fact that SDF has chosen DEUTZ as a strategic partner in this cooperation underlines once again the success of our longstanding business relationship," says Michael Wellenzohn, DEUTZ Board Member for Sales, Service and Marketing.The cooperation between SDF and DEUTZ is based on a long and trustful relationship, aiming to offer its customers the best solutions both in terms of performance and reliability. SDF has identified DEUTZ as a partner recognised by dealers and customers worldwide. DEUTZ engines guarantee SDF tractors the best performance

coupled with low operating costs as proven with the introduction of increased oil change intervals of the new DEUTZFAHR 8 Series which stands at 1000 hours.

Another main factor in this collaboration is the perfect fit of the engines with the power train concepts of the existing DEUTZ-FAHR 5/6/7/8 and 9 Series as well as a new upcoming series in the mid and high hp range. The long-term collaboration between the two companies guarantees a high level of knowledge of these engines by the dealer network which, together with the best availability of spare parts, ensures maximum machine uptime. Finally, the flexible after treatment system ready for EU, EPA and LRC markets ensures SDF higher flexibility for future projects.

“The proven historical track record together with the investments in new technologies and services convinced us to prolong this long-term partnership for the EU V emission regulation,” says Lodovico Bussolati, SDF Chief executive officer. “The high standards of quality and reliability and the low operating costs of DEUTZ engines in combination with the ones of our products, give our customers the opportunity to maximize operational efficiency, an essential requirement for the growth of their business.”

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| Machinery

Multicut 460 celebrates 20 years with ‘top spec’ Y20 special edition urope’s leading producer of rotary mowers has unveiled a special model, marking the 20th birthday of the Multicut 460. The Spearhead Multicut 460 Y20 delivers the best-ever specification at a celebratory price.

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Over 20 years, the Multicut 460 has gained worldwide fame as a robust and long-lasting flex wing mower. Machines are cutting grass across the globe, with Kenya recently seeing its first machine in action. Many organisations in agriculture, aviation, and the military favour Multicut.

Not only does the 460 save time behind the wheel it delivers a superior cut. In farming, for example, dairy and meat yields can improve due to higher quality pasture.

Multicut 460 Y20: best-ever specification Presented in Y20 grey, the special edition model provides every possible feature at a price that rivals the standard 460 model.

A huge advancement, the Y20 includes a new, more robust 165HP gearbox, covered by a complimentary five-year warranty. Delivering 50% more power when required, oversized shafts and

gears increase the stature by 30%.

Critically, the lower seal is fully protected, minimising the risk of damage to this key component.

A further standard inclusion is the awardwinning six-blade Starcut Knife system.

Usually seen on top models, this ensures the Y20 delivers superior cutting.

Working six blades, not three, cutting is faster (at least 10 hectares per hour).

Mulch is much smaller (effectively below 60mm), speeding up breakdown, whilst spread is more even. Finally, a fuel saving of up to 60% is likely, compared to fixed knife systems.

The Y20 delivers a softer ride and less machine strain due to Hydragas suspension to reduce shock load. Coupled with a tougher walking centre axle, trailing is incredibly stable - even at speed.

Further welcome features include wider wheels to tackle rough ground, a flat centre deck for easier maintenance and a toughened deck structure.

Sales and Marketing at Spearhead: “This is a great year for the Multicut 460, and I’m delighted to see the Y20 launch. It showcases everything that’s fantastic about the class leading Multicut 460 and is a further credit to our devoted development team here in the UK. Most significantly, it offers customers incredible value and the highest performance out in the field.”

Spearhead first launched the Multicut 460 in 2001. It was the successor to the GS400 and 450 rotary mowers.

Development of the ever-popular model continued annually. 2007 saw the Agritechnica silver medal winning sixblade Starcut Knife system launch as an option before 2018 saw the powerful, new Spearhead gearbox (and five-year warranty) unleashed on higher specification models.

Bringing this product development excellence into the Multicut 460 Y20 marks a worthy celebration for Spearhead and its loyal dealer network.

For more information about the Spearhead Multicut 460 Y20, please contact Spearhead on 01789 491860 or visit www.spearheadmachinery.com.

Comments Antony Prince, Director of

Kubota strengthens aftermarket team

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s part of its continued investment and commitment to delivering first class aftersales support, Kubota (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce two new appointments to its aftermarket team.

The first is Martin Tyler, who has been appointed as business development manager for service. Martin has been with the company for seven years, formerly as field service manager, and this new role will see him heading up the aftermarket service team.

His responsibilities include working closely with the dealer network resolving technical queries and warranty claims, and to further develop Kubota’s front-line support through technical training.

The second appointment is that of Simon Chadbone, who takes up the position of business development manager for parts. Simon joins Kubota following 25 years at the Turney Group, where he joined as an apprentice technician and latterly held the position of group service manager with responsibility for agricultural and ground care equipment.

Overseeing the aftermarket parts team, Simon is responsible for working in partnership with Kubota’s dealer and distributor network to deliver competitive and cost-effective solutions with original parts.

Simon Chadbone (left) and Martin Tyler (right) have been appointed to strengthen Kubota’s aftermarket team.

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| Machinery

Cutting-edge tool launched to reduce fertiliser damage to the environment eading Scottish scientists have invented a new cuttingedge tool to help farmers find the safest way to use organic waste fertiliser in a bid to reduce its damaging impact on the environment.

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Researchers from Glasgow

farmers, and thus contributes to a circular economy.

“The use of organic fertilisers in the UK is subjected to very restrictive regulations, attempting to avoid introducing pathogens, heavy metals and now microplastics into water bodies and the food chain.

“It is therefore crucial to reduce the environmental impact of recycling organic waste into farmland by identifying adequate locations for their spreading and by predicting the effect of such land practice.”

and existing data to generate fresh intelligence. While the prototype of the tool currently shows a UK perspective, it will eventually be tailored so that you can drill down to individual plots of land.”

He says future work will strive to transform W2L into a “robust, user-friendly interface”, so it can be easily accessible for multiple users, including policy-makers.

The study, Waste to Land (W2L): A novel tool to show and predict the special effect of applying biosolids on the environment,

Caledonian University, led by Dr Alejandro Gonzalez Ollauri, developed the Waste to Land (W2L) computer tool, which identifies the best and safest places to use fertiliser in fields.

About 100 million tons of organic waste materials are spread in the UK’s farmland each year. The team from the University’s BEAM (Built Environment Asset Management) Research Centre was concerned that human and animal excrement used in organic fertiliser could leak into rivers, pollute the environment and enter the food chain.

Dr Gonzalez Ollauri said: “There is evidence to suggest that the use of organic waste materials improves the quality of the soil, enhances crop yield, reduces the costs to both industry and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

The W2L tool uses visuals and maps to show farmers the safest areas to apply organic waste, which is hoped will give them confidence in its long-term use.

Dr Gonzalez Ollauri added: “W2L combines environmental statistics

funded by the EPSRC through the SECURE Network, has been published in the prestigious journal Agricultural Systems. The study has been applauded by other environmental scientists around the world.

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| Sheep

Scientists find simple way to make lamb leaner cientists based at the institute Rothamsted Research have found a clear link between the weight of lambs early in their life and meat quality – which is good news for consumers, farmers, and the environment.

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Currently, 35% of lambs going to market have meat that is considered too fatty, but this new study shows that it’s the lambs which are heaviest at the point of weaning – when they switch from their mother’s milk to grazing – that go on to produce the leanest, most sought-after meat at market.

This knowledge will allow farmers to concentrate on giving their flock the best start in life, as well as looking to breed for lambs that are heavier once weaned.

In addition to producing a better quality of meat, these heavier lambs are also ready earlier in the season when demand is highest and therefore attract premium prices at market.

According to lead author and PhD student Andy Jones, a greater understanding of how better-quality meat is produced would be beneficial to both our health and the livelihood of sheep farmers.

“More than a third of British lambs going

to market are rated as overfat and we’ve shown that the leanness of lamb meat is determined very early in an animal’s life.

“Given that the majority of lambs’ preweaning nutrition comes in the form of ewe milk, it is now likely that carcass quality is also affected by management of ewes during pregnancy and lactation.

On the other hand, how to manage lambs once weaned may not be as important as those early life experiences.”

The NHS recognises red meat as a good source of protein, B vitamins, iron, selenium and zinc, but says its consumption should be limited to 70g per day. Excess consumption of lamb and beef is commonly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to levels of saturated fat.

The study was carried out at Rothamsted’s ‘farm lab’, the North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon, where data was collected from 2,963 sheep. The facility, where all relevant environmental, economic, and animal welfare data are collected 24/7, is also home to a hightech sheep shed which opened last year.

The research team found that the leanness and musculature of lamb meat can both be successfully predicted from the growth pattern of the animal before weaning.

Lambs heavier at weaning, typically at 13 weeks of age, were assessed to be the highest quality at market and as such returned significantly greater profits.

The study might also have implications for the climate change effects of livestock farming.

“At first glance, livestock’s impacts on environment and health may seem independent from one another”, says Dr Taro Takahashi, who led the research team.

“But as we’ve demonstrated previously, the carbon footprint of a food item should be evaluated as the ratio between greenhouse gas emissions and the overall nutritional value of the product, rather than just the nominal weight of the product. Besides, if these lambs spend a shorter time on the farm, this can trim down emissions of both methane and nitrous oxide as well.

“The production of leaner meat does contribute to climate change mitigation, provided that people don’t make up for the leanness with overconsumption.”

The study was published in the journal Animal and funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Feed trees to sheep to cut greenhouse gases, study suggests ntroducing tree leaves to a sheep’s diet could play an important role in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, suggests research presented at this today's Intercropping for Sustainability conference.

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Scientists from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) monitored four groups of six Aberfield x lambs, half of which were fed around 200g of goat willow leaves each per day. When their urine patches were monitored, they found significant reductions in both nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide in those groups which fed on willow leaves. The work, part-funded by the Woodland Trust, also found lower emissions of ammonia from urine patches where lambs were fed willow.

While cutting branches to feed to livestock is labour intensive, a move towards agroforestry with livestock (also known as silvopasture) would allow the direct browsing of coppiced trees if livestock access is managed to ensure sustainability. The use of tree fodder as an alternative source of food during periods of drought may become increasingly relevant as the climate 68 |

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changes, but these results suggest that a supplementary benefit of incorporating willow into grazing ruminant systems may be a contribution to climate change mitigation, as well as air quality improvement Defra has recently made it clear that agroforestry is eligible for support through the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), including both silvoarable (trees planted at wide spacings and intercropped with a cereal or bioenergy crop) and silvopasture (trees combined with forage grassland and livestock production). The Committee on Climate Change estimates that agroforestry could result in carbon emissions savings of 5.9 MtCO2e per year by 2050, approximately 13% of the total current emissions from the agriculture sector.

Professor Chris Stoate undertook the research and is encouraged by the findings: “This study is a novel application of the specialist expertise and equipment we have at the Allerton Project and builds on our recent research on grass and livestock systems. The results are preliminary, but they provide

an exciting indication that feeding willow leaves to ruminants may contribute to national targets for both climate change and air quality. It certainly warrants further investigation.”

Despite decreasing by 16% since 1990, farming in the UK contributes 10 per cent of the country’s emissions. Any ambition to reach net zero, which the NFU has set as a goal for 2040, will require novel solutions. It is estimated that one kilogramme of N2O warms the atmosphere about 300 times the amount that one kilogramme of carbon dioxide does over a 100-year timescale, so any potential reduction is worth serious consideration. The benefits to air quality of the apparent reduction in ammonia is an added bonus. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Sheep

Warning to cattle and sheep farmers to not let liver fluke catch them out e are living through very strange times – and liver fluke is proving to be no exception, say the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups.

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There was a relatively low and later than normal challenge in many parts of the UK throughout 2020, largely due to the legacy of the dry summer in 2018 and successive dry springs in 2019 and 2020 – but more recent weather patterns mean we are now starting to see evidence of fluke infection in some parts of the country.

Sub-acute cases in sheep, caused by migrating immature fluke, have been reported in North West England, and APHA has identified cases in the Midlands and Cumbria too. Positive fluke egg counts are also starting to be seen in the West of Scotland, indicative of the presence of adult fluke.

The need to stay vigilant and keep using the tests available to monitor the situation on farms has never been greater, says experts from the two groups.

As an example, the University of Liverpool has tested first season grazing lambs and calves from across the country and seen significant regional variation. Even within a county there are differences between individual farms.

And while farms from Wiltshire, North Yorkshire and Northampton have tested negative, farms from East Sussex and Exeter were positive. This highlights how important it is to test stock before treatment. There are also reports of coproantigen positives from Cheshire, the North of England and Scottish Borders. Different results can be seen in different groups of animals grazed on different parts of the farm, again highlighting the need to test before you treat.

Forecast. The NADIS liver fluke forecast said the dry September followed by a pretty rainy October meant liver fluke risk was predicted to be ‘high’ in West Scotland and Northern Ireland. North West England and North Wales were classed as ‘medium’ risk. However, like last year, it’s worth noting that November was actually very mild (albeit still www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

relatively dry in most places) so development of fluke stages could have continued later into the year again, particularly further south. Temperatures in December were more typical and the current cold spell, with average temperatures well below 10oC, is expected to have more or less stopped any further development. Having said that, some parts of the country only had a brief cold spell then a lot more rain, with evidence of snail activity even in January.

How to test / options available. In the autumn fluke update, SCOPS and COWS advocated the use of serological i.e. blood testing to monitor infection in lambs and calves, because they were in their first grazing season and, therefore, good sentinels for infection.

At this time of the year (mid-winter), most of the fluke are adults so the preferred option is testing of faeces using either the fluke egg count or the coproantigen test.

These tests can be applied to any age or management group of sheep and cattle and are relatively straightforward samples to collect. Faecal testing from late autumn through to spring will tell farmers whether or not treatment is needed, and help guide the timing of treatment and product choice. It also provides an opportunity to see how well any treatment has worked with follow-up testing. For animals kept outdoors, regular testing would be best – it helps monitor the reinfection rate and can be a good indicator if retreatment is necessary. For housed animals a single test before turnout lets you know if there are any ‘leftovers’ from housing treatment.

Case study - Argyll, West of Scotland (Moredun & Livestock Health Scotland).

This is a notoriously wet and mild part of the country so fluke is a perennial problem. Over the years, farmers have routinely treated with triclabendazole (TCBZ) in the autumn (and at other times) resulting in widespread TCBZ resistance. Regular faecal monitoring on Livestock Health Scotland study farms over the past few years has avoided use of TCBZ in autumn (or the need to treat at all, in some cases) and delay treatment with alternative products (closantel and/or nitroxinil) until well into the New Year. Brian, an Argyll farmer involved in the work, says: “Having been involved in sampling for the trial for the last three years, I’ve been able to better target when I dose my stock for fluke, resulting in money and time being saved from less routine dosing, and I now have a healthier flock.” His vet, Alison, says: “Timing of fluke treatments in the face of suspected or proven TCBZ resistance continues to challenge mid-Argyll farmers and vets.”

If results come back positive, discuss with your veterinarian or RAMA which product to choose for treatment. The SCOPS/COWS treatment table can help to select the right treatment and optimise timing.

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For sheep. If animals still grazing outside, most fluke will be late immature and/or adults, so a product targeting these stages (closantel or nitroxinil) would be advised. Later in the spring, products targeting adult fluke could be used (albendazole or oxyclozanide). Avoid turning sheep out onto ‘fluky’ pasture once treated, to prevent re-infection

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For cattle. Assuming cattle were housed in October, most fluke will now be adults. A faecal egg count or the coproantigen test could be used.

A product targeting adult fluke such as clorsulon or oxyclozanide can be prescribed. Treatments given early after housing are likely to miss some immature fluke. By spring and turnout, these will now be adults and producing eggs. Test in the spring using either the faecal egg count or coproantigen test to show if stock are still infected. Following a positive test, a pre-turnout treatment with a product targeting adult fluke (clorsulon, oxyclozanide or albendazole) will reduce pasture contamination with fluke eggs in the spring, just as the mud snails are becoming active again.

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Always be aware of the withdrawal periods for meat and milk for any treatments given – see SCOPS/COWS guidance.

Action points.

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Test before you treat – testing stock before treating will indicate if treatment is necessary this season, the most effective time to treat your stock depending on the fluke challenge for your farm, and help inform product choice.

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Faecal test sheep and cattle (FEC or coproantigen) to monitor fluke infection status, and re-test same animals three weeks post-treatment to check efficacy.

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Test cattle two months after housing to help detect infection in older cattle or farms with a low fluke risk.

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Speak to your vet about which tests are available and to arrange testing.

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If test results are positive, treat with a product that targets the stage of fluke most likely to be present at this time.

By testing before treatment, the RIGHT product can be selected to treat the RIGHT animals at the RIGHT time to give effective and efficient fluke control.

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| Tyres

Bridgestone's VX TRACTOR reaping dividends on first anniversary ridgestone's agricultural team has celebrated the first year anniversary of its road and field tyre, the VXTRACTOR, and has been given a series of endorsements from farmers and contractors who have claimed 'phenomenal' levels of performance.

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Bridgestone's agricultural sales manager Stephen Lamb admitted being anxious before the product was brought onto the market, but is receiving testimonials from customers claiming up to four times the life of competitor products.

Stephen said: "You are always somewhat hesitant and anxious when you launch a brand-new product into the marketplace; especially one in the highly competitive and harsh operating environment of the agricultural sector.

"But the collected data and feedback has been phenomenal, with a series of highly positive comments coming in to us. Some farmers had even purchased additional sets of VX-TRACTOR tyres for their other tractors, so impressed had they been with the initial fitment. This, coupled with the hard data collected, showed that the VXTRACTOR was strongly outperforming all other sets of tyres that were previously fitted.

Bridgestone launched the VX-TRACTOR with a twoweek road-run of the United Kingdom to show off its capabilities.

During the summer, Bridgestone also visited a number of farmers to obtain tyre data and gain valuable enduser feedback in a real-world environment.

One of those farmers visited, was

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dairy farmer Richard Bradley, Park Farm, Lancashire.

He said: "They offer a really smooth ride and gave confidence when driving, particularly around corners. It is an excellent gripping tyre.

"The life of the tyres appear to be vastly superior to the products I have driven on previously, with thousands more miles to be run before I need to contemplate a replacement. They're a great purchase."

Richard's original tyres on his JD 6150R clocked up 4,002 hrs before being replaced with VXTRACTOR in May 2019. These had worked some 1,250hrs (95% Roadwork) and are projected to achieve some 10,750hrs of work from new.

D.E Pickervance & Sons, Farm Contractors told a similar story and reported greater longevity and performance.

David said: "We are extremely happy with the tyres performance, with grip, wearrate, and ride comfort.

"We call our 7430 the "rescue work-horse" as it's the only tractor that will pull our other tractors out of the deep mud, when they get stuck. So impressed we've fitted another set to our JD 6150R." The previous tyres were averaging some 4,600hrs of work, the VX-TRACTOR are currently projected to achieve some 10,850hrs of work from new.

Keld Andersen Bridgestone www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tyres farming customers, in all types of farming operation, that we can see just how good the product really is, when compared against other upper premium competitors.

Central and North Europe Agricultural Product Manager, said: "We knew from the beginning - from the design technology and look of the tyre – we had a winner on our hands, but its only now from this data and the feedback from our

As the tyre gains a reputation in the marketplace, farmers are asking for the product by name, and with the introduction this year, of the 85 & 70 Series within the portfolio, we will only continue to see strong sales demand."

Keld added: "All this has only been achieved by the sterling support, we have received from our loyal Bridgestone Partner dealer network, who having

gained first-hand experience, have confidently promoted the product to their own farming community."

"Where a farmer's requirements are for a long lasting, value for money tyre, heavy road-usage, with strong traction, ride comfort and performance in a robust environment - they should seriously consider our VXTRACTOR product. It's a tyre that really does live up to its name and slogan: More Traction...For Longer."

For more information about Bridgestone's agricultural products and solutions, visit https://www.bridgestone.co.uk/ agricultural/

Vredestein Traxion Optimall now available in ploughing sizes redestein has added another three sizes to its premium Traxion Optimall VF tyre range. The VF650/85R42 and VF650/85R38 have a maximum width of 65 cm and fit perfectly in the furrow, together with the front size VF600/70R34 making them ideal for ploughing. Renowned benefits of the Traxion Optimall such as its self-cleaning properties and traction also make the tyre very suitable for plough activities.

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Soil preservation and always traction Thanks to the use of F+ technology the tyre is able to carry high loads even at very low pressure. The flexible sidewall ensures an evenly distributed footprint, www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

preventing any peak load on the shoulders at low pressure. The resulting soil preservation and excellent pulling power is further enhanced by a curved tread, with the lugs at the end being more transverse to the driving direction. High traction means less slip and low fuel consumption, while the tyre’s self-cleaning properties are due to the way the distance between the lugs increases from the centre to the side.

Driving comfort and long tyre life The Traxion Optimall VF has more rubber in the centre of the tread in the driving direction, providing continuous road contact and excellent driving comfort. The F+ technology also keeps the shoulders stable at low pressure during transport activities at high speed. Traxion Optimall

tyres last 30 percent longer than their premium competitors due to the large contact area on the road and well-chosen rubber compound mix.

The tyre width of 65 cm and ability to carry high loads at low pressure also make the new Traxion Optimall sizes a perfect tyre for self-propelled and trailed sprayers.

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| ATV

Suzuki is the King of Quads uzuki is a manufacturer of motorcycles, automobiles, outboard motors and allterrain vehicles (ATVs) for the global market. The Suzuki trademark is recognised by people throughout the world as a brand whose products offer quality, innovation, reliability and originality. Suzuki stands behind this global symbol with a determination to maintain this confidence in the future, never ceasing in its efforts to develop ‘value-packed products’ with a focus on the customer.

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Once Suzuki ATVs leave the factory, they are also fully PDI checked and track tested by authorised Suzuki Dealers across the UK. All Suzuki ATVs come with a full two-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is subject to owner registration and scheduled service records. Certain exclusions for service and wear and tear items may apply and customers are encouraged to consult their Owner’s Service Book for details.

Safety is paramount, and Suzuki offers free EASI training with all of its ATVs. As well as the product briefing and handover from the Dealer, Suzuki also strongly recommends the free, five-hour certificate course with the European ATV Safety Institute (EASI). Covering pre-ride checks, riding in different conditions, and negotiating obstacles, it’ll help keep you, and your ATV, safe and productive longterm.

Not only is the product class-leading, but Suzuki GB’s Nationwide network of

Understanding its customers and the environment in which they work is part of Suzuki’s ethos. To this end, Suzuki understands that ATVs are an important and valuable asset, which is why it provides a theft deterrent system as standard.

And this certainly rings true for Suzuki’s ATV division. Back in 1983 the QuadRunner 125 was the ATV that started an industry! It was the first ever production 4-wheel ATV and became a top-seller. This ATV boasted a friendly design that was easy to use and an outstanding cost-performance ratio. It was to be the catalyst that started a future of 4-wheel ATV technology.

The CESAR Security System powered

by Datatag is the official security initiative of both the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and comes FREE on all new Suzuki utility ATVs. This Suzuki Datatag kit will give each ATV a unique ‘fingerprint’ with an identity that cannot be erased, however hard a criminal may try.

Now Suzuki’s range currently comprises of three versatile models; the KingQuad 500 and 500XP as well as the KingQuad 750XP (XP denotes power steering). These robust utility ATVs are the culmination of years of refinement and their high levels of technical specification and ease of handling make them suitable for a number of applications including hill and lowland farming, estate management and use on equestrian properties.

expert Dealers is equally as impressive.

Many of these Dealers are long-standing Suzuki representatives and with excellent coverage in Scotland and the Scottish Boarders customers can be reassured that however remote they are, they’ll find a Suzuki ATV Dealership within reach.

As you would expect, all Suzuki ATVs are taken through a thorough testing process, including final visual inspection of the engine and chassis, and full test rides, which include the use of all gears, speedometer and lights, as well as rider tests of the suspension and steering.

All Suzuki Dealers are specialists in their field and have received extensive product training from Suzuki so that they are well positioned to be able to offer friendly, expert advice, servicing and aftersales support to help customers get the most from their machine.

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This acts as a strong theft deterrent and a tool for recovery should the worst happen, as well as reducing insurance premiums.

Suzuki also works with participating Dealers to help provide the ability for prospective customers to try before they buy and for existing customers a ‘Courtesy ATV Scheme’. This is because Suzuki understands that many farmers rely on their ATVs and can’t afford to be without it, so a loan ATV will help keep them and their business moving.

For more information on Suzuki’s King Quds, visit: https://atv.suzuki.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Vervaet Quad - the best just got better magine the best and most innovative technology for manure application. Now imagine even more advanced technology being combined with the DNA of the standard in slurry injection since 1990 and brought together into the lightest and strongest selfpropelled carrier chassis available with unparalleled torque.

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That’s the new Vervaet Quad! With 550 hp, 21m3 tank capacity and a transmission offering higher torque than any other self-propelled machine on the market in the crucial 5 to 15 km/h speed range. Add to that the largest possible tyre choice making it suitable for every type of crop and every type of application.

Vervaet has set the standard in slurry injection since as early as 1990, and today it leads the European market for professional selfpropelled application machinery. It is our ambition to maintain and expand this market leadership by offering the best solution for every farmer and every contractor who applies slurry or solid manure. To do this we offer highquality solutions and concepts which are innovative, easy to operate and service with low maintenance costs and a high residual value. Quality has a name after all - Vervaet!

We have developed and engineered a selfpropelled concept which not only brings together the best and most innovative present day technology for manure application, we managed to enrich and enhance it even further. The result is a vehicle concept able to compete in every market segment featuring a drive line with the best cooling capacity and the highest continuous torque available. That’s the new Vervaet Quad! This machine completes our range of professional manure application technology alongside the Vervaet Trike with a 16 m3 tank capacity, the Trike XL with a 21 m3 tank capacity and the Trike 5x5, the most powerful Vervaet Trike ever made.

temperatures as high as 45°C with a fully loaded engine and driveline. This new concept has been developed together with our new engine partner, Volvo Penta, to ensure optimal performance under any circumstance and in all conditions. The Quad has its radiator positioned at the front of the machine keeping it well away from dust and crop residue. The 13 litre 550hp 6-cylinder Volvo Penta engine boasts a phenomenal 2650 Nm of torque at a stunningly low engine speed of just 1200rpm, making it by far the most powerful option in the market! Naturally with such a slow-running engine excellent fuel economy also comes as standard. Worldwide engine homologation backed up by a first rate global service and maintenance network are additional benefits.

Ease of service and maintenance also applies to the all-new Vervaet-made transmission. t combines the best elements of two technologies, utilising hydraulic motors to provide infinitely variable speed control to mechanical gearboxes and axles which deal with the high torque loadings associated with the demanding nature of high-output work.

Separate gearboxes for each axle provide simplicity and allow the Vervaet Quad to offer constant four-wheel drive.

With this clever driveline concept the Vervaet Quad offers higher torque than any other selfpropelled machine on the market in the crucial 5 to 15 km/h speed range. Diff-locks on each axle and a centre diff-lock are standard because getting stuck in muddy conditions just isn’t part of the plan.

Slurry systems for every liking You’ll find more familiar Vervaet DNA right behind the radiator with the proven slurry system featuring a choice of Vogelsang and Börger 9,000 l/min pumps, or the SuperLoad system with 10” piping and a 12,000 l/min or 13,500 l/min Börger pump. These pump the slurry through the tried and tested Vervaet cyclone macerator or, as an option, a Vogelsang macerator fitted before the pump.

With Vervaet DNA, naturally Don’t be mistaken by the novelty of the Vervaet Quad, it is full of Vervaet DNA and packed with innovative reliable technology which stands out for its simplicity. User-friendly technology that is easy to comprehend and quickly understood by every type of operator.

Service technicians also value our straightforward designs which allow them to service and maintain machines in a simple and very cost-effective way.

Clever driveline concept The Vervaet Quad incorporates a clever new cooling system suitable for working in

A loading arm can make or break the efficiency of work and should be flawless and easy to use. It’s natural for operators to have their individual preferences, but we have managed to design a single loading arm suitable for every operator and situation. A loading arm that doesn’t hinder the driver’s visibility and that is fully road legal throughout Europe.

Because we care for your safety and that of everyone around you in the yard and in the streets!

The Quad’s impressive traction and sheer pulling power is particularly valued whilst injecting slurry with rear-mounted cultivation tools. These are carried on a rear-linkage

making it particularly quick and convenient to swap between, for example, an injector and a cultivator.

In addition to handling slurry, the Quad’s extremely versatile design gives it a truly multipurpose nature. The basic carrier vehicle can also be equipped with a solid manure spreading body, creating a first class selfpropelled spreader with excellent tractive abilities which offers high capacity but a light footprint on the land. It is also anticipated that other options could also become available to equip the Quad for specialist applications including as a beet chaser.

At home in every (row) crop We highly value traction, tenacity and soil quality. Therefore the new Quad is not only very robust, its clever engineering stands out and makes it the lightest and strongest selfpropelled machine in its class. Add to that its sophisticated four-wheel steering and ultra tight turning circle which make it at equally at home in every (row) crop and on any field across the entire globe. In addition,the Quad can also be used in ‘crab steer’ mode so that each of its massive tyres runs in a different path, spreading its weight over the widest possible area to avoid soil-damage and compaction.

The vast choice of tyres available for the Quad includes 900/60 R38, 900/60 R42, 1050/50 R32, 1000/55 R32, 1250/50 R32, the newest Mitas 1000/65 R32 as well as dual row crop tyres. When fitted with nearly all tyre sizes the Quad doesn’t exceed a 3m maximum transport width.

An optimal and comfortable working environment A professional self-propelled manure applicator is nothing without a professional operator who can work in comfort for hours on end without becoming fatigued. That’s why all Vervaet selfpropelled machines are furnished with the most modern, luxurious and spacious cabs with a large glass area. All of the machine’s controls are within easy reach: the joystick and the terminal are located in the adjustable armrest.

Do you want to experience the latest development of Vervaet’s proven DNA? Then climb into the Quad’s spacious cab, look over your shoulder and discover how easy it is to keep an eye on your slurry injector or manure spreader!

The all-new Vervaet Quad: A self-propelled manure injector/ spreader for professionals which feels at home in the hands of every operator on any field across the globe!

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| ATV

Genuine Accessories available for the Kawasaki Utility Range he Kawasaki 2021 range comprises of four MULE utlity vehicles and the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS ATV: the MULE PRODXT, MULE PRO-DX, MULE PROMX and MULE SX. The range is designed for use over various terrain found on arable and pastoral farms, providing the ability to easily transport equipment and animal feed. A range of Kawasaki Genuine Accessories are available

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For more information

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across the utility range to provide additional comfort and ease with everyday tasks.

The MULE SX 4x4 is equipped with a 401cc four-stroke, OHV, air-cooled engine, sporting a 16-litre fuel tank, delivering power reliably and economically, with a restricted top speed of 25mph. The tubular steel chassis provides the best balance of rigidity, strength and ride comfort with off-road pursuits. The MULE SX

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV can be fitted with either a Canvas Cabin or Hard Cabin, which includes wiper and washer, to provide protection against the elements for use all year round. Also available as an additional accessory is a Cargo Bed Liner or thick Cargo Bed Mat, to reduce damage to the original bed surface from heavy loads. The easy-toload tilting cargo bed can carry up to 181kg of tools and materials, and an extra 500kg can be towed behind by fitting a tow ball to the ever-eager MULE. The MULE PRO-MX offers the ideal balance between compact and full size UTVs, fitted with a single-cylinder 700cc petrol powered engine, the MX is perfectly positioned between the MULE SX and MULE PRO-DX, giving customers even greater choice to find the perfect vehicle for their needs. The MULE PRO-MX can be fitted with a Hard Cabin made of high grade steel with a quality black finish. The flip-up style tinted safety glass windscreen features rubber seals and locks to ensure you stay dry and warm when tackling the most difficult tasks. Heavy Duty Springs are available to firm up the suspension

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

and improve the handling of the vehicle whilst transporting heavy cargo or when fitted with a cabin. With conveniently small dimensions (2,795 mm long x 1,525 mm wide x 2,005 mm wheelbase with a turning circle of just 4.2m), the carrying and towing capacity does not suffer at 317kg and 680kg respectively.

A Bed Extender is available for the MULE PRO-MX to further increase usable cargo space for extra-large loads.

At the top of the MULE range is the MULE PRO-DX and MULE PRO-DXT, offering a class-leading 453kg carrying capacity of the long and low tipping cargo bed and impressive 907kg towing potential. The 993cc liquid-cooled, 4stroke Diesel engine provides ample power to navigate over tough terrain and working environments. Dirt, terrain and weather won’t stop the ultra-rugged MULE PRO-DX and PRO-DXT, with all essential systems designed to resist water, dust and debris. The MULE PRODX and MULE PRO-DXT are available to purchase with a Hard Cabin, featuring doors equipped with hydraulic stoppers, automotive style locks and sliding safety glass side windows. The DXT Hard

Cabin also includes a clear sliding window partition between the front and rear seats to allow complete cab enclosure whether in 2 or 4 passenger mode. Additional accessories include a bed extender, cargo dividers and under seat storage bin to provide additional easy-to-access space, which stays outof-sight.

The Kawasaki 2021 ATV offering is the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS, available in either Camo or Super Black colour options. This high-performance allterrain vehicle is equipped with a 749cc liquid cooled, 4-stroke V-twin engine, providing all-day working performance.

Industry leading features including speed variable Electronic Power Steering and greater chassis control providing all-day working performance.

The Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS can be installed with a front or rear case to create extra storage when on the move.

The full Kawasaki utility range and Genuine Accessories are available on the Kawasaki website or through your local Kawasaki utility dealer. To find out more visit www.kawasaki.co.uk

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| ATV

Farmer and Contractor leans on trio of Honda ATVs fleet of three Honda all terrain vehicles (ATVs) is key to providing a dependable soil sampling service for a longestablished Cambridgeshire farmer and contractor.

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Family owned and run farming business, H Melton & Son is based near Wisbech and grows approximately 1,800ha of its own arable crops on a mix of owned and contract-farmed land. A large fleet of state-of-the-art machinery equipped with the latest precision farming technology is operated, allowing field operations to be carried out at optimum times to maximise crop health and yields.

As well as producing its own crops, H Melton & Son also provides a contracting service to other farms in the area including operations such as spraying, drilling and harvesting.

The business also offers a professional soil sampling service, allowing farmers and agronomists to create accurate soil maps and monitor growing conditions.

This started with a single Honda ATV equipped with an automated soil sampling unit but as demand for the

service grew an additional Honda was added, and in 2016 the fleet increased to three machines, each with its own experienced operator. The current fleet of Honda Foreman TRX520FM6 ATVs samples fields throughout the Eastern Counties for 10 months of the year.

“Most work is within 120 miles of our base,” said Richard Taylor who manages the soil sampling division. “We also travel further afield and provide the service to growers in the west of the country, mainly for large-scale potato producers.”

Minimal ground damage Most work is on stubbles but the Hondas are just as suitable for sampling ploughed and cultivated land as well as fields planted with young crops. “Their light footprint means that they do very little damage, so we continue working until the plants become too high in April or May,” Richard explained. “Then we start again when harvest begins, working on stubbles. We test for soil type, nutrient content, acidity and pests, and most of our work in recent years has been to determine potato cyst nematode (PCN) populations - both as eggs within the soil and those which are mobile. The usual technique is to take 50 cores from each area selected for survey which can be from 0.25–2.00ha, and sample location and recording accuracy is guaranteed by ultraprecise guidance provided

by John Deere Starfire GPS receivers on each machine.”

Customers requesting soil surveys range from intensive vegetable producers to family farms.

“In recent years there has

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been increased interest from potato processors,” continued Richard. “We provide a cost-effective look at the PCN levels in fields they intend to hire.”

Comfort and reliability

Each Honda has its own operator, and the machines are transported between sampling jobs on trailers. Typical working days can include up to six hours in the seat, so a comfortable ride is needed and heated handlebar grips are considered essential for winter working.

Honda Foreman ATVs have always been used, as the soil sampling machinery is heavy and the work can be demanding. “They easily cope with the sort of terrain that we work on during the winter,” stressed Richard. “We know of other sampling companies using sideby-side UTVs, but their extra weight and size means that they are restricted to working only when ground conditions are easier. The idea of a warm cab sometimes appeals on cold, wet days, but generally we all far prefer our Honda Foreman ATVs, and it’s reassuring knowing that when we arrive at the fields we will usually be able to complete the task, however muddy and wet the conditions. Reliability of our Honda ATVs has always been excellent, and over the 20 years that we have offered the soil sampling service we have had very few problems.”

Powerful and capable The current fleet consists of three Foreman TRX520FM6 machines, purchased last year from Suffolk-based main dealer MKM Agriculture. The TRX520FM6 is powered by a lowrevving 518cc, 4-stroke petrol engine which drives the wheels though an efficient 5-speed mechanical transmission, and enclosed shafts to the front and rear. There are no chains or www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

accuracy in some situations. When we arrive in a new field, our first task is usually to map the boundary which involves riding tight against the field edge while the GPS mapping system records the position. However, this tends to be where ploughs and other implements are lifted in and out of work, and tight field corners can be particularly bad. Power steering makes it much easier to maintain a course right into the corners without being diverted by the deep ruts.”

Popular with operators

belts and maintenance is minimal. Selectable fourwheel drive and a locking front differential allows the user to select the most suitable drive arrangement for the task and conditions. Power steering is standard.

“Power steering makes a big difference,” commented Richard. “Our early ATVs didn’t have it, but now when we are operating on deeply rutted ground all day it reduces fatigue and also improves

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Gail Williams operates one of the Honda soil sampling units. “I really like the new TRX520FM6,” she said. “I always got on well with the previous TRX500FM but the new model has slightly more power and the extra high-end torque helps on muddy, rough ground, making it easier to ride. It goes anywhere, the ride quality is excellent and it’s smoother than the previous model.

completely independent soil sampling service,” concluded Richard. “The Melton family’s contracting business is known for providing a reliable, efficient service to customers, and using the Honda ATVs for soil sampling means we can get on the land and complete the work even in conditions where other vehicles couldn’t travel and without causing damage. The new Honda TRX520FM6 machines are proving just as reliable as their predecessors and are preferred by their operators, and if anything does go wrong we know we can rely on the back-up from the team at MKM.”

“I definitely wouldn’t want to swap it for any other brand as I don’t think Honda reliability can be beaten, and I would prefer this to anything heavier as I know it will go everywhere I need it to.”

Independent service provider “Demand for our service is increasing, partly because we are offering a

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Supporting ATV safety amaha has pledged to help improve farm safety by offering free ATV rider competency training from European All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (EASI®) to anyone purchasing a new Yamaha ATV. “We have always advocated ATV operators being trained to use any machines, so to help improve driver competency we offer these courses free of charge,” says William Kay, Yamaha ATV Manager.

competence, and help safeguard workers, the HSE strongly advise that ATV operators complete a training course. “ATVs when used properly can save time and money. Our training courses highlight general machine checks, upkeep, weight distribution and active riding, which is imperative when operating on uneven, rutted terrain which is so often found on farms,” says Amy Morris, EASI UK Regional Operations Manager.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the total cost of workplace injury to agriculture, forestry, and fishing was estimated at between £108 million and £274 million*. To reduce risk, improve operator

Taking a basic course to learn riding skills and use the correct equipment can help prevent the risk of accidents. “With the ever-increasing popularity of ATV’s many operators have little or no experience. An ATV handles very differently to cars and motorcycles so it

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is vitally important that all users should learn how to safely operate an ATV by taking an operator course,” says Mrs Morris.

The training can be completed in one day and there are 38 centres throughout the UK to do so. EASI advises that all riders, including those with years of experience, make the most of this offer.

“Even experienced riders can find themselves in potentially hazardous situations that can, without the correct training and knowledge, result in serious accidents. We welcome this move by Yamaha and hope that its customers will take advantage of this offer,” adds Mrs Morris.

Meet the latest Corvus family members wo more significant pieces in the Corvus UK 4x4 utility dealer network jigsaw are complete.” Says Phil Everett, MD of BOSS ORV, the UK distributor of the Corvus Terrain range. A big welcome to the family is extended to Colin Catley and all his team at Catley Engineering in Leicestershire, and to RHS in the North East of Scotland. Both dealerships will be selling, supporting and servicing the Corvus

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Based in the Leicestershire village of Peckleton, Catley Engineering has been supporting the local agricultural industry for almost a decade, offering a whole range of services in the sale, repair and servicing of tractors and agricultural machinery.

“Our passion is providing the highest quality engineering and machinery sales at great value for money.” Says Colin Catley.

“It’s great to have such a professional and customer service orientated company join the future of UTVs.” Says Phil.

Terrain range of utility Side by Side vehicles.

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North of the border, RHS is a family run company established in 1995 with a depot and 24- hour on-site service specialising in hoses and hydraulic systems together with a specialist ATV centre. “I am absolutely delighted to announce that RHS Ltd is the latest member of the Corvus family.” Says Phil.

“I have known and worked (on and off) with Neil, Heather and Iain for over 25 years so I fully understand the exceptional levels of customer support and service levels they will bring to our dealer network. If ever the old adage of ‘you could eat your dinner off the workshop floor’ applies to anywhere it is here. It’s great that they are now embracing the future with Corvus UTVs and also by bringing in Fraser Reid (in photo) to fully secure the future of RHS.” For more information about the Corvus Terrain range, you can call 01597 810188, E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk or visit www.bossorv.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Take on the trails with the new Polaris RZR S 1000 rail Agility. Endless Comfort.

For 2021, Polaris Off-Road introduces its brand-new, 60 inches wide, RZR Trail S 1000 Premium, optimised for next-level performance for your best trail ride yet.

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Featuring the powerful ProStar 999cc, double overhead cam twin-cylinder engine, and weighing only 651kilograms*, the RZR Trail S blends its class-leading power-to-weight ratio with real trail versatility, thanks to a new narrower track width of just 60 inches.

The new machine also has an engine braking system (EBS) and high performance true on-demand all-wheel drive that kicks in when more forward traction is needed.

The premium trim offered to customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa features LED headlights as well as electronic power steering (EPS) with a 2.0 turn point-to-point to stay nimble on the trails and provide easy handling.

There is also premium two-inch Walker Evans Needle Shocks, which are fully adjustable with 16-position adjustable clickers.

Built for the trails At just 60-inches wide, the RZR Trail S 1000 has the narrowest stance and the shortest wheelbase seen across the RZR line-up, making it easier to manoeuvre in tight trails and giving riders unrestricted access to the outdoors. Paired with its small turning radius, fast-engaging all-wheel-drive ondemand, and class-leading ground clearance of 31.8-centimetres, the new www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

RZR gives every rider confidence to tackle the toughest terrain.

For its size, the RZR Trail S 1000 has a class-leading power-to-weight ratio, delivering quick acceleration that closes the gap between corners faster than ever before. Combining performance and perseverance, the RZR Trail features a more durable clutch and longer belt life for worry-free riding with smooth engagement, in addition to stronger, 27-inch, 8-ply GBC Dirt Commander tyres for puncture resistance.

All-day comfort Boasting 31.1-centimetres of suspension travel on the front and 33.5-centimetres on the rear, as well as adjustable Walker Evans Needle Shocks, the RZR S 1000 absorbs impact on rough terrain with ease. For rider comfort, there is an adjustable steering wheel position, more legroom, a customizable seat position and improved cut-and-sew seats that reposition rider posture. Store more gear with the new in-cab storage places and see vehicle diagnostics with the digital gauge.

Available in T1a, T1b, and EU homologations, in Polaris Blue colourway. *651kg curb weight for EU homologation - 656kg curb weight for T1a/T1b homologations.

The wrap-around roll cage and sturdy full doors - included as standard - give riders more protection from the trails by keeping branches out of the cab and providing better protection from the elements and dirt.

Modern style Stand out on the trails with the modern and clean style of the new RZR Trail S in Polaris Blue colourway, featuring bold graphics and red details including contrast red springs. The 2021 RZR Trail S boasts the striking LED lights seen on the Xtreme Performance models, as well as a host of new design features including the front and hood design, new fender flairs, aluminium wheels, back side panels, one-piece full doors and new roll cage. Inside, the cockpit has been redesigned featuring updated seat styling, a new steering wheel, and updated C4 display gauge.

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he All-New Isuzu D-Max combines smart new styling and impressive safety technology with improved off-road performance. Not only does it deliver the strength and durability you’d expect from an Isuzu pick-up truck, this capable workhorse now adds superior levels of comfort and refinement.

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Benefitting from an assertive new exterior design, the All-New D-Max boasts a more distinguishable and powerful appearance. The elevated front-end design and sharp contours generate a more imposing presence which is complemented by distinctive 18” alloy wheels and new Bi-LED lights on higher end models.

The interior has been transformed with a sophisticated layered dashboard design and new infotainment systems which provide a more spacious and contemporary feel. This is accompanied by soft-touch panelling and elegant

detailing that contributes to a more premium interior which remains fuss-free and practical to operate.

The new front and rear suspension delivers greater refinement without compromising the D-Max’s admirable load-carrying capabilities, and this is complemented by improved road and noise sound-proofing and a new speedsensitive electronic power steering which improves manoeuvrability and accuracy.

Isuzu is renowned for its 4x4 expertise and the All-New D-Max is even more capable off-road with a faster engaging shift-on-the-fly 4WD system and a standard rear diff-lock on All-Purpose and Adventure models. The durable ladder chassis has been strengthened thanks to larger rails and an extra panel has been added to provide more extensive underbody protection.

Back on the road, it’s even safer thanks to a comprehensive ADAS package that

includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Limiter and Lane Departure Warning & Prevention on every model.

The All-New Isuzu D-Max is the only pickup in the UK to have a rear radar fitted as standard on all double cab variants and this enables even more ADAS functionality. All double cabs have 3 additional ADAS systems: Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitor and – for the first time in the pickup segment - Emergency Lane Keeping.

The All-New Isuzu D-Max has taken a huge stride forward in terms of refinement, safety and comfort while retaining its core characteristics of strength, durability and capability. The Euro 6D compliant diesel engine delivers 164PS and 360Nm of torque and is mated to a choice of either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, which offers up to 25% faster gear changes.

Remaining true to its workhorse pedigree, the All-New Isuzu D-Max is capable of towing up to 3.5t and carrying over a tonne payload. Customers are presented with a wide range of models to choose from including 4x2 or 4x4, three different cab types (single, extended and double cab) and four brand new trim levels.

Each model comes with 125,000 mile / 5 Year warranty and 5 years UK and European roadside assistance. The AllNew Isuzu D-Max arrives into UK showrooms in March 2021 and customers are encouraged to register their interest now.

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REASONS TO BE POSITIVE AS DATA REVEALS MINIMUM IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN 3 ccording to the latest data from Auto Trader, after an initial dip following the Prime Minister’s announcement that England entered its third national lockdown, consumer demand remains robust on its marketplace, with the new restrictions having little impact on buying intentions.

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During the first three days of the new year, there was a 7% year-on-year (YoY) increase in visitors to Auto Trader, before taking a slight fall immediately following the announcement on the 4th January.

However, with an average of 1.8 million visitors a day recorded during the week ending 10th January, levels were still 1.1% higher than the same period last year. And, as people adjusted to the latest restrictions, volumes began to increase, with the number of visits reaching a 4.3% YoY growth over the weekend. Despite the disruption, the number of leads being sent to retailers last week remained strong, with volumes increasing 7.4% YoY. Affordability confidence reaches 2020 high Research conducted by Auto Trader further highlights the limited influence the recent measures are having on consumer buying intentions. Despite the tighter

restrictions rolled out across the UK throughout November and December, an onsite survey conducted at the end of last month revealed that consumers' confidence in being able to afford their next car had reached a 2020 peak. In fact, 43% of on-site users said they were more confident than they were a year ago, and 50% felt about the same.

Notably, the percentage of people saying they were less confident, was at its lowest level (7%) since the start of the pandemic.

Looking specifically at the impact of the government’s latest restrictions, 55% of the 1,466 on site users surveyed last week[1] said they were looking to purchase in the next three months. It marks a significant increase on the 36% of consumers who indicated a threemonth timeline when asked the same question in April, and 49% in November.

Over a quarter (26%) said they were currently looking to purchase in the next two weeks.

In terms of whether the lockdown had directly affected their timeline, almost 60% said it had no impact on their decision (54%) or had made them want to purchase even sooner (5%). 15% said they weren’t sure, which represents an opportunity for retailers to remove doubt

through how they present themselves and their vehicles. 27% of those surveyed said the new rules had made them want to delay their purchase, however, the largest percentage is by three months (42%), which is typical buying behaviour during normal trading conditions.

In a separate piece of research conducted in December, 35% of consumers said that owning a car is more important to them than it was before the pandemic, which is the highest it’s been since we began asking the question in June 2020.

Commenting on the findings, Auto Trader’s data and insights director, Richard Walker, said: “The lockdown was not the start to the year any of us were hoping for and unfortunately these new measures across the UK will have a significant impact on everyone’s plans over the next quarter. However, the data does give us reasons to be positive, with clear evidence of strong underlying consumer demand and buying intent.

“As well as being far better prepared to continue selling via click and collect and home delivery over the coming weeks, we’re confident retailers can expect strong levels of demand as we come out of these restrictions.”

Worldwide sales at 2.5 Million units, in a year impacted by the health crisis uring 2020, a year marked by the COVID crisis, our teams all over the world showed their fighting spirit and continued to offer clean, safe and affordable models to our customers, to ensure their freedom of movement. Being compliant towards European CO2 targets from Day One is on the basis of our ethical commitment.

Before starting the new journey with Stellantis, I’d like to congratulate all of the teams for these achievements.» said Carlos Tavares, Chairman of Groupe PSA Managing Board.

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An electrified leadership, with a smooth and performant transition from ICE to electric The Group’s electric offensive continued throughout the year with all brands now offering either electric plug-in hybrid or full electric models. Today, Groupe PSA offers to customers a choice of 171 electrified models (either on the road or available to order).

By the end of 2021, Groupe PSA’s electrified range will consist of 23 models, with six new electrified vehicles coming www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

during the year, to cover all customers’ needs for their personal and professional use.

In parallel, Groupe PSA continued to improve significantly the CO2 efficiency of ICE engines and vehicles.

Meet customer expectations, from experts’ awards to ongoing e-selling In 2020, seven of our last launches were recognized by automotive experts with three global awards, demonstrating that our products match with customer expectations.

This year of crisis was also an opportunity to develop e-selling. With an average of 4,000 sales per month during the second part of the year, the Group has sold 40,000 vehicles, including all cars sold to employees and all Citroën Ami, in three countries in Europe. The Group’s target is to reach 100,000 digital sales in Europe by the end of 2021.

Europe: back to growth in the last quarter and focused on CO2 performance In 2020, the Group’s sales volumes recovered strongly in the second half of the year (+40% vs H1) and the Group returned to growth in the last quarter with an increase of its market share (+0.5pt vs Q3) with an

increase of Peugeot (+ 0.1 pt year-onyear) and DS Automobiles (+0.1 pt yearon-year on the premium market), and a rebound of Opel-Vauxhall in Q4 (+0.3 pt compared to Q4 2019). The Group also managed to keep a strong position in its main market with France increasing slightly its market share in 2020 (+0.14 pt).

The Group remained focused on CO2 performance and met European targets in 2020, as committed. It complied with its CO2 objectives both on the optimization of ranges in terms of ICE emissions and on the growth of LEV sales volumes (clear take off with 120,000 registrations in 2020).

• • • •

17 electrified models on sale Three awards from automotive experts: Car of the Year, Autobest and IVOTY Leadership in CO2 emissions and compliant from day one with 2020 European targets Increase of Group’s market shares in the fourth quarter in its core regions, with significant progress in Middle East and Africa

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JEEP® FINDS BEST PLACE TO OWN A PLUG-IN CAR IN THE UK esearch by Jeep® has revealed that Coventry is the best place in mainland Britain for plug-in car owners to charge their vehicles - but it lags behind the Outer Hebrides overall. Analysis of the latest government data revealed there is currently one charging device for every 15 plug-in cars registered in the UK, while in Coventry there is one device per 2.3 registered plug-in car owners.

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EV and plug-in hybrid owners living in the Outer Hebrides are better off though - with the Na h-Eileanan Siar local authority having one charger for every 2.13 cars. Other areas leading the charge were Fermanagh and Omagh, in Northern Ireland (2.5 cars per charger), Wandsworth in London (2.6) and the Isle of Anglesey (2.8).

Following the findings, Jeep has created an interactive map showcasing the number of registered plug-in cars per public charging device by local authorities.

Damien Dally, Jeep country manager, said: “The UK’s charging infrastructure is improving every day and it’s great to see charging devices popping up across the country. Sales of plug-in hybrids are up by almost 90 per cent this year as motorists look for a more sustainable way of driving around so the Jeep Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrid is great choice for zero emission city driving and the daily commute, while the petrol engine makes it flexible for longer journeys and trips where there might not be charging stations.”

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motoring, Jeep surveyed 2,000 UK motorists - 1,600 petrol, diesel and hybrid car owners and 400 who have either a plugin hybrid or pure electric car. It found the average motorist drives just 26 miles per day - while 60 per cent of petrol and diesel car owners drive fewer than 20 miles per day. It also emerged 79 per cent of motorists think the government should be investing more in improving public charging infrastructure and 76 per cent said there should be a greater investment in onstreet charging where motorists don't have off-street parking.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found one in five petrol and diesel drivers support the introduction of road pricing to offset the loss in fuel duty revenue. This rises to 59 per cent of plug-in drivers.

This research follows the launch of the Jeep Renegade 4xe, a plug-in hybrid which uses a battery motor to give a zero-emission range of up to 26 miles the same figure the average British motorist drives per day- along with an efficient 1.3-litre petrol engine which is ready to kick-in on longer journeys.

Damien Dally, Jeep country manager, added: “Our research shows the public is supportive of the move towards electric vehicles, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that those who have made the switch are more in favour of the transition.

“With 71 per cent of petrol, diesel and hybrid drivers covering fewer than 30 miles per day on average, a plug-in hybrid would give them the benefit of zero emission driving while providing the

comfort of a petrol engine to fall back on for longer journeys as well."

Local Authority / Plug-in cars per charging point Na h-Eileanan Siar Coventry Fermanagh and Omagh Wandsworth Isle of Anglesey Brighton and Hove Sunderland Eden Pembrokeshire Middlesbrough Gwynedd Stockton-on-Tees Shetland Islands Dumfries & Galloway Argyll & Bute Greenwich Highland Lambeth East Lothian Boston Plymouth Islington Liverpool Southwark Hyndburn Copeland

2.13 2.33 2.50 2.60 2.80 2.83 2.94 2.95 2.95 2.97 3.16 3.19 3.29 3.37 3.38 3.40 3.57 3.63 3.73 3.79 3.89 3.93 3.96 4.00 4.04 4.32

For more information on the Jeep Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrid visit www.jeep.co.uk/4xe-hybrid. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

New control technology will help heavy-duty vehicles go ‘fossil free’, enables improved cold start with bioethanol ibertine FPE (“Libertine”), the creator of Smart Engine technology for hybrid electric vehicles and distributed power generation, has demonstrated technology that could help leading truck manufacturers to fulfil pledges to make all heavy-duty vehicles fossil free by 2040. Tests conducted late last year established Libertine’s innovative control platform could successfully vary a free piston engine’s compression ratio, leading to improved performance on cold start-up.

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“This is an important result for Libertine that demonstrates the potential of variable compression ratio combustion control strategies made possible by Libertine’s intelliGEN Free Piston platform,” says Libertine’s CEO Sam Cockerill. “Hybridisation with renewable fuels such as bioethanol could play an essential role in the rapid decarbonisation and electrification of transport, especially in heavy duty vehicle and off highway applications where battery technology and charging infrastructure could limit the pace of the transition to net zero.”

Libertine’s innovation is a linear electrical machine and control technology platform which addresses the challenge of free piston motion control, a challenge which has so far prevented the widespread adoption of Free Piston engine technology that could enable a revolution in sustainable fuel use in ‘hard to electrify’ heavy duty powertrain applications. With Libertine’s technology, hybrid heavy-duty powertrains using a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

combination of renewable grid power and renewable bioethanol fuel could offer OEMs a practical, cost effective solution to help achieve a vital transition to sustainable fuels and ‘net-zero’ (carbon neutrality).

The project has shown how a Free Piston engine can achieve an improvement in cold start performance using bioethanol, by briefly increasing the compression ratio at startup, compensating for chamber wall cooling effects that contribute to misfiring under cold start conditions. The tests were

platform, establish baseline combustion performance at a constant compression ratio and with a pre-heated combustion chamber, replicate cold start misfiring encountered in other studies, and finally to demonstrate improved cold start performance by using a variable compression ratio. The project was supported through the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Sustainable Innovation Fund Competition which supports organisations to develop and demonstrate new products that help the UK’s clean growth led recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and accelerate UK’s transition to net zero.

“Libertine’s work with MAHLE Powertrain and Ensus supports our view that there is a path to a fossil free future using renewable transport fuels such as bioethanol,” said Grant Pearson, Ensus Commercial Director. “We are pleased to have been involved in this work and look forward to further developments in 2021.”

conducted by MAHLE Powertrain at their Northampton test facilities using wet or ‘hydrous’ bioethanol fuel, a blend of 90% bioethanol and 10% water (E90W10).

For the tests, Libertine’s intelliGEN opposed free piston platform was modified for use with wet bioethanol, using a direct injection uniflow scavenged two stroke architecture.

Bioethanol was supplied by Ensus, the UK’s largest producer of bioethanol.

Over 100 tests were performed by MAHLE Powertrain in order to prove key performance metrics of the control

Adrian Cooper, MAHLE Powertrain’s Head of New Technology, added “MAHLE Powertrain is excited to be able to utilise our experience in developing, testing and controlling novel concepts to support this successful demonstration of Libertine’s technology.”

On 9th December 2020 Sam Cockerill presented details of the intelliGEN platform’s key performance metrics at a webinar organised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ 7OLVTXNSUsw

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MITSUBISHI L200 NAMED BEST PICK-UP FOR VALUE IN THE 2021 WHAT CAR? CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS he latest Mitsubishi L200 4Life Double Cab has been named Best Pick-Up for Value at the prestigious What Car? Awards 2021.

The award is the latest in a long list of accolades for the Mitsubishi L200 which most recently included being named Best Pick-Up in the 2020 Business Van of the Year Awards and 2020 Company Car and Van Awards as well as Pick-Up Truck of the Year at the 2020 Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

WLTP figure of 32.1mpg. This was the most improved fuel consumption figure of any commercial vehicle, and of any non-electrified vehicle, in the test.

According to What Car? Magazine, “Few vehicles have become as synonymous with their category as the Mitsubishi L200, and it's easy to see why. It's brilliantly utilitarian, very well equipped and comes with an efficient 2.3-litre diesel engine. Yet it's also one of the most affordable pick-ups around.”

In addition to the L200’s award, Mitsubishi has also claimed a podium place on the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey involving the real-world experience of almost 13,000 users. With an overall average Reliability Rating of 94.55%, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK takes third place in the rankings.

Not only is the Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 great value, it achieved a certified 52.0 mpg in the 218-mile Fleetworld WLTP Challenge in 2020, an impressive 62% uplift compared to the official combined

Accord to What Car? “In their first five years, Mitsubishi models perform almost faultlessly, giving the brand an overall score of 97.9% and second place in this age group. The plug-in hybrid Outlander

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Priced from £22,945 (OTR, excluding VAT), the Mitsubishi L200 4Life Double Cab is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, seven airbags, alloy wheels, Easy Select 4WD with Rear Differential Lock and a Bluetooth audio system with music streaming and steering wheel remote controls.

PHEV SUV is its strongest scorer, with 97.8%.”

David Rodriguez, Sales & Marketing Director at Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, commented, “We greatly appreciate What Car?’s recognition of the outstanding value the L200 offers customers and we know how important it is for many businesses to save money where they can in these difficult times.

Combine its affordability with low realworld running costs and its legendary reliability, as borne out by the brand’s strong placement in the 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey, and it is easy to understand why the Mitsubishi L200 has been the go-to workhorse for so many farmers and businesses, small and large, all across the UK.” The new Mitsubishi range is available to order now from Mitsubishi showrooms and via Mitsubishi Motors’ Buy Online service: mitsubishi-motors.co.uk/buy

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NEW SSANGYONG MUSSO LONGBED PICKS-UP 2021 WHAT CAR? AWARD

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he SsangYong Musso Rhino has won the ‘Best Pick-up for payload’ category in the 2021 What Car? Car of the Year Awards.

Commented Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car? "The Musso Rhino is the best pick-up there is at doing what pick-ups are ultimately designed for: hauling stuff about. However, it's also good to drive and live with, because its 2.2-litre diesel engine is impressively refined, and there’s a smart interior with tactile materials. You even get a best-in-class seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty.”

In 2018, the SsangYong Musso was totally revamped, and a new generation was borne – Musso is now smarter, safer, and more stylish than ever. It had a complete re-design from the ground up, and now, in 2021, the only thing in common with its’ predecessor, is its name.

of SsangYong Motors UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award from What Car? in what is the 43rd anniversary of the awards. Musso is a superb multi-purpose truck with SsangYong values to the core comprehensively equipped, a classleading 7-warranty, a surprising level of interior refinement and great infotainment, all wrapped up into a value for money package. Such recognition from What Car? against such strong competition speaks volumes about the Musso.”

The SsangYong Musso

Built on the same architecture as SsangYong’s award-winning SsangYong

Rexton SUV, Musso shares its body-onframe construction to give an extremely strong vehicle that delivers excellent offroad driving performance and safety.

The combination of utility pick-up and SUV means Musso offers the perfect blend of functionality, practicality, performance and comfort to family or tradespeople alike.

Designed to carry passengers in comfort and transport loads securely, the SUVbased Musso combines a five-seat crewcab body style with a workman-like load deck. The standard short-bed Musso will easily accommodate a full-sized Euro pallet but the Rhino longbed is even bigger, offering an additional 310mm in the back. Both variants are equipped as standard with a tough fitted load liner, a 12V/120W power outlet and rotating hooks to help strap-down loads such as tools and equipment.

Most pick-ups cannot tow a trailer at maximum weight and carry a full payload at the same time, but Musso and its big brother, the Musso Rhino, are different from most other pickups in many ways. Either variant can carry a payload of over 1tonne and tow a trailer of up to 3.5 tonnes concurrently to give the highest total load capacity of any pick-up on sale in the UK.

Musso is now an award-winning multi-role four-wheel drive pickup, blending functionality with style and bold features that project stability and on-road presence. Its striking and impressive, giving Musso an immediate presence.

Kevin Griffin, managing director www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Ford’s Winning Puma and Ranger Car and Pick-Up Duo Star at What Car? Awards

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ord has scooped three major awards for two vehicles at the 2021 What Car? Awards, with two going to last year’s overall Car of the Year, the Ford Puma.

Puma has been awarded What Car?’s Small SUV of the Year, while the hotlyanticipated Puma ST takes Sports SUV of the Year. The third award, Pick Up of the Year, has gone to the best-selling Ford Ranger.

Since Puma was launched at the end of 2019, around 27,000 have been sold – making the Ford Puma the UK’s ninth best-selling car last year. The Puma STLine X Vignale

2020 by being crowned the Scottish Car of the Year, also.

Learner drivers are also being instructed in the multi awardwinning Ford Puma, since it became the first mild hybrid car offered by long-term Ford partner, the AA Driving School.

New for 2021, Puma ST introduces Ford Performance driving dynamics to the compact SUV segment for the first time in Europe. Its 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine, shared with the Fiesta ST, pulls it to 62mph from a standstill in 6.7 seconds and features a unique-insegment limited slip differential. Its bespoke chassis is 40 per cent stiffer than the Fiesta ST yet retains the standard Puma’s flexible interior space and practicality – including its innovative 80-litre MegaBox addition to the boot, complete with plug hole for washing out dirty loads.

“Nothing ticks all the boxes quite like the Puma” said Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car? “Compact yet practical, sporty yet efficient, stylish yet affordable… it’s rare that a car can genuinely combine all these virtues, but the Ford Puma does.”

joined the range in 2020, adding premium styling and enhanced specification, including exclusive 18” alloys and Windsor leather seats.

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The Ford Ranger has also won the What Car? Pick Up of the Year award, first introduced in 2019, when Ranger scooped a price point win for the entry-level XL model. Ranger appeals to construction, utility and leisure industries alike, and now accounts for more than one in three pick-up trucks sold in the UK. Ranger will soon be available with even greater street appeal and muscular

design, with the introduction of an exciting new model joining the XL, XLT, Limited, Wildtrak, Thunder and Raptor line up.

Ford has also made a wide range of new accessories available to personalise Ranger, which vary from LED tail lamps and LED spot beam light bars, to wading snorkels and engine undershields.

“If you’re after maximum convenience in your truck, the Ford Ranger is the one to go for” said Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car? “It’s got all the functionality and hard-working nature that defines a great pick-up, but it’s finished for real comfort and ease of use. Our winner is a pick-up to enjoy in life, as well as work”.

Ford also scored five ‘Best Buy’ awards this year as Fiesta and Focus were named Best Small Car- and Best Family Car to drive, respectively, while Kuga Hybrid was named Best plug-in Hybrid for long distances. The Ford Galaxy was crowned the best MPV for large families.

The Ford Fiesta ST, a three-time winner of the What Car? Hot Hatch of the Year award, has been awarded the best-value hot hatch.

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ŠKODA Karoq named Best Crossover in 2021 CCT100 Awards T he ŠKODA Karoq has always been an attractive package to company car drivers and now, thanks to the award of a prestigious Company Car Today title, the multi-talented ŠKODA SUV has the silverware to prove it. › Karoq unbeatable in its sector according to Company Car Today judges › Practicality, residual values and high quality interior all recognised by CCT panel › Latest award adds to the Karoq’s impressive tally of industry titles The mid-size SUV has been named Best Crossover in the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

annual CCT100 Awards, seeing off tough competition to take the top spot. The CCT100 Awards aims to provide a definitive list of the 100 cars that can fulfil any business car requirement and helps shape the purchasing decisions of fleet managers and company car drivers. Every shortlisted car is assessed in 13 key areas from price to practicality, with the winner being the model that recorded the highest overall score.

Commenting on the Karoq’s victory, Paul Barker, Editor of Company Car Today said: “The Karoq combines excellence in all the sensible things that make a good company car with style and good driving dynamics. It offers

strong residual values and running costs, a huge boot and a good quality interior, as well as impressive equipment levels, giving it all the ingredients of a class winner in the competitive and popular crossover segment.”

The Karoq was launched in 2017 and has won a host of industry accolades since its arrival. These include two Auto Express Awards for Best Mid-size SUV and was named Best SUV under £20,000 in the 2020 What Car? Awards.

Available in five different trim levels, including Edition and SportLine, the Karoq was ŠKODA’s second biggest-selling car globally in 2020. Prices start from £23,220 OTR.

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Toyota launches refined 7-seater Highlander hybrid in Europe

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oyota's largest SUV, the Highlander, is to go on sale throughout Western Europe for the first time in early 2021.

With 23-years’ experience in the development of hybrid technology, more than 16 million hybrid customers, 9 hybrid models and 4th generation self-charging, full hybrid powertrains offering up to 80% zero-emission driving, Toyota has combined its hybrid leadership with its legendary QDR and extensive experience in the SUV market to create the Highlander Hybrid.

Available exclusively with a full hybrid powertrain, the Highlander joins the Dsegment RAV4, the C-segment C-HR and the forthcoming B-segment Yaris Cross to complete Toyota's comprehensive European SUV model line-up.

Reinforcing the company's leadership in full hybrid technology, this establishes Europe's largest hybrid SUV line-up, with 91% of RAV4, 98% of C-HR, an anticipated 95% of the forthcoming Yaris Cross and 100% of Highlander sales being hybrid variants in Western Europe.

Thus far, the electrification of E-segment SUVs has tended to focus on Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) technology. Despite the benefits of PHEV technology, customers in this segment tend to travel longer distances with a greater percentage of motorway mileage and may tend to suffer from electric range shortage. With Highlander self-charging Hybrid powertrain and an electric cruising speed of up to 125km/h, Highlander Hybrid efficiently meets the segment’s customer needs.

to 125 km/h, and a two tonne towing capacity.

Benefitting from Toyota's TNGA-K platform architecture, the Highlander is big on space but efficient on emissions. It combines all the large Toyota SUV attributes of 7-seat space on demand, comfort, driveability and safety with an exceptionally quiet, all-wheel drive 248 DIN hp hybrid powertrain offering excellent fuel efficiency from 6.6 l/100 km and CO2 emissions as low as 149g/km - a segment-best power-to-CO2 balance for a non-plug-in car.

The fourth-generation hybrid powertrain equips the Highlander with smooth, powerful acceleration on demand, the ability to cruise on all-electric power at up

DESIGN AND PACKAGING •

Sleek, sophisticated SUV styling with the power and durability of a rugged All-Wheel Drive

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Largest Toyota SUV with 2850 mm wheelbase, full 7-seat flexibility with second row sliding range of 180 mm

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7-inch TFT Multi-information, 12.3inch Multimedia and 10.1-inch HeadUp Displays

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Segment-longest loadspace with capacity up to 1,909 litres

Exterior Design The new Highlander Hybrid is 4966 mm long, 1930 mm wide, 1755 mm high, and has a generous 2850 mm wheelbase.

The Highlander Hybrid combines the sleek, dynamic and sophisticated styling of a premium urban SUV with the strength, power and durability of a rugged, versatile All-Wheel Drive.

The vehicle's wide 1662 mm front and 1690 mm rear track are emphasised both by flared wheel arches and the trapezoidal design of the upper and lower front grilles, which combine to reinforce the Highlander Hybrid's broad, powerful stance.

In profile, the combination of a sturdy, forward-leaning, threedimensional lower body and a rearsloping, tapering cabin with blackedout A, B and C pillars creates a strong sense of dynamism, to which striking, 20" super chrome metallic alloy wheels add a premium quality appearance.

To the rear, the vehicle's powerful stance is emphasised by the wide flaring of the rear wheel arches, whilst contrasting sharp, thin rear lamp clusters and a large skid plate add further boldness and sophistication.

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The new Highlander Hybrid is available in a choice of 8 body colours, of which the new Moondust colour, with its two-layer coating process, displays a solid image with the lustre of a clean metal.

of

Interior Design On board, the interior has been designed to offer all the practicality, durability and space-on-demand expected of a 7seater family SUV, creating a comfortable, luxurious environment for all occupants.

The instrument panel is structured with a solid central element that encompasses the 12.3-inch centre console multimedia display screen and then flows the full width of the dashboard, framed by smooth, soft-skin padding. This is visually supported from below by a wide, square centre console.

All switchgear is shaped to flow seamlessly from the panels, combining elegance with ease of operation.

Throughout the interior, satin and wood grain trim finishes create a durable, prestigious atmosphere, whilst the softskin padding itself is dressed in highly tactile, finely textured leather detailed with fine quality stitching.

Packaging With a generous 2850 mm wheelbase, the Highlander Hybrid is a true 7-seater the 180 mm sliding range of the second row seating ensuring spacious, easilyaccessible third row accommodation for two adults.

Accessed by a kick sensor-operated power tailgate, the 332 litre loadspace in 7-seater configuration includes 27 litres of underfloor storage. By the fully flat folding

both the third and second row seating, luggage capacity may be dramatically expanded to a maximum of 1909 litres.

The interior boasts comprehensive storage compartments through the cabin, complimented by power, USB and external HDMI sockets in the first and second row seating areas.

For more information visit: https:// www.toyota.co.uk

Premium equipment levels include a 7inch TFT display within the driver's instrument binnacle, a 12.3-inch centre console multimedia display with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlayŽ and Android Auto™ connectivity, 3-zone airconditioning, front and rear seat heating and front seat ventilation, a Head-Up Display, a 1,200 Watt, 11-speaker JBL sound system by Harman, wireless phone charging and a switchable digital rear view mirror which displays a wide rear image without the interruption of seat headrest or other occupants.

The Highlander Hybrid's luxurious interior is available in a choice of Black or Graphite colour schemes. High grade versions combine perforated leather upholstery with Dark Silver ornamentation and Dark Wood trim, whilst Premium grade variants feature perforated leather upholstery and Silver Texture ornamentation combined with Dark Wood trim.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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DACIA ANNOUNCES FUTURE PLANS ALONG WITH ALL-NEW CONCEPT

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acia has unveiled its fiveyear plan as part of Groupe Renault’s Renaulution strategy.

The company will boost its efficiency and become even more competitive with the creation of the new Dacia-Lada business, broadening into new areas of the new car market. In addition, the unveiling of the Bigster Concept car paves the way for Dacia in the C-segment.

Denis Le Vot, CEO Dacia and Lada brands, said: “Dacia will stay Dacia, always offering a trustworthy, authentic, best-value-for-money proposition to smart buyers. With the creation of the Dacia-Lada business unit, we’ll leverage to the full the CMF-B modular platform, boost our efficiency and further increase our products’ competitiveness, quality and attractiveness. We’ll have everything we need to bring the brands to higher lands, with the Bigster Concept leading the way.”

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A unique, efficient and robust business model For the past 15 years, Dacia has consistently rolled out contemporary, simple, and appealing vehicles. Relying on unrivalled know-how, Dacia leverages the best proven technical solutions available from Groupe Renault and the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance.

Thanks to a lean distribution model, Dacia has since carved out a name for itself in 44 countries, with seven million vehicles sold so far and many bestsellers. Year after year, the Sandero and Duster remain the number one car and number one SUV sold to private customers in Europe.

Dacia continues to hit the spot with its latest range of vehicles. In order to strengthen its position further and deliver models that both fulfill the needs of customers and evolve with a changing industry, Dacia is able to rely on:

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An efficient and disciplined designto-cost approach in product development

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A dedicated Dacia-Lada business backed by a global automotive group, with targeted technological support, to increase the potential for collaboration

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The Alliance’s brand-new, highly flexible CMF-B platform that will enable Dacia and Lada to move from four platforms to one and from 18 body types to 11

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Vehicles based on this platform that could be available with both alternative-energy and hybrid engines, ensuring compliance with changing regulation and vehicle use

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A competitive range, with the AllNew Sandero, All-New Logan, and also All-New Dacia Spring Europe's most affordable all-electric www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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city car – launched in 2021, and three new models coming soon for 2025

accessible is not opposed by any meanings to attractiveness. At Dacia we believe so, and this car is the proof.”

A new entry into the C-segment, previewed by the Bigster Concept

The Bigster Concept’s DNA is aligned with the brand's core values, those which have developed and maintained a sturdy, long-standing relationship with its customers over the years: simplicity, honesty, and authenticity.

Bigster Concept: An assured and outdoorsy entrance to the C-segment In true Dacia style, the Bigster Concept is roomy, robust, and meant for open air and dusty roads while exploring new horizons. A 4.6-metre-long SUV with no more or no less than the essential, the Bigster is the Dacia way of making the C-segment accessible, delivering a larger, more capable vehicle at the cost buyers would expect from the segment below.

Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Dacia Design Director, said: “Dacia Bigster Concept epitomises the evolution of the brand. Essential, with a touch of cool and an outdoor spirit. It proves that www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Proportions of the Bigster Concept are contemporary yet timeless – what you see is what you get. They send a clear message of robustness with simple and reassuring lines.

Its generous exterior dimensions promise a very spacious interior. The Yshaped lighting signature is now larger, highlighting the SUV's bold and assertive style, while the dark green paint underpins the adventurous nature of the vehicle and the owner.

imitation-aluminium, the Bigster Concept is a genuine vehicle made with genuine principles, shown in the use of raw recycled plastics for all protective exterior panels.

As the possible future figurehead of the Dacia range, both alternative-energy and hybrid engines are possible, reinforcing that the brand is always perfectly in sync with changing regulation and customers’ expectations.

Dacia is a way to escape, giving its customers a unique, genuine, no-frills experience – shown by the Bigster Concept. More than ever before, Dacia embodies freedom of movement and has become a statement piece that focuses on its customers’ needs and fundamental aspirations. A purchase with meaning.

Dacia: always essential, ever more attractive.

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