February 2022 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: From Real Estate to Farming Machinery Photography page 62

Farming MONTHLY National

February 2022

| Seedsock from

Spaldings makes drill & spreader emptying so much easier page 28

I New Acidification Technology will reduce ammonia emissions

page 40-45

Also inside this month..

page 80

Women in Farming

Sustainable Sprout Control

All-Electric Compact Track Loader

PLUS: Arable| Grain | Sheep |Fencing| Building | Fertiliser & Spraying|Energy| Livestock| ATV | Motors

Weather management tools that work for you Treat hay and straw up to 30% moisture for all baler types

• Baler’s Choice Hay/Straw preservative • stronger than the competition • Baler Safe • Animal Safe • Works with HayBoss Applicators • Manual / Automatic applicators available for all balers • Precision moisture sensors for all balers

No compromise on quality and precision

The UK’s No.1 Liming Product Optimises soil pH Increases available calcium Fast acting and long lasting Provides valuable nutrients Improves soil structure Flexible service options

Over £1 5.0 worth o 0 Phosph f ate, Magne sium a nd Sulphu every T r in onne!*

*values accurate to Sept 2021 fertiliser prices

Customer service 0800 090 2376 limex@britishsugar.com limex.co.uk

LimeX is a business of British Sugar plc

CONTENTS F e b r u a r y 2022

FEATURES

18 28 34 40 46 56 58

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Arable New spring oat varieties pushing shift in the market

Fertiliser & Spraying Check soil temperature for even better fertiliser use efficiency in hybrid barley

59 66

Fencing Postsaver launches pre-sleeved posts

Livestock Protect herds from spring butterfat depression with supplementation

74 76

Sheep Stockmax Pine Shavings to Carry NOPS Badge as Producers Bedmax

Muck and Slurry New acidification technology will reduce ammonia emissions

Grain When you need more drying capacity

FM REGULARS

Potatoes & Root Crops

National

Shropshire potato grower realises huge efficiencies with latest digital technology

Women in farming Young Farmer of the Year, Charlie Beaty, shares her story with us.

Mental Health MANAGING STRESS, SUCCESSION AND FUTURE PLANNING

Security Combatting Rural Theft in the UK’s Farming Communities

Farming Monthly | February 2022

6 48 62

News Government cash doubled for farmers who switch to organic

Buildings What to look for in a crop store

On Topic From real estate to farming photography

82 86 92

Machinery Bobcat T7X - World's First All-Electric Compact Track Loader

ATV Honda Foreman ATVs is relied on by the RSPB Ouse Washes team

Motors Volvo XC40 reigns supreme as it is crowned What Car?

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Farming MONTHLY National

Agriculture. Covered.

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From real estate to farming machinery photography February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

Government cash doubled for farmers who switch to organic - as market smashes £3bn mark armers who convert to organic will receive up to double the previous rates in a raft of government payment increases that are launching amid strong growth across the organic market.

payments will rise by around 50% for rotational land and unimproved permanent grassland. Payments are going up by six times for managing enclosed rough grazing organically, with rates doubling for management of organic horticulture and tripling for top fruit.

"Now we're having a cost-of-living crisis, but I think organic farming can be more resilient to market changes. You are often less vulnerable to any big fluctuations in commodity prices because you're running a more circular system without bringing so much onto the farm.

Payments for organic farming in England are rising by between 46% and 500% for those entering a new scheme with Countryside Stewardship, which opened its window for applications yesterday (8 February).

The rate hike comes alongside a surge in the organic market, with a 23% increase since 2019 revealed today (9 February) in Soil Association Certification's annual Organic Market Report.

Organic is out-performing non-organic sales, with the market reaching a record net worth of £3.05 billion, and government payments for managing organic farmland are also going up by at least 50%.

Tom Cackett, Associate Director for Food and Farming at Savills, said: "It's exciting to see this increase in organic payment rates because it's a commitment to good food production alongside the environmental focus. There are some corners of every farm that never really grow anything that can be given over to nature, but we've got to be slightly careful if we are taking large areas out of food production. Organic farming can often be a good way of tackling that issue. Instead of marginalising nature, why not integrate it across the whole farm, and then you'll also be able to get those payments for the whole area instead of just for the corners or edges.

"There are a lot of people who are faming extensively or even to organic standards who haven't really thought about the benefits that converting could deliver. I absolutely believe it's the right way to go if you're not farming intensively anyway. The key thing is knowing where you're going to sell your end products, but there are lots of smaller options that work well for organic which can give you more opportunities to be more flexible about what you grow.

Some organic farmers will now be able to earn triple or even six times as much as before from government cash incentives, which will be available until at least 2024 when an organic standard is promised as part of the new Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI).

"If you're doing good things for the environment, it seems almost certain there will be funding to support that for the foreseeable future. With the increase to organic management payments, the organic farming sector is one of the only sectors that isn't going to see such a dramatic drop in subsidy income when the Basic Payment Scheme payments reduce and eventually disappear."

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Adrian Steele, Soil Association Organic Sector Advisor, said: "The changes to farm policy and payments post-Brexit are causing lots of concern for farmers. But it is clear is that there are big opportunities for nature-friendly farming, and organic is set to receive renewed government support.

"The good things that agroecological and organic farmers are doing, which have long been overlooked, are now set to be rewarded under the new Environmental Land Management Schemes. The longerterm goals that government has set out for agriculture, with a new focus on protecting soils, wildlife and the environment, are in harmony with the principles of organic farming. Alongside continued growth in the organic market, this should give farmers confidence in switching to or maintaining organic practices, despite the short-term uncertainty facing every farm.

"We are pleased to see this commitment to rewarding organic farming – it's the first step towards recognising that we need to work in harmony with nature across the whole farmed environment."

Converting permanent improved grassland* and top fruit to organic will receive double the previous payments at a new rate of £150 per hectare. Conversion to organic rotational land, horticulture and unimproved grassland will receive around 50% more than before, with new rates ranging from £76 to £602 per hectare.

For management of organic farmland,

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Market growth Soil Association Certification's Organic Market Report 2022 recorded a 5.2% growth in sales in 2021, following a huge 12.6% increase in 2020.

British shoppers are now spending almost £60 million on organic products every week, with a particularly strong performance for online and box schemes, which together delivered growth of 13% worth £558m.

But the challenge remains for UK farmers and supply chains to step up and meet this rising demand with British produce, rather than imports.

The total area of land farmed organically has remained largely the same, increasing by just 0.8% compared to 2019.

But the latest figures from DEFRA show that in 2020 there was a 12% rise in the area of land currently going through the two-year conversion period to become organic, compared to the previous year.

Ben Andrews runs an organic mixed farm, with beef cattle, veg and cereals in Herefordshire. He said: "Abel and Cole is our biggest customer and demand shot up as the pandemic kicked in – we couldn't supply them with enough. We're expecting demand to level off now, but for it to settle at a higher level than it was before.

"But it's not just about avoiding synthetic inputs – going down the agroecological route is important. It's thinking about the health of the soil and biodiversity, and not relying too heavily on growing one or two crops."

The Soil Association hopes the new farm payments and incentives will help to encourage all farmers to shift to more nature-friendly practices, including a bigger increase in those converting to organic.

But the organisation has warned that the Environmental Land Management Schemes won't work in isolation, calling for fairer, shorter supply chains that prioritise nutritious food over cheap, ultra-processed food, and which fairly rewards farmers.

Some disappointment The only exception in the rate increases is those for management of organic improved permanent grassland. These payments are due to remain at the same rate in 2022, and then be halved in 2023.

Adrian added: "We are surprised and disappointed by the reduction for ongoing management of organic, nature-rich grasslands, and we have taken this up with Defra as part of our efforts to lobby for adequate recognition for all sustainable farming practices. We will be seeking to ensure that organic farmers will be best placed to receive the highest level of payments for improved grasslands under the new Sustainable Farming Incentive standards. The government has also assured us that when Sustainable Farming Incentive rates are finalised after 2024, Countryside Stewardship agreement holders will be able to switch over to them without penalty."

For more information, visit: www.soilassociation.org/certification.

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| News

Natural England launches new Countryside Code guidance to support farmers and land managers New guidance to support farmers and land managers released to help the public enjoy the countryside in a responsible and respectful way Guidance includes advice on making rights of way more accessible, clearer signage, and how to report anti-social behaviour Advice follows the newly refreshed Countryside Code for the public, over 70 years since the first booklet was published in 1951 ith more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, Natural England, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, has today (8 February 2022) set out new guidance for land managers to help them ensure that visitors to the countryside can enjoy it in a responsible way.

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Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said:

Published under the Countryside Code, the update provides recommendations to land managers on making rights of way accessible, creating safer environments and installing clear signage to help the public respect, protect and enjoy the countryside.

“I urge all land managers to follow this new advice and continue to help make nature accessible to everyone, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.”

The new guidance advises farmers and land managers on how to make land more accessible, for example by adding self-closing gates instead of stiles where possible and using better signage, and how to report anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, littering, livestock worrying and other offences correctly. These changes will allow more people to access nature safely whilst also supporting land managers and helping to avoid damage to property, livestock and wider anti-social behaviour.

Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said:

As well as advice for protecting livestock, using machinery in public spaces and the safe storage of chemicals, other key changes include: •

• • •

• • • •

Clearer guidance on keeping rights of way usable, including recommendations for cutting back vegetation and keeping public waterways clear Instructions for where visitors can walk freely on open access land or in a coastal margin Information about common land and understanding that horseriding rights are applicable The process of reporting anti-social behaviour – criminal damage and threatening behaviour will not be tolerated, and farmers and land managers are advised to contact the police to report any such incidents Advice on reporting noise disturbances and fly-tipping to the local authority Guidance on managing and protecting livestock, and a reminder of responsibilities when using firearms and fencing Advice for creating a safe environment, including the safe storage of bales, logs and the management of trees Information on using and storing dangerous substances responsibly

“With more people than ever before spending time in nature, this refreshed advice for land managers has never been more important in helping to ensure we work together to protect our outdoor spaces.

“We want to ensure that nature is accessible for all, whilst also supporting people to do the right thing when they are visiting the countryside.

“The new advice in the Countryside Code will help farmers and land managers to help the public enjoy the outdoors in a responsible way. I am grateful to all of those stakeholders who have helped shape this updated guidance.”

Natural England and Natural Resources Wales have worked alongside stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Country Landowners Association (CLA), to develop advice which offers clear guidance to land managers and ensures the public can enjoy the countryside in a safe and respectful way.

The new advice for land managers follows the publication of the refreshed Countryside Code last year, which was revisited following a growth in people spending time outdoors during the pandemic.

The Countryside Code now covers all green spaces, waterways, the coast and parks in urban areas. To help people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy the countryside responsibly, the public code encourages people to ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’ and reminds visitors to not litter and avoid feeding livestock, horses or wild animals.

The updated guidance for land managers can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/ the-countryside-code-advice-for-land-managers

NFU responds to Lump Sum Exit Scheme announcement

esponding to the announcement from the government about the Lump Sum Exit Scheme, NFU Vice President Tom Bradshaw said: “With the rollout of the first domestic agricultural policy for more than 40 years currently taking place, farmers across the country will be making difficult decisions about the future of their farm business.

“For those thinking of leaving the industry, the clarity provided by the government today is incredibly important. Every farming

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business is unique, with personal circumstances, land tenure and enterprises varying massively, so it’s positive that Defra is understanding of this.

“Farming is a job like no other and deciding to leave the industry will be deeply subjective to each person. I would encourage anyone considering this to take advantage of the free and confidential business advice being funded by Defra1.

“Practically, it is good news that Defra and HMRC will treat the lump sum as a capital payment. This will ensure more of the

payment is retained by the retiring farmer, which is reflective of the nature of the scheme.

“The NFU will continue to analyse the detail of today’s announcement and how the implementation will work for any interested farmers, but particularly those with more complex situations such as tenant farmers.

We will also continue working with Defra on the crucial New Entrants Scheme which we hope will provide a pipeline for new talent to enter the industry.”

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

MAXIMISE YOUR PROFITS WITH BALER’S CHOICE P

roducing high quality forage for livestock is essential to providing the business with a sustainable profit margin.

We have seen significant fluctuation in fertiliser and mechanical preparation cost but the cost per hectare of producing high quality or sub-standard forage will be the same, this then leads to the question of why you would not produce good quality forage to maximise your financial returns. Cut before going to

seed, wilt the grass correctly, reduce soil contamination are the zero additional cost implications to forage production. With the expected cost implications of wrapped bales this year due to fuel, plastic and implement replacement costs this should focus the thoughts to high quality hay. At the PFC farm we produce a second cutting of tetraploid Italian rye grass hay with usual results of 11+ ME and 14%+ proteins with the first cutting going to 8|

Farming Monthly | February 2022

clamp silage. This has been achieved by using Baler’s Choice hay preservative and baling at a moisture range of 18-25% moisture.

If hay is baled at the untreated safe limit of 15% moisture and below there is a drop in feed quality, but the answer is yes treating hay has a cost. I would argue in this instance spending a little to gain a lot at the profit end of the business. For dairy and beef rations replacing straw with quality hay will produce more milk and live weight gain, while maintaining the long fibre required

for efficient rumination. Straw as a feed does not supply enough energy to sustain the animal so it dilutes the energy and protein concentration in the diet. Dairy cattle will eat around 25kg of dry matter per day so maximising energy and protein intake is essential for a profitable business.

Further increasing quality is achieved by removing any bales that may cause damage to surrounding bales

in storage due to excessive moisture.

For large square balers setting this trigger point for the wet bale marker allows the applicator to apply a food grade red or blue colour on any flake of the bale that exceeds the safe baling limit. If using preservative this is up to 27% for the large square baler. For those producers not using preservative utilising the precision moisture sensor and wet bale maker will ensure only bales that are 15% moisture and under are stored. All the bales that are marked should be sorted separately and monitored very closely as they will start to heat due to mould growth. Any untreated bales that are 25% moisture and above will most likely self-combust.

Below this moisture untreated there will be varying degrees of spoilage.

Applying Baler’s Choice pays for itself in increased yields and baler productivity and has the real advantage of removing the moisture headache of producing good quality hay. For hay producers of the Sunday afternoon ponies then energy and protein should be kept low so baling overgrown grass will achieve this but baling at higher moisture will reduce the natural dust from the grass breaking up when baled in the traditional untreated moisture bracket of 10-15% moisture. Baler’s Choice allows the hay baling operation to be efficient and effective, maximising the crop yield and quality potential.

PFC currently has a good stock level of equipment to suit your needs but as seems to be the current norm, leaving purchasing decisions late will inevitably risk product shortages.

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| News

Purchase now for the best 2022 deals Stock availability for all equipment on orders received pre April

Precison moisture sensors Bale management solutions Manual & Automatic applicators

Precision moisture sensors with zero calibration are essential to bale quality crops. Application equipment with preservative opens the safe baling window in hay and straw form 15-30% moisture. The applicator range is an entry level digital fixed rate system to a full rate controlled with integration into the balers electronics (specific balers only) CropSaver supplying

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February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

Diversification award goes to Newton Farm farm which offers visitors the chance to walk alpacas, feed the animals and groom a highland cow has received a new diversification award.

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Newton Farm, in Angus, was given the inaugural AgriScot Diversified Farm of the Year award, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland and supported by SAC Consulting - part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).

The award celebrates the achievements of Scottish farming and crofting businesses which have diversified and added value to their primary agricultural activities.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Newton of Fotheringham is a tenanted family farm with livestock and arable enterprises covering 220ha. In response to significant financial challenges, Graeme and Louise Nicoll expanded the business to include agritourism, running tours and visitor experiences.

They offer a range of seasonal activities with a key focus on engaging visitors with whatever is happening that day on the farm.

The award assessors noted that Louise's drive and commitment to the family farming ethos shone through in her approach to the business and she had minimised capital spending

by making use of the free resources available to drive her business and engage with customers.

They added: "We were impressed that not only had the Nicolls turned around their business finances, but also created an opportunity for their son Scott to consider succession within the family business.

"They have great plans for their collective future and have created a new way of working in the business which not only delivers financially but also creates connections with their local community."

Sascha Grierson, from SAC Consulting, said: "Diversification and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Louise Nicoll was praised for her drive and commitment to the family farm (image by Craig Stephen for Go Rural) agritourism are becoming ever more important in Scottish agriculture and Graeme and Louise are excellent ambassadors, showing what can be achieved with innovative thinking and a practical approach. They have created a memorable opportunity to find out what daily life is like on a Scottish farm."

Roddy McLean, Director of Agriculture at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "It was inspiring to see how resources on the farm have been harnessed to deliver unique visitor experiences. Congratulations to Newton Farm and we wish them continued success for the future."

Ian Brydson, AgriScot Board www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

member and one of the judges, said: "The standard of applicants was very high and made assessing the farms a real challenge. Each finalist has diversified to an extremely high standard and been totally committed to what they are trying to achieve.

"The resilience and creativity shown by these award recipients demonstrates what is possible and Louise is a worthy ambassador and role model for family farming businesses in

Scotland."

For more information on how diversification can drive additional income for farmers, crofters and rural businesses, visit www.sruc.ac.uk/ diversification.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| News

Lump sum exit payments need careful consideration, says Carter Jonas T

enant farmers need to fully understand the details and tax implications of the Government’s lump sum exit payment scheme before making any decisions about their retirement, says Carter Jonas.

Details published this week should be welcomed but may not go far enough, according to James Bradley, a Partner at the firm.

Mr Bradley said many farmers have been waiting to see the details of the scheme, so the development should be viewed as “a positive and helpful step”.

He said: “The issues that businesses face with succession planning and/or retirement, coupled with barriers to entry experienced by younger

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farmers, are well known, so it’s worth looking at any initiative that can smooth a path out of, or in to, the industry.

“Careful consideration should be given to the offer being made by Government and how this might benefit an individual retiree’s plans.

For example, full residential value is rarely reflected in the rent paid for Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies, and the outgoing farmer will find residential rents to be both higher and reviewed more often.

“Operation of farm businesses can also offer other allowances and benefits that should not be forgotten when making an evaluation. A lack of retirement provision and availability of housing is a major problem for many tenant farmers.

“The lump sum exit scheme is not a grant and will therefore be subject to Capital Gains Tax. With no base cost of entitlements the whole amount will be subject to tax. Individuals should consult with their financial adviser and check personal allowances that may be used to offset gains.

“The principle behind the scheme should be supported, and for those who are already planning or considering retirement, the offer from the Government could be an added incentive to act. However, it would seem unlikely that the details we have seen this week will be the catalyst for a large number of retirements, which is the significant shift that Ministers are hoping to create.”

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| News

Dragon Equipment appoint Boss Plant Sales Ltd as dealer ngineering innovators Dragon Equipment, has today announced the appointment of Boss Plant Sales Ltd as its official dealer for London and the Southeast of England.

Dragon Equipment’s product range includes the CR300 Crusher, tracked LF750 and LF1000 ‘lifters’, DS110 Dust Suppression unit, and related attachments.

Despite being a relatively young business Dragon Equipment is already making an impact in the market through its innovative products and a unique approach to the on-site recycling of concrete, brick, asphalt, and paving.

E

Dragon Equipment’s Director Jeff Haines commented on the second day of the Executive Hire Show in Coventry. ”Dquu RncpvUcngu ku cp gzegnngpvr ctvpgt hqt wu y kvj c ncti g cpf f kxgtug ewuvqo gt dcug cetquu vj g vgttkvqt{ . cpf c o ctmgvngcf kpi tcpi g qheqo r nko gpvct{ r tqf wevu hqt wug y kvj qwt gswkr o gpv0Vj g{ dtkpi y kf g o ctmgveqxgtci g. gzegnngpvewuvqo gt ugtxkeg. cpf c xgt{ gzr gtkgpegf ucngu cpf chvgto ctmgvvgco vq qwt o kz‘ Boss Plant Sales Ltd is an independent company, owned and managed by MD Graham Stansfield, providing sales, service and parts support across London and the Southeast to customers in construction, civil engineering, demolition, recycling, and the plant hire/rental sector for market leading brands including Kubota, Manitou, Bomag, and Ausa. Boss Plant Sales is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| Feeds & Nutrition

Address nutritional shortfalls in forage ahead of calving and lambing s concentrate prices hold strong and livestock farmers push stock harder on homegrown feeds, nutritional shortfalls in forage needs to be addressed for breeding stock, says Dr Alison Bond, nutritionist for Rumenco.

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“Throughout the winter feeding period, the key ration ingredient will almost always be some kind of forage, whether it be grazing, silage or hay,” explains Dr Bond.

Typically the most cost effective feed source, forage has nutritional gaps that need to be filled for gestating livestock with variations in energy, protein and essential trace element content.

“This is especially important for the final weeks leading up to lambing and calving when the majority of foetal development is taking place and nutrients are starting to partition towards colostrum production,” says Dr Bond. “The nutrients available will have a direct impact on the short and long-term performance of livestock giving birth and their offspring. It is essential these animals receive the right nutrition during this time.”

For sheep, 75 percent of foetal growth takes place in the final two months of pregnancy with under feeding resulting in reduced udder weight, impaired mammary and colostrum development, dystocia and consequences to mothering ability. Overfeeding carries many of these same consequences, also increasing the risk of prolapse, delayed onset lactation and lamb vigour.

In the transition from mid to late pregnancy, scanning the flock and sorting based on litter size will allow farmers to better meet individual nutritional requirements and again six weeks before lambing.

“It is recommended that metabolisable energy (ME) is increased by 0.24MJ for each 10kg of bodyweight. The number of lambs carried and the proximity to lambing also impacts ME requirements.

These varying factors make it essential to sort ewes based on their energy needs,” explains Dr Bond. “For example, a 70kg ewe carrying a single, three weeks pre-lambing has a ME requirement of 12.6 MJ/day, which increases to 16.7MJ/day with triplets – that’s a pretty substantial difference in energy demand.”

During this period of high nutritional demand, Lifeline Pre-Calver and Lifeline Lamb and Ewe supplements are ideal for delivering minerals, vitamins and trace elements, including good levels of selenium and vitamin E, Lifeline supplements also support animal health pre and postpartum.

Suckler cow nutritional requirements

To meet added nutritional demands of late gestation ewes, Lifeline Lamb and Ewe provides high energy and digestible undegradable protein. The supplement’s blend of nutritional boosters, including lactose, mannan-oligosaccharides and beta-glucans, supports immune function and enhance colostrum immunoglobulin content.

“Spring calving suckler cows that don’t need to lose or gain any condition will have a requirement over the winter of around 80 MJ/day. Assuming forage is at 25 percent DM, a 700kg suckler cow will require 35.5kg of forage to fulfil this energy requirement,” says Dr Bond. “If the forage is higher in energy at 11.5 ME, then the forage requirement is around 8kg less. That difference could mean animals put an extra 0.5kg/day on. This is fine if they need it, but if they are already being housed in good condition, then this gain could be bad for them and result in issues around calving time.”

Understanding forage quality With underfeeding and overfeeding cattle and sheep being balanced around forage quality, Dr Bond advices farmers to have forage samples analyzed to get a baseline understanding of its nutritional value.

“The extra addition of minerals, vitamins and trace elements found in both cattle and sheep supplements, and the additional energy and protein in Lifeline Lamb and Ewe, will help to improve health, fertility, production and overall animal performance,” explains Dr Bond.

“This goes a long way towards stretching homegrown forage stocks, which in return helps cut down on bought-in concentrate requirements.”

For suckler herds, the main challenge is to prevent cows from becoming too fat due to overfeeding during the dry period.

Maintenance needs are determined by cow weight and the level of energy in forage.

Sheep nutritional requirements “The 2021 grazing season has been very www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

stop-start with a rotation of cold, damp periods followed by warm spells. This has led to an average grass season with quality rapidly declining into the autumn as expected,” says Dr Bond. “This weather pattern led to an extended and inconsistent silage season for many parts of the country, with significant differences in quality between cuts.”

Industry data shows this autumn’s grass to have good levels of rumen degradable protein, while silage taken at the start of the season to have low crude protein and high NDF (neutral detergent fibre) indicating it is stemmy and harder to digest. Data from silage analysis lab Thomas and Joseph have found samples from across the UK to have a decrease in most trace elements with lower levels in macro-minerals – a result of the cold, wet growing conditions in the early season followed by rapid growth.

“The birds-eye view of forage quality across the UK has highlighted a lot of variations in quality and nutritional values. While results will vary from farm to farm due to weather and management differences, these findings really demonstrate the importance of understanding forage available this season so strategic management decisions can be made to support both stock performance and farm profitability,” concludes Dr Bond. .

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Silage

Reducing Silage Losse ilage waste in clamps can be a problem for farmers, not only for the quality of feed for livestock, but the cost implications. It is estimated that DM losses in clamp silage are between 20 and 25% on the average farm.

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Best practice starts before the clamp is filled, ensuring the clamp is clean and dry, and side sheets have been placed covering the whole wall and up to 1.5m of the floor. When filling the clamp, good compaction is critical to the reduction of oxygen in the clamp.

Pay particular attention to the edges of the clamp where spoilage is more likely to occur, adding a ramp to the side walls and rolling the sides more than the middle of the clamp will aid

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

this process and help with the overall consolidation of the clamp.

Once the clamp has been filled, a vacuum sheet should be placed over the whole clamp surface.

The vacuum sheet clings to the surface of the crop, reducing air pockets and sealing it from oxygen ingress that produces losses in the clamp.

The vacuum sheet should then be tucked down the sides of the clamp, and the side sheets laid over the top of the vacuum sheet to protect the sides, as this is where spoilage is most likely to occur.

A robust top sheet should then be used to seal the whole clamp to keep out the sun’s UV rays that will have a detrimental effect both

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| Silage

es with Best Practice on the vacuum sheet and the silage beneath. Continuous pressure is needed on the top surface of the clamp in the form of a heavy mesh cover or weights.

Visqueen’s all-round protection is the best protection for your clamp.

Our side sheet range have excellent tear resistance and give a significant reduction in spoilage.

Clingseal vacuum sheet reduces air pockets and gives a proven reduction in surface spoilage.

Visqueen Agri-S has a longer lifespan for better value and all weather protection with UV inhibitor. The complete Visqueen range is fully recyclable.

For more hints and tips, search visqueen silage sheets on facebook and youtube.

ALL-ROUND PROTECTION

WITH THE COMPLETE VISQUEEN SHEETING RANGE

• Significantly stronger Side Sheets • Excellent tear resistance • High resistance to weathering • Easy to apply and longer lasting • Significant reduction in side spoilage www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

• Clings to the surface of the silage • Reduces air pockets • Reduction in surface spoilage

• Exceptional tear resistance • Longer lifespan—better value • All weather protection with UV inhibitor • Fully recyclable

www.visqueensheeting.com February 2022 |

Farming Monthly |

17

| Arable

Latest Pioneer results show dent hybrid delivers better-performing forage esults from the 2021 Pioneer Accurate Crop Testing System (PACTS®) trials show Pioneer’s very early maturity dent hybrid P7034 continues to top the list for relative rumen degradable starch.

Bred specifically for UK conditions, the dent-type hybrid P7034 produces silage with a very high starch content and yield. This starch is easier for rumen bacteria to degrade meaning more energy is available to livestock.

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Norfolk farmer Simon Dann and his son Alex run a 400-cow high-yielding herd, growing 430 acres of maize for both forage and combining.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve driven milk yields up from an average of 8,400 litres to 12,100 litres,” says Simon.

“Producing high-quality forage on farm, including maize, played an important role in this change.

“One maize variety we have been particularly impressed with is P7034. We were looking for a high-starch variety to support milk yields, which it certainly delivers on, but we’ve also been impressed with its consistency and yields.”

Simon took part in the PACTS® trials for the first time last year.

The annual trials take place across the UK on both favourable and less favourable sites, the comprehensive results helping farmers identify hybrids best suited to their farm system and conditions.

“Although we’ve been growing maize for 25 years, being involved in the PACTS® trials is something we’ve always wanted to do,” explains Simon. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the latest developments, and test whether

“During the 2021 trials we tested Takla, a new alternative product to the seed treatment Korit,” says Andy. “Initial results show promising performance across PACTS® trial sites, and we’ll continue to monitor its performance.”

If you are interested in trying a Pioneer hybrid for the first time, please apply through the ‘Test the Best’ scheme, contact testthebest@corteva.com.

what we are growing commercially is right for our farm.

“We’ve found it interesting to see there can be quite substantial regional variation in the performance of different varieties. It’s definitely taught us to look more carefully at how each variety performs in the conditions we experience on our farm.”

Talking about the 2021 PACTS® trials, Corteva’s Andy Stainthorpe said: “We’re really pleased to see P7034 once again performed well for rumen starch degradability.

Testing for relative rumen degradable starch is unique to the PACTS® trials and demonstrates the benefits dent varieties can bring to livestock farmers.”

The PACTS® trials also provide an opportunity to explore the latest developments in maize production, explains Andy.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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Full control in 8 sections! This is a key feature of the new 12 metre seed drill Inspire 1200C/S. Väderstad Inspire 1200C/S is built to combine capacity with sound agronomics.

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Where farming starts February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

19

| Arable

New spring oat varieties pushing shift in the market he oat market is seeing a shift, with more farmers planting spring oats to spread labour and workloads, control blackgrass, and provide a good break crop option.

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And with this shift, stronger varieties are coming to the market and are being accepted by major oat mills.

Brin Hughes, Agronomy manager at Bedfordshire-based Richardson Milling, which is said to be the second biggest oat miller in Europe - is encouraged by the improved quality of spring oats.

“The oat market has moved over the last few years and Richardson Milling has increasingly taken in spring oats; however, historically, older varieties haven’t milled as well.

quality was over the spec, bushel weight was over 50 kilos which is the level we draw, and screening losses were good, at under 2%. We need under 30% hulling losses, and Merlin came in at 26%. A standout characteristic for Merlin is its standing ability – we did see some lodging in the trial with other varieties, but not the Merlin,” says Brin.

Richardson Milling will be taking commercial loads of Merlin this year, as long as it reaches spec.

Luke Palmer, arable farmer based in Stretham, near Ely, grows Merlin for seed, and has had good results in the first year.

“We drilled late for blackgrass control, and because we followed a later-lifted vegetable crop on the Fen,” explains Luke.

“Over the last two years with new varieties and improved growing techniques, we have seen much better results with spring oats. Key to this is growers planting earlier - around February, so the plants can establish well. Part of it is also down to the weather, as oats like moisture when growing, but quality is also improving,” says Brin.

“We planted 16 ha of Merlin in two fields in a trial, one field is organo-mineral soil and the other is deep peat. Both were drilled on 9th April.

Merlin spring oat is new to the Recommended List, and has been successfully trialled by Richardson Milling. “We’ve had our eye on Merlin, and last year it did well in trials.

Luke says it’s also enabled them to drill a 1st wheat afterwards and is a great break crop going forward. “Plus, we could grow it behind a late sugar beet or vegetable crop.

“We got 6t/ha from the harvest, milling

“We’re really pleased with Merlin and are

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

“Blackgrass control is good, and we averaged 6.2t/ha. It’s got good standing, and it harvested well and relatively early, on 1 and 2 September on those two fields,”

looking to grow it again next year,” adds Luke.

New to the Recommended List (RL) and delivering an unrivalled combination of yield, quality and disease resistance, Merlin spring oat is a new ‘all-rounder’ for both miller and farmer.

Merlin produces high yielding, high quality oats when grown either conventionally or organically. It has the lowest screening losses of any spring oat variety, outstanding disease resistance, including an 8 for mildew, and is early to mature.

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 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 and high kernel content and it has the lowest screening losses of any oat variety on the RL.” “Merlin is one of the highest yielding oat varieties on the RL and performs exceptionally well when grown organically or conventionally with good standing ability.

Visit https://copeseeds.co.uk/ products/exclusive-varieties/merlinspring-oat/ to learn more.

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

21

| Arable

KUHN opens new square

UHN Farm Machinery is offering a new 0% finance deal on its range of square balers with a scheme that will run until the end of April 2022.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

The 3-year 0% offer can be used against 50% of the list price of all KUHN square balers, SB models. This includes the KUHN SB 1290 iD baler which features the patented TWINPACT double plunger

system. TWINPACT increases the force applied to the surface of the bale to produce denser bales using a machine load comparable to a conventional baler with the traditional single plunger design.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

e baler finance scheme The finance scheme requires 1+3 annual payments and is open to all business users.

KUHN Finance can also offer tailored finance plans, making KUHN equipment affordable for any farming cashflow.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

KUHN Finance is a partnership between KUHN Farm Machinery and De Lage Landen Leasing Limited.

0845 366 KUHN or 0845 3665846. Details can also be found on the KUHN Finance page at www.kuhn.co.uk.

Further details are available from KUHN dealers or by calling

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

23

| Arable

Five ideas to help boost silage in 2022 G

ains from improved milk prices could be eroded by high costs of nitrogen fertiliser (N) unless dairy farmers focus on producing good grass silage this season, says silage expert Ken Stroud of Volac. This includes learning lessons on cutting date flexibility, he says.

In response to various challenges, Mr Stroud offers five key tips:

1. Recognise the value of your silage Do recognise the contribution that silage makes to maximising milk from forage, stresses Mr Stroud, it’s not just bulk. “It’s not enough to grow quality grass. You need to minimise losses in its nutrients when turning it into silage.

“Typically, dry matter (DM) losses in grass silage are about 10%, but they can be 25% or higher. So follow best practice silage production and fermentation methods. Cutting grass younger improves digestibility and protein content, while conserving with a proven additive can halve DM losses and preserve more energy and protein.

“If unsure how well your silage normally ferments, check previous silage analyses. You want a ratio of lactic acid to undesirable volatile fatty acids (VFAs) of at least 3:1.”

As last year showed, cutting early not only allows a silage cut to be ‘banked’ in case the weather turns, it also encourages fresh regrowth, says Ken Stroud “As one of the cheapest feed sources, good silage is likely to be pivotal to farming profitably,” says Mr Stroud. “But there are extra pitfalls this year.

“Cutting back N fertiliser because of its cost could cause grass yield and quality to suffer. Alternatively, applying extra slurry to replace N will increase risks from slurry bacteria. Plus, we saw last year the importance of adjusting cutting date to navigate unusual weather.”

2. Adapt to the weather Last year’s unexpectedly cold April and wet May, which delayed grass growth and then harvest, underlined the importance of being flexible with silage cutting dates, says Mr Stroud. Farmers who didn’t seize an early first-cut often didn’t get another chance until June.

“Cutting early not only allows a silage cut to be ‘banked’, it also encourages fresh regrowth. Cutting earlier does lead to more cuts. But cutting five times in our research produced grass on average 3 D units higher in digestibility and almost 3% higher in crude protein than cutting three times, and yielded 0.92 t/ha extra DM. This year there are added reasons for cutting earlier: to clear old grass growth from the mild winter, and because cutting back N could cause grass to head earlier due to stress.”

3. Mitigate slurry risks Applying extra slurry to replace some bagged N, or cutting silage at shorter intervals, increases the risk of poorer fermentation and DM losses due to enterobacteria in the silage, says Mr Stroud, making it important to manage this risk.

“Apply slurry as soon as possible after harvesting to allow it more time to dissipate. Also, consider dilution to encourage it to wash into soil quicker, and apply by trailing shoe or injection to keep it off leaves. To improve fermentation, rapid wilting becomes more important. As too does wilting to at least 30% DM and using an additive: enterobacteria numbers in silage made using Ecosyl have been 100,000 times lower than in untreated.”

4. Wilt efficiently Rapid wilting to the correct %DM is also important to reduce the breakdown of sugars and proteins that occurs between cutting grass and ensiling it, says Mr Stroud.

"To reduce wilting time, ted straightaway after cutting. In a trial on grass cut on a warm, dry July day, cutting at 10am and tedding immediately resulted in grass reaching the target 30% DM in just 4.5 hours, compared with 24 hours when left in rows. Rapid wilting to the correct DM should minimise losses at all stages of silage making.”

5. Keep contractors informed Cutting grass before heading is vital for top silage quality, says Mr Stroud, so keep your contractor informed in advance of when you will need them, and especially if planning to cut earlier or more often this year. “A benefit of cutting earlier is that contractor availability is often better, which reduces the risk of grass quality passing its peak due to delays.”

As last year showed, cutting early not only allows a silage cut to be ‘banked’ in case the weather turns, it also encourages fresh regrowth, says Ken Stroud

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Irish farmers gain new spring herbicide for oilseed rape O

ilseed rape growers in Ireland have a new spring herbicide at their disposal.

Korvetto®, from Corteva Agriscience, has gained approval for use in the country following a UK launch two years ago.

with robust control of cleavers, mayweed and, in particular, thistles.

“Even farms which apply good autumn herbicide programmes in a timely manner will usually face a late winter and early spring-germinating broadleaf weed burden” said Liz Glynn, Corteva’s Field Technical Manager for Ireland.

“Korvetto will be a good option for Irish farmers because it will control many of the weeds found in oilseed rape crops as daylight hours increase and temperatures rise.”

Containing ArylexTM active in formulation with clopyralid, Korvetto targets the ‘red-faced’ weeds which can emerge above the crop.

It has excellent activity on a broad spectrum of problem weeds that steal yield and cause issues at harvest time,

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Corteva’s products, such as Belkar®.

“The inclusion of Arylex allows farmers to cover a wider spectrum of weeds while gaining a higher level of control.”

The application window for Korvetto is 1 March through to growth stage BBCH50 (flower buds visible above the crop).

An aquatic buffer zone of five metres is required, and the application rate is 1l/ha.

The product can only be used once per crop.

Strong oilseed rape prices and the launch of new, high-yielding varieties such as Pioneer’s PT303 Protector Sclerotinia have driven an increase in the planted area of oilseed rape for 2022.

Corteva’s Galera® (clopyralid + picloram) has played a leading role in most springapplied oilseed rape herbicide programmes on Irish farms for many years.

Prices of delivered oilseed rape in the UK were quoted at £510.50/t in January*.

But Liz says Korvetto represents a stepchange in performance.

With registration coming so close to the beginning of the application window, Corteva says availability for the coming season could be limited, but is working to make as much product available as possible.

She said: “Both contain clopyralid, but Korvetto is significantly beefed up by the inclusion of Arylex – the unique herbicide molecule which is used in many of

“A broadleaf herbicide such as Korvetto will give the crop every chance to fulfil its potential during spring and therefore ultimately will maximise farmers’ profits,” Liz said.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

25

| Arable

overis has started the New Year with the launch of a new stretch film for silage bale wrapping: Unterland R. The new member of the Coveris Unterland family offers enhanced sustainability features that respond to the growing demand for environmentally friendly baling solutions on the agricultural market.

Unlike previous films, the new version contains at least 30% recyclate from collected agricultural films. Due to the PCR content of the film, 20 litres of mineral oil can be saved per produced roll. The new film is produced at the Coveris Kufstein 26 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

factory in Austria using only green energy, as the plant runs entirely on renewable resources.

Thanks to the above factors, farmers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by 23% and contribute to greater environmental protection simply by switching to Unterland R. Coveris has also increased the sustainable character of its film while maintaining its high quality.

The multi-layered stretch film ensures the best possible protection for perfect bale wrapping. The new film has been tested by trusted Coveris partners all around the world in different weather conditions and using various conventional wrappers. It

maintained the exact same quality no matter the environment. ’We believe that the new Unterland R stretch film is what farmers have been looking for years – a sustainable yet highly effective and protective film for silage bale wrapping’, summarised Martin Wildinger, Sales Director for Agricultural Films at Coveris.

You can see the Unterland R new stretch film live at the LAMMA Show in Birmingham from 4 to 5 May 2022. Alternatively, contact the Coveris team directly at www.coveris.com.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

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February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Fertiliser & Spraying

SeedSock from Spaldings makes drill and spreader emptying so much easier I

t is often said that the simplest ideas make the best solutions; and that is certainly the case with the SeedSock, a device that makes emptying a seed drill or fertiliser spreader hopper a whole lot easier.

Arable farmer Olly Harrison came up with the idea and a neighbour who manufactures bouncy castles enabled him to turn the idea into a practical product – a sheet of heavy-duty PVC with lifting loops in each corner and a flexible discharge chute in the middle.

“A lot of drills are awkward to empty and mostly involve dumping seed on to a concrete floor then sweeping and shovelling it into a sack,” explains Mr Harrison. “The Agricontract SeedSock makes this job a whole lot quicker and easier by discharging on to sheet that turns into a temporary container when lifted off the ground.”

He suggests the most obvious time to use it is when drilling and changing from one crop or variety to another.

With the SeedSock laid out and the drill positioned overhead, the hopper is emptied, the drill moved out of the way, and the sheet gathered up and lifted using pallet or other forks, or a hook attachment on a loader.

The contents can then be held in temporary storage or transferred to a sack or bulk bag using the tied-off flexible discharge chute.

Mr Harrison points out: “It’s a great timesaver because if you need to change varieties or crops during the day, you can do so out in the field using the SeedSock instead of running back to the yard.”

While acknowledging that others have made something similar before, it was a

chance conversation with his bouncy castle manufacturing neighbour that led to the strong and durable Agricontract product being made.

“Bouncy castle structures are quite complex to cut and stitch, and they obviously have to be tough enough to take a fair bit of punishment,” says Olly Harrison. “So, I didn’t invent the idea, I just happened to find the right man with the expertise to make the SeedSock in the right way and at the right price.”

Early buyers have found other uses for their SeedSock; emptying a fertiliser spreader hopper after a mechanical break-down, for example, and preparing a cover crop seed mixture on the floor – like mixing concrete with a shovel – and then loading it from the SeedSock into a drill.

Available for £257 / €309 from Spaldings, the device is fully tested for CE/UKCA approval with a maximum load rating of 400kg SWL and comprises a 3m x 3m sheet of cross-webbed PVC with strong lifting hoops stitched in from corner to corner.

The 1.4m long outlet ‘sock’ at the centre is tied off for filling and then released to give controlled discharge into a sack or other container.

“It’s a big sheet, 4m from corner to corner

With the SeedSock laid out on the floor and the drill positioned overhead, surplus seed can be quickly emptied and gathered up.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Olly Harrison demonstrates how the SeedSock’s discharge chute gives controlled transfer of seed into a sack. so apart from using it to empty the seed hopper you can use it to cover bags on a trailer as weather protection,” notes Olly Harrison. “And there’s no set colour because that depends on what material is available when another batch is made – we’ve had them in green, grey and pink with yellow seams!”

Like all products supplied by Spaldings, the SeedSock is available to order either online via the spaldings.co.uk website; by calling the dedicated telesales team; and by contacting the nationwide on-farm sales team that covers the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Grower Olly Harrison demonstrates how the SeedSock’s discharge chute gives controlled transfer of seed into a sack. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Fertiliser & Spraying

Check soil temperature for even better fertiliser use efficiency in hybrid barley ybrid barley growers facing this season’s high nitrogen fertiliser (N) prices could help the crop use N even more efficiently by monitoring soil temperatures to fine-tune the timing of the first application, says Ben Urquhart, seeds technical expert for hybrid barley breeder, Syngenta.

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According to Mr Urquhart, hybrid barley is already recognised for using N efficiently to build high yields – requiring no more N than conventional winter feed barley.

But with high fertiliser prices this season, he says there is an added focus on getting the most from every kilogram of N applied.

By checking soil temperatures to ensure the first N application is only made once warm enough for spring root growth to have started – provided that other conditions are also suitable – he says the applied N stands the best chance of being absorbed rapidly by the plant, rather than sitting unused in the soil.

“The first N application in hybrid barley, typically around mid-tillering (GS25), is key for feeding the crop’s spring hybrid vigour and supporting the optimum number of tillers for yield,” explains Mr Urquhart.

“It is particularly important because hybrid barley is sown at a lower seed rate than conventional winter barley.

Establishing its vigorous canopy with this first N application also helps it to suppress black-grass, ryegrass and certain types of brome.

“Typically, spring root growth begins when the soil temperature in the root zone, approximately 5-10 cm deep, reaches 4.5-5.0 degrees C. Therefore, check temperatures at this depth regularly. By combining the knowledge that the first N application in hybrid barley should go on around GS25, with the correct root zone temperature having also been reached for root growth to have started, it brings greater precision to targeting N more efficiently,” he adds.

Provided that field conditions are suitable – for example not waterlogged, covered in snow or frozen – Mr Urquhart says Syngenta’s overall guidance for hybrid barley is to apply 30% of the season’s total N dose at this first timing, followed by 50% at or just before GS31, and the final 20% two to three weeks after that, typically by the end of April. To ease workloads or to

boost thin crops, he says an alternative is to apply 50% at the GS25 timing and 50% at or just before GS31.

“The actual kg/ha of N required at each timing will depend on individual field and crop situations. Growers should work with their agronomist to determine this,” he points out.

To provide an insight into rising soil temperatures, Syngenta is tracking these at different locations around the UK during the rest of winter and into spring. “Soil temperatures can vary in individual fields depending on multiple factors,” says Mr Urquhart, “so growers should still monitor their own crops. But the aim of our monitoring is to provide a benchmark of rising soil temperatures in different locations.

Results will be shared on the Syngenta UK website (www.syngenta.co.uk), via social media and in e-mail newsletters.”

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| Fertiliser & Spraying

Cultural tactics and accurate spraying essential for effective wild oat control

Growers throughout the UK must adopt a range of chemical and non-chemical strategies to protect cereals from the increasingly problematic threat of wild oats this spring. That is the advice from ADAMA’s herbicide technical specialist, Dr Bill Lankford, who also urges spray operators to be extra diligent when treating advanced crops where a dense canopy could prevent herbicides from reaching underlying wild oat plants.

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ild oats, of which there are two species, are one of the most competitive grass weeds, with just one plant per square metre able to reduce winter cereal yields by 1%.

As with any weed, cultural and chemical tactics are needed to achieve adequate levels of control, with the prevention of seed production a priority, especially as the typical array of cultural controls commonly used to tackle weeds such as black-grass (later autumn drilling, spring cropping, ploughing) often prove less effective against wild oats due to the protracted emergence of both species and their ability to germinate from depths of up to 15cm.

“Rogueing is therefore essential in crops which are heavily infested by wild oats,” advises ADAMA’s Dr Lankford who also advocates the use of weed mapping in June and/or July when the two species of wild oats are more easily identifiable: “One of the key difficulties in controlling wild oats is that the two species, Avena sterilis ssp. Ludoviciana (winter wild oats) and Aventa fatua (common, or spring wild oats), are almost indistinguishable prior to the emergence of panicles.

Taking the time to identify which species are present and accurately mapping their location will therefore make it easier to establish effective control measures.”

Dr Lankford also stresses the importance of maintaining good machinery hygiene

to limit the spread of wild oat seeds and has seen good levels of control where crops have been established by direct drilling or with minimal soil disturbance as this can help to reduce the germination of dormant wild oat seeds.

additional pressure on sprayer workloads, with growers often opting to apply a lower water volume at a high forward speed to cover more ground within a specific window of opportunity.

Dr Lankford also recommends using an appropriate herbicide to spray off the worst affected areas prior to the shedding of seeds which typically commences from late June onwards: “While growers shouldn’t rely solely on herbicides such as Topik (240 g/L clodinafop-propargyl and 60 g/L cloquintocet-mexyl) to control wild oats in cereals, Axial Pro (55g/l pinoxaden) to control wild oats in barley, or Falcon (100g/L propaquizafop) in broad-leaved crops, chemical options such as these obviously play an important role. They should however be used with caution to maintain the required level of spray coverage and application accuracy.”

To maximise the efficacy of these and other wild oat herbicides, Dr Lankford offers the following advice: “Spray slowly at a sensible boom height and with an appropriate water volume to optimise coverage of the target weeds.”

“This can be counter-intuitive when tackling wild oats where getting the optimal biological efficacy from the herbicides being applied is essential.

Products such as Topik should therefore be applied in a way that ensures maximum spray coverage: it might be feasible to reduce water volumes for early spring applications when wild oat plants aren’t protected by the crop’s canopy, but for applications beyond GS31 growers must use at least 200 litres of water per hectare. They should also consider if their nozzle choice will adequately enable the spray to be deposited on wild oat leaves in the crop canopy and should set the boom height to 50cm above the canopy and restrict the sprayer’s forward operating speed to no more than 12kph to ensure full coverage.”

Irrespective of which growth stage wild oat herbicides are applied, Dr Lankford concludes by advising that the best results will be achieved when sprays are made during good growing conditions as this aids uptake. He also recommends the inclusion of non-cereal break crops such as oilseed rape as this gives growers the opportunity to use additional herbicides including propaquizafop, quizalofop, cycloxydim, clethodim and propyzamide.

He elaborates by explaining that “the efficacy of wild-oat herbicides is complicated by the vigorous spring growth rates of commercial crops which can produce a canopy which shields the emerging wild-oats from spray treatments. Competing spray requirements during the spring also put

Uptake of NRM's SMN analysis doubles as high nitrogen fertiliser prices drive the need for testing he uptake of NRM's Soil Mineral Nitrogen (SMN) service doubled in January compared with the same period last year. This reflects the farmers and advisors' need for greater insight into crop performance to combat high fertiliser prices.

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'When nitrogen fertiliser prices began to soar in the autumn of 2021, it became clear just how necessary measuring SMN levels is,' said Rory Geldard, Business Development Manager at NRM. 'Assessing how much nitrogen is left in the soil after the winter helps growers and agronomists decide how much additional nitrogen to apply to optimise their crop nutrition programmes.

This protects them against volatile fertiliser prices. We're not surprised that www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

twice as many farmers are taking the opportunity to test, especially with our new SMN package now available.'

NRM's new N-Check service, which launched at the beginning of the year, analyses soil for Nitrate-Nitrogen, Ammonium-Nitrogen, soil mineral nitrogen, and gives a total value for the combined soil depth. N-Check Plus adds soil organic matter (SOM) to estimate mineralisable nitrogen, Spring crop N to determine the soil nitrogen supply (SNS), and the SNS index based on RB209 guidelines.

'We have received double the number of samples for SMN analysis in January compared with the same period in 2021,' continued Rory. 'The results are very interesting too. For example, while the average SMN value was 34kg N/ha

across the three sample depths of 0-30cm, 30-60cm and 60-90cm, this increased as the sampling depth increased. This could suggest that nitrogen has leached further down the soil profile, potentially encouraging later fertiliser applications in the future. This type of value-added insight to inform future decision making, such as how much and how early fertiliser should be applied in the Spring, drives efficiency in an unpredictable market.'

'We are delighted to be the laboratory of choice for so many advisors, crop production firms, and farm businesses across the UK,' said Simon Parrington, Chief Executive Officer of Cawood. 'We are committed to developing more innovative services like N-Check to support our customers in making the right decisions for their businesses.'

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

31

| Fertiliser & Spraying

Should I cut back on fertiliser application?

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HDB's Sarah Hurford explores farmers' current dilemma about whether to pay a premium for fertiliser to maintain grass growth or cut back and manage the consequences.

With the latest quoted prices for fertiliser topping the £600/tonne mark, triple the figures quoted just a year ago, many farmers will be thinking about their nitrogen application strategies.

Driver shortages and absences delaying deliveries are adding further complications, so decisions on fertiliser use this spring are more complicated than normal.

There is little expectation that fertiliser production will increase in the run up to spring as gas prices look likely to remain high. In addition, the winter heating period, and the need to refill storage facilities are expected to support demand, and prices, in the coming months.

With limited availability and potential delivery difficulties, postponing your purchases in the hope that prices will fall, does come with some risk, and needs to be balanced against any potential cost savings.

When making any changes to your farm business, it’s a good idea to do a partial budget to compare costs (extra or saved) and income (extra or lost) to see the impact on your business’s profit.

Reducing the application rate for first cut silage needs to offset the cost of buying in additional feed.

For example, assuming nitrogen costs £638 per tonne, reducing applications by 30kg N/ha over 15 hectares will save £830.

The trade-off is that silage yields reduce by 33 tonnes, costing an extra £924 if it had to be bought in (based on £28/ tonne). Overall, the hit to farm profits is a loss of £94.

Alternatively, a longer-term approach might be incorporate nitrogen-rich clovers into grazing leys enabling a reduction in artificial N. As a result, the clover would supply 180kg worth of nitrogen, saving 7.8 tonnes of 34.5% ammonium nitrate fertilizer and delivering £4,976 worth of savings (based on £638 tonne. In the first year.

There are of course a multitude of options on how to adjust use of nitrogen on grasslands on your farm, but the same principles apply when assessing the impact on farm costs and budgets.

I’d encourage anyone who is reviewing their fertiliser options, to fill out a simple partial budget to help you make an informed decision.

Keep an eye out for new N fertiliser guidance for grasslands which we’ve commissioned from ADAS. The updated guidance will help with decisions around where feeding more purchased feed becomes more economically viable than applying N fertiliser, as well as

which fields to prioritise and whether using variable rate nitrogen can help.

You’ll also be able to access a simple calculator (similar to that for cereals and oilseeds), which allows you to calculate the implications of reducing N application rates on grass and whether supplementation may be required.

Finally, if you’re a levy payer and you value independent, unbiased, and robust data, please register as part of Shape the Future via our website to have your say on how your levy is invested and where AHDB should focus over the next five years.

And if you are looking for support for future planning and decision making for your farm business sign up for our farm business review service as part of Defra’s Farm resilience fund and receive free consultancy advice. More details can be found on the Farm Business Review pages of the website.

A world first – Foliar fertiliser manufactured from recycled batteries

Z

M-Grow is the first zinc and manganese foliar fertiliser to be made from used alkaline batteries.

Registered and approved for use in the UK for both conventional and organic farming systems, ZM-Grow is distributed by Hutchinsons crop production specialists as part of the company’s growing range of low-carbon nutrition products.

“This is a really exciting product and is branded as a circular economy fertiliser by its clean-tech, Finnish manufacturers Tracegrow,” says Tim Kerr, Hutchinsons fertiliser manager.

“Put simply, Tracegrow has developed an innovative technology to extract, purify and reuse the Zinc and Manganese from alkaline batteries - up to 80% of the trace elements found in alkaline batteries can be re-used.”

“ZM-Grow ticks all of the pertinent boxes for sustainability, offers a reduced carbon footprint whilst also providing a high quality, effective micronutrient foliar fertiliser that meets a valid need by UK arable growers,”he

32 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

says.

“ZM-Grow is a sulphate based concentrate containing 60g/l Zn, 67g/l Mn and 75g/l S. We know that balancing micronutrition can help improve Nitrogen efficiency and ZM Grow can make this difference, at a time when nitrogen prices are at an all-time high.”

•

After mechanical pre-treatment stages, the alkaline mass is transferred to the leaching stage.

•

Once the leaching is complete and the solids are separated from the solution, the solution is transferred to the purification stage where unwanted substances can be removed.

For more information contact Hutchinsons on 01945 461177 or information@hlhltd.co.uk

•

After purification, the generated solids are separated, and the solution is neutralized to around pH 4.00.

How is ZM-Grow made?

•

Further adjustments of the various constituents may be made to the finished product if necessary.

•

The end result is the world’s most ecological foliar fertiliser

Hutchinsons have been trialing and distributing the product for the last two seasons and grower feedback has been very positive. “The recommended rate is 2-3 litres in 200-400l water. In our trials we have found it to be chemically stable, and have had no issues with mixing. It flows smoothly though filters and spray nozzles and doesn’t block them up.”

• An alkaline mass created out of crushed alkaline batteries.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fertiliser & Spraying

Maximise yields by challenging the norm with fertiliser applications F

armers are being urged to challenge the norm this spring by changing up fertiliser application timings, in response to current market conditions.

With limited stock and high prices, David Newton, Technical manager at Timac Agro UK, says this year is the perfect time to go against the routine and review fertiliser programmes.

“We need to react to the weather, soil conditions and market volatility to make the most out of every kilo of fertiliser,” says Mr Newton, “This means taking a bespoke approach for each farm, assessing application timings and rates.

“For example, just because you’ve always applied nitrogen in February, doesn’t mean you need to apply the usual dose in the coming weeks.

Fertiliser is in short supply, and it may be www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

more suitable to delay applications to bolster yields ahead of the growing season.”

To react to how crops are performing, Mr Newton advises growers carry out regular crop walks.

“December was unusually mild for many parts of the country,” he says. “So, for crops that were drilled in good conditions they could be further ahead in growth stages.

“As a result, they may not actually require an early nitrogen boost, in fact this can cause vulnerable growth, this is where useful savings can be made without impacting yield.”

For some growers, he notes hard frosts throughout January may have caused stress to crops. “This is a critical time for early season yield establishment and could impact crop performance. Here, I would recommend using an early application biostimulant, which can

support the crop by enhancing rooting and tillering. In turn, this will encourage early nutrient absorption, so you’re making the most of every kilo of nitrogen applied.”

Looking ahead, Mr Newton recommends using this year to review what crop nutrition products are being used and when applications are being made.

“We need to be applying products which are both feeding crops when they need it and improving their ability to take up nutrients. Don’t be afraid to question your use of nitrogen and phosphate and, if you’re making applications consider the most suitable form and only apply to the crops that have requirements.

“When challenged with availability and prices, it’s the perfect time to take stock and evaluate where changes can be made to improve efficiency and efficacy of applications, while maintaining yields at harvest,” he concludes.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

33

| Grain

When you need more drying capacity L

ong drying days due to insufficient wet grain storage and low drying capacity is a common challenge. Here’s how 2 of our customers fixed those challenges:

At Denby Farm the customer required a new 60tph grain drying system, which consisted of a 10m belt & bucket elevator, taking grain from the intake pit, into an aspirator pre-cleaner. The aspirator removes dust, chaff, husks, awns and materials lighter than grain to help improve crop quality. From here the grain travels through a second, double lift, elevator, 12m in height. The wet grain is then taken by a flow and return chain & flight conveyor, and onto the Savannah Series S410 drier. Once dry the grain is transported by a series of chain & flight conveyors and ducted into the correct storage bay.

Thompson’s Engineering Ltd. selected Perry of Oakley Ltd. as their manufacturer of choice for this job.

After the installation, Russ Thompson, of Thompson’s Engineering, had this to say about Perry equipment: "As always Perry of Oakley set a clear timeline once the order was placed. After a

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

week we were able to check through the equipment ordered via the worksheets provided and then as scheduled the conveyors, elevators and drier all arrived on time within the week specified, despite challenging conditions within the industry, especially around the sourcing of material. It is nice to know that we can still trust a reliable, all British manufacturing company who delivers when they say they will. Back up is great and I know when it really matters, I can rely on getting the parts I need to keep my customers happy."

In North Yorkshire S&R Madden Agricultural Services selected Perrys to install a brand new grain drying facility capable of handling 60tph on wheat (dry – at 750kg/m³), as his current system could no longer keep up with his combine. The new project had to be designed with future projects in mind, which would enable easy further installations.

The new scheme had 60tph handling capabilities, which included a Perry S410 Continuous Mixed Flow Drier.

The system starts with a 22m curved combination chain & flight conveyor, with a 16m trench intake, feeding into

an aspirator pre-cleaner. After the precleaning the product is elevated via a double lift belt & bucket elevator, feeding the grain drier via a flow & return conveyor. The flow & return allows the product to fall in the drier, or go back to the wet intake when full.

Once dry, the grain comes back up through the dry leg of the belt & bucket elevator. This then ducts into an inclined chain & flight conveyor, which feeds a horizontal 30m chain & flight conveyor, which fills the dry store.

The customer was completely happy with the new installation, with plans for an extension to be completed in 2023, a project which Perry would be keen to work alongside S&R Madden Agriculture once again.

Both of these schemes allow the farmers to control their driers remotely freeing up valuable man-hours to get on with other jobs.

If you need to improve your grain drying, handling or storage contact Perrys today on 01404 890300 or sales@perryofoakley.co.uk.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Grain Driers Belt Driers Chain & Flight Conveyors Belt & Bucket Elevators Belt Conveyors Curved Conveyors Intake Conveyors Screw Conveyors Twin Trace Conveyors

Since 1947

British Family-Run Engineering Company

Visit our website to view the full range!

“As always Perry of Oakley set a clear timeline once the order was placed. It is nice to know that we can still trust a reliable, all British manufacturing company who delivers when they say they will. Back up is great and I know when it really matters, I can rely on getting the parts I need to keep my customers happy” Russ Thompson, Thompson’s Engineering Ltd.

Perry of Oakley Ltd. Visit us online at

www.perryofoakley.co.uk

sales@perryofoakley.co.uk

+44 (0)1404 890300

The UK’s Most Experienced Manufacturer of Grain www.farmingmonthly.co.uk 35 2022 | Farming Monthly | Drying, Handling & StorageFebruary Equipment

Our experience harvests results

CROP MOISTURE MONITORING

New grain moisture monitoring systems from Kentra help growers manage crop drying operations, we explore the technical world of Kentra crop drying and discover the capabilities and possibilities of Kentra’s unique products.

Kentra, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of mixed flow crop dryers, has introduced two new moisture measurement and recording systems for growers, and an automated moisture monitoring system ideal for use at the grain intake, adding to its exisiting range of crop moisture management The high-accuracy products come from Canadian manufacturer Dryer Master, whose long established DM510 control system fully automates the grain drying process with minimal manual intervention.

“The new DM100 is a lower cost, less sophisticated version that still provides an element of control to relieve the workload of whoever is managing the dryer” Grain moisture is measured at the discharge point and adjustments to the discharge rate are made automatically when operator-set 36 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

high, low and target moisture levels for each of three discharge speeds are hit.

Unlike the fully automatic DM510, the DM100 requires the speed set points and moisture targets to be adjusted periodically to maintain optimum performance.

The new Moisture Monitor Pro records grain moisture and temperature at the discharge – with the option to add an intake sensor as well – to help operators achieve consistent results from fully manual control.

As with the DM510 fully-automatic and DM100 semi-automatic systems, values are shown on a colour display, are accessible remotely using a mobile phone and can be downloaded to farm computer records.

“The sensor is fitted in the grain flow line – for example in a duct where grain passes from the intake pit to an elevator – and Load Monitor automatically starts logging as soon as the sensor detects grain flowing across it” “The finished record includes a consignment identifier and time stamp, and compared with sampling, using Load Monitor means there is no delay to tipping incoming consignments and the moisture reading will be fully representative of the bulk.”

These features are also common to Load Monitor, a system that records the average moisture of entire lorry or trailer loads of grain at the intake.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain Kentra Grain Systems was formed in 1989 to design and manufacture grain dryers that meet the challenging requirements of British farmers.

Today, the range of mixed flow dryers produced from heavy-duty galvanised steel features a unique column design for effective drying of all free-flowing combinable crops and control systems, axial flow fans and designed, developed and manufactured in-house.

The modular construction of the dryer allows for maximum flexibility in model selection.

So if you need a throughput of 10 tonnes or in excess of 100 tonnes per hour our range of dryers and user-friendly management software give you complete, real time control over your harvest.

3 yr

WARRANTY Throughputs up to

120 tonnes / hr

Grain drying demands real time control and automated decision making at your fingertips. Kentra brings you both and more.

Low power requirement

Our ever changing climate ensures it has never been more challenging to produce a consistent quality harvest.

• CONTINUOUS AND EVEN GRAIN DISCHARGE

Kentra has been at the forefront of continuous flow grain drying technology for well over 30 years.

• REMOTE INTERNET MONITORING AND CONTROL

Our range of dryers and user-friendly management software give you complete, real time control over your harvest.

• TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL FOR EASE OF USE

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

For further information please telephone:

01423 326665

PROUDLY MADE IN THE UK

Sales@kentra.co.uk www.kentra.co.uk 37 February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

| Grain

Succession plans and climate change drive Frickley Holdings Ltd to bring grain drying and processing plant into the 21st century with solution from BDC Systems Ltd and McArthur Agriculture o ensure that Frickley Holdings Ltd continues to be successfully run by the family and is equipped to combat climate change, it’s managing director, Michael Scholey, has installed a future-proofed grain handling machinery infrastructure as part of a succession plan.

T

“It’s important that all the right equipment is in place enabling the next generation to successfully farm Frickley Holdings’ 800 plus acres near Doncaster and over 2,000 acres near York, and ensure that business thrives when I step down,” said Michael Scholey. “The modern, efficient grain drying plant that we now have, will play a huge part in achieving this.”

“How to cope with climate change was also a consideration. The harvest weather window has already reduced dramatically,” continued Mr Scholey. “We have to combine at a higher moisture percentage and using electric fans to dry more grain is not cost effective.”

Although Frickley Holding’s existing 1,200t

grain store’s drying floor, equipped with laterals previously supplied by BDC Systems Ltd, had done its job, Michael Scholey realised that he wanted a future proofed solution that would bring his grain drying and storage facility firmly into the 21st century. He needed to ensure that the business could continue to meet merchant demands for high quality grain, the market requirements of Red Tractor and TASCC plus, take on more contract farming requiring additional storage capacity all at the same time as preparing for climate change.

Michael Scholey and son Will, discussed their requirements with Scott McArthur, Director at McArthur Agriculture, a trusted BDC Systems’ partner, with whom they had previously worked.

Svegma Drier and Skandia Elevator Handling Equipment

The decision was taken to locate the new plant at the Doncaster farm as it is where Frickley Holdings grow high quality wheat which can be harvested before the feed wheat grown close to York.

Initially, the Scholeys were open to several grain handling options: a drying floor, batch dryers or a continuous flow drier.

“A drying floor did not offer the required flexibility; batch dryers were of interest but not able to deliver the hourly throughput necessary. So, we put forward BDC’s Svegma continuous flow drier supported by handling equipment from Skandia Elevator,” said Scott McArthur.

Michael Scholey (L) Will Scholey (R) 38 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

“A future-proof solution was a key requirement. It was clear that the BDC Systems’ Svegma drier and Skandia

equipment were of the highest build quality, robust, reliable and proven to be long lasting,” added Michael Scholey.

Following construction of a new 3,000t grain store and wet grain reception bay alongside the existing 1,200t store, the grain drier and handling equipment was installed: •

Svegma Continuous Flow Drier SVC6/4 30t/h

•

Skandia KTIG Trench Conveyor with 10m Inlet

•

2 x Skandia SEI 35/14 Belt and Bucket Elevators

•

Skandia KTIF 20/33 Chain and Flight Conveyors

•

Skandia Dust and Chaff Aspirator Cleaner

The Skandia trench conveyor allows delivery of grain by tractor as well as HGV. The Skandia conveyors transport the grain

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

to the Skandia dust and chaff aspirator cleaner. Once cleaned, the grain is transported to the Svegma continuous flow drier and then on to either the new or existing grain store. The existing store is split into two allowing for storage of both pulses and grain.

“With everything up and running for harvest ’21, the Svegma drier quickly delivered a return on investment. We could extend combinable hours as grain moisture content was less of an issue,” said Will Scholey.

The new plant has already allowed Frickley Holdings to grow its business. The additional capacity has enabled contract drying and grain storage for local farmers.

“The wet bay combined with the Svegma drier enables contract storage capabilities throughout the year. We will also be able to accept grain for drying which is then immediately taken away or stored,” continued Will Scholey.

With an eye on the uncertainty surrounding farming the Scholeys new grain store has been designed with potential change of use in mind. It could be used for general storage and being close to the M62 and A1 it is very well located.

“It is too early to calculate a return on investment. It’s not just about money; the new plant has helped to get harvest done more quickly and efficiently, reducing our labour and machinery costs across the entire acreage,” added Will Scholey.

Scholey Grain Store

“It has never been so important for farmers to plan for the future so we can pass on thriving, successful farming businesses to the next generation,” said Michael Scholey. “If grain drying and storage is key to the ongoing profitability of your farm, then you can do no better than to talk to BDC Systems and McArthur Agriculture.”

The Ultimate in Grain Care

Care Care Care • Grain driers • Handling equipment

Select the BestDrying in Select the Best in Grain Select the Best in Grain Drying Grain Drying BDC Systems Systems and Svegma Svegma Continuous Flow Flow Driers Driers BDC and Continuous BDC Systems and Svegma Continuous Flow Driers the winning winning combination: – BDCcombination: Systems and Svegma Continuous –– the the winning combination: u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u

Flow Driers – tph the Capacities from 5 to over over 100 100 tph winning combination: Capacities from Capacities from 55 to to over 100 tph Fully galvanised galvanised for indoor indoor or outdoor installation Fully galvanised for • Capacities fromor 5 outdoor to over installation 100 tph Fully for indoor or outdoor installation Fully automated, energy efficient low noise operation Fully automated, energy efficient low noise operation Fully automated, energy efficient low noise operation • Fully galvanised for indoor or outdoor installation Ideal for cereals, oils seeds, pulses and seed crops Ideal for cereals, oils seeds, pulses and seed crops Ideal for •cereals, oils seeds, pulses seed crops Fully automated, energyand efficient low noise operation Dust control control Turboclean Turboclean fans fans Dust Dust control Turboclean fans • Ideal for cereals, oils seeds, pulses and seed crops • Dust control Turboclean fans

otland & & Northern Northern England England Area Area Sales Sales Manager Manager II T: T: 07468 07468 698188 698188 II E: E: john@bdcsystems.com john@bdcsystems.com otland otland otland & & Northern Northern England England Area Area Sales Sales Manager Manager II T: T: 07468 07468 698188 698188 II E: E: john@bdcsystems.com john@bdcsystems.com 01672 810851 sales@bdcsystems.com www.bdcsystems.com

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• Storage solutions • Aeration equipment • Cleaners, weighers • Mill and mix

Complete Grain Plant Solutions

BDC Systems Ltd | Grafton Road | Burbage | Marlborough | Wiltshire | SN8 3BA

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

39

| Potatoes

Sustainable Sprout Control t is now almost ten years since Biox-M was granted approval for use in the UK, and we are now in the second season for which it has become the product of choice for many growers following the withdrawal of CIPC. The 2021 harvest season has seen most crops enter store in good (and dormant) condition.

Crops are now waking up, some vigorously, and the fogging season is well underway.

I

For many growers the 2020 harvest season was the first in which Biox-M had featured, and, with a new product behaving very differently from CIPC, there was a very steep learning curve. For many, the new season holds few concerns, as all involved have grown in confidence and experience in the use of Biox-M. In order to address the occasional store management or air flow problem still facing growers and store managers, Adrian Cunnington, widely respected former head of the AHDB potato 40 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

storage facility at Sutton Bridge, is supporting Biox-M distributor, Juno (Plant Protection) Ltd with store visits to advise on improving efficacy.

“We are delighted that Adrian is able to bring his very considerable experience to support users of Biox-M to get the best from the product,” said Nick Tapp, Juno Technical Director. “One of Adrian’s particular areas of expertise is in air movement in store, and volatile products, of which Biox-M is one, need particular care to ensure the best distribution of the fog on application”.

Biox-M: •

Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry,

•

Is approved for use on organic potato crops,

•

Has no harvest interval or MRL,

•

Does not leave persistent

residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage, •

And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes,

•

Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development when crop is processed,

•

Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated,

•

And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.

Biox-M is the only 100% natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Natural.

Effective.

Powerful.

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

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

Nick Tapp nick@junopp.com 07775 785 748

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

41

| Potatoes

Scotts appoint RM Agricultural Engineering Ltd To support West Midlands growth cotts Precision Manufacturing Ltd has extended its distribution network with the appointment of a new sales and service agent to cover the West Midlands.

S

The Boston manufacturer of vegetable harvesting and cleaning equipment formally appointed RM Agricultural Engineering Ltd this month.

Based near Leominster, Herefordshire RM Agri will be offering Scotts' full range of Trinity toppers, Microlift Pro fully mounted windrowers and harvesters, Evolution separators and their latest Grimme GT170 Windrower conversion kits

"We have worked with Rob and Marie Lloyd the owners, for a number of years, from their humble beginnings to what is today, a thriving and specialist business supporting their local root crop growers, It’s very important for us to work with like minded people with a clear focus on 42 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

the root crop industry, Rob’s background in potatoes is second to none and we feel privileged to work alongside businesses of this calibre. We have a large number of Evolution separators and haulm toppers already in this area. With the demand growing, we are looking to build a long term future with Rob and his team” says Derek Scott Managing director at Scotts RM Agricultural Engineering Ltd was launched in 2013 by Rob and Marie, With 20 years working as an engineer in the Potato machinery trade and with a young family around him, the timing felt just right. 2021 was a major step forward for the business by becoming the official Dewulf partnership with AgVantage UK Ltd for the West Midlands and Herefordshire. With Dewulf now in ownership of the popular Miedema brand our experience of their product range sat extremely well within our business. Scotts were always the benchmark when it came to vegetable cleaning systems with the Evolution separator. Without doubt the Trinity range of 2,3,4 and 6 row Haulm toppers are already viewed as the best on the market by quite some distance and we are looking forward to promoting their brand. All of Scotts products are designed and manufactured at their brand new factory

in Lincolnshire, Supporting a truly British product has a certain kudos about it which we know our customers will find appealing too.

Scotts' range of toppers now comprises seven models: The Trinity 22B two-row topper is available separately or in combination with the folding rear unit, the Trinity 6000 (to provide a folding 6 row front/ rear mounted system), our best selling model to date. This is complemented by the Trinity 30B, which has a 300cm cutting width, capable of handling either three 90cm or four 75cm rows. Four more models have been added to the range recently to include the more affordable Trinity 54B fixed 6 row with end tow, Trinity 54F folding rear mounted 6 row and Trinity 36B twin rotor fixed 4 row.

The appointment of RM Agri follows a recent announcement that Scotts are now working closely with Vegcraft near Forfar Scotland and with Yorkshire & Humber to provide service and support to customers in these 2 counties.

For more information about Scotts, please visit www.scottsuk.com and to contact Rob Lloyd at RM Agri on 07792 247280 or visit www.rmaeltd.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes

Tong raises the bar for big bag filling with the new JetFill for 2022 T

ong is pleased to announce its first new product development for 2022 with the launch of the new edition JetFill big bag filler.

“The JetFill has always been a popular machine in our home and export markets,” says Charlie Rich, Sales Director at Tong Engineering. “With this in mind, the new JetFill has been carefully fine-tuned to incorporate enhancements to the machine’s proven design, as well as the introduction of the most advanced controls. These developments combined have allowed us to really streamline the performance of the JetFill, making it even easier to use and more efficient than before.”

The JetFill is Tong’s highest capacity big bag filler which offers automated and gentle big bag filling. Capable of filling up to 40 big bags per hour, the new model for 2022 is designed to handle a wider range of bag sizes up to 2700mm high.

Designed with throughput and careful handling at the fore, the JetFill features

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two bag-lifting platforms to which empty bags are presented on a pallet. The uniquely designed bag frame allows the machine’s bag-holding arms to be lowered for easy attachment and the bag platform automatically raises the empty bag to the reversible feed conveyor. The new model features an enhanced bag frame design which ensures the raised position of the bag platform is even closer to the feed conveyor to guarantee the gentlest transfer of crop.

be easily selected and controlled with the option of Tong’s intelligent AutoTouch HMI control, allowing the user to quickly and easily select bag sizes at the touch of the screen as well as receive full diagnostics capabilities. This brings enhanced flexibility and fullyautomated adjustment of the machine’s settings.

As the bag fills, the platform automatically lowers until the bag is full to level. Users can also specify the machine to fill to weight. On completion of the filling cycle the platform lower further and away from the bag, allowing the bag to hang to achieve an even fill and accurate weight. Once the full bag is rested back onto the platform, another enhanced feature sees the bag holding arms retracting automatically to release the bag hooks, allowing the bag to be swiftly removed from the JetFill without any manual intervention.

“The new JetFill has already received lots of interest from customers that we’d been working with towards the end of last year and were able to give them a preview the new advancements,” explains Charlie. “We’ve subsequently specified the machine within their turnkey projects, and are delighted that as a result we have already have received multiple orders for the new model worldwide, including in the USA, Canada and Turkey. The new model is designed in a way that makes it very easy to be disassembled for transport, and re-assembled and commissioned very simply too, making it the ideal bag filling solution for vegetable producers of all sizes worldwide.”

The machine’s new capabilities can also

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

43

| Potatoes

Shropshire potato grower realises huge N organic vegetable farmer from Shropshire has made efficiency savings of more than 25 per cent while almost doubling the land he manages for potatoes, thanks to the latest digital technology.

A

Nick Taylor, who farms at Home Farm in Shropshire, has been instrumental in developing mobile app Crop4Sight, and is now using the platform to realise ‘massive efficiencies’ in his business.

Mr Taylor is growing 40 hectares of salad potatoes and 130 hectares of main crop potatoes this year which represents a significant step up in crop size compared to previous years.

than a quarter, without compromising on the quality demanded by contracts with major UK retailers.

Crop4Sight utilises thousands of data points to accurately predict the size fractions of potato crops from first emergence, enabling growers to better plan crop inputs, labour, burndown, irrigation, and storage.

It also enables farmers to benchmark their crops against other

But by adopting the app into the day-to-day running of the business, he has reduced the management time invested in producing the crops by more

44 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes

efficiencies with latest digital technology UK growers of the same variety and manage customer expectations around size fractions, quality, and contract fulfilment.

“Now, we only need to do this once or twice between planting the crop and burndown as all the information is provided by the app.

Mr Taylor said the app has given him far greater transparency over his potatoes, enabling him to focus attention where it is most needed.

“If the variables change, the app takes account of that, enabling us to take the necessary steps earlier to manage the bell curve of growth to achieve the maximum saleable yield.”

It also significantly reduced the number of yield digs that need to be carried out, which has brought welcome efficiencies to the growing process.

Mr Taylor said: “Crop4Sight is a fantastic management tool that enables us to be far more informed about our crops than ever before.

“The app is capable of taking account of the different variables at play and providing a detailed picture of the crop at all points of development.

“Before using it, in the most intensive part of the growing cycle we would carry out yield digs of five samples once a week to assess growth curve and size distribution.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

experience with the app was mirrored by many growers who had adopted the technology.

Mr Taylor added that the app was playing a significant role in grower/customer relations.

“For customers, the graphical representations of the crop’s development are very useful,” he said.

“The app enables us to provide critical information to customers on the progress and quality of the crop we are growing for them.

This in turn makes them more confident in what we are doing.

He said: “Digital technology is starting to revolutionise agriculture and bring new efficiencies to businesses that have not been previously possible.

“With Crop4Sight, we wanted to create a powerful tool that used data and modelling to provide highly accurate crop forecasting to help agronomists and professional potato growers become more efficient.

“The app provides total transparency across a crop to the grower, the agronomist and, critically, the client, meaning the best management decisions can be made and the best saleable yield achieved.

“That can be the difference between having a contract for next year and year after and the customer deciding to put their contract elsewhere.”

“Not only does this help streamline the grower’s business by optimising inputs, labour and storage, it enables them to better meet customer requirements to build robust, long-term relationships.”

Paul Coleman, Managing Director of Crop4Sight, said that Nick’s

For more information, visit crop4sight.com.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

45

Young Farmer of the Year, for Warwickshire, Charlie Beaty, shares her story with us. rowing up, I absolutely loved the farm. I was out shepherding with granddad at every opportunity, from since before I could remember. He’d load the back of the pickup up with feed and hay for the heavily pregnant ewes and we’d head out to find them. I wasn’t even 3 years old, but when in the field he’d put the pick-up in first gear, pop me in the driver’s seat and jump on the back to chuck the feed off to the ewes. So naturally, when I hit a water trough one time the response was, “well, Charlie was driving!”.

Despite my love of the farm, I didn’t grow up wanting to be a farmer. It was always a vet, or something to do with my love of horses. Looking back now, I do wonder if this was something to do with the fact that all of the farmers I knew growing up were men – woman farming wasn’t shunned to me, it just wasn’t something I saw. My dreams of being a vet were put paid to by my academic career. I was by no means bad at school, I did well in my GCSEs, but they were nothing special, and we all know how fiercely competitive veterinary is when it comes to university places. I sailed through my GCSEs and achieved a nice mixture of As and Bs with absolutely no revision, so naturally just assumed I’d manage the same at Alevel. This wasn’t the case.

Back in the summer of 2011 I’d been up to Harper Adams University and spend a weekend on a residential course for 16-17 year-olds, spending time talking to students and lecturers, and doing taster sessions for the many different land, food and farming-based degree courses that

the university offered. I was sold.

So, when I completely flunked my first year of A-levels I was only too relieved to find out that Harper Adams offered a year-long access course onto some of their degree courses – the agriculture degree being one of those.

About 6 weeks after receiving my disastrous AS results I was heading up to Shropshire for 5 years which have paved the way for everything I’ve done since.

As part of my degree, it was required for students to undertake a placement year. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do, so applied to a few companies for more marketing/ people-based roles. Realistically, I’d have hated the office-based role I was applying for and thankfully when I had an interview at CLAAS UK, they clearly realised that and I was offered a role in sales & demonstrations, covering Lincolnshire & Yorkshire. I loved it. It was hands-on and I was constantly visiting different farms.

I was then offered a graduate role with CLAAS UK, but I had my heart set on travelling, so they instead put me in contact with Landpower, the company that owns the CLAAS franchise in Australia and New Zealand,

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

and I flew out three days after graduation to demonstrate combine harvesters across Australia.

After a few weeks in Australia, I realised that six months just wasn’t going to be long enough. I thanks CLAAS UK for the amazing opportunities but told them I wouldn’t be able to take the graduate role they’d offered me. Instead, I extended my stay, returning home nearly 2 years later.

I’ve worked on the family farm ever since coming home. It wasn’t always the plan. I was torn between travelling more and finding a “proper” job to settle down with.

I applied for jobs, but there was nothing I really wanted. I kept finding flaws in the jobs, excuses as to why it wouldn’t work.

It took a while for me to realise that it wasn’t the jobs that were the issue for me, it was the idea of leaving the home farm.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

We’re a mixed farm in Warwickshire, renting around 750 acres and contracting another 750. The land we rent is a mixture of arable land and permanent pasture. We run around 350 breeding ewes and 85 suckler cows with calves.

There are 3 of us working full time.

Myself, my dad, Adam, and my uncle, Tom. For me, that’s the hardest part – we have a great relationship but there’s no doubt that working and living together is tough. This strain was only added to when the pandemic hit in Spring of 2020.

But despite it all, I knew I didn’t want to leave the farm. I was starting to make my mark, being involved in all the key decisions and bringing new ideas to the business. I started selling our own lamb

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

direct to local consumers, followed a year later by our own beef too. The majority is still sold through the local markets and abattoir, but our customer base grows each month.

I love the opportunity the meat boxes give me to interact with consumers. I market these on our facebook page, Meriden Farm. Over lockdown we started doing Facebook lives aimed at children to explain why and what we do on the farm. The feedback from this was incredible, plus dad and I thoroughly enjoy doing it. I’ve also built up a following on Instagram, which started when I was documenting my travels. I now document the what, why and how of

what we do at home. Whilst social media definitely has it’s downfalls, I’ve found it a great place to network with and learn from other farmers.

I am a firm believer that no farmer can grumble about the consumers perception of our industry unless they’re willing to address it. It’s a volatile industry, and I try my hardest to represent it the best that I can. We farm to the highest and environmental and animal welfare standards IN THE WORLD – that’s definitely something to shout about!

Follow Charlie on Instagram: @globetrottingfarmgirl

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Buildings

Concrete Panel Systems Are the Ideal Choice! oncrete Panel Systems (CPS) have over 10 years’ experience manufacturing and supplying prestressed concrete panels and concrete stacking blocks. Their wealth of knowledge and experience is what will assure you they are the ideal choice for your concrete product needs.

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If you require concrete panels for your grain store or other type of agricultural building, CPS will be able to help. The Concrete Panels are ‘UKCA’ Marked prestressed panels and available in a variety of sizes, as well as bespoke orders being welcome, their team can accommodate your requirements. As for their concrete interlocking stacking blocks, these are exceptionally easy to handle. quick and easy installation.

Available in two sizes, each block has two integral steel hooks and can be easily stacked with no bonding agent required. Simplicity is key for

Concrete Panel Systems prestressed panels and stacking blocks are suitable for various purposes.

Panels are ideal for agricultural buildings, such as livestock sheds and grain stores. Their interlocking stacking blocks on the other hand, aren’t just for agricultural purposes.

They can be used to create flood defences, aggregate storage, weeping walls and more.

Meet the team in person! Concrete Panel Systems will be joining forces with partner company, Graham Heath Construction, and will be available to talk quotes and product requirements at the following events this year: •

YAMS on the 2nd February 2022, at York Auction Centre

•

Farm EXPO on the 3rd March 2022, at Kent Showground

•

LAMMA 2022 on the 4th-5th May 2022, at the NEC, Birmingham

Want your free, no-hassle quote today? The quickest way is to call their team on 01270 258076. Or complete the request a quote form online at https:// www.concretepanelsystems.co.uk/ quotation/, or you can simply email them with your quote request at sales@concretepanelsystems.co.uk – the team will aim to respond to you within a couple hours of receiving your enquiry.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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@concretepanels Panel|Systems 49 February 2022 |@Concrete Farming Monthly

| Buildings

What to look for in a crop store: he handling and storage of your crops is vital, whether it’s cereals, potatoes, straw or silage. You have a limited window to get the crop off the field and, as with any job on the farm, time is money.

If your building is not ready on time, badly designed, not strong enough or not big enough, the financial consequences can be huge. Finding there is a problem when you are at your busiest is something no one wants.

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farming families. This means we can understand and see things from a farmers’ perspective, which really helps us look at the finer details of a building design, particularly crop storage buildings” Topics you will need to look at with your building supplier include: Rodents – how will the building be kept free from rodents?

Ventilation – is there adequate ventilation within the building?

Lighting – how will you light the building? Natural or artificial light?

Handling facilities – how will you empty the building and are there any processes involved in storing the crop? just your current requirement.

The first and most important thing to do when selecting a building manufacturer, is to make sure they understand the direct pressures you are under, as well as the legislative pressures placed upon you to meet the specific criteria laid down by government, and all this in a cost-effective manner.

Simon Pelly, Managing Director of S&A Fabrications in Barnard Castle explains “At S&A, many of our staff come from

Capacity – is there sufficient capacity to meet your future expectations and not

The variables can be huge but, ultimately, you need to think about your long term plans and see what is the best building to meet those long term plans you have for the farm. You don’t want to buy a building that will fall redundant in five or ten years time, because the farm has moved on and equally a good building manufacturer doesn’t want to sell you one. Both parties should want to provide long term solution that will be a part of your business for the future.

GRAIN & CROP STORAGE BESPOKE BUILDINGS WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| Buildings

Aiming for net zero: A guide to energy efficient buildings I

n the previous issue I wrote

about the impact buildings have on greenhouse gas emissions and the potential impact of climate change on the design of buildings. We are all going to be hearing the phrase ‘net zero’ a lot more over the next few years as the UK attempts to balance its environmental books by ensuring the CO2 we release does not exceed the CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

To some, net zero means replacing a petrol or diesel car with an electric model and paying someone else to plant a tree. In reality achieving the government’s goal of going net zero by 2050 is going to require some significant changes to the way we approach many aspects of our lives, including how we construct and operate our buildings.

As noted in the previous issue, buildings contribute to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions through their embodied carbon (that is the CO2 associated with the building fabric and its construction) and their operational carbon (the CO2 associated with the operation and use of the building). This article looks a little deeper at a few specific issues relating to a building’s operational carbon and considers the ways in which good building design can play a significant role in meeting the nation’s target of net zero by 2050.

Design strategy for net zero buildings At the highest level, the overall strategy for achieving a net zero building is to minimise the energy required to operate the building and then to generate that energy from renewable sources (i.e., not fossil fuels). In implementing this strategy, there is a clear hierarchy: 1. Reduce demand for heating, lighting, mechanical ventilation, etc.

2. Deliver the heating, lighting, etc. as efficiently as possible.

3. Use the building to generate renewable energy.

While it may be tempting to think covering a roof with photovoltaic www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

(PV) panels is a quick fix that ticks the sustainability boxes, there is little point generating renewable energy and then wasting it. Indeed, as pressure to eliminate fossil fuels increases, the demand on renewable energy sources will also increase and this scarce resource will need to be used wisely. Energy efficiency, therefore, needs to be at the heart of any building design strategy.

Depending on the use of the building, energy demand can be divided into the following categories: •

Heating

•

Lighting

•

Cooling/ventilation

• Processes relating to the use of the building (not usually the responsibility of the building designer) Heating

efficient building, all three of these issues need to be considered by the building designer. Installing 300 mm of insulation but forgetting about the joints around the doors, windows and service penetrations is of little use.

Of the three heat paths, the conduction through the roof, walls and floor is the easiest to tackle and a range of insulation products and insulated panel systems are widely available with plenty of technical literature and support to help building designers specify the product that best meets their needs.

The thermal performance of a building element (i.e., an insulated wall or roof) is usually referred to as its ‘U value’ and is quoted in W/m2K, i.e., it is a measure of how much energy escapes per second (in Watts) for every square metre of roof or wall per degree of temperature difference (a temperature difference of 1 Kelvin (K) is the same as a difference of 1°c).

From a building designer’s perspective, minimising heating demand is a matter of minimising heat loss through the building envelope. Of course, turning the thermostat down by one degree and closing the windows while the heating is on would also help, but that is out of our control. Thermal energy (heat) will always try to move from a relatively hotter location to a colder one and can do so by a combination of conduction, convection and radiation. In a heated building, the particular heat flow paths of concern are conduction through the walls, floor and roof, conduction through cold bridges and convection through gaps in the building envelope. To achieve an energy February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Buildings

Thermal bridging is a trickier issue to deal with because the strongest materials best suited to load carrying are also the most conductive.

Thermal bridging through fasteners is generally considered to be small and is accounted for in the U value for the roof or wall, but larger metal objects, such as steel support beams for balconies or rafters penetrating the building envelope (architects!) can be a major source of heat loss if they are not detailed correctly. Furthermore, the loss of heat will cool the beam or rafter on the inside of the building giving rise to a condensation risk. In some cases, for example balconies, special low conductivity connections have been developed and should be specified where possible. Building designers should seek specialist help if they encounter this situation.

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joints, is best dealt with via good detailing, or - more likely - by someone with a tube of sealant.

Most building envelope solutions used in industrial and similar commercial buildings are reasonably air-tight by design, especially if the installers follow the manufacturer’s guidance in terms of filler blocks and sealant. The issues tend to be at doors, windows and service penetrations, where gaps are often ignored or left for someone else to fill. This is one case where attention to detail can make a significant impact.

Lighting The simplest way to limit the demand for artificial lighting is by ensuring there is sufficient natural daylight entering the building. For agricultural and industrial buildings, this is usually achieved by installing

rooflights, although north lights are an alternative. The quantity and location of the rooflights is critical to the energy performance of the building. Too many rooflights could result in overheating in the summer (turning the building into a greenhouse) or excessive heat loss in the winter. Poorly positioned rooflights that illuminate the tops of racking storage rather than walkways are of little use, so the building designer needs to coordinate the design of the roof with that of the internal layout of the building. The National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM) has specialist guidance available.

The internal layout and decoration of a building can enhance the effect of the natural daylight by reflecting the light and avoiding unwelcome shadows.

Of course, some artificial lighting will www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Buildings

always be needed, and the building designer needs to ensure this is as energy efficient as possible. As with rooflights, the quantity and position of artificial lighting is critical to its performance and can be enhanced by a well-designed internal layout and decoration. Specifiers can choose from a wide range of low energy lighting solutions (i.e., LEDs) and should also consider sensoroperated controls to avoid lighting unoccupied rooms.

Cooling/ventilation As global temperatures rise and rare heat waves become more common, building designers have to give serious consideration to the risk of overheating. To make matters worse, buildings are often filled with heat generating devices such as computers and, in the agricultural www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

sector, livestock can be a significant source of heat. Related to the need to cool the building interior, is the need to supply fresh air for the health and welfare of the building occupants (human and livestock).

Both of these matters can and should be addressed as part of the building design process by ensuring a plentiful, controlled and welldirected flow of natural ventilation, noting that a well-ventilated building is not the same as a draughty one!

The alternative is noisy, expensive and energy intensive air conditioning that does little for the welfare of the building occupants and only adds to the building’s carbon emissions.

emissions. But reducing the energy demand by minimising heat loss, and through the careful design of the building, building envelope and building services, is within the control of the building designer.

Small changes to the specification and attention to detail can often have a major impact on a building’s carbon emissions and improve the welfare of the people and animals who occupy it.

Dr Martin Heywood RIDBA Technical Consultant

Conclusions The operation of our buildings account for a significant proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Energy

Greek Poultry Farmers Invest in Biogas Plants from WELTEC BIOPOWER Efficient operation through a variety of raw materials and proven technologies he German biogas plant specialist WELTEC BIOPOWER registers keen interest in its plant technology in Greece. In the past year, WELTEC expanded its market leadership in the southern European country by building four further projects and expanding three existing plants. Due to the great potential of organic residues to produce biogas and biomethane, especially in the north of the country, the climate-friendly energy source is playing an increasingly important role in the Greek energy transition.

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WELTEC BIOPOWER has so far been significantly involved in 17 of a total of 30 Greek agricultural and waste biogas plants. This is no coincidence, because WELTEC is an established technology and market leader there. One of these AD plants has been built in Megara, 30 kilometers west of Athens, in 2015. In the past year, WELTEC expanded this biogas plant and since March 2021 the plant is in operation with a doubled output of one megawatt. Around a year after the expansion, the operators‘ résumé is consistently positive: “The plant was already running very successfully before the expansion. An above-average plant availability of 97 percent confirms that the extension with WELTEC was the right decision, ” says John Tetoros, the Greek WELTEC sales partner, from a conversation with the owners.

It was also crucial for the extension that a sufficient amount of substrates were available. The area around Megara is known for keeping chickens and the biogas plant is also on the site of a chicken farm with 20,000 laying hens. As a result, some of the input materials are permanently secured. In addition to the chicken droppings, roughly equal 54 |

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In the past year, WELTEC expanded this biogas plant and since March 2021 the plant is in operation with a doubled output of one megawatt.

Around a year after the expansion, the operators‘ résumé is consistently positive.

amounts of olive oil pomace, cattle and pig manure, as well as whey are used for energy production. Since the plant was enlarged, the daily amount of the substrate mix has risen to 190 tons.

Originally the plant comprised a digester made of stainless steel with a volume of 3,993 cubic meters, a 530 kilowatt CHP and a storage unit. For the increased

input volume, WELTEC BIOPOWER built another 3,993 cubic meter stainless steel digester with a height of 6.30 meters and a diameter of 28.41 meters.

In addition, another pre-storage unit, a second 530 kilowatt CHP and an unpacking system for cheese and vegetables were installed. However, this unpacking system is only used in case of

irregular deliveries of expired food. A solids feeder is not required since the pumpable substrates are brought into the storage units via a central pump block and then conveyed into the digesters.

John Tetoros is proud of this special energy plant: “The plant in Megara is one of the most efficient biogas projects in Greece. Our many years of experience and knowledge as well as the highly developed biogas technology from WELTEC are two decisive reasons.

And the icing on the cake for the success of this plant is the strategically favorable location, the care of the operators and the use of the heat for stables and offices. So, it is hardly surprising that one of the two operators decided to build another biogas plant in Ritsona, 40 kilometers north of Athens.

This is about to be completed and will go into operation in spring. Just like in Megara, only organic residues are used to generate energy in Ritsona.

These plant projects are examples of circular economy thinking and the consistent use of existing waste.

Konstantinos Nikakis, board member of the Greek biogas operator association HABIO, emphasizes the importance of such projects: “Waste-to-energy plants are urgently required in the new energy age in order to minimize harmful carbon emissions and to achieve climate neutrality. In any case, the supply situation with substrates of animal and vegetable origin is very good; the potential in Greece is enormous. In addition, there is also vegetable and other recyclable waste. In view of this amount of raw materials, agriculture has very good prerequisites to make its contribution so that Greece can achieve its climate goals.” It is now up to the individual players to bring Greece into the new energy age. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

Optimized portfolio enables more effective biogas upgrading he specialist for combined heat and power plants and biomethane plants, ETW Energietechnik from Moers, has optimized the delivery program of its proven biogas upgrading system, ETW SmartCycle® PSA, for worldwide use on biogas and waste fermentation plants. The aim of the development was a significant reduction of in- vestment costs as well as execution time. With the new plant standard, the effective upgrading process can be adapted even more specifically and economically to the respective application areas.

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This reduces costs by an average of around 15 percent compared to custommade products; production and installation time on site are reduced by around 30 percent overall. The general benefits of the ETW SmartCycle® PSA, such as minimal energy requirements, maximum turndown flexibility, long component service life, and low main- tenance requirements, remain.

The new modular concept for upgrading biogas to natural gas quality is based on a modular system consisting of ISO standard containers in the standard sizes 20‘, 40‘ and 45‘. With six standardized systems, the delivery program serves plant sizes with a raw gas capacity of 550 up to 4000 Nm3/h. „The result is a compact biogas upgrading system that is also well suited for large biogas volume flows,“ says product manager Sayethan Kirubaharan, explaining the purpose of the relaunch.

ISO standard containers not only reduce transport costs, but also make bureaucracy very uncomplicated - regardless of whether transport is by road, rail or sea. All container modules are prefabricated at ETW Energietechnik‘s plant in Moers and assembled in the newly built ten-meterhigh production hall exactly as they will later be erected on site.

This manufacturing principle means that all strategically important intermediate elements such as connecting parts, piping, and external units such as cooling systems and activated carbon filters can be perfectly matched. All assemblies are delivered to the construction site in prefabricated modules, so that the plant is ready for operation just two weeks after delivery. „ETW Energietechnik supplies the plants in accordance with both the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU and the ASME standard for worldwide use,“ adds Kirubaharan.

3D representation of the ETW SmartCycle® PSA Model „M“.

The development team of ETW Energietechnik develops new plant standard for worldwide use.

Conceptual model of the ETW SmartCycle® PSA Model „M“.

The operator-friendly ETW SmartCycle® PSA Model „M“ features fast on-site installation times and compact design (reduced footprint).

Even the „XL“ plant model experiences a very high de- gree of prefabrication at the ETW Energietechnik plant in Moers due to its design.

The product range of the ETW SmartCycle® PSA system www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

55

| Mental Health

Newton director Piers Beeton, RABI corporate partnership manager Suzy Deeley, and Newton managing director Richard Foxon

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arwickshire-based land agency Newton LDP is supporting efforts to address mental health issues among farming communities through a new charitable partnership with the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

The company will raise awareness and money for RABI, including for two new programmes that are being set up by RABI after the results of its Big Farming Survey found a third of the farming community are probably or possibly depressed.

An accredited and bespoke farming mental health first aid training service and access to in-person mental health support will be launched by farming’s oldest and largest charity in January.

Newton LDP’s first major fundraising event will be a clay pigeon shoot on May 20 at the Shuckburgh estate on the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire border.

industry that is so important to the UK economy and one that can be extremely resilient with the right support, much of which comes from the RABI. “Establishing a formal partnership with RABI will allow us as a company to become advocates of their work within rural communities that we work in, and to support these new and important initiatives through fundraising.”

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution was established in 1860 and is farming’s oldest and largest charity, providing financial support, guidance and practical care to farmers, farmworkers, partners and dependants in complete confidence.

It will also act as a champion of mental health awareness and make its headquarters in the rural Warwickshire village of Stockton available to the charity as a venue for regional events.

Suzy Deeley, RABI corporate partnership manager, said: “Despite the farming community facing significant mental and physical health challenges, many say they remain optimistic about the future of their farm businesses which underpins the reason why it’s vital that we do all we can to improve and maintain their wellbeing.

Richard Foxon, Managing Director at Newton LDP, said: “I was born into a farming family and have spent much of my career working in and with rural communities so I know very well the every-day challenges that are faced by an

“The support that we get from companies like Newton LDP enables us to continue to provide our support services to farmers throughout England and Wales, so we’re delighted that they have chosen us as their charitable partner and look forward to working with them.”

Newton LDP is a national land, development and property agency and consultancy firm based in Warwickshire but operating nationally. It was established in July 2021 by Richard Foxon and Piers Beeton, who are well-known, experienced and respected operators within the development land sector, with over 20 years of experience between them.

The firm has ambitious growth plans and is due to widen its range of services by establishing a rural property consultancy team in early 2022, which will provide professional advice to landowners, farmers and property owners.

For more information: www.newtonldp.com www.rabi.org.uk

FARMING HELP ALLIANCE SUPPORTING INDUSTRY WITH MANAGING STRESS, SUCCESSION AND FUTURE PLANNING

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he national Farming Help charities have launched new awareness raising sessions for delivery from February 2022 - with a focus on stress management, succession and planning for the future of the farm business.

The sessions - which are supported by DEFRA and will initially be delivered online by representatives from the Farming Help charities in England - are informed by the knowledge and experience of the charities, who regularly hear directly from farmers about the key challenges they are experiencing.

The sessions are discussion-led and take a positive approach towards change, inviting audience participation and the sharing of experiences to benefit others.

Scenarios have been designed to get people thinking about how they would respond in a particular situation - including a difficult conversation around succession on the family farm and two farmers responding to change in drastically different ways.

The first sessions will take place online on the following dates and are targeted at farm groups, businesses and stakeholders across agriculture: •

24 Feb (12-2pm)

•

25 Feb (12-2pm)

•

10 March (12-2pm)

•

11 March (12-2pm)

If you are interested in attending these sessions please contact training@fcn.org.uk to book your free place.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Further information about the sessions is available here: https://fcn.org.uk/training-anddevelopment/ Later in the year sessions will be delivered in person, with Covid precautions in mind.

Many cases that present to the Farming Help helpline (03000 111 999 – operated by FCN) are complex in nature and require a joined-up approach from the Farming Help charities.

Through close working and collaboration, the charities can provide support for practical and pastoral needs; forage, feed and bedding; housing and emergency relief; mental health and wellbeing; and training and development.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) provides practical and pastoral support to people across agriculture through its network of over 400 volunteers across England and Wales. Each year FCN helps approximately 6,000 people with a wide range of issues, including mental health, family relationships, animal disease and future planning.

Dr Jude McCann, Chair of Farming Help and CEO of The Farming Community Network, said: “We hope these awareness raising sessions, developed with the input of the Farming Help charities, will be of great value to people across agriculture. The sessions have been developed to support the farming community in spotting signs of stress, planning ahead and managing change, and include practical scenarios informed by real experiences of farming families. We hope these two-way conversations, inviting audience response and openness, will help promote positive discussions and a fresh perspective on change.”

retirement homes for retiring farmers and affordable rural housing for farming families as well as disaster relief in the form of animal feed or services to farmers in need across England and Wales. They also operate a fund to help farm workers and last year launched a young entrants scheme to encourage first generation farmers into agriculture.

Bill Young, Chief Executive of Addington Fund, said: “Working alongside other charities as part of Farming Help allows us to collaborate at a time when our industry really needs to come together as a community and show a united front.

As well as delivering the Farming Help awareness sessions, this close working model allows us to provide greater support to farmers and farming families, particularly during times of crisis and emergency, while cutting costs and reducing duplication.”

Forage Aid coordinates the goodwill of the agricultural community to help UK livestock farms hit by extreme weather events and certain disease outbreaks. This help is often in the form of emergency forage and/or bedding delivered to wherever it is needed.

Andrew Ward MBE, Founder, Forage Aid, said: “Being part of Farming Help allows us to consolidate our charitable efforts by working together on projects and ensuring farmers can access relevant support when required, particularly during times of emergency. Farmers helping farmers is our mantra, and our charities exist to help the farming community stay safe and well and find a positive way through their problems.”

Farming Help is supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Addington Fund helps farmers by providing

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Farming people aren’t ‘invincible’

At RABI, we understand that the farming community is facing complex challenges.

This is why we’re evolving our services to support those changing needs.

Through a network of local support, we aim to get people back on track and improve farmer resilience.

Registered Charity Number 208858

Call us today 0808 281 9490 / rabi.org.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Security

Combatting Rural Theft in the UK’s Farming Communities heft is becoming a rising problem for the UK’s farmers and rural communities. The cost of rural crime has been steadily increasing over the past five years, from £42.5 million in 2015 and peaking at a record £54 million in 2019. According to NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report, in 2020, rural theft cost the UK an estimated £43.3 million. While this was a decrease of 20 per cent on the previous year, the pandemic has only delayed potential theft, with lockdown forcing a larger police presence in the countryside deterring people from nonessential travel.

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As coronavirus restrictions ease, we should expect theft to become a prominent problem for rural and farming communities again. After the dip in 2020, are we set to see rural crime on the rise again? Our Google searches certainly anticipate that this is an increasing and returning problem.

Searches for ‘farm theft’ in the UK have hit a high in 2021 – 73 per cent higher than its six-year average according to off-grid energy supplier, Flogas. While farm theft fell in 2020 due to the lockdown, it’s surprising to see such a rapid return of crime this year. Searches for ‘farm theft’ in 2021 have increased by 28 per cent compared to the previous year.

More must be done to combat rural theft, preventing lost equipment and profit for UK farmers at a time where resources are already stretched. But what are the main concerns for theft, and how can we combat this problem? Here, we explore the solution for combatting rural theft in the UK. Agricultural vehicle theft Vehicle theft contributes £9.1 million in

losses every year. Tractors are among the most valuable equipment used on farms, and their mobility makes them easy for criminals to target and take away.

Tractors can be scrapped for valuable engineering parts, sold on the black market, or even shipped abroad. To combat agricultural vehicle theft, we must first identify what makes some farms appealing to criminals.

A lack of preventative measures can be attributed to some theft, where poor surveillance and protection allows thieves to easily infiltrate and steal equipment.

Lights and CCTV equipment are a simple solution to deter theft, where if criminals suspect they are being watched, they are less likely to attempt a theft.

More innovative methods can be used to deter theft or resolve crime even if your equipment is stolen. Alarms can raise awareness of ongoing theft, while tracking devices allow vehicles owners to see the location of their vehicle. This allows authorities to locate and recover stolen goods.

Domestic oil theft Rural theft isn’t just on the farm – in fact, it can happen close to home. Heating oil theft is a major problem, particularly in off-grid communities. Thieves will decant, syphon, or pump oil from your domestic tank to use themselves or to sell. As some oil tanks are outside homes, targets can be easily identified.

Like agricultural vehicle theft, domestic oil theft can be deterred with simple solutions.

Of course, CCTV can be used to identify intruders. However, modern solutions may

help your rural home become more sustainable and avoid theft. An oil to gas conversion removes your oil-fired heating, using liquid gas to power utilities and heat the property instead. There are more benefits to switching to liquid gas too; not only is it harder to steal, but it’s a cleaner and more sustainable fuel.

Another benefit of LPG is that it can be placed in an underground tank, further aiding your anti-theft considerations. This alternative storage method for liquid gas makes it even harder for thieves to tap into your energy supplies.

Livestock theft Livestock theft costs the UK £2.3 million every year and is perhaps one of the most disheartening aspects of rural crime. It is not only distressing for owners but for the animals themselves.

Gangs or thieves may steal livestock for their pedigree or for slaughter. It can include the theft of sheep, pigs, cattle, and working dogs.

To avoid livestock theft, you should ensure that all livestock is marked and up to date.

This ensures that livestock has a recognisable owner. Furthermore, livestock should be kept in grazing fields away from roads. This prevents thieves from making a quick getaway.

For rural theft, the best deterrent is prevention. Calling the police when theft is attempted is the best way to prevent thieves from damaging rural livelihoods.

However, other intelligent and theftdeterrent ideas should be considered.

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• and many more products

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fencing

Electric Fencing – Fencing The Easy Way! lectric Fencing Direct is a specialist in the supply of electric fencing and associated products. We are a family run business and have over 30 years of experience in electric fencing and we want to share our knowledge with you. We love to talk electric fencing!

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We can cater for setting up a new fence or upgrading a current fence, from purchasing accessories to buying a whole integrated system.

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And if you are not sure what you need we are always available to assist with any electric fencing questions pre or post sale.

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A number of our energisers are also discounted throughout the year – check out our sale section on line.

A variety of plastic posts are on offer until 28th February. Bag a bargain

Call: 01620860058 Email: info@electricfencing.co.uk www.electricfencing.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Fencing

Postsaver launches

ostsaver are the dedicated wood life extension specialists.

They have been protecting timber gate and fence posts, as well as utility industry poles, against ground line decay within the UK and around the world since 1994.

ensures the post protector excludes all the factors required for decay. By locking preservatives in and locking moisture, oxygen and fungi out, this prevents costly ground-line rot in wooden posts.

Ground line rot and decay in the upper 150mm (or 6 inches) of the ground is the number one cause of timber post failure.

Postsaver Post Rot Protectors feature a dual-layer rot shield technology that when heated, shrinks onto the post creating a long lasting, high-performance, air and water-tight seal. This

As a result of customer demand, Postsaver are excited to launch a new range of fence posts with pre-applied Postsaver post protectors. For many years contractors have been saying that the Postsaver technology adds significant value to projects and provide their customers with confidence in the longevity of

P

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Picture: Pro-Mill Machine - no links

their posts. However, time is a contractors most valuable commodity, and the correct application of a Postsaver Post Rot Protector can add to the cost of a project. Pre-sleeved Postsaver posts now save time and money with ready to use protected posts.

The Postsaver guaranteed 20 year long life posts have gone through a tanalised UC4 treatment process, and then fitted with the rot protector for a 2ft burial depth. Application of the post protector is done via a state-of-the-art Pro-mill machine which can process up to 400 posts per hour ensuring each post is fitted correctly with the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fencing

s pre-sleeved posts

unique dual layer rot prevention technology.

These new premium, presleeved posts can be ordered in a range of shapes, sizes, and lengths with the added benefit of having them delivered directly to site. No more concerns or hesitation about the application process, there is now a Postsaver long life post that is ready to use or to sell as part of any fencing and landscaping range.

Picture Pallet of Pre-Sleeved Posts - no links Trusted by Highways England, Network Rail, and the National www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Trust to name a few. The Postsaver Post Rot Protection range can benefit a huge range of businesses from fruit growers and vineyards to agricultural and domestic fencing, wildlife parks and zoos.

Postsaver’s proven track record with over 25 years of use backed by extensive independent testing by BRE, Europe's largest timber test organisation, Postsaver have the confidence to back products with a full, 20-year, post replacement guarantee.

Combine this with high quality UC4 treated posts and you have a winning combination.

Postsaver CEO, Richard George says ‘Protecting timber fences and hard landscaping in a safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly way is at the heart of what we do. Not only is timber more aesthetically pleasing to many alternatives, but its environmental credentials are also well established. Being able to significantly extend the life of what can be a substantial investment is very rewarding.

We are excited to bring this new product to the market and pass on the benefits of Postsaver presleeved posts to our customers.’

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| On Topic

From real estate to farmin M

atte Black Media is a Father and Son photography & filmmaking team based in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK. Matt & Taran Thompson have been working in the industry for 4 years professionally, however their passion for visual arts started at a very young age.

How long have you been doing your photography?

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We have been doing photography professionally for 4 years.

What influenced you to set up Matte Black Media?

•

MBM was established when our passion grew for photography & filmmaking, starting off with a few small requests which we worked on part-time between our day jobs, we then over time built up a client base so much so that we could afford to take the company full time, and we haven't looked back since.

How long have you been established?

•

We started MBM in 2018.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

Why did you choose Agricultural photography, specifically the potato sector?

•

A family friend, Derek Scott from Scotts Precision Manufacturing, knew about our photography from seeing a few of our posts on social media, and kindly gave us the opportunity to work with him to provide visual content documenting his company for websites, press releases & social media. We thoroughly enjoyed capturing the machinery through its manufacturing cycle, starting in design, then being in the workshop, and finally capturing them out at work on the farms or in the fields. This helped us to continue to build up a significant agricultural portfolio that led to working with Tong Engineering, and we continue to maintain great working relationships with both companies.

Did you have to adjust your photo/video gear to suit a different genre?

•

Over the course of the years we have significantly invested into our equipment to allow us to shoot a slew of varying genres of photography.

Starting off with a simple camera and tripod to shoot basic property photographs, we have since upgraded and now use top-of-the-line flagship cameras. Alongside this we have invested into professional studio lighting for photo & video, lenses, gimbals, drones, computer equipment & Adobe's editing software suite. This allows us to shoot anything from product or property photography, to aerial videos of farming machinery or whatever else is thrown our way.

•

We have also gained our drone permissions to fly legally & are always

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| On Topic

ng machinery photography expanding, recently acquiring our DEA certificate to provide EPC ratings (Energy Performance Certificates) for the property market.

•

Is there any specific brand you are loyal to when it comes down to your photography?

•

We solely use Canon equipment for our cameras and lenses, and DJI for our drones. We feel that these companies are reliable, and excite us with new releases that push the boundaries of hardware and software into the future, providing us the most ease and options when it comes to shooting all forms of photo & video content.

How hard was it to set things up and how did you build your reputation?

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

•

In the formative months it was difficult to acquire new clients as we had a limited portfolio of work to present to them. A friend of ours, Jack Fairman from Poyntons Consultancy, was kind enough to give us the opportunity to shoot a few properties so that we could start to accumulate an architectural photography portfolio, which is now where the majority of our business comes from. We will forever be grateful to Jack for giving us our first chance in the property marketing industry.

Over time of working for and acquiring new clients we have consistently provided high quality images at a quick turnaround, allowing the agents to list their properties for sale at a much quicker rate than working alongside other photographers. We always try to go the extra mile to make our images exceed expectations and provide a

large number of images so that our clients have plenty of choice when it comes to showcasing their listings in the most attractive way. This has led to increased click through traction to their listings, which has helped them to sell their homes faster.

What sets you apart from other photographers?

•

We truly have a passion for all things camera related. We shoot personal photo and video projects in our spare time to hone our skills on niches that we aren't familiar with. We constantly push each other to work to the best of our ability and are always looking at the finer details to develop our own style so that you can tell when an image or video has been shot by us.

And we are constantly keeping our finger on the pulse using social media

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| On Topic

& YouTube to see what's new and how we can adapt and improve our work for new and existing clients.

• We are dedicated to our craft and are so grateful to be able to work in such an interesting industry and alongside each other as a father and son partnership, which takes us to new places and to meet new people every single day.

What are your highlights, since you've been established?

• Published in Farming Monthly magazine for our agricultural work for Scotts Precision Manufacturing and Tong Engineering.

• Published in Lincolnshire Pride, several 6 page spreads from our property photoshoots for premium properties.

• Shooting our first house worth over £1,000,000 within a year of our companies establishment.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| On Topic Day, and got to take a tour of their premises and see what behind the scenes of what it takes to manufacture the machines that harvest the food that we eat everyday.

How can you help progress their company?

•

How would you describe your company to our readers?

• Matte Black Media is a father and son photography and filmmaking firm who can adapt their style to suit any need from any form of business. We offer photography, videography, aerial imagery, social media management, website design and maintenance for the agricultural sector.

• We have years of experience and have shot many forms of visual content including agriculture, architecture, product and portraits. We truly have a passion for photo & video and are always looking to take on a new client and push ourselves with new challenges.

Is there anything in particular that has inspired you to go down this path?

Agriculture:

•

We are happy to travel for work.

•

•

We also offer services, mainly for the property industry: floor plans, EPCs, virtual rendering/staging.

We were inspired to undertake more agricultural work after our first visit to Scotts Precision Manufacturing, wherein we photographed their Open

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

We provide high quality visual content and management for the online space including social media & website design/maintenance. The internet has caused visual content to explode in importance when attributing to a companies successful branding and overall style. We can help by showcasing your business in the best possible light, and we work alongside our clients in order to ensure that they are happy with their final product that we provide.

What are your plans for the future?

•

In the future we will continue to push the boundaries of our industry, and develop and adapt to our clients needs. Further expanding our business across the UK, and possibly overseas if given the opportunity.

Follow Matte Black Media on Instgram: @matteblackmediauk or on their website: https://www.matteblackmedia.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

Farmers may be missing early, all important signs for BRD RD (bovine respiratory disease) remains a disease of significant impact across the UK costing the UK cattle industry an estimated £80 million per year1 however recent research2 by Ceva Animal Health has identified aspects of disease identification, management and treatment that could be improved. Moreover, the recent Cattle & Sheep Health & Welfare Survey3 by Ruminant Health and Welfare listed BRD in the top five

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

syndromes affecting cattle production and welfare in the UK. While the farmers questioned in the research believed that they were quick to identify, diagnose and treat an animal with BRD, which is key to minimising the impact, the disease can be difficult to detect using only visual clinical signs without handling e.g., taking the temperature. Pyrexia (a temperature greater than 39.4ºC) is often the first sign of disease and typically occurs approximately 24

hours (12-72 hours)4, 5 before the more visual clinical signs appear. For the visual clinical signs, the first one is often a nasal discharge which occurs about 24 hours after the increase in temperature. The signs then progress to an increased breathing rate and coughing. Only a quarter of those questioned always took the temperature of an apparently sick calf before medicating, which can be a useful parameter to decide on treatment and monitor during recovery. Encouraging close www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock monitoring of feed intake and demeanour, combined with measuring the temperature, can help in the early identification and appropriate treatment of affected animals.

Viruses are often the initial pathogens before a secondary bacterial infection is established. However, it appears that many farmers were uncertain about the causal pathogens for BRD on their farms, although they did correctly identify external factors such as weather changes, poorly designed or ventilated buildings, and management tasks causing stress.

Interestingly, farmers reported rarely isolating sick animals despite twothirds of those questioned stating that they had a formal written protocol for the treatment of BRD and 69% of vets6 recommending that infected animals are isolated during Herd Health Plan Reviews. In an ideal situation, affected animals would be removed from their pen as well as the common airspace, especially if there are likely to be new (and therefore naïve) animals entering the shed.

When it comes to treatment, antibiotics continue to be a mainstay, and will remain so until detection improves, to treat the primary or secondary bacterial infections. The use of a NSAID, which helps reduce the pyrexia, pain and inflammation associated with disease and therefore improves demeanour and food intake, is generally accepted to be best practice. A quarter of the farmers questioned2 did not use NSAIDs routinely for mild BRD which may delay or complicate the recovery.

There are several NSAIDs available for use in cattle and meloxicam with the benefit of a longer duration of activity is the most commonly used and recommended by cattle vets6.

Farmers are advised to consult with their vet as to the most appropriate treatment product for their animals.

Kythé Mackenzie BVSc MRCVS, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health, comments: “BRD remains a significant health and welfare issue for the UK cattle in both the dairy and beef sectors with the associated decrease in longevity and productivity. It is important vets and farmers work together to put prevention and management protocols in place. When treatment is necessary the inclusion of a NSAID has recognised benefits especially in the reduction of pyrexia and pain.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Top tips to help prevent, identify and manage BRD on farms: •

Ensure the herd’s vaccination plan is up to date and completed as per your vet’s instructions

•

Make sure calves receive sufficient, high-quality colostrum within four to six hours of birth to provide passive transfer of antibodies

•

Reduce stress associated with management procedures such as disbudding and transport

•

•

Make sure the housing has the best ventilation possible and minimise the mixing of age groups to help reduce the risk of disease

•

Take the temperature as soon as there are concerns that BRD may be developing. A high temperature is often the first sign of BRD and can be a useful factor in deciding the best treatment for each case, as well as being a useful parameter to monitor during recovery. A calf with BRD will often have a rectal temperature of more than 39.4C which may be seen before other more obvious clinical signs such as: nasal discharge, reduced feed intake and coughing

•

example, the monitoring of food intake and response to treatment.

Always consider if movement to an isolation or sick pen will increase stress as this may be less appropriate

Seek veterinary advice on whether it may be worth taking diagnostic samples to guide treatment protocols, as well as future vaccination plans

Wherever the animals are housed, good ventilation with a clean, dry bed are essential for prevention and recovery. It is also advisable to clean and disinfect feeding equipment

Ceva Animal Health has launched a ‘Breathe and feel better’ marketing campaign to promote best practice amongst farmers to help identify, manage and treat BRD on farms. For further information on BRD, visit www.calvesbreatheeasy.co.uk or our customer services team on 01494 781510.

References 1. Barrett D.C. (2000) Veterinary Record 146, 545-550 2. 16 40 minute telephone interviews with cattle farmers. Mo Gannon Associates, April 2021 3. Timsit et al (2011) Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in young bulls using reticulo-rumen temperature boluses. The Veterinary Journal 190.1 (2011): 136-142

•

Use of a NSAID when treating helps reduce the high temperature, pain and inflammation associated with BRD which will lead to improved demeanour and food intake

4. Cattle & Sheep Health & Welfare Survey by Ruminant Health and Welfare. 662 usable responses, of which 76% were farmers and 34% were professionals (e.g. vets and advisers), indicating that 10% were both. Of the farmers, 81% worked with cattle (of which 27% were dairy and 73% beef), and 54% worked with sheep (17% on hill land, 28% upland and 55% lowland)

•

Ideally, remove affected animals from their pen and the common airspace of other calves, especially if there are likely to be new (and therefore naïve) animals entering the shed

5. Timsit et al (2011) Visually undetected fever episodes in newly received beef bulls at a fattening operation: occurrence, duration, and impact on performance. Journal of animal science.1;89(12):4272-80

•

If the affected animal cannot be removed from the common airspace it is still advisable to consider moving the affected animal(s) out of the pen to prevent physical contact and closely monitor both the affected animal and its cohort

6. 80 10 minute online interviews with vets who spend at least 50% of their professional time treating cattle. Mo Gannon Associates. July 2021

•

These hospital pens allow better monitoring of the sick calves. For February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

Trace elements key to supporting dry cow transition

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock airy farmers are being encouraged to invest in trace element supplementation at drying off to support cows through the transition period.

Not only are there the immediate costs associated with veterinary treatment, and loss of milk yield to consider, there is likely to be a longer-term impact with fertility typically also affected,” he says.

James Brinicombe, technical director at B2B Nutrition, the trade arm of the Brinicombe group, says that the calving period is an incredibly stressful time for cows due to the heightened physiological demands and exponential rise in energy requirements.

According to Mr Brinicombe, good micronutrition can play a key part in ensuring the cow achieves the right chemical and energy balance during the transition period, therefore supporting immunity, repair and recovery post-calving.

“Post calving, dairy cows rapidly go into peak lactation. If their health isn’t supported through this period, cows could be at increased risk of metabolic disease and serious illness.

“In addition to this, zinc, copper and manganese all help to support recovery post calving and should also be considered within transition diets.”

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“Illness during this time comes at a significant cost to farm businesses.

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“Micronutrients often work together to support performance, but selenium in particular can help to keep cows free from infection and reduce the risk of retained placentas,” he says

Mr Brinicombe suggests that micronutrition is a balancing act. “It

can be difficult to maintain a good trace element and vitamin status, but supplementation via a slow-release bolus can simplify the process.

“For example, EnduraBol® boluses provide a sustained release of six vital trace elements and three vitamins for up to four months. This gives farmers peace of mind that their cows are receiving accurate micronutrition over a set period of time,” he says.

While micronutrition is sometimes overlooked, Mr Brinicombe stresses that every penny spent on pre-calving nutrition could see more money gained in performance in subsequent months. “Micronutrition really should be incorporated into all herds’ transition management plans,” he concludes.

Visit www.livestockbolus.com for more information on the use of trace element and vitamin boluses at drying off.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

Suckler producers maximise returns with Breedr reedr, the precision livestock network, has launched a new initiative to help suckler producers become more profitable and resilient at a time of intense change.

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SucklerClub brings together a calendar of free webinars in conjunction with AHDB, an A3 wall planner, technical guides and benchmarking, all designed to help farmers maximise returns.

“Small management tweaks can add up to a significant improvement in fertility, productivity and profitability,” explains Ian Wheal, founder of Breedr.

“Farmers are looking to future-proof their businesses and make them resilient to changing policies and international competition. We are passionate about improving their returns, which is why we’ve produced this time-saving suite of tools for everyone to use.”

The team has developed a calendar of key tasks for both spring-calving and autumn-calving herds, covering genetic and fertility objectives, calving and weaning tasks, and key performance indicator (KPI) goals.

making.

“We know from industry research that traditional cattle breeding programmes can take 10-15 years to reach maturity,” says Mr Wheal.

“But by recording their herd performance throughout each breeding cycle, farmers can accelerate herd fertility, cow output and profitability.”

Free webinars featuring industry experts will complement the calendar, alongside a series of professional guides on the website, covering service, calving, weaning, nutrition, health, finishing, and winter / summer jobs. “We have drawn on expert advice from across the industry to create practical, impartial guides for producers,” adds Mr Wheal. “We will also be following a couple of young farmers through their journey to share challenges, successes and best practice.”

Charlie Beaty is one of those who will be sharing her journey at The Dairy Farm, Coventry, Warwickshire, where she keeps 85 suckler cows with her father and uncle.

Using data to hone the herd’s performance is a key focus for the family as they adapt to the phasing out of direct farm support

Farmers can then record individual stock information in the free Breedr app, which produces a report detailing key metrics to give a deeper understanding of their business.

Under the imminent paid-for Benchmark service, farmers can create enhanced reports to benchmark against both AHDB KPIs and other suckler producers, and use that information to improve future decision70 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

payments.

“I’ll definitely use the SucklerClub management guides and I think the ability to log KPIs and benchmark will be really useful for making improvements,” says Ms Beaty.

“Things are changing drastically in UK agriculture with the loss of support payments, and going digital is arguably the easiest way to improve our business performance.”

Rob Halliday has been using Breedr at Hepwell Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall, since he and his wife Louise established the herd – which has now grown to 70 suckler cows. Due to the cows’ mixed genetics, he’s trying to selectively breed for strong offspring growth rates, so weighs regularly and records everything in the app.

“We can see which animals aren’t performing and weed them out,” he says. “I have all the information at my fingertips. Benchmarking is also very important; it’s key to see how you are operating against others. As farmers, our core business model has got to be really sound, and that’s one of my reasons for joining Breedr.”

•

Farmers can join SucklerClub by downloading the free Breedr app at www.breedr.co. Breedr is also offering a 25% rebate on Tru-Test scales and equipment with its new Get Weighing Grant. For more information visit www.breedr.co/ shop or call 01243 210286. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Continued innovation sees new PGR available this spring ontinued innovation and a commitment to deliver cost-effective products to UK growers despite the challenges of Brexit and Covid-19, sees Life Scientific launching its first plant growth regulator (PGR), Sudo Mor, this spring.

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to market at a time when growers are under pressure to scrutinise input costs whilst not compromising yields.” says Ruth Stanley, UK country manager for Life Scientific.

“Varieties with a score of 7 or less on the AHDB Recommended List should be considered at risk of lodging and should be managed carefully.”

How does Sudo Mor work?

“PGR’s will be an essential part of the spray programme this spring; we had a kind autumn, crops went in well and so far, the winter has been kind, so crops are coming into the spring growth period looking lush, forward and full of potential. “

Plants need to be actively growing to metabolise Sudo Mor. As a contact acting PGR, Sudo Mor, inhibits the production of gibberellic acid and shortens the internodes, reducing lodging on cereals and grasses, and has a wide application window, from growth stage 30-39 (in winter cereals).

When used at GS30, Sudo Mor helps root development and increase root plate diameter. This prevents lodging and also increases the plants ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

“It is important this potential is managed correctly, which means ensuring lush crops are prevented from lodging.”

Early use will also hold back and thicken the main stem, encouraging side tillers and even up the crop. By temporarily reducing the rate of stem extension with a PGR, such as Sudo Mor, it means more of the plant resources can be diverted to thickening the stems and promoting root growth.

There are three key factors that impact lodging risk, she points out.

“Size of the canopy in the spring is a critical indicator of crop development and lodging risk.

This can be measured by its green area index (GAI).”

Sudo Mor contains 250g/l trinexapac ethyl and is a PGR registered for use on all varieties of winter and spring wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale and ryegrass seed crops Manufactured by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific, Sudo Mor is a reverse engineered formulation of its reference product Moddus.

Life Scientific is able to offer off-patent products to agronomists and growers faster based on the company’s unique scientific concept to reverse engineer a product from the original to produce a product accepted as the same by the regulatory authority.

“Sudo Mor is a cost-effective crop management tool which protects and enhances yield potential, and comes www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Sudo Mor joins a long list of products that have recently been brought to market from Life Scientific such as the first off-patent prothioconazole and tebuconazole mixtures Oraso Pro, Esker and fungicide Aurelia.

“The best way to achieve a stable high yielding crop potential, in the lusher forward crops is to establish a good base. Like good building design, foundations are key to a stable structure, so early PGR’s and a continued programme of PGR’s will give the best chance to maintain a standing crop through the season.”

“Remember a higher yielding crop will produce heavier ears. Heavy ears put weight on the stem so the higher the yield potential the greater the risk.

Estimates are for every extra tonne over 9t/ha, lodging resistance Is reduced by 0.5 points,” she says.

The Life Scientific team has also been particularly successful at registering EAMU’s for its products such as for its herbicides Niantic and Cintac for use in rye, and its maize herbicide Basilico for use in winter and spring linseed.

Sudo Mor is commercially available through distribution partners, ProCam and Hutchinsons.

More information on any of these products can be downloaded at https:/ /uk.lifescientific.com/#products For more information on Sudo Mor or any other products in the Life Scientific portfolio please visit the Life Scientific website https://lifescientific.com/ products/

“Varieties also have different resistances to lodging; this comes down to differences in height, tillering capacity, stem strength and speed of establishment.”

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Livestock

Looking Tidy and Working Hard for La Crème de La Crème orderway UK Dairy Expo organiser Harrison & Hetherington have today announced details of two new awards to be presented to those exhibiting livestock at this year’s event. The Tidy Lines Award, sponsored

by A W Jenkins Forest Products will be presented to the best kept livestock exhibition stand, and the UK Dairy Expo Rising Star Award, sponsored by MilktechNZ Ltd, will be presented to an exceptional young person working behind the scenes during the event.

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This is the tenth UK Borderway Dairy Expo being held at Borderway Mart in Carlisle, this year, on the 11th & 12th March.

Showcasing the finest dairy genetics from across the UK, it is a key industry event, with hundreds of livestock being exhibited, dozens of industry trade stands and attracting thousands of visitors. It acts as a shop window for breeders and producers alike and brings together some of the UK’s finest dairy stock.

Both awards will be judged anonymously on site in the run up to and during the Borderway UK Dairy Expo, with the winners announced and presentations made at the end of the day. Glyn Lucas, Senior Pedigree Dairy Auctioneer at Harrison & Hetherington, who run Borderway UK Dairy Expo said: “We are delighted to announce two awards, that reward both team and individual effort. We all know how much

hard work goes into presenting and exhibiting dairy cattle and it is wonderful to be able to acknowledge that publicly. We are very grateful to both sponsors for making this possible.”

“It is very exciting to see how UK Borderway Dairy Expo continues to evolve and grow from strength to strength, and it is now the largest trade event for the UK dairy industry. I would particularly urge the younger generation to come along to see what opportunities exist in the dairy sector.”

A huge amount of effort goes into presenting the livestock for the showring and ensuring that they look their absolute best. The Tidy Lines Award is an award specifically created for the presentation of each of the exhibitors’ stalls, in terms of how they are prepared and maintained to ensure the stock are kept in the best possible conditions during the show.

Judges will be looking for depth of bedding, overall comfort, and with the back of the bed neat, tidy, and well packed down. The animals’ name cards must be clear for all to see, with details of their pedigree and the exhibitors’ names and backgrounds.

Recognising the importance of team effort and attention to detail, sponsors of this award are A W Jenkins, suppliers of shavings and sawdust for the ring.

young person working at Borderway UK Dairy Expo who is a good all-rounder, knowledgeable and with a great skill set working with animals. They need not necessarily be a winner in the ring, but they will have demonstrated that they work well with their peers and fellow exhibitors. The winner will have been identified by a committee of Youth Leaders and it will be open to those who actually work at the show. It will be a great steppingstone for the winner, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and promote themselves to industry leaders.

Brent Carruthers of sponsors MilkTechNZ gives some further background: “There are a lot of tremendous young people working in the dairy industry and this is our way of highlighting this. We are keen to ensure the future of the industry and these young people are our future, without their involvement the industry does not have a future.”

In making this award, we really want to highlight and thank someone who works hard, is a team player, courteous, skilled and who shows commitment. These are the skills that you need to get you on in life whatever your career path.”

It is free to attend, but visitors must beforehand.register

The second award is the UK Dairy Expo’s Rising Star Award, which is to identify a

UK falls behind the EU on farm antibiotic standards

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U has banned the use of antibiotics to compensate for poor animal welfare.

Campaigners call on UK government to act on its promises to improve farm antibiotic laws. Trade deals must also protect UK farmers from cheap lower welfare imports.

From today the UK will have weaker farm antibiotic regulations than the EU. Farmers on the continent will no longer be allowed to give preventative group antibiotic treatments or use antibiotics to mask poor living conditions and standards for farm animals. This will remain legal in the UK. Campaigners say this threatens to undermine recent improvements in the UK and increases the risk of antibiotic resistance.

New legislation in the EU has banned all forms of routine antibiotic use for farm animals. They have also banned imports of meat, dairy, fish and eggs that have been produced using antibiotics to stimulate rapid growth in the animals.

Antibiotic resistance is increasing at a faster rate than previously realised and, as reported in The Lancet, in 2019 it was

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directly responsible for the deaths of more than one and a quarter million people worldwide and linked with the deaths of nearly five million people. The overuse of antibiotics in humans and farm animals is to blame for this crisis. Worldwide about two thirds of antibiotics are used in livestock.

The new EU legislation was agreed in 2018, and since then the UK government has repeatedly said that it largely supported the new regulations and would introduce similar laws here. However, over three years later the government has still not published its own legislative proposals for ending excessive farm antibiotic use. This leaves the UK exposed and means that rules here are weaker. It remains legal in the UK to: •

give antibiotics to farm animals routinely, rather than when they are sick or have an infection

•

give preventative group treatments to farm animals

•

give antibiotics to farm animals to compensate for inadequate welfare standards, lack of care or poor hygiene

•

import animal foods produced with antibiotic growth promoters

Campaigners are calling for the UK government to honour its repeated commitments and the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) has written to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice MP urging the government to act swiftly to improve the UK's farm antibiotic laws in line with the EU. Cóilín Nunan ASOA Scientific Advisor said: "British farmers have voluntarily reduced their antibiotic use by 50% in recent years.

But much larger cuts can still be achieved if the government introduces new laws ending preventative antibiotic group treatments and increasing minimum animal health and welfare standards. On the other hand, if the government pursues a trade policy which cuts tariffs on the importation of meat and dairy produced with extremely high antibiotic use, including the use of antibiotic growth promoters, then in order to compete British farmers could be compelled to reduce their own animal health and welfare standards and increase their use of antibiotics."

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Protect herds from spring butterfat depression with strategic fat supplementation

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umen function and energy supply are paramount to protecting butterfats and fertility during spring grazing.

As dairy herds are turned out for spring grazing, producers must balance rumen function and energy demands to avoid butterfat depression and fertility issues, says Dr Richard Kirkland, ruminant nutritionist for Volac Wilmar Feed Ingredients.

“Rumen function is put under a lot of pressure at turnout as cows go from having a controlled ration that is balanced in fibre and starch to a more variable forage base of grazed grass,” explains Dr Kirkland.

“While the diet transition alone is enough to cause challenges to the rumen that can have an immediate impact on milk production, early grass growth may be akin to rocket fuel and is expected to be rapidly fermentable.”

High in energy, more rapidlyfermentable forage can cause disruptions in rumen pH and pass more quickly through the digestive system.

These conditions lead to an increased risk of acidosis and along with the high oil loads pose a significant threat for milk fat depression, making supplement choice of paramount importance.

Fat supplementation in buffer rations help meet energy needs Variable spring grazing conditions make it harder for energy supply to be maximised with a drop in fertility as a consequence. In perfect grazing conditions, it is possible to support 25+ litres of milk per day, but dry matter and energy intakes can be significantly reduced in wet, overcast conditions.

“Especially for spring calvers, maximising energy intake is essential during the early part of the grazing season as cows’ have a greater nutrient demand to support milk production and body condition ahead of

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breeding within a short window of time,” says Dr Kirkland.

Using strategic fat supplementation to optimise milk contracts

During early lactation, cows cannot eat enough to meet the high energy demands of milk production and enter a state of ‘negative energy balance’, using energy from body fat stores to support the genetic drive for milk production, and lose condition. Research indicates a fall-off in conception rate of around 10% for each 0.5-unit loss in condition through this period.

According to Dr Kirkland, individual fatty acids impact cow performance and influence partitioning of nutrients between milk and body fat stores (cow condition).

Therefore, fat supplements should be selected based on the blend of fatty acids they contain depending on the stage of lactation, individual farm challenges and requirements to maximise returns from specific milk contracts.

To minimise this effect, composition of buffer feed needs to be carefully considered says Dr Kirkland. High-fibre supplements such as citrus pulp and soya hulls will provide a better balance in the

To support both fertility and milk production during this time, Dr Kirkland advises feeding a rumen-protected fat supplement with a research-proven ratio of C16:0 (palmitic acid) and C18:1 (oleic acid) to strategically influence the partitioning of nutrients between milk and body condition.

“Fatty acids, the building blocks of fat supplements, influence the partitioning of nutrients to specific areas of cow performance, enabling producers to choose supplements according to milk contract requirements at particular stages in the lactation cycle,” explains Dr Kirkland.

rumen and in conjunction with a rumenprotected fat supplement can provide the greatest response in milk fat as observed in research studies at the University of Nottingham.

While it may work out on paper, supplementation with rapidly-fermentable carbohydrates such as wheat or barley as energy sources offer greater challenges and increase risk of acidosis and making the fall in milk fat worse.

“Rumen-protected fat supplements have around 2.5-times the energy content of cereals, making them ideal to help maintain energy supply through variable springtime grazing conditions without the undesirable rumen effects we see from starchy cereals through the transition from the winter diet to the spring grazing scenario,” he says.

During the early lactation period C18:1 is a key fatty acid, increasing partitioning of energy and nutrients to improve body condition as well as improved development of fertilised eggs.

However, given the challenges of early spring grass, products containing higher levels of C16:0 can be considered as effective ingredients to increase milk fat production.

“Careful choice of supplements is essential at grazing to provide those vital megajoules of energy in a form that stimulates the rumen and milk fat production,” Dr Kirkland concludes. “Selecting a rumen-protected fat supplement, farmers can support both fertility and milk production performance while helping ensure energy demands are being met in a safe way.”

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| Sheep

LAMB PRICE POSITIVITY BUILDS CONFIDENCE trong lamb prices throughout 2021 have had a positive impact on optimism amongst UK sheep farmers with more than 55% claiming they put more ewes to the ram last autumn than during the same period in 2020.

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Over 70% of flockmasters say they are more confident in the future of the UK sheep industry with 94% intending to rear the maximum of lambs possible during 2022; saying that this will be either very (24%) or extremely (70%) important for enterprise profitability.

The findings come from the latest Volac Lamlac lamb rearing intentions survey carried out during November 2021. More than 250 (260) sheep producers responded.

“It’s encouraging to receive such positive feedback from the industry and it’s clear that a majority of sheep farmers now understand the value to be found in rearing surplus lambs. So much so that 42% of this year’s survey respondents say they will be focusing extra resources on rearing surplus lambs compared with previous years,” said survey co-ordinator, Samantha Sampson from Volac.

She added that 24% of sheep farmers claim to have already changed their approach to rearing these extra lambs over the last three years. “This is reflected in the increased interest we have received

in automatic feeding equipment for lambs reared off the ewe in recent times.”

Ms Sampson explained that perhaps not surprisingly, the survey findings show that the lambs being reared off the ewe are those from triplet-bearing ewes, together with any orphans.

“On the whole, 82% of farmers say that if a ewe has had triplets, one lamb would be removed. What is particularly interesting though is the lamb selection choice criteria employed. The majority (29% of the sample) remove the odd one out in a group of three – which is what we would recommend.”

Ms Sampson said that Volac’s advice is to always leave a balanced pair of lambs on the mother.

“From the survey, it suggests that a mix of criteria are being employed to make this choice, with removal of the weakest lamb (23% of units) being the most popular. Other norms include always taking the

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strongest lamb (15%), or the smallest (13%). Just over 10% of farmers say they typically select the largest triplet, 5% said they tend to remove a male lamb with a similar proportion saying they generally take a female.”

Interestingly, across the whole sample more than 66% of farmers would also consider removing a lamb from a twinbearing ewe lamb to take the pressure off and allow her to keep milking and growing.

Machine-rearing benefits Volac says that surplus lambs can now be reared very efficiently off the ewe with labour-saving machines and without the problems associated with fostering onto an unwilling ewe.

“With good husbandry, organisation, the appropriate feeding equipment and the right performance-formulated ewe milk replacer, there’s no doubt you can produce good quality lambs, as well as make a decent margin from them currently while saving hours of effort and hassle.

And it’s good to know UK sheep farmers are increasingly appreciating that – as well as discovering that when using Lamlac, it really is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

“To rear a surplus lamb effectively, simply feed 10kg of Lamlac mixed with water at the rate of 200g per litre; and then wean the lamb abruptly when it reaches 35 days of age,” said Ms. Sampson.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Sheep

Stockmax Pine Shavings to Carry NOPS Badge as Producers Bedmax Lead the Way in Bio-Secure Bedding or sheep farmers, reducing the loss of lambs to E. Coli infections like watery mouth and scour, whilst minimising the use of antibiotics is a priority. Stockmax pine shavings offer a naturally antibacterial and highly effective alternative bedding solution, and the BETA NOPS Bedding badge certifies that it conforms to the current best practice in minimising the risk of contamination by naturally occurring substances which can be harmful to livestock.

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BETA NOPS accreditation is an international industry standard of practice

timber, which has natural antibacterial properties. Scientific research studies undertaken in Scandinavia and Germany have shown Scots Pine is unique among softwoods in eradicating many strains of harmful bacteria including E. Coli and E. Faecium and preventing their regeneration.

commissioned by Bedmax in 2018 involved the comparison of straw and pine shavings in lambing pens at Harper Adams University. The results showed a substantial 18% more lambs survived on pine shavings than on straw over the first 48 hours of life.

For sheep farmers, the best evidence that pine shavings work better in lambing pens comes from those at the coal face who are using Stockmax. Over the past few years, a growing number of sheep farmers all over the UK have made the switch and endorse Stockmax because it works for them.

The shavings are also dried at sterilising temperatures to eliminate the presence of unwanted bacteria and spores. Minimising external sources of contaminants in turn reduces the challenge on the immune system and keeps lambs healthier overall.

For Tim Smalley, Managing Director at Bedmax which produces Stockmax, NOPS accreditation is a milestone in the bedding company’s 21-year commitment to excellence.

“Producing a bedding product for farmers that is going to help them reduce disease, and also reduce antibiotic use, has been a priority since we began Stockmax production.

“Unlike feeds and supplements, you don’t get a list of ingredients on a bag of bedding or a bale of straw, so it’s important to know that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure the product does not contain harmful substances.

“There is also a growing focus on producing food in a more sustainable way, and biosecurity plays a key role in this. Pine is naturally antibacterial and so is extremely hygienic, helping farmers to keep their lambing pens as clean as possible and producing healthier lambs.”

that audits and approves a manufacturer’s production and management processes, and also requires they make no claims for their products in promotion or advertising that are not clear, accurate and substantiated, so that customers can have full confidence when buying.

Straw bedding traditionally used in lambing pens is a common source of contamination by pathogens and naturally occurring harmful substances, and damp conditions are ideal for bacterial reproduction. In recent years, farmers have recognised the need to look at new ways of effectively managing disease spread and reducing antibiotic use to increase efficiency and profitability. The switch from straw to Stockmax pine shavings in lambing pens has helped a growing number of farmers do just that.

Stockmax is made using 100% Scots Pine

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Bedmax has carried out years of intensive research into the antibacterial power of pine which has highlighted just how successful it is at fighting E. Coli. In 2016 an independent study commissioned by Bedmax and conducted by Dr Kelly Yarnell at Nottingham Trent University found that, while E. Coli survived in significant quantities in straw, it remained below the minimum level of detection in pine shavings.

Giving feedback after using Stockmax in his lambing pens, Aberdeenshire vet and sheep farmer, David Miskelly, said: “As part of the continued drive to encourage responsible use of antibiotics by sheep farmers and, in particular the blanket treatment of lambs for watery mouth, we trialled Stockmax shavings in our lambing pens this year and did not administer a single prophylactic watery mouth treatment to any of the lambs born as singles. We have been delighted with the results, and Stockmax shavings have been a great hit as it delivers a dry, fresh, hygienic bed in the lambing pens, at a comparable cost to straw.”

The major benefits reported from others who have used Stockmax is that it saves more lambs with some even cutting out antibiotics almost entirely. They report that the shavings last longer than straw so save on labour, and that despite Stockmax costing more than straw to buy, the savings they make on antibiotic costs, bedding replacement, lamb losses, and time, means that they are overall more cost effective than straw.

For more information on Stockmax, or to find your nearest stockist, visit: bedmaxshavings.com/Stockmax

Another key study

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| Muck & Slurry

Greencrop has introduced Nurse Tanks to their portfolio and offers 4 x standard sizes, but we can fabricate any special requirements tandard specification includes 560 x 60 R 22.5 tyres on 12-tonne independent axles. Two inlets/outlets 6” valves with Bauer couplings at front and rear of the tank. Discharge sump, return pipe discharges at top of the tank by a swan neck pipe. lights, inspection hatch, and inspection ladder all come as standard. The tank sides are 4mm thick folded for extra strength and welded internally as well as externally to prevent any leaks. Our Nurse Tanks are painted internal with special oxide paint.

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50m3 has a 7m long tank, 60m3 has 8.5m, 80m3 has a 10.5m tank

and the 100m3 has a 13m tank length. All our Nurse Tanks have a 1.5m drawbar and 3.75m high sides.

Nurse tank prices start around £35.000.00 Retail.

mount our Dribble Bars onto any existing vacuum tankers from the rear door without having to weld on any mounting brackets, with the ability to still use the splash plate if needed.

With new legislation taking effect from 2025 banning above-ground slurry application, slurry spreading will have to change to shallow injectors, trailing shoe or dribble bars.

Greencrop Umbilical Dribble Bars range from 6m to 18m with single or twin macerators. Our dribble bars can be specifically modified to mount onto any tanker. They can also be removed and used as an umbilical machine.

Greencrop can supply a full range of all the above equipment, including a great budget range of dribble bars with up to 7.5m spreading width. We are able to

Greencrop also manufactures a full range of Vacuum tankers and water bowsers ranging from 600gallons to 5000-gallon tri-axle machines.

Trailing Shoes .

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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Hos eRe e l I r r i ga t or s

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Gr e e nc r opS upe rQui e t Di e s e l PumpS e tf r om125hp

North of England Gary Morland 07919 563796 Scotland & Ireland Neil Robinson 07887 855048

Wales & Midlands Geraint Williams 07464 548576 South & East of England Fi Callaway 07818 053159 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

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February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

77

| Muck & Slurry

Hi-Spec muck and slurry spreaders W hen it comes to comes to the handling of muck and slurry, Hi-Spec Engineering have the ideal solution in their comprehensive range of vacuum tankers and spreaders, including the unique XCEL 1250.

The Hi-Spec XCEL 1250 is unique in that it uses a rotary chain and flail system to achieve a good break up of material, which is then spread using a pair of spinning discs.

The Xcel 1250 has a capacity of 12 tonnes and can evenly spread material up to 24m.

The material to be spread is moved rearward by a single slat marine grade floor chain, driven by a hydraulic motor with overload protection and variable speed adjustment.

From here, material initially passes through a shredding rotor with 22 heavy duty chains fitted with 12mm Hardox flail heads, mounted under a 4mm Hardox hood, before dropping onto onto the spreading rotors. An adjustment plate on the shredding rotor hood, evenly places

the manure onto the spreading discs to ensure an even spread.

Options include various tyre sizes, a weigh cell and the ISOBUS compatible RDS iSOCAN Apollo spreader control system or the straightforward Digi-Star GT400 weighing system.

Vacuum tankers

The Hi-Spec tanker range includes a wide range of models with capacities from 800 gallons (3,600 litres) up to 5,000 gallons (22,700 litres), all available with numerous filling and other options, allowing you to tailor tankers to your specific needs.

Hi-Spec vacuum tankers are manufactured using high quality British steel and incorporate internal implosion rings and a collared dished end as standard to ensure the strongest possible construction. All tanks are fully supported by the complete chassis frame and models are available with both standard or a stepped recessed axles to reduce the centre of gravity.

options, including high capacity pumps and a cab operated filling arm. The intake system can also incorporate a Vogelsang Rotacut 5000 chopping unit to avoid any potential blockage to the injectors caused by straw or silage in the slurry.

A wide range of spreading attachments are available, including the Hi-Spec Trailing Shoe, available in working widths of 6.0, 7.5, 9.0 and 10.5 metres.

This features a robust chassis mounted mast which ensures that the tanker and shoe are perfectly balanced and that the shoe is properly supported to the tanker.

It are also designed so that both the fill points and splash plate can be used without any modifications.

The Hi-Spec trailing shoe can also be used as a dribble bar if needed without any contact with the ground.

Further information on the Hi-Spec range of muck and slurry spreaders and the wide range of options available can be found at https://www.hispec.net

Options include a wide range of filling

Slurry Systems, Dribble Bars and Trailing Shoe Applicators

FARMING INVESTMENT FUND GRANTS

OPENING OCTOBER - Call us for more details

01939 220079

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| Muck & Slurry

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February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Muck & Slurry

New acidification technology will reduce ammonia emissions ew organic fertiliser acidification technology will reduce the amount of ammonia emitted by organic fertilisers and increase the amount of nitrogen available to the crop, says manufacturer Vogelsang. SyreN, is an onboard sulphuric acid dosing system that treats slurry or digestate as it is applied to the crop. Using the system, up to 70% of harmful ammonia emissions can be converted to nutrient rich ammonium.

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Commenting on the introduction of the technology to the UK and Ireland, Vogelsang’s SyreN specialist Sion Williams says:

“The UK and the EU have set out plans to reduce agricultural emissions by 2030. Treating slurry with acid delivers this and has the added benefits of increasing yield, reducing input costs, and reducing the prevalence of odours that occur during

By dosing the slurry with sulphuric acid the system reduces ammonia emissions by up to 70%. application.”

A front unit carries the acid and also improves weight distribution.

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

A front-linkage mounted unit carries the acid which also improves tractor weight distribution. The acid is dosed when the organic fertiliser is fed to the applicator, with a pH regulator automatically controlling and

adjusting the flow. It is also possible to add a side tank for additives such as a nitrification inhibitor and a further water tank to flush the system. The entire system can be retrofitted to almost any dribble bar, trailing shoe, or injection applicator, and span widths up to 36m.

The nitrogen uptake of organic fertiliser is additionally increased because the acid causes it to grow by approximately a third when it converts the ammonia to ammonium. The organic fertiliser is therefore more easily absorbed by the soil and more nutrients reach the crop.

Results from a German study carried out www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry select a target pH value and the system will continuously measure the pH of the acidified slurry and regulate the acid dosage in line with the flow rate.

Alternatively, operators can select a quantity of acid to be dosed per cubic metre of liquid manure.

“It is becoming more widely accepted that if agriculture is going to meet the proposed clean air act that slurry will need be treated with sulphuric acid. With SyreN, Vogelsang is offering the technology to reduce emissions, increase plant available nitrogen and increase yields today. And so, we ask, why wait?” concludes Mr Williams.

over three years by the Chamber of Agriculture for Lower Saxony showed that acidifying slurry led to a 20% increase in yield. “This is due to the higher ammonium concentration and improved phosphate bioavailability. In addition, the sulphur contained in the acid also becomes available to the plants as sulphate after spreading. This also has the benefit of eliminating the need for an additional pass over the field to administer a supplementary sulphur fertiliser, such as ammonium sulphate nitrate,” adds Mr Williams.

By converting ammonia to ammonium, the pH level of an organic fertiliser can be lowered to between 6.3 and 6.4 for a more consistent and efficient application. Controlled via Isobus, SyreN offers two different spreading modes. The first allows users to

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A pH sensor box continuously measures and controls the pH value which improves the availability of nutrients to the plant.

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Machinery

New Holland approves Continental tyres

• Selected New Holland tractor series can be ordered with TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster tyres • Ex factory: New Holland approves Continental tyres for the T5, T6 and T7 tractor series ew Holland T5, T6 and T7 tractors are now available with Continental TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster tyres. The tyres will be available up to a width of 710mm and a rim diameter of 42’’ and benefit from additional tyre technology to help operate tractors more efficiently.

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The new relationship will see New Holland operators able to benefit from pressure monitoring technology that Continental has introduced to improve tyre efficiency and minimise the risk of potential tyre failure.

ContiPressureCheck™ is a sensor that helps to monitor tyre pressure and heat build up. It can be specified on purchase or retrofitted to all TractorMaster tyres.

Continental customers can also calculate the best operating pressure for their tyres using a mobile app. The TireTech app holds data on all Continental tyres and only requires the weight of the tractor, including any implements, and the forward speed to be added in order to calculate the optimum operating pressure.

Continental has gained the support of another agricultural original equipment manufacturer. “The cooperation underlines Continental’s growth ambitions in the agricultural sector. The approval of Continental tyres for New Holland T5, T6 and T7 tractors completes the supply to all brands within CNH Industrial group”, says Jens Mund, Key Account Manager for agricultural tyre original equipment at Continental Commercial Specialty Tyres.

The following tyre combinations will be supplied to New Holland: •

VF 710/60R42 NRO - VF 600/60R30 NRO

•

10/70R38 - 600/65R28

•

650/75R38 - 600/65R28

•

650/65R42 - 540/65R30

•

650/65R38 - 540/65R28

•

600/65R38 - 480/65R28

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Farming Monthly | February 2022

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| Machinery

Engine remapping offers additional power output from existing tractors Increasing workloads and running wider implements usually means buying a bigger tractor, however Louis Ford chose to add an engine remapping software to his existing machines so he could realise the extra performance. fter investing in a bigger silage trailer, Louis Ford faced a dilemma as he needed more output than his New Holland T6080 could offer him but couldn’t justify the expense on a new tractor.

Louis had begun working full time on his family’s farm on the outskirts of Bristol and started helping a local agricultural contractor to earn extra revenue for the farm. He says that tractors at Redhill Farm are well looked after, but they must pull their weight and new models are a carefully considered purchase.

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“We don’t have the money to invest in new tractors every couple of years and when we buy, we like to shop around to get the best model we can within our budget,” says Louis Ford. “This usually means we purchase good condition second-hand New Holland tractors, with a few years of warranty still intact.”

This approach has worked well, with Louis’ current main workhorse a 2011 New Holland T6080, which historically handled everything from hedge cutting to baling.

However, with the purchase of a larger 16t Richard Western silage trailer to match the contractor’s forager, and the subsequent arrival of a New Holland BB9080 large square baler, the T6080, which from factory registered 160hp, was starting to get bossed around by the implements.

“I’d been looking at remapping options for a while, and before we got going the next day, I took the tractor over to Avon Tuning for them to put a stage 1 remap on the engine. It was a quick process and all in all, I was only without the tractor for a couple of hours, and back hauling maize that afternoon.”

especially during maize harvest,” Louis explains. “We also wanted to stick with the powershift gearbox, as we favour these for getting the power to the ground.”

Part of the process before Avon Tuning carries out a remapping install is to download the original map from the tractor’s ECU and saved to a secure server should the tractor ever need to be restored to its original factory settings.

Avon develop a new map by calibrating the boost data tables and torque delivery areas alongside aspects such as fuel injection duration and quantity, all of which contribute to safe improvements of power and torque. It is then tailor made for the individual tractor model, and Louis cites this as a key reason in choosing the service.

“After speaking with the guys at Avon Tuning, I was confident their stage 1 remap was the most appropriate and safest option for my tractor.

“The remap has increased my T6080’s power output from 160hp to 200hp, which is still within the safe operating limits of the engine and running gear, with the tractor now comfortably able to pull the full maize trailer up the same slopes, without any increase in fuel consumption.”

Engine remapping option Second tractor Buying a bigger tractor was still a few years off, so the other option Louis explored was to increase the output of his T6080. After doing his research, he found tractor remapping specialist Avon Tuning based just five minutes from his farm, offering solutions for him to safely increase the power and torque of his New Holland, for a fraction of the cost of a new tractor.

“The turning point with the T6080 came in a really wet autumn when I was hauling maize for a local contractor but struggling to pull the full 16t trailer up the slopes,” Louis explains. “At times it was touch and go if I would make it to the top, which was starting to worry me from a safety perspective. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

When Louis’ younger brother Ben left school and came to work on the family farm, cow numbers increased by 100, and there was a need for a second large tractor to cover any additional time away contracting and the extra inhouse jobs.

After plenty of searching, the Ford’s opted for a 2017 New Holland T7.210, which is the largest model available with a Power Command gearbox in the smaller framed T7 tractors.

The purchase of the New Holland also coincided with the arrival of a Bunning Lowlander 120 muck spreader and a McHale Fusion 3 baler/wrapper, both of which enabled the Fords to undertake more of their own work.

“The Bunning Lowlander is a great bit of kit but does test the standard T7.210 when we are spreading some wellrotted manure. The same is true with the New Holland big square baler, which required me to drop down through the gears when baling up hills,” comments Louis.

Following on from the T6080’s remapping success, Louis had no issues about doing the same to the new arrival, with another tailored Avon Tuning map increasing power from the standard 166hp up to 208hp and the boosted output from 196hp to 246hp.

Louis says that one of the unknowns with remapping is how it can affect the fuel use of the tractors, but pleasingly it is only work rates that have increased across the 1,000 hours per year: “We’re still using the same amount of fuel but now have the ability to operate larger and wider machinery or save time by increasing working speeds.”

“Like many of my peers I was a bit sceptical about remapping as there are a lot of misconceptions out there. In my experience, the right technology can increase tractor power and torque in a safe and reliable way.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to remap our next tractor but getting specialist advice on the modification from a reputable company, such as Avon Tuning, that has experience in the sector is essential. I believe there are big financial savings and logistical benefits for us not having to buy a greater horsepower machine but we are only realising this as the remapping work has been professionally carried out.”

“Although we wanted a bit more power, we didn’t want a larger framed tractor as it would’ve been too big for some of our field gateways and too heavy, February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Machinery

The all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader is the first machine of its kind to fully eliminate all hydraulics and components.

Bobcat T7X - World's First AllElectric Compact Track Loader oosan Bobcat unveiled its new, all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader at CES® 2022, the world's most influential technology event, held this month in Las Vegas in the USA. The T7X is the first machine of its kind to be fully electric, offering the full benefits of eliminating hydraulic systems, components, emissions and vibrations – all while providing a cleaner, quieter machine.

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The Bobcat T7X was honoured with two 2022 CES Innovation Awards in the categories of Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation and Smart Cities. The CES Innovation Awards programme recognizes recipients in a multitude of technology product categories and distinguishes the highest rated in each.

The Bobcat T7X was developed for the North American market initially, but internal testing and the gathering of customer feedback is planned for the 84 |

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Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region to identify its commercial potential.

At the Forefront of Innovation Scott Park, President and CEO of Doosan Bobcat, said: "Doosan Bobcat is at the forefront of innovation, and we are proud to debut the all-electric technology of the T7X to help customers maximize both sustainability and productivity. Our focus remains on providing solutions and products that empower people to accomplish more and build a better world."

The Bobcat T7X is the world's first allelectric compact track loader. This machine is fully battery-powered, built to be more productive from the ground up with electric actuation and propulsion, quieter with high-performance torque and more powerful than any dieselfuelled track loader that has ever come before it – all while eliminating any carbon emissions.

"This machine is a technological feat for Bobcat and for the entire industry," said Joel Honeyman, Vice President of Global Innovation at Doosan Bobcat.

"We challenged the status quo to deliver a connected, all-electric machine designed for power and performance that previously was not possible. We are excited to share this advancement with the world and proud of the hard work that has gone into making this a reality."

Providing an EMEA Perspective Commenting on future plans for EMEA, Vijay Nerva, Head of Innovation at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “The T7X has been developed for the North American market for now but it addresses a global need and challenge.

We plan to undergo internal testing and gather customer feedback in various countries in the EMEA region this year to better understand customer needs in this market before taking commercial decisions.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery The Advanced Technology and Design of the T7X Compact Track Loader In the T7X, the traditional hydraulic work group has been completely replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. The new, all-electric Bobcat T7X uses just under one litre of eco-friendly coolant compared to around 216 litres of fluid in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model.

The all-electric platform enables instantaneous power and peak torque available at every operating speed. The operator no longer must wait for the standard hydraulic system to build up power.

The T7X operates with zero emissions and reduced noise and vibration generated by the machine. It works quietly and efficiently in noise sensitive areas and indoors, which significantly lowers sound levels and improves the working environment. It can also

significantly lower daily operating costs, when considering the reduction in annual maintenance costs and elimination of diesel, engine oil, diesel exhaust fluid and hydraulic parts.

At the heart of the T7X is a powerful 62 kW lithium-ion battery from technology partner, Green Machine Equipment, Inc. While applications vary, each charge can support common daily work operations and the use of intelligent work modes for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use. The intelligence of the power management system is programmed to sense when loads are increasing, automatically backing off power when not needed to preserve the total energy use and extend the machine's runtime.

regions in the future. During the company's CES Media Days news conference, Doosan Bobcat NA (North America) announced a strategic partnership with South Carolina-based Sunbelt Rentals, a leading rental equipment company in North America with more than 1025 locations, with a strong presence in Europe in the UK, Germany and France.

Sunbelt Rentals Announces Commitment to Bobcat Electric Equipment

Through this partnership, Sunbelt Rentals committed to a significant investment in a large fleet of Bobcat T7X all-electric compact track loaders and electric compact excavators in North America, which will be cobranded and made available in 2022 and beyond. Sunbelt Rentals will be the first national equipment rental company to adopt Bobcat's battery-electric technology and make it available to customers, supporting the environmental, social and governance (ESG) focus for both companies.

The T7X will initially be available only in the North American market but the company intends to expand this to other

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com

The Bobcat T7X is the world’s first all-electric compact track loader.

This machine is fully battery-powered, ultra-powerful and emissions-free. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| ATV

Polaris continues support of the British SXS Championship for 2022 F

or the 11th consecutive year, Polaris UK is proud to announce that it will once again be supporting the British SXS Championship for the 2022 season.

The Polaris British SXS Championship series has played a significant role in growing the side-by-side racing scene in the UK since its inception in 2011, becoming the leading championship for all makes and models of SXS across the country. This includes the latest vehicles within the Polaris RZR line-up, with the developments pushing the championship even further with more aggressive torque, impressive suspension and quick-off-the-line acceleration.

even better with exciting new race venues, strong attendance and big names moving around the vehicle classes to make for some fierce competition and gripping racing. I’m looking forward to seeing new and familiar faces around the paddock again this year and seeing all the action that every round is sure to bring – can’t wait!”

The British SXS Championship is expecting its highest ever attendance and competitor numbers across all categories, including expert, rookie and youth classes. Originally starting with just one day of racing at every round, the championship now involves eight rounds of full weekend-long events across some of the best off-road tracks in the UK.

community here in the UK,” said Richard Coleby, National Sales Manager of Polaris UK and Ireland. “We’re proud to be continuing our support of the championship for 2022 and we’re looking forward to yet another year of fantastic racing.”

SXS Racing runs two main championships; the Polaris British Championship with two classes, a 1000 class for side-by-sides up to 1000cc, and an open class for all modified and turbo-charged machines. The Polaris RZR continued to dominate the British SXS Championship leaderboards last year with the RZR XP 1000, RZR Turbo, RZR RS1 and new RZR Pro XP, and it won’t be long until the newly-announced RZR Pro R and RZR Turbo R reach the tracks for even more competition. In addition to the senior classes, there’s the Polaris British Youth Championship aimed at young riders who want to explore the world of racing and are too young to compete in the senior championship.

The 2022 British SXS Championship – both youth and senior series – will take place over eight rounds, kickstarting in April with venues to be announced: Round 1: April 2-3 Round 2: April 30-May 1 Round 3: June 11-12 Round 4: July 2-3 Round 5: July 23-24 Round 6: August 27-28 Round 7: September 10-11 Round 8: September 24-25 Please note, all dates are subject to change.

“We’re really excited to be going into the 2022 season for another year of great racing alongside Polaris,” said Colin Martin, British SXS Championship Clerk of the Course. “2021 was an incredibly successful year and 2022 is set to be 86 |

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“The championship is huge for the sport and leisure side of our business; it not only raises the awareness of what our machines are capable of, but it’s instrumental in creating more opportunity for our growing RZR

For more information, visit the British SXS Championship website here.

Follow SXS Racing on Facebook and Instagram.

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DEPENDABLE PERFORMANCE. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

BUILT BETTER TO LAST LONGER Our ATV and UTV range are renowned for complete reliability and unrivalled performance, which is why we offer a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty* with all of our models as standard.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

To find out more: honda.co.uk/ATV

*2 Year Warranty subject to following the service schedule, applies to domestic and commercial use.

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| ATV

A fleet of seven Honda Foreman TRX520FM2 ATVs is relied on by the RSPB Ouse Washes team

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fleet of seven Honda ATVs plays an essential role in managing more than 2,000 cattle and sheep on a 1,600ha wetland wildlife reserve in Cambridgeshire.

toppers leave a layer of chopped vegetation which the birds don’t like so it’s something we try to avoid, but the natural habitat created by grazing livestock is perfect.”

Farm - 16km long

The RSPB manages its Ouse Washes reserve from a base at Welches Dam, near Manea in the heart of the Cambridgeshire fens. The Ouse Washes form the largest area of seasonally flooded grazed grassland in the UK, and the RSPB’s role is to manage the site to achieve optimal conditions for a thriving and diverse population of breeding birds including Black-tailed godwit, Snipe, Corncrake, Great white egret, and Crane.

“Cattle and sheep are brought in to graze the wetlands and keep the grass at a suitable height,” explained Senior Stockman Steve Flint. “Tractor-mounted 88 |

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The area farmed by the RSPB Ouse Washes’ team is challenging. The reserve is 500–1,000m wide, and 16km long. Hundreds of small grass pastures are separated by ditches or fences.

Most of the land is under water all winter, and there are deep ditches, steep banks, and muddy tracks to navigate while ensuring the vulnerable soft grassland is protected from damage.

Livestock are grazed throughout the year, although in relatively small numbers during winter due to the

flooding. Two small areas of higher ground remain dry enough for yeararound grazing. From May to September up to 2,500 cattle are kept, belonging to approximately 20 local graziers. In the winter months up to 600 sheep – mainly Swaledale and Cheviots, are moved to the reserve from RSPB sites in the Border counties.

These graze nearby habitat created to provide safe nesting for when the Ouse Washes is flooded – an increasing problem in the spring. Stockmen employed by the RSPB look after the livestock all year around, and extra seasonal workers are taken on each summer.

ATVs for efficient management “Farmers trust us with their livestock, and we provide the best possible care,” explained Site Manager Jonathan Taylor. “Every day starts with livestock www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

RSPB Ouse Washes Senior Stockman, Steve Flint with one of the reserve’s seven Honda Foreman TRX520FM2 ATVs

inspections which must be c ompleted whatever the weather and ground conditions, and it just wouldn’t be possible to cover the distances involved on foot, or to travel across the vulnerable wetlands using any other type of vehicle. Honda ATVs are an essential part of our reserve management, and we rely on them to transport people and equipment throughout the year.”

Practical and cost-effective Honda ATVs have been used on the reserve since the early 1990s, and the current fleet includes seven Foreman

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TRX520FM2 machines.

Excellent reliability is essential, and machines are updated every two years at which point the Hondas’ high resale values mean it costs relatively little to change. During the two years, each machine works approximately 1,200 hours and travels more than 20,000km.

Routine checks and basic servicing are carried out on site, but when major services are due or if problems occur, then local Honda authorised dealer, MKM Agriculture looks after the fleet. “Users like the Honda ATVs. They are reliable, and easy to ride and look after,” added Steve.

“But if problems do occur then we know we can rely on our dealer.”

Power and versatility TRX520FM models are powered by efficient 518cc, liquid-cooled petrol engines, and have selectable 2wd and 4wd, a mechanical five-speed transmission, locking front differentials, and power steering. “Compared to earlier machines, the latest models are much easier and less tiring to operate,” said Steve. “For most of the year soft, wet conditions and uneven ground means that 4wd is engaged and locked differentials are needed. Riding like that for extended periods would be tiring if it

wasn’t for the power steering. It’s also a help when riding along the sides of the grass banks as it reduces the effort needed to maintain a straight path.”

Large 25-8-12 front, and 25-10-12 rear flotation tyres provide plenty of grip and minimise rutting and ground damage, and the ATVs’ compact size and tight turning circle makes them very manoeuvrable. Many fields are separated by ditches and a large network of bridges has been created for the ATVs to move around safely. These are unsuitable for larger 4x4 vehicles or tractors, so the Hondas are essential for access.

Loads up to 85kg can be carried on the rear rack and trailers up to 385kg can be towed. “Our ATVs are almost always transporting something,” continued Steve. “Buckets of molasses and mineral supplement blocks are easily carried on the rack, and we also carry wooden fence posts and electric fencing. If there are bigger loads to transport then we have three trailers on low ground pressure tyres which are towed by the ATVs, and we can also carry goods in the rear of a 4x4 pick-up as far as ground conditions or field access allows, then the ATVs move them from the pick-up to the work location which saves carrying them on foot.

Some vegetation is particularly coarse and livestock won’t eat it, so for those few areas we either top it, or use a small sprayer mounted on the ATV’s rear rack and powered from its electrical system.

Lighter tasks include personnel transport for livestock checks and bird surveys, and to check and adjust water levels. They are used for almost everything we do.”

Creating an ideal habitat “Our priority is managing the Washes to create an ideal habitat for a diverse bird population, and the Honda ATV fleet helps us achieve this,” concluded Jonathan. “We are never short of moisture and grass so working with livestock owners to provide summer grazing works well. The arrangement is good for them and good for the birds.”

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| ATV

Kawasaki announce complete he 2022 utility range will feature the popular Kawasaki MULE Pro DX, Mule Pro DXT, Mule SX 4×4, and Pro-MX vehicles.

Also included in the range is the BRUTE FORCE 4x4i EPS ATV, which will be available in two colours.

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The MULE Pro DX and MULE Pro DXT remain the flagship vehicles in the range, with both machines retaining their current specification for 2022. At the core of each machine lays a 3cylinder, OHV water-cooled, 993cm3 Bosch fuel injected diesel engine; a feature of particular interest to multivehicle users pursuing a “single fuel” policy. Driving through a dual range CVT, both vehicles offer selectable 2WD and 4WD delivering 17.8 kW @ 3600rpm and 52.1 Nm of maximum torque at 2,400rpm.

Featuring such user-friendly features as tilt adjustable steering wheels and speed sensitive electronic power steering plus front and rear independent suspension, both these sturdy vehicles certainly make light of heavy work and leave their operators fresh at the end of each demanding day.

For the MULE Pro DX, a spacious tipping load bed and impressive towing ability mean that almost no task is too big to ask of it. The MULE Pro DXT helps to push the range into new customer bases, thanks to the additional ability to move work crews into difficult or environmentally sensitive locations with minimal impact.

For more information

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

e 2022 MULE and ATV line up The entry-level MULE range will again be comprised of the MULE SX 4×4 and Pro-MX. Both models offer

outstanding value for money and boast selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Lo dual-range transfer case and a rear differential lock.

The MULE SX 4×4 relies on a sturdy and ultra-reliable OHV 410cm3 petrol engine delivering 9.9kW (13.5 PS) of motive power. Its 500kg towing capacity and 181kg load bed maximum are more than enough for many users while such “creature comforts” as a tilting steering wheel and Independent MacPherson strut front suspension, the SX faithfully delivers all day, every day.

Its range partner, the MULE Pro MX cuts a real dash, not simply due to its sprightly turn of speed but, equally, an automotive styling approach redolent of a sturdy pickup truck. The single-cylinder CVT transmission equipped 695cm3 engine delivers 32.8kW (45 PS) for year-round working in even the harshest conditions with the added benefit of electronic power steering as standard fitment.

With disc brakes both front and rear plus the luxury of double wishbone suspension at both ends, the MULE Pro MX is both work and price friendly.

Offered in traditional Kawasaki Timberline Green, the MULE SX 4×4 and MULE Pro MX are, for many, the default option when value, reliability and rugged build quality are required.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Completing the 2022 range is the 749cm3 Brute Force ATV models.

Featuring the powerful 37.3 kW {51 PS} @ 6,750 rpm water-cooled fuelinjected V-Twin engines, a 4×4 drive train and Electronic Power Steering (EPS), the ATVs will be available in Super Black or Camouflage Real Tree Xtra Green.

The variable speed EPS, carefully considered ergonomics and vast spread of smooth all-conquering power make the Brute Force a logical number one choice when rugged power combined with a small vehicle footprint are required.

The 2022 range will be available from August and will cost: •

MULE Pro-DX – £11,999

•

MULE Pro-DXT – £13,199

•

MULE SX 4×4 – £7,299

•

MULE Pro-MX – £9,199

•

Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS – £7,799

•

Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Camo – £8,099

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Motors

Volvo XC40 reigns supreme Family SUV of the Year for a Unprecedented fourth Family SUV of the Year What Car? award for Volvo’s XC40 compact SUV XC40 established as the segment-defining model and the UK’s best-selling premium SUV Customer appeal founded on a range of zero- and low-emission electrified powertrains, including the XC40 Recharge pure electric, Volvo’s first battery electric car XC40 demonstrates hallmark Volvo attributes of design, quality, connectivity, safety and practicality

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ive years on from its launch, the Volvo XC40 compact SUV remains the defining model in its class, its status confirmed by an unprecedented fourth Family SUV of the Year honour at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards.

As well as continuing to impress the automotive experts, the XC40 also remains the UK’s most popular premium SUV, topping the annual sales charts for a second year running in 2021.

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Volvo has continued to refine the XC40, which is a pioneer of its full-scale electrification programme. The XC40 Recharge pure electric, Volvo’s first zero-emission battery electric model, was introduced in 2019, and the XC40 line-up also includes plug-in hybrid petrol-electric and mild-hybrid petrol powertrains to give consumers an impressive choice of low- and zeroemissions motoring.

Volvo’s cool, minimalist styling, highquality materials and finish, unmatched safety provisions and seamless onboard connectivity. Crucially, these are matched by the XC40’s designed-in practicality to meet consumers’ day-today requirements for an SUV that can accommodate passengers and luggage in a comfortable, spacious and flexible interior.

These options combine with the fundamental appeal of

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| Motors

as it is crowned What Car? fourth time Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor, summed up: “The XC40 blends generous passenger space and a practical boot with a quality interior and top-notch safety. Plus, no rival can match it for ride or seat comfort. All of that makes it a hugely desirable product, backed up with real substance. It’s even temptingly priced compared with its premium rivals.”

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “With the XC40, we have set a high benchmark for all-round quality and performance in one of the most fiercely competitive market

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segments. For What Car? to have bestowed its Family SUV of the Year honour on our best-selling model for the fourth time is a fantastic seal of approval, and we will continue to refine the XC40 – including offering more pure electric Recharge versions – to strengthen the qualities that make it the all-round class-leader.”

For more information on the XC40, and to use the online configurator, please go to www.volvocars.co.uk

February 2022 | Farming Monthly |

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| Motors

SSANGYONG MUSSO NAMED BEST PICK-UP FOR PAYLOAD AT 2022 WHAT CAR? CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

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he SsangYong Musso has won the ‘Best Pick-up Payload’ category in the 2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards. The glamourous award ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane, London last night.

The multiple award-winning Musso is built on the same architecture as the brands flagship Rexton. It shares its body-on-frame construction to give an extremely strong vehicle that delivers excellent off-road driving performance and safety from its quad-frame and fourwheel-drive system. Musso is an extremely competent multi-purpose truck with SsangYong values to the core comprehensively equipped, a class leading 7-year/150,000-mile warranty with a value for money package, plus a surprising level of interior refinement and great infotainment.

This pick-up is powered by the same eXDi220 engine found in the Rexton and delivers a maximum power of 181ps at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 94 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

420Nm at 1,600 to 2,600 rpm. It is available with an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said; “If you need a workhorse, underestimate the Musso at your peril: its pulling power far exceeds that of much pricier rivals, and even with its full payload on board, it’s capable of towing a 3.5-tonne braked trailer. This is all the more impressive when you consider that its payload limit is higher than any rival's.

And yet behind all that brawn is a pleasantly finished interior with loads of space inside for your passengers.”

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 that will take a full-sized Euro pallet, and some. It also carries a payload of over 1-tonne and tows trailers of up to 3.5 tonnes concurrently to give the highest total load capacity in the segment. This combination of utility pick-up and SUV means Musso offers the perfect blend of functionality,

practicality, performance and comfort to the driver and family or workmates.

Kevin Griffin, managing director of SsangYong Motor UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win a What Car? award for Musso three years in a row.

Such recognition from What Car? speaks volumes about the Musso range.

This is a great result that not only fully endorses the qualities and capabilities of the Musso but also the brand’s value for money proposition.”

Inside, Musso is exceptionally well equipped compared with other pick-ups, and as well as offering excellent shoulder and leg room front and rear, Nappa leather seats can be found on the top of the range model for added luxury and comfort. DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity feature across the range, while all but the entry level model feature a state-of-the-art infotainment system which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

DACIA celebrates double win at the what car?

CAR OF THE YEAR awards 2022

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acia is celebrating success at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2022 after the All-New Sandero was judged the ‘Best Small Car for Value’ and the New Duster won the ‘Best Family SUV for Value’. In addition, Dacia was named the second most reliable car brand.

The unbeatable value of the All-New Sandero was officially recognised after the expert What Car? judging panel was won over by the supermini’s unrivalled blend of practicality, specification and attractive pricing.

punchier performance.”

Notably, it is now available with the dualclutch automatic EDC gearbox, a brand new 8-inch touchscreen, and a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. It can be ordered in a choice of trim levels – Essential, Comfort and Prestige.

Depending on the engine and transmission, customers can also pick from either two- or four-wheel drive. The New Dacia Duster is priced from £14,295 on the road.

The latest version of the acclaimed Sandero is available in Essential and Comfort specifications. Showcasing Dacia’s newest exterior design, Sandero includes Y-shaped LED daytime running lights, full LED front lighting, and a lower roofline and angled windscreen that combine to give more presence on the road. Inside, a completely new interior features high-quality fabric inlays and the latest touchscreen infotainment technology. The All-New Dacia Sandero is priced from £10,145 on the road.

Taking the number one spot as ‘Best Family SUV for Value’, the New Duster impressed the What Car? experts with its versatility and equipment levels.

Reflecting on the judge’s decision to recognise the Sandero, Steve Huntingford, Editor, What Car?, said: “There's a lot more to the latest Sandero than just a tempting price tag. It's one of the roomiest small cars you can buy and comes surprisingly well equipped in our recommended Comfort trim. As a bonus, Bi-Fuel versions can run on either petrol or cheaper liquefied petroleum gas to help reduce your fuel bills, and they offer www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

On the magazine announcing the New Duster as its family SUV champion, What Car?’s Steve Huntingford commented: “Value has been a Dacia strength for years, but it's still hard to believe it can sell a car that's as practical and as versatile as the Duster for so little. You can fit more into it than rivals which cost many thousands more, and our recommended versions come with all the kit you're likely to want.”

Launched last year, the New Duster blends the model’s trademark versatility and robustness with advanced features, technology, and a bold new style.

Reaffirming the rugged, dependable nature of the brand and its models, Dacia also took the runner-up spot when it came to What Car? highlighting its reliability heroes. It named Dacia as the second most reliable car brand, with Steve Huntingford adding: “Dacia is all about affordable motoring, so it’s great to see its cars performing so strongly when it comes to dependability. The brand’s star performer is the previousgeneration Sandero hatchback (2013-2020); it was one of only six cars to gain a 100% reliability rating in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, with no owners reporting any faults with their cars.”

Speaking about the wins, Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK and Ireland said: “We’re delighted to add these awards to the Dacia trophy cabinet, especially as they recognise exactly what Dacia sets out to do in providing customers with robust, good quality cars that also deliver exceptional value.”

The What Car? Awards are among the most prestigious in the automotive industry. Influenced by the comprehensive road tests conducted by the vastly experienced What Car? team, the awards are allocated based on the team’s findings from their exhaustive testing process.

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FURTHER ‘BEST BUY’ and ‘TRUE MPG’ CATEGORY WINS FOR SUZUKI IGNIS AT THE 2022 WHAT CAR? AWARDS

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ollowing its success in 2020 and 2021, the Suzuki Ignis Hybrid compact SUV has again been awarded a ‘Best Buy’ at the 2022 What Car? Awards held in London on 20th January. Ignis was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best value overall small SUV model.

Commenting at the awards, Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? said If you want a car with a high driving position but low costs, nothing does it quite like the Ignis. Not only does it offer bargain pricing, but its mild hybrid petrol engine positively sips fuel; indeed, it delivers the best rural and motorway economy of anything we've ever put

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through our real-world True MPG test with figures of 74.8mpg and 53.3mpg respectively.

on the list and adds further choice too with the optional availability of its Allgrip ‘Auto’ 4x4 system.

As a bonus, the Ignis really embraces the 'small' in 'small SUV', making it a doddle to park and manoeuvre, yet it's surprisingly spacious inside, comfortably accommodating four adults”.

Suzuki has some very attractive Finance offers running through until the end of March and Ignis SZ3 at £13,749 (including £1,000 customer saving) is available for just £169 per month with a deposit of £2,674 on a 49 month PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement. A final optional payment of £5,219 would be required to keep the car at the end of the term.

Ignis also won the long established magazine’s True Mpg award in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Readers of What Car? regularly ask the team to assist with advice on their next new car and in the case of needing something small, cheap to buy and run and also easy to drive, Ignis is very high

Moving up the Ignis range to an SZ-T model requires monthly payments of just £20 per month more at £189 with an intial deposit of £2,992 and final optional payment of £5,668.

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| Motors

Falken summer tyre receives top marks in the 2022 ADAC tyre wear test

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he Falken AZENIS FK510 premium tyre has been awarded top marks in the 2022 ADAC tyre wear test, which examined the tyre abrasion particles produced by three summer and three winter tyres from 15 tyre manufacturers. The Falken AZENIS FK510 came first in the 225/40 R18 fitment category, while the Falken ZIEX ZE310 ECORUN came third in fitment 185/65 R15, contributing to Falken placing fourth overall.

Both Falken summer tyres have had repeated success in numerous independent tests, achieving ‘Very Good’ and ‘Good’ ratings for their performance. State-of-the-art 4D-Nano Design and Advanced 4D-Nano Design processes were used in the development of these tyres. The technology provides more accurate simulations of the molecular structure of the polymers in the rubber compound.

This in turn enables Falken to positively

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influence the abrasion resistance and to develop tyres that deliver the highest possible driving safety while having a low environmental impact, as demonstrated in the ADAC tyre wear test.

Overall, Falken achieved an impressive fourth place amongst the 15 tyre manufacturers assessed by ADAC, with a combined average abrasion value of 114g/1,000km from its summer and winter tyres.

The results revealed that the average tyre wear for both summer and winter tyres is approximately 120g per 1,000km driven; this average increases to 130g/ 1,000km in ultra-high performance tyres.

With a result of 115g/1,000 km, the Falken AZENIS FK510 in 225/40 R18 stood out and achieved the lowest wear values in the category.

“Our team in Japan uses the latest tyre development technology and consistently focuses on tyre durability and safety in addition to rolling resistance. We are particularly pleased that our development work stood out in the summer tyre category and we were awarded fourth place overall. This autumn we will be launching a successor to the Falken EUROWINTER HS01, which will improve its wear properties and optimise its rolling resistance. With this we aim for improved winter tyre results in the next test,” comments Andreas Giese, Senior Manager Corporate Planning/Product Planning.

The Falken ZIEX ZE310 ECORUN achieved abrasion results of 71g/ 1,000km, which is 18g/1,000km below the average of tyres tested in fitment 185/65 R15. The result secured third place in the category for the Falken ZIEX ZE310 ECORUN.

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THE ALL-NEW NIRO EMBODIES KIA’S COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

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ia has today revealed the all-new Niro, a nextgeneration state-of-the-art model that further demonstrates the company’s rapid progress in becoming a global sustainable mobility solutions provider. An integral part of Kia’s growing eco-friendly model line-up, the next-generation Niro has been designed from the ground up to meet the complex and varied needs of today’s sustainability-conscious consumers.

Based on the third generation platform, the new Niro benefits from a larger body that realises class-leading interior space and storage capacity. Premium and ecofriendly materials combine to create a minimalist avant-garde feel; a moving mobility space in which occupants can relax and enjoy each stage of every journey. Modernistic digital displays and interior controls have been optimally placed to further enhance the userfriendly operating experience.

At the heart of all-new Niro’s eco-friendly credentials are a trio of state-of-the-art electrified powertrains, comprising hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (BEV) options.

PHEV and BEV models will be revealed at a later date, closer to market launch.

A highly efficient Smartstream 1.6-litre GDI engine featuring improved cooling, friction and combustion technologies helps power the HEV model. The powerplant ensures highly competitive fuel efficiency, with the all-new Niro HEV capable of achieving 20.8km/L (based 100 |

Farming Monthly | February 2022

on Korean standard).

“The all-new Kia Niro heralds the next step in our journey to become a sustainable mobility solutions provider,” said Artur Martins, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Brand and Customer Experience Division at Kia Corporation.

“From the outset, our ambition was to create a car that makes it easier for people to practice a sustainable lifestyle.

With its eco-friendly materials, advanced technology and range of highly efficient electrified powertrains, the all-new Niro truly delivers on its goal.”

Sales of the all-new Kia Niro HEV will commence in Korea this month, with sales in selected global markets due to follow later this year.

Bold and assertive Intelligent and stylish exterior design that’s brimming with personality The all-new Kia Niro features a bold and dynamic design inspired by the brand’s acclaimed ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, and specifically its design pillar ‘Joy for Reason’. The treatment takes inspiration from nature, while the choice of colours, materials and finishes aim to strike the perfect balance between an environmentally responsible approach to mobility and a futureoriented passenger car vision.

The exterior of the all-new Niro embodies a sophisticated and adventurous sense of purpose that takes

strong influence from the 2019 HabaNiro concept car. Stylish and bold crossover looks combine with a high-tech two-tone body. A wide Aero C-Pillar at the rear – which enhances airflow to improve aerodynamics – blends into the striking boomerang-shaped rear taillights.

The all-new Niro’s front-end features the latest evolution of Kia’s signature Tiger Face, which extends from the hood to the rugged fender below. Striking ‘heartbeat’ daytime running lights (DRLs) add to the unique yet contemporary look, while a bold skid plate and cladding serve to enhance the vehicle’s rugged character.

The vehicle’s side profile combines clean character lines with a bold Aero CPillar, a highly distinctive shape that also serves an important aerodynamic function as it aids airflow underneath, helping to improve overall efficiency levels. These measures have enabled the all-new Niro to achieve an impressive drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.29.

The meeting of the boomerang-shaped C-Pillars with the LED taillights further adds to the vehicle’s sporty stance.

At the rear, vertical LED taillights sit alongside uncomplicated surface treatments for a concise and aerodynamic styling combination, while the heartbeat-shaped rear reflector, rugged skid plate and lower bumper help to complement the all-new Niro’s frontend design.

The second-generation Niro offers a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors choice of nine expressive exterior colours. Alongside new Cityscape Green, customers can choose between Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Mineral Blue, Interstellar Grey, Orange Delight, Runway Red and Steel Grey.

For the first time, the Niro provides added scope for personalisation with a choice of six contrasting colours for the C-Pillars, and up to three different finishes for the cladding, enabling customers to design their car around their personality.

been designed to be easy to use with pin sharp graphics and a highly intuitive layout, enabling users to personalise, access and operate the vehicle’s connectivity, usability and functionality features with ease and confidence.

Located below the centre screen lies an integrated infotainment and climate control system that removes clutter for a clean and coherent look and ensures front seat occupants can access these important controls without the need to scroll through multiple menus.

Spacious and welcoming interior Innovative and minimalist cabin optimised for an optimal user experience The all-new Niro features an interior that has been designed to appeal to the senses, with premium quality materials and welcoming, textured surfaces that combine to create an avant-garde feel throughout.

Within easy reach of the driver lies the Niro’s stylish centre-console that incorporates a modern look with a highgloss black surface finish. Here, the driver can operate the Niro’s electronic dial-type shift lever, the design of which saves space and is convenient and intuitive to operate. A variable largecapacity cupholder tray and a wireless smartphone charging pad are also close to hand.

The off-centre dashboard curves around the front occupants, with opposing horizontal and diagonal lines leading to a calming yet daring aesthetic. Ambient mood lighting, available in no fewer than 74 colour combinations, helps to heighten the senses while creating a warm and serene environment.

Customers can further tailor the interior by choosing between three new interior colours: Charcoal, Medium Grey and Petrol.

The all-new Niro’s dimensions have grown over its predecessor, with a length measuring 4,420mm, a width of 1,825mm, a height of 1,545mm, and a wheelbase of 2,720mm, up by 65mm, 20mm, 10mm and 20mm respectively.

As a result, the all-new Niro awards its occupants with a spacious environment where they can relax, get comfortable and enjoy every journey.

Positioned between the diagonal lines lies a high-tech 10.25-inch panoramic high-definition digital display screen that integrates both the instrument cluster and infotainment features in one streamlined package. The system has

Available in seven stylish finishes, the slim, contemporary seats enhance roominess and comfort thanks to a hightech lightweight seat mechanism. The special relaxation front passenger seat can recline for a comfortable lying posture at the touch of a button. The front seats incorporate convenient rear-

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mounted coat hangers, C-Type USB terminals and storage pockets, while the slim dimensions of the headrests help to increase the feeling of space and freedom from above.

By repositioning the Niro’s 12V battery out of the wheelhouse, and instead integrating it alongside the high-voltage battery at the bottom of the rear seats, trunk load capacity for the Niro HEV model reaches an impressive 451 litres (VDA), up 15 litres over its predecessor.

As a clear statement of Kia's ongoing commitment to sustainability, the all-new Niro showcases new recycled materials inside the cabin. The headlining is made from recycled wallpaper, the seats are made from Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus leaves, and BTX* free paint is used on the door panels to minimise the impact on the environment and reduce waste.

Efficiency at its core New and advanced powertrains deliver a comfortable, harmonious and energetic driving experience The all-new Niro will be launched with three state-of-the-art highly efficient FWD electrified powertrains: hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (BEV).

The HEV features Kia’s highly efficient Smartstream 1.6-liter GDI gasoline engine. The four-cylinder unit produces a maximum output of 105PS along with 144 Nm (14.7 kgf.m) of torque, while improved cooling, friction and combustion technologies ensure maximum fuel efficiency. When

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| Motors combined with the 32kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, the HEV model produces a combined maximum power output of 141PS. The 1.6-liter GDI engine is mated to the second-generation six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (6DCT) that has been carefully engineered and optimised to increase efficiency and reduce weight.

The Niro comes equipped with Kia’s Green Zone Drive Mode that automatically activates the electric-only drive operation of the car to ensure zeroemissions mobility in certain environments and situations. For example, when driving in green zones

gear ratio and a new tilt-type strut bearing reduces friction to improve steering feel. Additional insulation and padding have been inserted around the vehicle’s structure to help combat unwanted engine and road noise.

Advanced safety Structural integrity and next-gen ADAS deliver added confidence behind the wheel Safety has been a top priority during the development of the all-new Niro. As a result, the vehicle’s high-strength lightweight body features a multi-load front impact structure to ensure

(ISLA) delivers a warning and adjusts the speed if the driver travels over the speed limit. Once parked, Safe Exit Assist (SEA) provides a warning when a vehicle is approaching from the rear-side when getting out of the vehicle, with the electronic child lock preventing rear seat passengers from opening the rear door.

Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) is a feature that enables the vehicle to park itself autonomously, whether or not the driver is in the vehicle. It enables drivers to move their car out of a frontand-back parking space remotely with their key fob.

Other ADAS features include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), High Beam Assist (HBA), Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Rear View Monitor (RVM), Rear Cross-Traffic CollisionAvoidance Assist (RCCA), Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA-R) and Front/Rear Parking Distance Warning (PDW-F/R).

Always connected High-tech connectivity and convenience features fit seamlessly into everyday life The all-new Niro includes an extensive range of high-tech convenience and connectivity features designed to make life easier both behind the wheel and on leaving the car.

such as residential areas, or nearby schools and hospitals, the Niro HEV model automatically uses electric power based on navigation and driving history data. The driver can also set dedicated green zones into the navigation system to reduce pollution in areas such as near their home or place of work.

Kia’s smart regenerative braking system enables drivers to choose from a series of regeneration levels to easily slow the car and recuperate kinetic energy to maximise driving range. The system can calculate the amount of regeneration required using radar and road gradient information. The system allows the car to harvest the maximum amount of energy from its brakes while bringing the vehicle to a gentle halt.

A new suspension and steering system have been optimised to ensure a comfortable and harmonious driving experience. At the front, the all-new Niro benefits from a MacPherson strut type suspension, while the rear gets a fourlink type set-up. The front and rear geometry have both been tuned for improved responsiveness, stability and ride comfort, while an optimised steering 102 |

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passengers benefit from outstanding levels of safety in the event of a frontend collision.

The second-generation Niro includes a full complement of Kia’s DriveWise intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that are designed to avoid potential hazards and improve confidence and convenience behind the wheel.

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) warns the driver if the risk of a collision is detected with other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists. The system’s Junction Turning and Junction Crossing functions provide maximum preventative safety when navigating junctions. If the all-new Niro’s turn signal is activated, the system will warn the driver if there is a collision risk with an oncoming vehicle.

Similarly, a warning is provided if there is a risk from vehicles approaching from the left or right when the driver is travelling straight across a junction. If either risk increases, the system will warn the driver before automatically applying the brakes to avoid a collision.

Using information from the new Niro’s front view camera and navigation system, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist

A 10-inch head-up display (HUD) system displays key driving information including speed, ADAS data and navigation commands directly onto the front windshield. The ultra-clear graphics are displayed directly ahead of the driver helping to minimise eye movement while driving, enhancing safety and convenience in the process.

The Kia Connect smartphone app allows users to connect with their vehicle remotely. Drivers can sync calendars, plan journeys with online navigation and access key onboard features including live traffic alerts, local fuel station information and real-time weather forecasts. An End Destination Guidance feature helps customers navigate to their final destination on foot once their Niro is parked using Google Maps and augmented reality (AR) technology.

Valet Mode enables customers to monitor their vehicle remotely when it’s being driven by another user, providing added peace of mind.

Due for global market launch later this year, more information on the all-new Niro will be made available in due course.

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| Motors

Volkswagen celebrates triple win of UK awards; Touran wins ninth consecutive What Car? trophy

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he Golf is no stranger to critical acclaim, and continued its winning streak into 2022, with ‘Medium Car of the Year’ from Company Car and Van adding to its trophy haul.

Defending its title, this is the second consecutive year that the Golf has won this prize.

The Golf’s win with Company Car and Van is attributed by the publication to its interior, technology and driving characteristics, with Editor, Andrew

Last but not least in the early flurry of triumphs, the Touran’s latest victory is its ninth from What Car? in the model’s current third generation, adding a remarkable sixth overall category win to its collection of What Car? trophies. This is n addition to two price point prizes, and its other accolade of ‘Best Used MPV’ from What Car?, which it was awarded in September. The Touran holds the dual titles of being What Car?’s reigning new ‘MPV of the Year’, as well as its ‘Best Used MPV’.

refinement, equipment, value and quality – attributes touching every facet of the family-focused model.

Also at the prestigious What Car? Awards ceremony, two of Volkswagen’s battery electric models were recognised for their class-leading appeal. First. the e-up! city-car BEV was presented with ‘Best Value Small Electric Car’, while the big-selling ID.3 was judged to be ‘Best Small Electric Car for Long Distances.’

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? said: “One of the things that makes the Touran so good is that it drives more like a well-sorted hatchback than a traditional MPV. Even when every seat is occupied, the comparatively small 1.5litre engine is plenty strong enough.

Plus, you get Isofix child seat points on all five rear seats, there's space for adults in all three rows, and interior quality feels a cut above rivals.”

Sarah Cox, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “There are very few things more satisfying than one of our cars winning an award, so kicking off the year with three separate titles for three very different vehicles in the Volkswagen UK line-up is even sweeter.

“Despite their diversity, the ID.4, Touran and Golf have much in common – practicality, quality and dependability – just like the rest of the range. These

ID.4’s ‘Family EV of the Year’ is another Walker, adding: “The benchmark car in its class, the Golf is still the one to beat and retains our Medium Car of the Year Award for 2022. Others have tried, and some have come close, but for us the Golf is still the stand-out five-door family hatchback, and is practically perfect in every way.”

The ID.4 was the next to be praised by UK media, with the expert panel at Company Car Today naming the ID.4 ‘Family EV of the Year’ at its 2022 CCT100 Awards. These are judged upon a number of criteria, including running costs, efficiency, practicality, breadth of range, performance and car park appeal.

Paul Barker, Editor of Company Car Today, said: “Volkswagen’s new ID.4 is another great step on the route to EVs being a mainstream part of the motoring landscape, offering a good variation of models to suit differing driver needs, plenty of space and practicality and enough range to banish anxiety. It’s sensible and stylish, and makes sense on a balance sheet and a driveway.”

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Touran’s big prize is the latest in a long line Of particular note to the judges were the Touran’s considerable practicality combined with hatchback-like handling, its seven-seat potential with flexible seating arrangements, and its

shared qualities helped Volkswagen to become number one in the UK across the last year, and satisfy customers and expert panels alike.”

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Hyundai Santa Fe named Large SUV of the Year at 2022 What Car? Awards

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yundai's fast start to 2022 continues at pace with a third major awards success in January. The Hyundai Santa Fe has been hailed ‘Large SUV of the Year’ in the prestigious 2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards. The What Car? judges also named the Hyundai i10 ‘Best Small Car for the City’ and the Hyundai TUCSON ‘Best Family SUV for Practicality’ in the magazine’s ‘Best Buy’ categories, in which Santa Fe also won ‘Best Plug-in Hybrid for Big Families’.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe, which is priced from £40,685 and provides ample seating for a family of seven, drew praise from the What Car? judges for a raft of improvements, which have elevated the elegantly styled, high-

technology SUV to another level.

What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “Hyundai has proven that small changes can make all the difference, with the addition of hybrid and plug-in hybrid power options turning this already good large SUV into a great one.

Running costs are reduced and refinement improved. Plus, you still get a well-controlled ride, outstanding value for money and a nicely finished interior with seating for seven."

five-year unlimited mileage warranty, like every Hyundai, the i10 is designed and engineered to meet whatever challenges the road throws at it, a fact that was clearly not lost on the What Car? road test team when putting the car through its paces.

What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “Living in the urban sprawl demands specific attributes from a car.

These include light controls to take the effort out of manoeuvring, for example,

Priced from £13,420 and offered with a range of highly efficient petrol engines that ensure impressively low running costs, the Hyundai i10 benefits from the same sophisticated technology and intelligent safety systems found on the marque’s larger models. Backed by a

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What Car? names Hyundai Santa Fe ‘Large SUV of the Year’

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‘Outstanding value for money and a nicely finished interior with seating for seven’

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Hyundai i10 recognised as ‘Best Small Car for the City’

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Judges impressed by i10’s ability in town and on the open road

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‘Best Family SUV for Practicality’ crown goes to Hyundai TUCSON

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No rivals ‘come close to beating the Tucson for sheer family friendliness’

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| Motors as well as a peppy engine and a ride that's comfortable enough to soak up potholes with ease. And the Hyundai i10 excels in all these areas. However, don't go thinking that it's only good at low speeds – once the road opens up, it impresses with nicely weighted steering and plenty of grip.”

Before being hailed, What Car? ‘Best Family SUV for Practicality,’ the Hyundai TUCSON’s industry accolades included Car Buyer ‘Car of the Year’, Auto Express ‘Mid-Size SUV of the Year’ and Scottish Car of the Year ‘Best Family SUV’. Priced from £29,110, the Hyundai Tucson offers a broad range of cuttingedge petrol, mild hybrid, hybrid and plugin-hybrid drivetrains, combined with, as What Car? highlighted, unmatched family appeal.

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‘Innovation’ category. Hyundai’s success at the 2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards continues a remarkable start to the new year for the brand, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 Named ‘Car of the Year’ by Company Car and Van and overall winner in the 2022 Company Car Today CCT 100 Awards earlier in January.

What Car? Editor, Steve Huntingford, said: “Growing families can breathe easy with the Hyundai Tucson, knowing that even in a field of outstanding rivals, none can come close to beating it for sheer family friendliness. There’s simply masses of space inside, whether you’re talking about how much room your passengers will have to stretch out, or how much you can fit into the boot.

What's more, its rear seats recline if anyone fancies a snooze, or the backrests can fold down in a versatile 40/20/40 split.”

Hyundai’s blind spot detection technology, which effectively endows the driver with an additional pair of eyes by alerting them to vehicle’s hidden in the wing mirror’s ‘blind spot,’ took the runner-up spot in the What Car?

Ashley Andrew, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor UK, said: “Hyundai’s success in the 2022 What Car? Car of the Year Awards is especially gratifying as it highlights the appeal of our vehicles, from our smallest car, the i10, to our largest SUV, the Hyundai Santa Fe. It really reinforces the strength of our current range which offers customers a wide range of choice to suit their individual needs.”

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