June 2015 Farming Monthly National

Farming

MONTHLY National

June 2015

Inside this issue...

News

Motors

New powers for landowners dealing with illegally fly-grazed horses |

| Jeep Cherokee reviewed

On Topic | Parasite control for the season ahead

Renewables Key to improved biogas yields, Calor talks biomass, plus the future for solar |

Buildings

| Galvanized steel in agriculture

Cereals | 2015 Show preview

Also Inside: Animal Health | Livestock | Machinery | Tyres | Security | News | ATV | Motors

Contents

33

47

June 2015

23 60

FMN

Features

FMN

Regulars

11 14 30 32 33 48 52

Animal Health

06 12 41 54 56 60

News

Disease diagnostics for pig industry

Cereals Including Cereals event preview

Feature Upcoming shows

Security New rural crime statistics

Livestock Including Livestock preview

Buildings CE marking reassurance for farmers

Tyres

Catch up on the news that matters

On Topic Prepare for parasite control

Renewables UK AD & Biogas 2015

Machinery Latetst news

ATV Suzuki KingQuad 500 winner

Motors Jeep Cherokee review

NEXT MONTH

Michelin extends it range

Grass & Forage...

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Andrew Poulton EDITOR

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Competition Subscribe WIN a HandiMoova! et ready to get rid of your standard sack truck! Get your feed, bales or anything else weighty or awkward to carry to where you want to go with ease with the HandiMoova.

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Technology' - hemispherical wheels on a floating axle (with boith wheels able to move independently) - to help people shift bulky loads of up to 60kg over rough terrain including grass, sand and gravel, up and down stairs and rolls smoothly over uneven surfaces.

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The HandiMoova is the smartest and safest way to move loads – and it's pretty rugged too.

One of those things you think is a waste of time and money – until you try it.

Whilst it's probably not going traverse heavily muddied fields too well (you can see the mud filling up the inside of the wheels), it'll be good for just about everything else. After all, you're not going to be ploughing with it, are you?

The HandiMoova retails at £99.95 and carries a 2 year warranty agains manufacturing defects.

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| News

How to Become a First-Generation Farmer A book about getting into farming at the 'ground floor' very much from John Terry's own experiences – but still full of practical, sage advice to address such issues as gaining planning permission for a mobile home on greenbelt (and how to go about building a permanent residence afterwards), hay & silage making, setting up livestock enterprises including poultry and sheep and useful reference pages highlighting common animal health issues. resented in hardback, the book contains illustrations throughout and is punctuated with little anecdotes and funny snippets (reflecting John's sense of humour) which will also appeal to established farmers as an interesting read – and perhaps even a reference for certain aspects.

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How to become a first generation farmer is available now through all good stockists John Terry was a teacher for 25 years and was head of a rural studies department and school farm, retiring in December 1999. In

June 1989 he started to set up a farm of his own which has developed over the years into a full-time business and which he still operates today. He is well known in the agricultural world and is the author of four books about his life on the school farm.

Having met John and visited his farming enterprise, I can attest to the fact that he is very down to earth, serious about his family and business yet able to see the funny side of things. He was very accommodating and welcoming when we asked to visit and take some pictures of his 'birds' – and was rightly proud of the set-up he has (which has clearly flourished since our last meeting).

How to Become a FirstGeneration Farmer is available now through all good stockists.

06 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

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| News

Tong keep it in the family with new MD Tong Engineering, the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of quality vegetable handling equipment has announced that Edward Tong will take over as the company’s new Managing Director. urrent Managing Director Charles Tong is handing over the reigns to his son after 27 years at the helm as he takes his new role as Chairman of the company. He says; “I’m extremely proud of all we have achieved during my time leading Tong Engineering. A major milestone for the business during my management has been the introduction of the Caretaker mobile grader that we have continuously developed over the years and still remains one of our best selling machines today.

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“It’s a huge privilege to be taking over as Managing Director of our well established and respected business that has been part of my family for 85 years” Charles also headed up the team that led the expansion of the company in 2004 with the takeover of Peal Engineering. He continues; “Despite the growth and changes over the years Tong has always been a family business and Edward has worked alongside me for over ten years so I had no hesitation in passing the mantle on to him and I’m confident he will lead the business into further success.”

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Edward joined Tong in 2003 in a sales and marketing role after graduating from Sheffield University. He already had experience of the business after spending many of his holidays working in various parts of the company including; stores, the machine shop, final fit and service. He quickly moved up the ranks into an operations role and was promoted to Operations Director in 2010.

Edward says, “It’s a huge privilege to be taking over as Managing Director of our well established and respected business that has been part of my family for 85 years. The business has grown significantly as we have diversified and expanded our product range that is now distributed across the world. We are very proud to be able to employ and train local people right through from apprenticeship level.

This investment in training and development has allowed us to build an extremely knowledgeable and experienced team and I intend to continue our growth and ensure we retain our position at the forefront of the industry.”

The company is also changing its branding as Tong Peal reverts to Tong Engineering.

Edward says: “The registered company name has always remained Tong Engineering Ltd. Tong Peal has been our trading name since the takeover of Peal, as particularly in the early days we wanted to make it clear that we continued to manufacture and supply their

Charles & Edward Tong

parts and products. After ten years we feel it is the ideal time to return to trading as Tong Engineering.

The business has grown significantly and we have built a strong reputation over the years.

We want to build on this further and feel that going back to our well-known Tong roots is right for the next chapter of the business. Not only that, the recent arrival of my son Henry means he is the start of the fifth generation of the Tong family, which is really exciting!”

Customers can see the new branding for the first time at the Cereals Show where Tong will be on stand 202.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

79% of GB adults think it’s important that Brits ‘buy local’ Retailer launches drive to increase sales of locally sourced produce. atest figures from YouGov show that despite 79% of adults stating that it’s important that people in Britain buy locally sourced produce; only 30% have actually bought any in the last week. The research was commissioned by the East of England Co-op, which is launching Sourced Locally Fortnight (1-14 June 2015) as part of its ongoing commitment to promote local food.

Local produce is already a fundamental element of the retailer’s strategy. Since 2007 it has run an award winning Sourced Locally* initiative that brings local produce direct from around 140 farmers and producers to its shelves. As well as cutting food miles, reducing waste and boosting quality, the initiative has resulted in over £34 million invested back into the regional economy.

“This research confirms just how important locally sourced produce is. During Sourced Locally Fortnight we want to shine a spotlight on local producers and encourage more shoppers to consciously buy local produce, whilst urging our fellow retailers across the UK to support more local suppliers” comments Roger Grosvenor, Executive Officer – Retail, East of England Co-op.

The research highlights that vegetables (51%) and meat (40%) topped the list when

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08 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

asked to select the two products that they would be most likely to buy if a locally sourced alternative was available; followed by eggs (30%), milk (22%) and fruit (22%). Less than half (47%) of those questioned thought that they could buy locally sourced produce in a supermarket and only 18% would expect to find it in a convenience store.

Scots are most concerned about local produce, with 90% of those from Scotland stating it was important that people in Britain buy locally sourced produce (followed by 85% of shoppers from Yorkshire and the Humber) whereas only 68% of those in London thought it was important. In contrast only 17% of 18-24 year olds felt it was very important to buy locally sourced produce and 4% in this age range said it was not at all important.

Other findings show: • 62% of Brits have bought locally sourced produce at some point in the last year • Only 3% admitted they had never bought local produce • More women (62%) than men (55%) were likely to be put off buying locally sourced produce if the price wasn’t right Roger Grosvenor continues: “Many of our stores are small, convenience stores that our customers rely on every single day. All of them feature a range of fantastic local produce, so you can pick up something local as part of your

daily shop.

“We know what an amazing impact locally sourced produce has had on our business and for our suppliers – we now want to encourage even more people to try it! This week, if we could encourage every UK household to swap just one product they regularly buy for a local alternative it could plough an extra £42 million** into local economies up and down the country.”

“This research confirms just how important locally sourced produce is” During Sourced Locally Fortnight the East of England Co-op promises to offer an enhanced range of locally sourced produce in its stores throughout Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. For the first time the retailer will only stock locally sourced potatoes, strawberries and asparagus across every store. Shoppers will also be able to buy locally sourced key staples such as eggs, ham, sausages and cooking oil; plus other delicious items including chocolate and cookies. In addition the retailer will boost its instore experience with information on local producers and various opportunities for shoppers to taste local produce and find out more.

Visit www.eastofengland.coop/sourcedlocally

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| News

Another first for M & M Timber with Agricised ‘Peeled & Pointed’ fencing stakes Following recent investment in plant and machinery to raise production output of its agricised timbers, M & M Timber is now set to explore new market opportunities with the launch of Agricised ‘Peeled & Pointed’ fencing posts that promise big things for the Midlands company. he decision by M&M Timber to introduce an Agricised option of its long running peeled and pointed fencing range is indicative of the company’s confidence in the future success of its trademark Agricised process and the development of extended life perimeter fencing in general.

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“This is clearly an established market sector that can immediately recognise and benefit from the long term cost savings of extended life fencing” Just eighteen months since the announcement of its machined round Agricised fencing posts

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M&M Timber has reported sales that have far exceeded its expectations and forced further investment at the Midlands manufacturing plant to keep up with demand.

Welcomed by farmers and landowners throughout the UK, the peeled and pointed fencing option is another industry ‘first’ and predicted to swell production still further. Judging by the initial interest from this market sector, it may even rank amongst the company’s top selling product range before long. It’s a good move by M&M Timber and gives them a headlong start in a market that competitors will soon be scrambling to gain a foothold in.

Traditional peeled and pointed fencing timbers have been a favourite with the rural community for years of course, but are been increasingly challenged by the economic benefits of extended life

Agricised timbers. Based on an initial installation of an example 500 metres of fencing, Agricised posts cost only a fraction more than the nonAgricised industry standard equivalent, say M&M Timber. And, lasting three times longer, Agricised fencing will return a saving of around £4,500 in materials and labour over the guaranteed 15 year life span.

“From our regular discussions with our distributors and the farming community, it became apparent that there exists a real opportunity to further sales of our popular Agricised range by extending it to meet long-held preferences for the more rustic peeled and pointed posts,” says M&M Timber’s Managing Director Nigel Poyner. “This is clearly an established market sector that can immediately recognise and benefit from the long term cost-savings of extended life fencing.”

Machining the uniform Agricised incisions in the uneven surface of

peeled timbers, necessary for the deep Tanalith E preservative penetration process, was made possible with newly acquired, technically advanced machinery and the skills of the company’s technical experts.

M&M Timber offers a 15 year written warranty package on both its machined round and peeled and pointed Agricised fencing timbers with customer online registration, another ‘first’ for this innovative company as it strives to always keep one step ahead of the market.

For more information please contact M&M Timber on 01299 832 611 or see the website at www.mmtimber.co.uk

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 09

| News

New powers for landowners dealing with illegally fly-grazed horses as law comes into force From May 26th farmers and other landowners dealing with horses illegally abandoned on their land can take swifter action to resolve the problem. he new Control of Horses Act comes into force in England today (26 May) giving landowners greater powers to deal with horses left illegally on their land.

The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, worked closely with a coalition of rural organisations and animal welfare charities to drive the Private Members’ Bill through Parliament following its introduction by Julian Sturdy MP in 2014.

Landowners can now take flygrazed horses to a place of safety immediately, notifying local police within 24 hours. If no owner is identified in four working days, the landowner can take action such as re-homing the horses to charities or selling them privately.

CLA President Henry Robinson said: “We pressed for this new law so that farmers and landowners can act for swift resolution when

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faced with the problem of horses illegally abandoned on their land.

“Fly-grazed horses can damage land, crops and fencing, restrict space for livestock and cost money to provide for their welfare and safety. It has been very difficult, time consuming and expensive for landowners to deal with these situations but from today they can take swifter action to resolve the problem by, for example, re-homing the horses to charities or privately.”

A report highlighting the increasing problem of fly-grazing, ‘Stop the scourge - time to address unlawful fly-grazing in England’, was published in September 2014. In 2014 CLA President Henry Robinson met with Defra to discuss the issue and gave oral evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee inquiry into the causes and impacts of flygrazing.

10 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

Confirmation of the Arla Foods amba June 2015 milk price After increasing its milk price by 1.5 eurocent per kg in April and maintaining the price into May, the Arla Foods amba on account price will reduce by one eurocent per kg with effect from 25 May 2015.

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hen applied to the UK standard litre, the impact will be a reduction of 0.84 pence taking it

to 24.99 pence.

Commenting on the announcement, Ash Amirahmadi, Arla UK’s head of milk and member services, said:

“Following a brief market upturn, which we were able to reflect in our milk price, the commodity markets continue their negative trend. Whilst we continue to do everything possible to minimise the impact, unfortunately, we have not been able to buck the market. The entire global dairy industry has been affected by these market forces. “

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| Animal Health

Scaly Leg problems?

Regularly check for the tell tail signs of crusty, white deposits on enlarged, rough and lumpy legs where the scales have become raised. iving entirely on the bird Scaly Leg Mite cause intense irritation and discomfort for the bird as they burrow under the scales and into the skin of the legs and sometimes the comb and wattles. In severe cases of infestation the birds find it difficult to walk, may lose a toe and become severely deformed.

Caused by Cnemidocoptes mutans and evident as tiny white spherical creatures with a diameter of less than 0.5mm Scaly Leg Mite is difficult to spot in the early stages. For this reason we recommend you use Scaly Leg Ointment regularly as a deterrent and to treat infested birds. Scaly Leg Mite affects birds of all ages, although older birds and feathered leg breeds tend to be more susceptible. Affected birds should be isolated and all housing cleared and thoroughly cleaned.

Barrier Animal Healthcare designed and manufacture a product called Scaly Leg Ointment that suffocates scaly leg parasites instantly, whilst soothing and calming irritation.

Scaly Leg Ointment contains the purest Lanolin combined with 100% Natural Herbal & Essential Oils & will not taint the eggs.

Use regularly as a barrier: When buying in birds always check them very carefully and treat them as a matter of course before introducing them to clean birds.

Use in accordance with the instructions on the container. As an ongoing maintenance generously massage into the legs, feet, comb and wattle, every few weeks.

Where infestation exists: Affected birds should be isolated until clear of the problem.

Generously massage into the legs,

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Neil Boonham

Cost-saving disease diagnostics for pig industry Moving disease diagnostics from the laboratory to the field could provide significant time and cost savings for the pig industry. his was one of the key topics covered at the 2015 BPEX Innovation Conference, ‘A glance into the future’, held at Stoneleigh Park.

Currently being trialled in the plant sector, Dr Neil Boonham from Fera Science Ltd explained the importance of early disease detection to the plant industry and transferrable opportunities for pigs.

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“So far we’ve developed and trialled a selection of novel diagnostic technologies for use in the field” “Diagnostic tests in laboratories often take a couple of days to present results, by which stage disease is often set in and problems are therefore harder to treat. This is why early detection is so important. We need to be able to speed up disease identification to aid effective treatment.

“So far we’ve developed and trialled a selection of novel diagnostic technologies for use in the field and have seen positive

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results.

“Rapid testing lateral flow devices and loop-medicated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technologies have successfully made a diagnosis within 15 minutes or less, and proved simple and robust to use.”

Dr Boonham is confident that both the pig and plant industries will benefit from in-field diagnostic technologies in the future.

“With diagnostics slowly moving out of laboratories and into the field, I truly believe that both pig producers and plant growers will be able to reap the benefits sooner than we think.

“What’s really important is that the technologies trialled to date are quicker and not as costly as tests carried out in laboratories.”

Videos and presentations from the 2015 BPEX Innovation Conference, ‘A glance into the future’ are all available online at: http://www.bpex.org.uk/events/con ferences/2015/innovationconference/ To discuss any innovations and new technologies with potential value for the pig industry, please contact BPEX technical innovation manager Charlotte West: charlotte.west@ahdb.org.uk or 02476 478627

feet, comb andBASF's wattle,Jonathan repeat Ball every 5-6 days to break the egg cycle and get on top of the problem.

Barrier Animal Healthcare designed and manufacture a product called Scaly Leg Ointment that suffocates scaly leg parasites instantly, whilst soothing and calming irritation.

Suitable for use in both organic and intensive farming systems.

This product falls into the exempt category of products which use only plant oils as active ingredients, as listed in Annexe IIB (Pesticides) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (as amended) and is therefore suitable to use in organic systems.

For more information and further product details visit www.redmite.com

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

On Topic ll grazing animals are at risk of parasitic disease. The risk may vary between different groups of animals depending on previous immunity from exposure to parasites,” says Merial’s Veterinary Adviser, Sioned Timothy, host of the new video.

“Every farm has its own specific challenge, therefore it’s important to understand regional variations of climate and environment that might increase the risk in a particular area.”

Identifying what parasites are on farm and understanding what the risk period is for each species will help farmers identify at-risk animals, and enable effective parasite control plans to be put in place to protect against losses in production.

There are a number of scenarios facing animals during the post-turnout, early-grazing season.

Beef In beef herds, the main threat to youngstock in the post-turnout period comes from pasture contamination.

Suckler cows, though generally resilient towards clinical disease themselves, will shed low numbers of eggs, which can pose a risk to younger cattle. Depending on the level of exposure to parasites, and the contamination levels of the pasture, a range of management methods, including worming, may be required.

Tom Hume MRCVS, Director at Westover Veterinary Centre, Norwich, and vet for host farm Williams Livestock, discusses the management options available for cattle farmers.

In cattle, the key to maintaining good parasite control is pasture management, ideally maintaining low levels of pasture contamination with eggs and larvae.

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12 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

Tom Hume

Prepare for parasite control in the season ahead Plan ahead for season-long control of parasites to maintain sheep, beef and dairy productivity, is the message in a new Season Ahead video produced by Merial Animal Health.

Mr Hume says: “Where pasture contamination is low, the dams of spring-born suckler calves will eat most of the existing larvae on the pasture at turnout. The result is that calves will steadily increase their immunity to worms as they graze more heavily in the summer months. This increase in exposure will increase their immunity to gut worms and they are unlikely to need worming until later in the summer.

“However, where pasture contamination is high, calves may need worming earlier in the season. Strategic dosing, combined with monitoring of faecal egg counts will be important to reduce the risk of disease in these animals.”

Autumn-born suckler calves may have received only minimal exposure to parasites in the period before housing and will have very little natural immunity to worms. After turnout, a large number of parasite larvae will be consumed while grazing. These larvae will quickly reproduce within the gut and generate eggs which are passed out onto the pasture ready to re-infect the calves.

“These groups of cattle will benefit from good pasture management, specifically rotational grazing, or strategic worm treatment, in conjunction with faecal egg counts to monitor infection,” says Mr Hume.

Treating with an ivermectin-containing product such as IVOMEC® CLASSIC, or IVOMEC® SUPER, where control of liver fluke is also required, can remove a number of disease-causing worm species, protecting the productivity of beef herds.

Dairy Ms Timothy stresses that it’s also important for dairy farmers to remember the impact parasites can have on the current and future production of dairy herds.

She says: “Adult dairy cows may not show outward signs of a worm burden, but gutworms can significantly inhibit their production both in terms of milk yield and fertility parameters1.

“Heifers at grass can be at considerable risk.

First season grazing heifers will be completely naïve, having not been previously exposed to parasites. Unless appropriate measures are put in place to control parasitic disease, it can have a severe impact.

“Second season grazing heifers may also be at risk of parasitic disease depending on the level of exposure they received the previous grazing season.” Ms Timothy concludes.

Mr Hume suggests that good pasture management, including rotational grazing, or strategic worming, may be required to prevent disease in these groups of animals.

EPRINEX® (eprinomectin) has a zero milk withhold and is therefore suitable for lactating adult cows, those due to join the milking herd, and youngstock. It removes damaging gutworm, helping to maintain optimum productivity.

All cattle – fluke and lungworm When it comes to fluke control, the options for treatment vary between beef and dairy animals but the premise for treating is the same. The treatment plan used in the autumn will dictate the need to treat animals for chronic fluke infection (where adult flukes are present) in the spring.

Adult fluke present in animals at turnout will contaminate the pasture with fluke eggs in the early grazing season, increasing the pressure on the pasture in late summer and autumn.

Where this is identified as a risk, Mr Hume advises that it may be necessary to treat cattle for fluke now, to minimize further contamination.

TRODAX®, containing nitroxynil, controls

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| On Topic

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Outwintered and bought-in animals Outwintered cattle and sheep may require a slightly different approach to parasite control.

“Last autumn was wet and warm and this may have extended the parasite season,” says Ms Timothy.

Animals may have been infected much later than normal, carrying parasite burdens on into the spring. These animals should be monitored to assess the need for worming.

Finally, Ms Timothy reminds farmers to protect their parasite status by considering quarantining bought-in animals, to prevent pasture contamination and the spread of potentially resistant worms. Quarantine is also good practice for other diseases.

Host farm case study: Williams Livestock ndrew Clarke, owner of Williams Livestock near Norwich, and home to the Williams herd of pedigree British Simmental cattle and the Williams flock of pedigree Blue Texel sheep, talked to Ms Timothy about the parasite challenges they face on farm, and how they deal with them.

The herd was established in 2006 and the sheep flock in 2010, so both enterprises are relatively new. The herd now stands at 35 breeding adults and the flock at around 30 breeding ewes, plus youngstock.

Alongside investing in quality genetics, the Clarkes are keen to maintain a high level of herd and flock health, and work closely with Mr Hume, from Westover Veterinary Centre to ensure they employ the most appropriate parasite control strategy.

Mr Clarke explains: “Careful pasture management and rotation, plus herd monitoring with various health checks throughout the summer, means we tend to treat for all worm species pre-turnout and after housing.

“Over the last couple of years we haven’t had to do any treatments at all while the animals are at pasture. Our calving pattern has been very tight this year, with nearly all the cows calved by the end of March, and we’re seemingly on track with some healthy animals.”

Grazing for the sheep flock is more restricted, which means the Clarkes have to worm more regularly.

“We do rotate the products. At the moment we’re worming the sheep every three to four months. We dose the ewes particularly for fluke pre-tupping, then for worms pre-lambing, and again shortly after turnout and as necessary to keep on top of things.

“We have had problems with fluke in sheep in the past. There was one year with a particularly dry spring time and we became a little bit complacent. We didn’t think it was necessary to worm them that year and it caught us out, and we did have a fluke problem.”

Finally, Mr Clarke advises: “You just have to keep on top of things, and make sure you don’t miss a trick.”

The Season Ahead video, by Merial Animal Health is available to view online:

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On Topic

fluke from eight weeks post-infection in beef cattle, and dairy heifers in the first trimester of pregnancy. Controlling fluke can help animals make the most of grass, the cheapest source of feed, and thereby improve live weight gain. The options for treating lactating dairy cows are more limited and product choice should be discussed with a vet or animal health adviser (SQP).

The final cattle parasite to consider is lungworm.

“There is the option to vaccinate, but this needs to be done pre-turnout,” says Mr Hume.

“Therefore in most situations strategic worming, in conjunction with advice from your vet, will be the mainstay for lungworm treatment this season.”

Sheep “In the period around lambing, ewes may shed increasing numbers of worm eggs, due to a dip in immunity,” says Ms Timothy. “It’s important that this is managed, so that the resulting larvae don’t come to pose a risk to growing lambs later in the season.”

Nematodirus in lambs is normally the main concern post-turnout. Nematodirus may pose a significant risk, especially when lambs are turned out onto pasture grazed by lambs the previous year. Farmers should keep a close watch on the SCOPS or NADIS websites which will indicate when there is a high risk of infection in their region.

Mr Hume says: “Small lambs will often scour from nematodirus infection, with no eggs present in the faeces. This is because it’s the larvae that cause the damage.

“This is a good opportunity to use Group 1 white wormers for nematodirus control, since it is one of the few parasites not resistant to this group of wormers.

“However, care should be taken if lambs are being treated later in the nematodirus season as this may overlap with a potentially wider worm spectrum, which will not be as susceptible to white wormers.”

Pasture management provides a real opportunity to reduce the infection pressure from nematodirus on sheep, and reduce the reliance on wormers.

“If lambs are turned out onto clean grazing (pasture that was not grazed by lambs the previous year) there is virtually no risk from nematodirus infection,” says Mr Hume.

“If however, they are turned out onto paddocks that are used every year, there will be a high risk of nematodirus infection, and lambs will almost certainly need worming in spring.”

Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) is the next potential disease to cause illness in growing lambs. PGE has the potential to slow growth, increase finishing times and risk further pasture contamination with worm eggs.

Faecal egg counts (FECs) pooled from susceptible lambs can help identify infection and determine the need to drench. Post-drench FECs, taken at an appropriate time after treatment can also help monitor the efficacy of the product used.

Depending on the individual on-farm risk factors, including any known resistance to specific wormer groups, farmers should employ a range of control measures, including pasture rotation and strategic dosing to effectively manage PGE. Wormers from Group 3 (clear drenches) such as ORAMEC®, which contains ivermectin, will remove damaging worms and thereby prevent and treat PGE and associated scouring in affected animals. It will also reduce the number of worm eggs passed out to re-infect pasture.

Andrew Clarke

Sioned Timothy

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Cereals

New conference format packed with technical advice A revamped conference programme at Cereals 2015 will provide growers with key information on some of the hottest topics in the arable sector while allowing them more time to explore the event. ecognising that many visitors are pressed for time, the technical seminars have a new format. Each session will consist of an intensive 20-minute presentation from a leading expert followed by a 10minute question and answer session.

Cereals event director Jon Day says: “The condensed seminars will last no more than 30 minutes each but will be packed with advice, while giving growers a chance to put their own questions to the experts.

“The new format will allow visitors to pick up as much information as before from the seminars but in a shorter time, so they can spend more of their day visiting the trade stands, crop plots and working demonstrations.”

Topics to be covered include the Yield Enhancement Network’s role in maximizing yield potential; the loss of active ingredients; notill establishment and the role of data in agriculture to enhance performance and increase returns.

Visitors can also hear about blackgrass control; the role of cover crops; preserving soil

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organic matter and effective OSR pest management.

The talks will be interspersed with sessions hosted by The Arable Conference at Cereals, partnered by The Oxford Farming Conference. Three debates headlined by industry-leading farmers, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists take place over the two days, with plenty of opportunity for the audience to have their say.

Subject matter includes GM and the potential of novel and non-food crops; where resistant varieties will come from (and whether the sector can rely on the Recommended List) and the role of precision farming in achieving yield potential.

Al Brooks, 2016 Oxford Farming Conference chairman, says: "The line-up of panelists and speakers is outstanding, as is the range of topics being covered.

“We have speakers from around the world joining the panel sessions; and with GM and the reliability of the Recommended Lists being debated, we're certain to create some animated discussion – something we never shy away from at the Oxford Farming Conference."

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Principal sponsor HSBC will hold a series of open forums on its stand, including a question and answer session with DEFRA minister George Eustice on Wednesday and a prominent MP on Thursday, both of whom will be joined by NFU president Meurig Raymond.

The first day will also include a session with Jack Bobo, senior adviser for agricultural policy, US Department of State, a world authority on biosciences and GM technology.

The Q&A session is open to anyone who would like to listen to and join in some lively debate, says Allan Wilkinson, head of food and agriculture at HSBC. “We look forward to welcoming the minister and Meurig Raymond to our official opening and Q&A forum on Wednesday morning.

“There is plenty to talk about, including setting the scene for what the newly formed government sees as its priorities,

TIFF and the trade gap, as well as wider matters like the government’s response to bovine TB.” Recently introduced Cereals initiatives that proved popular in 2014 return to this year’s event.

The CPD trail offers the biggest choice of points yet, reflecting the wide range of technical excellence on show.

A total of 12 exhibitors are offering BASIS points and eight are offering NRoSO points. BASIS members can claim six CPD points per day – two for attending the event and four from the exhibitor knowledge trail. NRoSO members can claim six points for the whole event – two points for visiting and a further four from the trail.

The Inspire Pavilion, sponsored

by De Lacy Executive, Massey Ferguson and McDonald’s, highlights the wealth of career opportunities for young people in farming and associated industries.

It offers a packed schedule of

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| Cereals

activities, including inspirational stories from young people already working in the fast-moving, progressive world of modern agriculture.

A key discussion point at Cereals will be the winning machines in the International Machinery Manufacturers’ Awards, a scheme launched last year to recognise machines that deliver exceptional innovation, effectiveness and value.

There are four categories covering cultivations, harvest machinery, sprayers and tractors.

Winners and runners up will be announced on the first day of Cereals and the machinery can be seen on stand 606.

Other familiar Cereals features return, including: Crop plots – an opportunity to see the latest varieties and agronomy in the flesh across 5.5ha of plots.

Machinery – most leading manufacturers will be represented, offering the perfect shop window for new kit.

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Working demonstrations – cultivations, drills and guidance systems being put through their paces.

Sprays & Sprayers – innovations and application technology plus over 50 of the latest sprayers in action in Syngenta’s Sprays and Sprayers arena.

Renewables – showcasing the wide range of opportunities available from renewable energy, renewable fuels and other nonfood crops.

Post-harvest technology – the place to re-assess drying and storage needs to maintain crops in the best condition.

Business area – expert information from rural consultants, banks, and the IT sector to help drive business profitability.

Cereals 2015 takes place on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th June, at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire.

Visit us on stand 107

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| Livestock

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| Cereals

GPS Guidance from Müller-Elektronik Visit David King Electronics at Cereals on Stand 107, sprayer area, where the latest additions to the Müller-Elektronik product range will be demonstrated including TRACK-Guide III GPS parallel guidance system. he system includes the TOUCH800 terminal that is based on the same hardware as the 12” ISOBUS terminal TOUCH1200 using a capacitive touch screen protected beneath glass making this ideal for rough use in agricultural engineering applications.

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Only one terminal is required in the tractor cab to control all of the equipment giving the customer a cost saving The TOUCH800 has an 8 "TFT colour display with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels: the display is divided into a main window and another called Header window, similar to the displays shown in the BASIC and COMFORT-Terminal.

The TRACK-Guide III is versatile and expandable using the concept of APP & GO® to unlock optional functions including the automatic

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steering system "TRACK-Leader Auto®". There are three versions and Auto-steer available. TRACKLeader AUTO® Pro is the hydraulic version of the automatic steering. TRACK-Leader AUTO ® Iso is the upgrade version for tractors and machines that are auto steer ready and only need to be equipped with a steering computer. The last variant is TRACK-Leader AUTO® eSteer.

This is an electric wheel motor, which can be installed on any machine quickly and easily. With these products Müller-Elektronik are able to offer to almost any type of machine a corresponding steering option with highly accurate results and good value for money.

The A101 GPS receiver using EGNOS or WAAS correction signal comes as standard with the TRACK-Guide III kit. It is possible to supply the kit with other types of receiver or RTK depending on the level of accuracy required and user’s budget available.

Another feature of MüllerElektronik’s TRACK-Guide III GPS guidance terminal is the ability to

upgrade to a full ISOBUS compatible terminal by purchasing the ISOBUS-UT “app” activation code. With this “app” activated the terminal complies with the ISOBUS standard. This enable the user to utilise his TRACK-Guide III as both a guidance terminal and as a universal display which can be used to control ISOBUS compliant equipment: for example fertiliser spreaders, sprayers and seed

drills. The benefit of this is that only one terminal is required in the tractor cab to control all of the equipment giving the customer a cost saving.

For further information about Müller-Elektronik products contact their UK distributor David King Electronics Ltd on 01789731365, visit www.dkelectronics.co.uk or www.mueller-elektronik.de/en/

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Livestock

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| Cereals

Chafer Sentry

Sprayer technology to suit all budgets on show at Cereals 2015 Growers looking to replace their sprayer or buy new equipment to revamp their existing machine need look no further than Cereals 2015. here are sprayers to suit all acreages and budgets and a unique opportunity to see over 50 of the latest selfpropelled, mounted and trailed machines in action. These will be demonstrated by 23 leading suppliers in the Sprays and Sprayers Arena, in association with Syngenta (see programme below).

Surrounding the arena is a wide range of innovations and application technology from over 40 specialist suppliers.

Syngenta’s spray application

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specialist Ben Magri says: “Given current low cereal and oilseed prices, spray costs are coming under ever-greater scrutiny.

“This, coupled with increasing resistance pressure and tightening environmental legislation, means spray application technology has never been more important. It's for these reasons that Syngenta continually invests in spray application development and innovation, including new products and nozzles.

“Whether you're looking to buy a new sprayer, check out new technology or glean some useful

See us at Cereals Stand 1010

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spraying tips, make Sprays and Sprayers your first port of call at Cereals.”

John Deere is launching its new high-specification 4400-litre capacity trailed sprayer. The latest model offers the same basic features as the larger R Series sprayers and has the same lowprofile tank design and low centre of gravity for maximum stability. It is fitted with axle steering for accurate tracking on headlands.

Chafer is launching two new trailed sprayer ranges. There will be two specification levels for the company’s new Guardian and Sentry models, a standard version and a high spec “e” machine fitted with Chafer’s own CANbus operating system eControl.

Landquip is launching two new sprayers at the event. A new 3500litre, 220hp self-propelled unit weighs in at less than 5.5t unladen.

The new design achieves nearperfect weight distribution, according to Landquip, making it a go-anywhere machine when equipped with 600/60 R30 flotation wheels.

Horsch will display its new PT280 self-propelled sprayer for the first time. A 285hp/210 KW Mercedes engine that meets Tier 4 requirements provides a 15hp power increase over the PT270.

Power is transmitted via a hydrostatically stepless hydroshift gear unit and mechanical axis drive for good traction in hilly terrain.

Berthoud is showing its new Ektar 40-44m B3 boom on a Tenor 6700 litre trailed sprayer. Designed for use with Berthoud’s Tenor and self-propelled Raptor sprayers, the boom is fitted with ACS auto boom folding system and uses triplefolding arms in aluminium L-shaped profile for strength and durability.

Agrifac is launching its Condor ClearancePlus to the British market to meet the increasing need to treat tall crops such as maize. The selfpropelled sprayer features stepless ground clearance adjustment up to 200 cm. It is fitted with a narrow wheel assembly (including steering pivot and wheel drive) that fits

John Deere R944i

between rows to prevent crop damage.

Cheaper running costs and an improved working environment are on offer from Knight Farm Machinery’s revamped 1800 series self-propelled sprayers.

The range is now powered by Tier 4 compliant six-cylinder engines, up to 200 hp (single turbo) and 225 hp (dual turbo). This raises the torque available by 5%-10%, and should cut fuel usage by about 5%, says Knight.

Team Sprayers’ latest mounted model, the Arian, sports a new robust boom and modified suspension. The boom, available up to 24m, is made from steel tubular sections with a threedimensional structure that guarantees years of strength and durability plus a very good ride on all surfaces, says the company.

Micron is launching two new sprayers at Cereals. The Varidome S3 100HiFlo model has been developed for use in cereals and other narrow-row crops such as onions and carrots.

Increased demand for Avadex granule applicators to control blackgrass has resulted in the launch of the Horstine Cascade. A similar design principle to the company’s existing TMA4, the Cascade has a wider boom, available up to 24m, and a larger 1500-litre hopper.

TeeJet’s new DynaJet Flex 7120 nozzle control system manages spray quality across a wide range of operating speeds and application rates.

The system, which can be retrofitted, allows the operator to choose the optimum speed that conditions allow while maintaining consistent droplet size. The compact touchscreen features a nozzle database that allows easy droplet size selection. Operators can also adjust nozzle flow capacity to operate at varying ground speeds or application volumes without changing nozzles.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Cereals

Bentall Rowlands redesigns its POLYGON storage hoppers Bentall Rowland's continued commitment to serving customer requirements has culminated in the redesign of the POLYGON range of feed silos. he POLYGON range now comes with the same world renowned high build quality provided in our larger industrial silo supplies, such as Z600 galvanisation as standard improving its capability to withstand the harshest environments. The redesign is based on the latest available technology using the most recent advancements in raw materials.

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The new POLYGON is available in a high lift variant for loading into on-farm mobile feeding equipment The POLYGON range comes in a variety of sizes from 4 to 39 cubic meter capacity, with cone angles of 45 and 67 degrees to accommodate storage of different materials. It has a 4” fill pipe, 6”

exhaust and the industry standard 450mm outlet. Options to discharge from the side of the silo are also available.

Additional features include seethrough hopper access doors, sight glasses, bagging off chutes, access and roof ladders complete with cage, weigh cell compatible feet.

The new POLYGON is available in a high lift variant for loading into on-farm mobile feeding equipment and can also be mounted on a drive through gantry for the convenience of lorry loading.

Our design team have considered all client’s requirements, from planning issues to aesthetics of new developments, to client's purchase and supply conveniences. The POLYGON can be supplied in a range of colours and is supplied as complete units in the UK via a purpose-built wagon, allowing your POLYGON investment to be positioned and bolted down easily

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and efficiently.

For overseas markets, the supply of the POLYGON is in kit form, allowing for up to 25 silos to be placed in a container (dependent upon the size of silos) for world-wide shipping. If needed, we can also provide erection supervision.

We offer a full range of centreless auger systems in 75mm, 90mm and 130mm to complement this new and enviable range of POLYGON silos.

For further information, please call us on: 01724 282828 or email: info@bentallrowlands.co.uk

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| Cereals

New machinery makes its mark at Cereals 2015 A range of new and updated machines from some of the best-known manufacturers in the business will make their debut at Cereals 2015. isitors will be able to assess the latest tractors and examine new drilling and cultivation equipment at the event.

Hundreds of stands will display a range of other equipment, and some machines will be brought to life in the 5ha of Working Demonstrations.

TRACTORS Case IH’s new Puma range incorporates seven models from 150-240hp. The six-cylinder power units meet European Stage IV (Tier 4 Final) emission regulations that minimise fuel consumption and maximise performance.

The new Magnum Rowtrac 380 CVX also makes its Cereals debut. The tractor retains the front wheel configuration of the Magnum 380 on which it is based, but sports tracks instead of rear wheels.

Spearheading the John Deere range of midsize tractors are the new six-cylinder 6175R, 6195R and 6215R large-frame models making their Cereals debut.

The tractors feature Stage IV/Final Tier 4 engines feature enhanced manoeuvrability, improved operator comfort and extended service intervals. They are powered by 6.8-litre John Deere PowerTech PVS/PSS engines rated from 175 to 215hp.

New Holland is showing its recently relaunched T8 range, with Tier 4B engines, which offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Power is increased across the range and torque curves have been improved, peaking

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at 1300-1500rpm and improving fuel efficiency.

New Holland’s new LM Elite model telehandler features more engine power (143hp compared to 121hp) and improved transmission featuring a 6x3 Powershift. The machine is capable of speeds up to 40kph.

DRILLS Kuhn Farm Machinery’s new 6m minimum tillage drill is designed to maximise speed, accuracy and efficiency. The new Espro, which is being launched at Cereals, can be pulled by a 200 hp tractor and drill accurately at speeds up to 17km/h.

Weaving is launching its new zero-till GD Drill, which features a patented GD coulter that provides low soil disturbance with a very low draught requirement of 40hp/m, according to the company.

Claydon is launching a new 8m version of its Hybrid T trailed drill at Cereals. Capable of up to 70ha/day, the drill employs Claydon’s Direct Strip Till Seeding System to sow directly into stubble, in min-till situations or on ploughed/cultivated land.

Dale Drills is exhibiting its new Eco-T drill designed for smaller farms. The machine comes in 3–6m widths and uses the company’s Eco-Drill assemblies mounted on a trailed frame in a threerow stagger.

Kverneland is showing its newly launched Kultistrip. Individual strip till rows, which can be set 45-75cm apart, are connected by a springloaded parallelogram system to follow the ground contours. A 520mm diameter disc opens the soil

and cuts long trash, followed by trash-wheels that disperse residues, leaving a clean strip of earth.

Lincolnshire based strip-till specialist Sly Agri now offers a 9m Stripcat2 cultivator suitable for beet, OSR and maize establishment and liquid fertiliser injection.

Amazone is showing the latest incarnation of its AD-P Special power harrow/drill combination, which offers automatic headland shut-off, variable rate seeding and push button in-cab calibration.

Making its debut in the UK at this year’s Cereals event will be the grain-only version of the new Great Plains 4m Centurion CDA 400 cultivator drill. It will stand alongside its larger 6m counterpart, the Centurion CDA 600, which has recently benefited from various upgrades.

CULTIVATORS Amazone’s new Certos heavy compact disc harrow is designed to deal with high levels of trash such as that produced by cover and catch crops and maize grown on energy contracts.

Dal-Bo’s new Maxiroll, shown for the first time in the UK at Cereals, is designed to optimise germination of blackgrass by creating a shallow seed-bed close behind the combine.

Vaderstad is showing two recently launched cultivator ranges at Cereals. The Carrier L and XL range have 51cm/61cm diameter notched discs with adjustable working angles and are available in 4.25-8.25m working widths. Tools including straw harrow, CrossCutter Knife and CrossBoard can be fitted, and three packers are available to ensure good soil to trash contact in a range of soils.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly |21

| Diet Feeders

Featured Dealers:

Ravenhill Hereford, Herefordshire HR4 9QJ T: 01432 352333 www.ravenhill.co.uk

Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 5EH T: 01455 209300 www.manitou.co.uk

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

Market Weighton,York YO43 3GA T: 01430 875900 Brigg, North Lincs DN2 8NF T: 01652 654944 www.farmstar.co.uk

Robert D. Webster Driffield East Yorkshire YO25 4RF T: 01262 420226 www.robertdwebster.co.uk

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| Cereals

HBD spreaders in demand Although the majority of machines that Bunning produce are still twin vertical auger, they are seeing year on year, a marked increase in demand for the HBD spinning disc models. he bulk of these spinning disc models are being specified with weigh cells and automatic application rate control, so the desire for people to achieve better results from manure spreading is being met by Bunning two fold.

One is the greater processing and more even spread patterns of products by the HBD twin horizontal beater and spinning disc design, and the other is through the use of the accurate weighing system which delivers optimum application rates.

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HBD spreaders are being used by contractors and farmers alike, handling Limex 70, lime, chalk, poultry litter, bio solids, farm yard manure, paper waste, composts and digestate’s to name but a few!

The HBD design is available on the Lowlander 105 Mk4 right through to the Lowlander Widebody 380.

One of the key features of the weighing system is the fact that it is a continuous live process that is monitoring weight loss from the machine with area being covered.

The operator inputs the bout width and target application rate, the computer then controls the floor

speed adjusting when necessary to maintain the target rate. This is critical to make sure the correct amount is applied from the start of the load to the end.

Research into flow rates of different products has proven that there is a dramatic effect on flow rates in relation to floor speed and amount in the body of the spreader. Other manufacturer’s systems are volumetric which do not account for variations in product density or flow rates at different load levels.

Machines supplied with the ‘auto rate control’ can be adjusted whilst on the move to achieve

more or less than the target rate or simply switched to manual operation. Automatic variable rate application control through GPS is as standard.

More accurate spread patterns of high value products like chicken manure and lime from the vertical auger machines can be achieved through the use of options like the tried and tested ‘detachable spinner deck’ or increasingly popular ‘simple canopy’.

A range of HBD models will be on stand to view at Cereals this year or for further information contact Bunnings.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Cereals

Hot off the production line for Cereals 2015!

The first M7001 agricultural tractors for the UK market will be rolling off Kubota’s production line ready to take centre stage on the leading machinery supplier’s stand at this year’s Cereals event (10-11 June). uilt at the company’s new manufacturing facility in Northern France, the M7001 Series is Kubota’s most powerful tractor to date.

Available in three models (M7131, M7151 and M7171), the Series is ideal for carrying out a wide range of jobs on both mixed and arable fixed and comes with a host of features to maximise performance, reliability and

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operator comfort and control.

Mike Bywater, Kubota’s Agricultural Product Manager, commented: “The M7001 Series is an extremely exciting launch for Kubota as we move into the mainstream agricultural market.

There has been a lot of interest since this Series was first unveiled at LAMMA so we are delighted they are now coming off the factory line ready for our UK customers.”

Along with the M7001, visitors to

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MGX-II tractor also on stand

Kubota’s stand will also be able to see special show editions of its new RTVX900 utility vehicle and its MGX135-II tractor – which have been custom designed for the launch of these two updated models.

The two custom machines are on display to show visitors what’s possible, acting as a focal point to attract new people to our stand.”

A whole host of other machines from Kubota’s product line-up will

also be on display at the show, from its industry leading compact tractors, to a number of groundcare solutions and its M Series tractor range, like its new MGX-II. For more information on Kubota and its extensive range of solutions for the groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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| Cereals

New software will help maximise return on inputs Agrovista is launching two online tools at Cereals 2015 to help farmers manage their seed and chemical inputs more effectively to help ensure the best return on these investments.

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xis MapIT Pro data manager is the latest addition to Axis, Agrovista’s cloud-based agronomy management system designed to help farmers streamline their record-keeping

and data flow.

“The amount of information farmers have to deal with is growing exponentially as the adoption of decision support and precision farming systems grows,” says the company’s Lewis Mckerrow. “MapIT Pro software will allow many pieces of the Precision Farming jigsaw to fall into place.”

One of the new software’s key roles will be to underpin variable rate drilling plans, says Mr Mckerrow. The software crunches crop biomass data scanned several times over a season, from establishment through to early yield prediction at ear emergence, to create field zones.

Once other known variables are accounted for (eg slug damage, frost heave), a zone map can be created, and from this a variable seed plan can be set up.

“The MapIT Pro data manager allows these maps to be created easily,” says Mr Mckerrow.

“To make a seed map, the user can choose to use an existing layer of data such as soil conductivity, yield or biomass maps, and the programme will then turn these into zoned maps at the press of a button. All the user needs to do is to add seed rates to each zone and press download.

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“Another option is to start with a blank field boundary and draw seed zones manually. There are several simple tools that act like ‘crayons’ to split up fields and save the zones.”

These zone layers can be selected and modified, based on subsequent plant counts and biomass scans of the crop, after the seeding plan had been applied.

An area of MapIT Pro still under development is a powerful data assessment tool that will use yield data, grain prices, diesel cost and seed cost to assess return on investment to help select the optimum seed rate when the crop is next grown in the field.

“This will effectively allow growers to check the benefits and make decisions for the next crop rather than just reviewing what happened in the last season,” Mr Mckerrow adds.

Axis subscribers are invited to bring their memory cards to the Agrovista stand (427) for a demonstration of the new MapIT Pro system using their own data live.

Highly accurate forecasting service Another Agrovista development at Cereals is the new Plantsystems weather forecast, which aims to offer the most accurate and suitable weather predictions available to help with daily decision making.

“This is essential information for any agribusiness,” says Plantsystems’ James Martin.

“As well as input costs and ultimately profits being at stake if the weather turns, environmental and end-market pressures mean

businesses must be able to justify inputs and operate with more efficiency.”

The forecast is updated automatically, and shows three days with three-hour windows at the finest level of detail. A two-week overview is also included.

Spray opportunity windows are shown as well as other useful weather conditions such as soil temperature (useful for drilling/planting as well as some spray products), evaporation rates (to indicate irrigation requirement) and hours of sunlight as a guide for crop growth.

The forecast also calculates the effectiveness of an application of herbicides, fungicides or insecticides depending on the weather conditions.

In addition, the forecast includes a range of crop disease modules from pasture through to potatoes. Subscription gives the user access to a five-day forecast for the main diseases that may affect the crop.

“The forecast is based on a 15-mile grid covering the whole of the UK meaning we should have an accurate forecast for pretty much anywhere,” says Mr Martin.

“Its accuracy combined with the advanced features and convenience of an online service means we will have the best forecasting tool available in the marketplace.”

Agrovista is exhibiting on stand 427 at Cereals 2015. For further information contact Nick Rainsley at nick.rainlsey@agrovista.co.uk or on 07770 981859.

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| Cereals

New Holland Agriculture opens pavilion at EXPO Milano 2015 New Holland Agriculture opened the doors of its EXPO pavilion on 1st May and is the only agricultural equipment manufacturer to have a pavilion at this high profile international event. The company’s EXPO presence will feature a series of events and conferences, all linked to sustainable farming and the promotion of agricultural mechanization as an efficient solution for feeding the world. key exhibitor at EXPO Milano 2015, New Holland’s Sustainable Farm Pavilion is expected to attract millions of visitors over the 184 days of the global event. Boasting striking architecture and a host of interactive visitor features, the Pavilion will celebrate New Holland’s heritage, share the agricultural passion of its customers, and inspire future generations. As a symbol, it features the revolutionary T6 Methane Power tractor, which stands proudly on the sloping roof of the pavilion, welcoming visitors to the New Holland display.

EXPO Milano 2015 will feature a long season of exhibitions, events and conferences: each designed to educate visitors on the core role of agricultural mechanization in the food production supply chain. New Holland will be celebrating the role of farmers who use its equipment and technology day after day to provide food all over the world, while respecting the environment and protecting natural resources.

Intrinsically linked to the EXPO theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, the New Holland pavilion was inspired by the Clean Energy Leader strategy launched by the brand in 2006. This theme is reflected in the pavilion’s concept, construction and the thematic visit experience. It aims to reduce farmers' over-

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reliance on fossil fuels and promote the use of bioenergy in crop production, with particular focus on the Energy Independent Farm project. This project provides farmers with ideas and technological solutions for independent production of all the energy needed on the farm, in a continuous and renewable cycle.

One of the very visible symbols of this innovative, efficient and clean technology at EXPO Milano 2015 is New Holland’s visionary T6 Methane Power tractor. Fuelled by biomethane, the T6 Methane Power is a live example of how environmental issues can drive innovation.

A visitor to the pavilion will share the company’s present and future plans for an agricultural industry that can produce more food, using resources wisely, eliminating waste and protecting the environment.

Among the themes illustrated in the Sustainable Farm Pavilion, two stand out for their significance. The first, The Seeds of Life Series is a documentary video telling the story of the lives and daily challenges of nine Agricultural Heroes and New Holland customers. It shows how they strive to cherish tradition methods, while embracing innovation to achieve clean and healthy food production.

The second is the timeline gallery that celebrates 120 years of New Holland. From its birth in 1895 in New Holland, Pennsylvania, the

gallery reveals the ingenuity of the company’s founding pioneers and celebrates a host of innovations and technological solutions that they have brought to market. It shows how the company’s efforts have gradually relieved the burden of farming: making it more productive, profitable, and certainly more reliable and sustainable.

In the words of New Holland Agriculture Brand President Carlo Lambro on the eve of the EXPO Milano 2015 inauguration: "This is a unique opportunity to give millions of potential visitors a close-up view of New Holland and to show them what we do. We are the only agricultural equipment manufacturer with its own pavilion at EXPO and we have dedicated significant resource to ensuring that we exploit the opportunity fully. The team has gone the extra mile to ensure that visitors benefit from a compelling, inspiring and memorable experience.

“The Expo is creating plenty of employment opportunities too. For the six-months of the event we'll employ around 140 people: including technicians, support staff, hostesses and stewards. Many of these are CNH Industrial employees' family members, who've responded enthusiastically to the opportunity.

I'm personally extremely proud of what we've managed to achieve and of the fact that New Holland is playing a key role in a high profile event on the world stage."

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| Cereals

Contact your nearest dealer: Central Cropsprayers Limited Unit J Sandford Industrial Park Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 2AN 01948 840187 www.centralcropsprayers.co.uk

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

Sprayer Spares Ltd Unit 2-3 Moorlands Trading Estate Moor Lane Metheringham Lincoln LN4 3HX 01526 323521 www.sprayerspares-ltd.co.uk

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| Cereals

Red Tractor success for Ben and Emma Graves Part of the Scheme for more than 15 years, Beef from Barnstones Farm can be trusted as having been produced using the highest standards.

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ed Tractor beef farmer Ben Graves was just 13 when he went down to the local cattle market to buy his

first two cows.

“They were called Molly and Dorris,” he said, “and I paid £840 for one and £910 for the other.

“I used money that I had scrimped and saved from working for my dad on his pig farm, plus any other money I could find.

“I guess it was daunting but I had always wanted to be a farmer.”

Fast forward from those humble beginnings, Ben and his wife Emma now have more than 400 cattle to look after at Barnstones Farm in Northamptonshire.

Their herd is made up of 150 breeding/ suckler cows that are bred to be good mothers and those that produce the best-tasting British beef when it ends up on dinner plates across the country.

“Our cattle are from three main

breeds which are called Simmental, Charollais and Aberdeen Angus and the beef we produce ends up as steak, mince, joints and all the other beef products you see with the Red Tractor logo on the packet in the shops,” Ben said.

“We supply shops like Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.”

The farm has been part of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme for more than 15 years, meaning that an independent inspector can arrive with little or no notice to look at things like how the cattle are fed, looked after or treated when they are sick.

It also means that the beef that Ben and Emma produce is fully traceable back to the farm it came from and that it has been born, reared and slaughtered in Britain.

Shoppers can support farmers like Ben and Emma by looking for the Red Tractor logo on food packaging when they go to the supermarket, or asking their

28 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

butcher if the meat they are buying is Red Tractor assured.

Emma said: “Being Red Tractor assured is a good way for us to ensure that everything we are doing is to a high standard and it’s

good to have that seal of approval to know that you’re doing things the way that they should be done.

“It’s a way of showing that you’re a good farmer every day of the week.”

Barnstones Farm factbox • Ben and Emma breed from 150 cows but when calves are born in the spring that roughly doubles their herd. They keep all their livestock on-farm until it goes to Red Tractor assured abattoirs and have about 420 animals in total to look after at the moment • They graze cattle over 350 acres of grassland – about the same size as 700 football pitches • They have 6 stock bulls – they are all named after who they were bought from… except Gazza… that was the name he came with!

• They like to cross-breed their cattle, creating a mongrel cow who produces beefy calves, and who has enough milk to fill their bellies • They electronically tag all of their cattle and scan them with a tagreader to record their weights, where the animal has been, how many calves they have had and whether they have had any animal medicine to treat sickness • Emma checks on some of the cattle before she goes to work in the morning, and is also in charge of keeping records of how the cattle are performing • Scheduled ‘date nights’ are often interrupted by Ben having to go to check on the calves • They are helped by Percy, the Spring Spaniel puppy

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| Cereals

Wessex to show range of equipment at Cereals Wessex International will be displaying a selection of machines for the farm from mowers and bale feeder to hedge cutters and the unique SweepEx brooms. et-aside maintenance to stubble chopping is all in a day’s work for the new Wessex range of heavy duty batwing mowers. The brief was to design a high output rotary mower with a blade tip speed and up-turn on the blades to allow a superb cut at fast forward speeds. And these fit the brief precisely. The Wessex batwings cover the ground fast so you get the most for your money from a range that suits tractors from 100hp upwards. There are five models from 4.8m to 8.0m

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Wessex International has launched a new range of tractor mounted hedgecutters for agricultural and public highway use Durability, versatility and low

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maintenance are words that have been used to describe the Hustler CH-2000 bale feeder. It’s a unique chainless bale feeder which happily handles round or square bales; or even long square ones, with its extension bar allowing feeding of up to 2.4m (8’) bales.

The machines are easy-to-use, with adjustable feed rates and simple operation.

Wessex International has launched a new range of tractor mounted hedgecutters for agricultural and public highway use. They range from 0.8m to

1.25m cutting widths and 20hp to 70hp power requirements, The flagship models, the T500G and TPE600 have a reach of 4.85m and 5.96m respectively with a 1.2m working width head, and both feature the option of cable controls or the EP-Tronic proportional control joystick for accurate manoeuvrability.

The Wessex SF Series Flail mowers are designed to meet the needs of the farmer who requires a robust flail for general pasture management, and the contractor who is looking to maintain areas of

grassland or roadside verges etc.

SweepEx brooms are great sweepers for forklifts, telehandlers, tractors and skidsteers, holding and moving bulk volumes easily and in the case of the SweepEx MegaMax, the patented side retainers hold the material in front of the brush and avoid spillage at the side. This also allows you to sweep close to a wall or curb without causing damage.

SweepEx are the first choice for grain stores. Contact Wessex International on 01264 345870 or www.wessexintl.com

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Feature

It will soon be time for the Royal Welsh Show Plans for the pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show, are well underway. The four-day spectacle will be held on 20- 23 July at the showground in Llanelwedd. he livestock classes last year attracted an unprecedented 8,000 plus entries from far and wide and we are expecting an equally high number again this year, promising a popular and exciting four-day’s of competitions.

In addition to the fantastic livestock, the great shopping and the free parking, the show provides something to interest everyone through its wide range of activities including forestry, horticulture,

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crafts, countryside sports, food and drink and a 12-hour programme each day of exciting entertainment, attractions and displays.

The big attractions in the main ring this year will be the incredible Metropolitan Police Activity Ride, the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motorcycle Display Team, Ye Olde Redtail Falconry Display, Merion Owen and the Quack Pack, Inter Hunt Relay and trotting competitions and much more.

On the first three days of the show there will also be a spectacular double aerial display from a

The countdown has begun to the 2015 Royal Three Counties Show Taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, The Three Counties Agricultural Society’s signature event will once again celebrate the very best of British farming and its rich heritage, alongside artisan food and thrilling family entertainment. hief Executive of the Three Counties Agricultural Society Ken Nottage said: “This year’s show is set to be bigger and better than ever before. We’ve got some wonderful new additions and also a greatly enhanced livestock area and equestrian ring. The society has worked hard to bring the industry’s finest to the Royal Three Counties Show and we’re hoping for another impressive turn out.”

NEW FOR 2015 • Olympic Gold Medallist Carl Hester MBE will display dressage to music in the Main Arena on Saturday afternoon.

• A chariot display from top stunt company The Devils Horsemen. Owned and run by the famous Naprous family, The Devils Horsemen

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have appeared in blockbuster films and famous television roles for many years. Recent examples have included Game of Thrones, Call The Midwife, Downton Abbey, Maleficent, Les Misérables, War Horse and The Kings Speech to name but a few.

• The Sheep Shearing Test Match, England V Wales. Visitors can see the top English shearers battle it out with pedigree Welsh shearers. World Championship winner and former England captain, Steve Lloyd will Chief Steward the match, bringing to the show his experience from the Golden Shears World Championships.

• The first ever hound show in the history of the Royal Three Counties Show will take place this year. The Saturday of the show will feature hounds that hunt within the Three Counties of

Hawker Hurricane and Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Visitors to the show will once again be able to make full use of the Royal Welsh Show App which will include a full timetable of events, competitions, results, information on local traffic and weather. The App will be available to download free from the iTunes Store and Google Play closer to the show.

For tickets and further information, please visit www.rwas.co.uk

Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, with individual classes for hounds and also beagles.

• BBC Countryfile star Adam Henson will be appearing on the Friday of the show. Adam will spend part of his time headlining in the new and improved Discovery Zone. Adam will be educating budding farmers on the story of milk and all things dairy at the ‘Discover Dairy’ exhibit. Also in this area will be the famous Sheep Show. A humorous educational live stage show, the Sheep Show features everything anyone ever wanted to know about our woolly friends and we welcome back the incredible dancing sheep!

• A greatly enhanced livestock area will be presided over by dedicated industry experts: Cattle Commentator Mr Clive Davies, Sheep Commentator Mark Roberts and Pig Commentator Tom Alty.

• The International Orchid Show will be inviting children and younger visitors to pot their own orchids. In 2014, the International Orchid Show won a Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and will be exhibiting at the Royal Three Counties Show. Together with many international nurseries, The Great British Orchid Society will appear in a 16,000sqft marquee featuring the finest examples in horticulture.

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| Feature

Great Yorkshire Show

Top fencing on show

With just a few short weeks to go until the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show, the first tickets are still flying out of the door for what will be the 157th show.

One of the most well respected names in their sector, visit Calders and Grandidge at the Great Yorkshire Show.

he first phone call to secure tickets came in as the office at the Great Yorkshire Showground opened for bookings a couple of months ago, followed by a steady stream of inquiries since.

Dates are Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July when more than 130,000 visitors are expected to attend what is England’s premier agricultural show. This will be the 10th for Bill Cowling as Honorary Show Director, and will be particularly poignant as he steps down from the “top job” on the last day.

The man who will lead the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live into the next decade is Charles Mills, who farms near York, and will succeed Bill Cowling as Honorary Show Director, at the close of this year’s Great Yorkshire on Thursday 16 July. Bill is stepping down after ten years in post, though his involvement will continue, as a member of the cattle committee.

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More than 130,000 visitors are expected to attend what is England’s premier agricultural show Over the years Charles has held a number of roles within the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, including Joint Chief Cattle Steward and as a member of the Society’s Council, its governing body. Away from the showground, his roles include chairing the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network. The Network raises concerns and issues from the county’s rural businesses and farmers to Government.

Announcing the appointment, Society Chairman, Simon Theakston said: “I am delighted that Charles is to be our new Honorary Show Director, succeeding Bill at the close of this year’s Great Yorkshire. He will continue the Society’s strong tradition of putting agriculture and rural life at the heart of our flagship event, as well as the continued success of our autumn event, Countryside Live.”

A Yorkshireman by birth, Charles farms at Woolas Grange, Appleton Roebuck, York which is a mixed arable rotation, with a 250 ewe flock as well as a small beef finishing enterprise.

Over the years his roles within

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the Society have been wide ranging. He has been a member of Council since 2002, he chairs the judging panel for the annual Tye Trophy Farming Awards which promotes farming excellence coupled with conservation practices, and has been a cattle steward for the last 11 years.

He has also played a significant role in the Society’s work with young people, serving on its Grants and Education Committee and running arable workshops at the Countryside Days event for primary school children held each June. He is also a member of the management committee of the Future Farmers of Yorkshire which was set up and is run by the Society.

Closer to home he is Vice Chairman of the Ainsty (2008) Internal Drainage Board, a past President of Tadcaster and Wetherby Young Farmers and a member of both the NFU and CLA. A first taste of his new position will come at this year’s Great Yorkshire when he will shadow Bill before accepting the crook of office in the show’s closing ceremony.

In terms of the show, some 12,000 entries across the competitive classes form the backbone to the farming showcase, from champion bulls to rabbits to poultry. Heading the Main Ring programme this year will be the fast and furious Shetland Pony Grand National which sees youngsters race head to head on their speedy mini mounts around the arena.

Elsewhere, visitors will find demonstrations of country skills, fashion shows, exhibitions of regional food and drink and exciting ring displays.

Tickets are available either online - or by calling 01423 541222.

t is testament to the strength and conviction of Calders and Grandidge that they have been trading since 1820 from the same 46 acre site in Boston and have grown into market leaders in the supply of Agricultural, Equine and Parkland Fencing in the UK in either traditional Creosote or AC500 Green/Brown materials which is applied through an impregnation process and which is then delivered nationwide via our distribution network. Calders and Grandidge are able to supply their fencing material in pack lots or full loads in traditional post and rails (round and square), sleepers, telegraph poles, field gates which are handmade on site in their joinery facility. Their standard range of Fencing is of the traditional variety however they are able to offer round stake fencing and also bespoke projects to customer specifications.

Calders and Grandidge supply a diverse customer range including Private Farm Estates, Stud Farms and Racing Stables,

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Fencing Contractors and Agricultural outlets covering the UK with a quality range of fencing.

Calders and Grandidge are able to supply their fencing material in pack lots or full loads As you would expect for a wellrespected company like Calders and Grandidge they are FSC/PEFC certified ensuring a sustainable supply of timber and comply fully to EUTR regulations for importation of timber, this is also coupled with being compliant to ISO 9001, 14001 and 22301, in addition Calders and Grandidge are members of the Wood Preservers Association and its Benchmark treatment scheme.

Additionally Calders and Grandidge are proud holders of the Royal Warrant for supply of preservative treated timbers to the Royal Estates.

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

Tickets bought in advance Adult: £23 Concession: £22 Children: £10 Family: £56 Tickets bought on the gate Adult £26 Concession:£25 Children: £12 Family: £64 Parking is free and extensive.

Please note that dogs other than assistance dogs are not allowed on the showground.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Security

New rural crime statistics released New figures for rural crime reports show a 16 per cent reduction across the Avon and Somerset area. he force began a new method of assessing the impact of rural crime in February 2014 by recording the number of crimes against businesses or properties which rely on the land for a living.

Initiatives we’ve used to tackle rural crime in that time have been the Horse and Farm Watch schemes, operations against burglaries and the training of even more officers and PCSOs in countryside crimes such as poaching.

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“Nationally and regionally there is plenty of determination and energy going into fighting rural crime which means that sharing resources and ideas is better than it ever has been.”

Sgt Stuart Williams of the Rural Crime Team said: “Naturally we’re very pleased about these figures, but we can’t be complacent whilst there are new victims and new offences every day.

32 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

“Nationally and regionally there is plenty of determination and energy going into fighting rural crime which means that sharing resources and ideas is better than it ever has been.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset is a member of the National Rural Crime Network of about 20 forces, and locally the force is a member of a regional group as well as organising a forum.

Its members include the Exmoor National Park Authority, NFU, South West Business Forum, Environment Agency, Country Landowners’ Association and Trading Standards officers.

The number of rural crimes recorded from 1 February to 30 April 2014 was 223. This compares to 187 in the corresponding months this year.

Across all the rural beats within Avon and Somerset in those same periods there was a 5.4 per cent reduction of recorded crime; from 6,663 to 6,301.

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| Livestock

Listening and learning at the Farm Health Planning seminars

Livestock Event: Farm Health Planning seminars – the joint farmer-vet approach Farmers and their vets will be teaming up to share how they are proactively addressing some of the most common and challenging health issues found on dairy and beef units in the Farm Health Planning seminars to be staged at Livestock Event at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. rganised by the Cattle Health and Welfare Group and chaired by British Cattle Veterinary Association, each seminar will be led by a farmer with his respective vet explaining how they are collaborating in solving various challenges.

Topics include the role of vets in targeted fertility programmes for the future, enhancing mastitis management on farm with a focus on the parlour, the challenges and benefits of calf rearing in tight spring calving herds and the importance of compliance in controlling BVD. The seminars will be staged in the Animal Health

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Zone where there will be ample opportunity for further discussion with the speakers after each presentation which will qualify for DairyPro points.

FHP co-ordinator, Laura Randall commented: “The FHP seminars have grown in popularity year on year indicating their real value to those that attend the event. The format using farmers and their vets delivering their ‘real life’ story in short punchy seminars is a model that we have seen appreciated by farmers and their advisors in tackling these challenges in an effective manner - an approach that we hope will work for them when they return to their farms.”

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Dairy farmers should look out for their INVITATION to Livestock Event found in this month’s All Things Dairy issued by DairyCo. Northern Ireland producers will receive one from their milk buyer.

The INVITATION from RABDF chairman, Ian Macalpine will provide them with the opportunity to download one FREE TICKET to the event, for either Wednesday 8 or Thursday 9 July.

Visit us at stand SI300 to see it live.

The NFU has also sent a free ticket INVITATION to all its beef and sheep farmer members, as has LMC in Northern Ireland.

To obtain the free ticket, farmers simply go to www.livestockevent.co.uk/offer , before midnight on Tuesday 7 July, enter the unique six digit code on the invitation card, print off the ETICKET and bring to the event. Whilst on line, they can also purchase an additional ticket for their partner or stockman at a 25% discount.

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> Bosta UK Ltd. Olding Road Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk IP33 3TA

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Livestock

Don’t forget: 1 FREE complimentary ticket for every dairy farm Reduced rate tickets also available for partners and herdsmen. cutely aware of the UK dairy industry’s extraordinary difficult times, the Royal Association of British Dairy

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Farmers, is providing every UK dairy farm with one complimentary ticket. All farmers will also have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets for partners and herdsmen at a favourably reduced rate.

High-spec separator from Bauer produces cubicle bedding A purpose-built screw press separator is at the core of successful on-farm cubicle bedding production using the FAN system from Bauer.

See us at

Stand Si 305 & 308

34 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

ompared with the standard separators used for improved slurry management, the Green Bedding separator has a larger diameter screw tube, which results in the screw flights being shallower to exert increased pressure, there are sharp-edged grooves to cut long lengths of straw and silage in the slurry, and the auger floats within the heavy-duty screen to protect the bearings.

“Extracting sufficient moisture to achieve the 36-38% dry matter required for bedding material puts big demands on separators,” emphasises Adrian Tindall. “Other machines can do it – but what sets the FAN Green Bedding separator

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apart is its ability to produce bedding consistently, at an acceptable output.

“And at an acceptable cost, in terms of power consumption and maintenance,” he adds. “The high throughput capability of the Green Bedding separator means it doesn’t operate for as long as other machines to produce the same amount of material, and the low wear rate of the screw and screen is phenomenal compared with other separators I’ve seen.”

In other words, the FAN Green Bedding separator from Bauer is the ‘real deal’ when it comes to economical production of the soft, highly attractive bedding material for cubicles that cows love to lie on.

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| Livestock

New dawn for Landia’s pig slurry pumps and mixers “After 21 years, one of our Landia slurry pumps actually got to see daylight” ou can’t fault Landia’s slurry pumps and mixers,” added Chris, who uses the equipment to transfer pig slurry from one pit to another – and then to a 20’ high store at J.E. Carter & Sons in Hoole, Lancashire.

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Wholly submerged in slurry, Landia’s two DG pumps (18.5kW) at J.E. Carter & Sons are built to handle thick and highly corrosive fluids

See us at Livestock Event Stand 367

See us at Royal Highland Avenue E

“Landia’s pumps and mixers have never failed us”, he continued. They’ve been in our

pits for over two decades, working away, dealing endlessly with slurry, which has to be mixed properly and also pumped over long distances”.

Wholly submerged in slurry, Landia’s two DG pumps (18.5kW) at J.E. Carter & Sons are built to handle thick and highly corrosive fluids, whilst Landia’s PODB (15kW) mixers (designed with a 2blade clogging free propeller) benefit from a double mechanical sealing system between the electric motor and the surrounding liquid. More info at www.landia.co.uk

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Livestock

Livestock Event: Healthy Feet workshop and hoof trimming demsonstrations

Foot trimming demonstration

Cattle and sheep farmers will be able to get a new grip on lameness by visiting two practical demonstrations and workshops at Livestock Event to be staged at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. he Healthy Feet workshop designed to help dairy farmers reduce the number of lame cows within the herd will be returning supported by DairyCo. Some of the latest R&D findings on factors impacting on lameness levels will be discussed by industry specialists, with accompanying advice on early effective treatment.

In addition, the popular foot trimming demonstrations will be staged four times a day

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and feature the most popular techniques by Danish examined trimmer Ole Ebbesen and Lancashire based professional trimmer, Norman Walker. Each will be supported by independent commentary with additional information provided on locomotion.

Livestock Event director, Matt Knight commented: “Cattle and sheep lameness is one of the most significant welfare and productivity issues impacting on livestock farmers businesses. The Healthy Feet workshop is designed to help farmers focus on

the prevention and management of cattle and sheep lameness, whilst the ever popular foot trimming demonstrations will provide another valued source of take home information.”

Acutely aware of the UK dairy industry’s extraordinary difficult times, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, is providing every UK dairy farm with one complimentary ticket. All farmers will also have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets for partners and herdsmen at a favourably reduced rate.

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| Livestock

Queens award recognises company for ‘hygiene security’ from the farm to the fork Evans Vanodine is delighted and honoured to have been named as a winner of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise – recognised as Britain’s most coveted prize for business success. he award has been received in the category of International Trade, recognition of its outstanding overseas sales growth over the last three years.

The company currently exports to 72 countries worldwide, with a further 10 countries serviced by licensed manufacturing units overseas. Over the last three years new sales territories have been added, such as New Zealand and South Africa.

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“Winning a Queen’s award is a great honour for Evans Vanodine and is a testament to the efforts of the entire company to be the best in our field” Evans Vanodine is a family owned company which has been developing and manufacturing consistent, efficient and cost effective products for the professional user for over 95 years. Its products cover an extensive range of applications for animal health, food process, industrial and janitorial sectors. It is one of very few companies manufacturing products which

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give hygiene security from the farm to the fork.

Evans Vanodine has built a reputation based on innovation and commitment to research and development, ensuring a flow of new and improved formulations. In-house laboratories enable the company to deliver quality and consistency at every stage of production and the company has achieved accreditation by the British Standards Institution under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. The UKAS accredited Microbiology laboratory is approved to test disinfectants against European Standard test methods, which ensures products are fit for purpose and that bactericidal claims are substantiated, with test profiles available to customers.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, recognises outstanding achievements by UK companies in three categories: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. The awards are announced annually by HM The Queen with an official presentation made to each company by The Lord-Lieutenant of the County. Representatives from each winning business are also invited to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace. Previous winners include Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, Johnson & Johnson Medical and

the Tangle Teezer, as featured on Dragon’s Den. Peter Thompson, International Sales Manager said “Winning a Queen’s award is a great honour for Evans Vanodine and is a testament to the efforts of the entire company to be the best in our field. Development of our International business is an essential cornerstone on which the future of the business is built and to be recognised with this award is confirmation that we are successful in our efforts to operate on a global scale”.

To find out more about the entire Evans product range, or to find your nearest distributor, contact Sales on 01772 322200 or visit www.evansvanodine.co.uk

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Livestock

Keenan’s Productivity Guarantee Plan a beacon of hope with endprice uncertainty With continuing uncertainty for milk prices, never has it been so important to monitor input costs and ensure that maximum value is being achieved from all feeds used. ith this in mind, be sure and call to the Keenan stand at this years Livestock event in the NEC. The longestablished market leader for mixer wagons in the UK will be showcasing their InTouch technology, which together with the legendary Keenan mixer help ensure that all animals are getting exactly what they need every day.

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On display will be the Mech-fiber® 380, a machine capable of feeding up to 150 milking cows in one load. Alongside will be a Mech-fiber® 340, the ideal compact machine for most mid-sized units Keenan see this technology as so revolutionary and having such a positive

38 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

impact on the bottom line of farmers using it that they are now giving a guarantee on the result.

Central to this Productivity Guarantee Plan is its belief in achieving a feed cost reduction of 4 pence per litre within 3 year.

And 50% of this target is guaranteed by the end of year 2.

So why not call along to the Keenan stand, see and hear why Keenan is the company that dairy and beef customers should be talking with to ensure a better bottom line for themselves.

On display will be the Mech-fiber® 380, a machine capable of feeding up to 150 milking cows in one load. Alongside will be a Mech-fiber® 340, the ideal compact machine for most mid-sized units. Keenan specialists will be on hand to discuss any queries you may have on either the machines or more importantly how they are willing to guarantee a minimum 2 pence per litre reduction in your feed costs!

Company Chairman Gerard Keenan

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| Livestock

Livestock Event: Forage Field making more from forage All farmers will be able to learn how to make more from forage and subsequently cut costs by visiting Livestock Event, at The NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July. he popular Forage Field demonstration area will be returning and offering visitors professional technical advice and information on a comprehensive range of aspects which impact on forage production – not only grass but also other crops including clovers and Lucerne.

Forage Field will include some of the latest research and development findings on soil

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management for improved crop growth and utilisation, maintaining a quality sward, grazing well and ensiling to minimise losses. There will also be an opportunity to check out the latest grass varieties and mixtures.

The feature will be located within the Feeds and Forage Zone and is being jointly organised by the British Grassland Society and the event organisers, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. Additional technical support will be provided by

DairyCo, Dow Agrosciences, Germinal, Biotal and Volac.

Event director, Matt Knight comments: “Aware that forage is the cheapest form of feed, grassland management is going to be in the forefront of farmers’ minds at this year’s event. Forage Field will provide all visitors with an opportunity to take home sound practical advice that can be implemented immediately on farm.

They will also be able to explore the latest findings including ideas for new cropping which will enable

them to rethink their management systems and how they can make more from homegrown forage.”

Acutely aware of the UK dairy industry’s extraordinary difficult times, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, is providing every UK dairy farm with one complimentary ticket. All farmers will also have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets for partners and herdsmen at a favourably reduced rate.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Livestock

Coming soon….the new ADF Milking are pleased to announce the launch of the new ADF5 at Livestock Event 2015 – automatic dipping and flushing just got better!

DF Milking is the market leader in providing farmers around the world with the ultimate solution for automatically dipping cows’ teats and individually flushing each liner. Now with ADF5, farmers can start benefiting from an even better solution.

ADF5 has five new features for improved performance and greater efficiency. Firstly, the new Dual Injection gravity valve improves the direction that the teat dip is applied, giving better teat coverage, better protection, better teat condition – and you’ll use even less dip.

The stronger, even more durable cluster of ADF5 has the innovative Hoodlock as standard, designed to prevent the hood of the liner becoming dislodged from the shell in the event of the cow treading on the cluster. The shells are made from superior grade materials making them more resilient within the parlour. An enhanced cluster bowl design creates a unique soft interface preventing damage to silicone milk tubes. Upgraded engineering means that every ADF5 cluster has improved seals, increased strength and durability – exactly where it’s needed.

ADF5 incorporates the latest in digital technology ensuring even greater reliability and more features. Primarily ADF5 allows for remote

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access allowing the system to be contacted remotely thereby saving on unnecessary service call outs. For example, in the case of low mains water supply pressure the ADF5 will self-monitor, automatically shut down to protect itself and log the error. Once water pressure is restored the ADF5 will automatically restart.

The upgraded and streamlined pump set of the ADF5 comprises industrial grade pumps for both teat dip and water. All inputs – teat dip, sanitizer, water and compressed air – are filtered to prevent potential contamination of the system from environmental factors thereby enhancing reliability. More compact and aesthetically superior, the pump set incorporates industrial grade components

designed for life.

With ADF5, accumulators are incorporated as standard to ensure extremely consistent delivery of dip quantity, even in the largest of parlours. The accumulator is a pressure reservoir ensuring precisely calibrated quantities of teat dip are applied to each and every teat.

Visit the ADF Milking stand at Livestock Event 2015 (MK250) to find out more about the new ADF5 or contact us now to arrange a farm visit and we will provide you with a comprehensive, personalised report detailing the potential savings you will make when you install ADF5 on your farm.

The best just got better.

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| Renewables

UK AD & Biogas 2015 With almost a hundred new agricultural plants having been built last year alone, the on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) market is taking off. ogether with extracting value from farm wastes such as manures, slurries and outgrades, AD can complement food production by forming a crucial component of a sustainable agricultural rotation; making break and cover crops economic while maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. Importantly, farmers can incorporate crops for AD as break, cover or catch options, use unproductive marginal land or otherwise support food production and their existing businesses. This can increase subsequent yields of food crops and help keep farmers farming.

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“Every AD plant is effectively bespoke in terms of what feedstock it has readily available and how much time you have to operate it” There are therefore a whole range of reasons to integrate AD in your business, in addition to generating renewable energy. One small scale mixed dairy and arable farmer, Stephen Temple (Director of JF Temple & Son Ltd), explained his decision to install a 170kW plant on their farm in Norfolk, saying: “we needed to comply with NVZ restrictions on dairy slurry which were being introduced at the time, and wanted to

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ensure some financial return on the investment.

We also had a heat requirement which AD could satisfy.”

This year’s UK AD & Biogas 2015 trade show - http://adbioresources.org/uk-ad-biogas-2015 at the NEC in Birmingham on 1-2 July will advise farmers on the challenges and priorities involved in operating an AD plant through tailored sessions on various topics; including finance, business plans, different technologies, training and case studies. The event’s conference panels will assess: new financing options; how to maximise outputs from land; how to tackle public perceptions around concerns such as traffic and odour; how to manage sustainability criteria; and new developments in small-scale on-farm AD. Alistair Wannop (Managing Director of Linstock Castle AD), a medium scale operator with a mixed dairy and arable farm, commented that “choosing the right technology for your farm is essential. Every AD plant is effectively bespoke in terms of what feedstock it has readily available and how much time you have to operate it.” For farmers seeking to diversify into AD, therefore, the advice on offer at UK AD & Biogas will be crucial – getting the right technology and a firm understanding from the outset is vital to maximising financial returns. It is not just industry experts on-hand, however, as there will also be other on-farm operators at the event and, as Stephen Temple added, “talk to as many operators with similar size plants,

with similar feedstock, as possible before making any commitment. Talk to those who have been maintaining the proposed equipment for some time before accepting the equipment in your installation.”

As with any investment, you need to do your research thoroughly – and UK AD & Biogas 2015 offers comprehensive advice and background information for farmers through: farmer-led breakfast meetings; one-to-one advice clinics with our experienced, independent experts from ADBA’s free Farmers’ Consultancy service; and exhibitors demonstrating the latest AD technology.

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| Renewables

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| Renewables

Study results reveal key to improved biogas yields At UK AD & Biogas, the University of Aarhus will be revealing important findings into biogas yields from a major study carried out at a farm-based AD plant in northern Denmark. rom 11am (until 11.55am) at the Purple Seminar Zone, the University’s Alastair James Ward will explain how Landia’s externally-mounted GasMix system significantly enhances gas yields by mixing the entire contents of a digester.

For founder ADBA members Landia, this is the first time that the leading pump and mixer manufacturer has been featured in a UK AD & Biogas seminar, with the company later offering a full copy of the eagerly awaited University Study at their B101 stand.

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GasMix offers quicker and cheaper installation, as well as low maintenance costs Compared to traditional, mechanical mixing, Landia state that GasMix offers quicker and cheaper installation, as well as low maintenance costs because all components are placed on the outside of the tank. There is also a far more efficient anaerobic process and therefore a much quicker gas production.

Also presenting at the 11am ‘Operational Performance – Innovation & Process’ session are representatives from Schmack Biogas, Uponor and New Generation Biogas.

Call 01948 661 200 for further details.

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Renewables

The customer in Scandinavia ordered two tanks each 12 metres long by 2.55 metres wide with a capacity of 100m3

SlurryKat launches new mobile nurse tanks to aid with digestate spreading A new range of mobile holding tanks to aid with the spreading of digestate from biogas and anaerobic digestion plants has been launched by SlurryKat in Northern Ireland. esponding to increased demand in the Nordic countries, the engineering division at SlurryKat, based in Waringstown, Co Armagh, have designed and built the ‘mobile nurse tank’ which acts as the master tank when spreading digestate with an

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umbilical slurry system.

Biogas plant operators and contractors expressed concerns that it was becoming a problem connecting haulage tankers to the umbilical system in the field.

Spillage regularly occurred leaving an overdose on the field killing the crops in many cases.

Chief Executive Officer of SlurryKat Ltd Garth Cairns

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explained: “With the ever increasing size of farms in Europe, and more and more biogas plants being constructed to produce renewable energy, there has never been a greater need for specialist slurry handling equipment and innovative solutions.”

“In February 2015 we supplied a 3,000m (3km), SlurryKat umbilical system complete with 15m dribble bar to a biogas plant.

“While the client was extremely happy with the performance of the SlurryKat umbilical system, they faced the challenge of their land being up to 40kms away from the biogas plants.

“They were using tri-axle articulated road trucks to haul the digestate to the roadside of these fields and manually hooking a transfer hose between the truck and the umbilical system pump.

“This method encountered huge problems as the contractors found it a messy operation every time the hose was removed from the truck.

“Other problems were found when stopping the dribble bar in the field between each load.

“This stoppage created an overdose at that particular point in the growing crop, which led to the crop being damaged and in some instances killed off and left the fields looking very unpleasant.

“After discussing this with the owners of the biogas plant I suggested that we manufacture a large holding tank, which the umbilical system could be connected to.

“This system allows the trucks to bring the digestate to the roadside and discharge their load into the tank without affecting the operation of the umbilical system and most importantly no stoppages during the spreading process.

“The tank acts as a buffer with the level rising and falling as the trucks discharge their load into it.

“Results have shown that the system allows for continuous spreading for hours and is considered a great technical advance in slurry handling management.”

The tanks are constructed with a full frame monocoque construction with press formed side panels for added strength.

The tank runs on a specialised floating bogie axle system that can be raised and lowered from the safety of the tractor cab.

“With more and more biogas plants being constructed to produce renewable energy, there has never been a greater need for specialist slurry handling equipment and innovative solutions.”

SlurryKat can build tanks to various sizes including; 40m3, 60m3, 80m3, 100m3, 120m3 and 150m3.

Fitted with a commercial hydraulic lifting braked axle the tanks run on 385/65R22.5 road tyres.

They have level indicators front and rear with a top access hatch with external and internal ladders.

All tanks have a venting system with front and rear discharge/fill ports with sump system.

For safety reasons each tank has a load protection system which do not allow the tank to be lifted up to the wheels unless it is completely empty as moving the tank with any liquid inside could lead to an accident.

All tanks are fitted with a LED lighting system.

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| Renewables

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Renewables

The future for solar remains bright After an extremely busy first quarter of the year in which it is thought over 1.5 GW of solar could have been installed, you could be forgiven for thinking that developers would be taking a hard earned break. However, even with the end of the RO scheme for PV systems larger than 5 MW and the CfD scheme supporting very little solar in the first round installations are expected to remain strong throughout 2015. ompanies are always looking for the next opportunities and with the RO still open to ground-mounted systems less than 5 MW, new opportunities in this sector are emerging. In some cases we are seeing previous applications resubmitted at a smaller size in order to be eligible for 1.3 ROC/MWh. This sector is expected to experience a boom in the short term as the RO is planned to be in place until 2017, however, degressions are planned at the end of March 2016 and developers will be keen to complete installations before this time.

Large rooftop systems continue to grow in popularity and feed in tariff (FiT) rates have now been set up until September 2015. The current

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tariffs for commercial rooftops can be seen in the chart below. A rooftop PV system up to 50 kW will still receive over 10p/kWh plus the export tariff of 4.85p/kWh for any electricity not used on site and exported to the grid.

With electricity prices expected to increase and the cost of solar falling, commercial buildings which are subject to higher electricity rates are able to achieve higher ROIs. Several large companies have spotted this opportunity and have launched business areas to address this. SunEdison is offering a new financing model for commercial properties and Lightsource has announced an investment of £125million to kickstart this business area.

Currently DECC estimates that total cumulative installations at the end of April

reached 6.5 GW with nearly 40% made up of ground-mount installations installed under the RO. Taking into account the delay in reporting RO projects total cumulative installations could have reached as much as 7.5 GW by the end of March 2015.

Large rooftop systems continue to grow in popularity and feed in tariff (FiT) rates have now been set up until September 2015 Whilst no-one can doubt that over the next year or so the renewables sector faces challenges, the future for solar remains bright and demand expected to remain high!

Absolute Solar and Wind to host renewable energy ‘advice clinic’ at Royal Highland Show Renewable energy solutions experts offer advice to farming and business community. eading renewable solutions company Absolute Solar and Wind Ltd is to host a specialist advice clinic at this year’s Royal Highland Show; offering members of the farming and business community insight into products available to drive down energy costs and increase revenue streams.

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“Once the nature, and the location of your business is established a wind turbine, solar PV system or biofuel instillation could make a world of difference to the cost of operations” Situated in the renewables section, a team of experts from the company’s Solar,

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Destratification, Wind and Biomass divisions will be on hand to offer advice on appropriate solutions for differing business needs, locations and future ambitions.

Glasgow based Absolute Solar and Wind Ltd is responsible for some of Scotland’s largest renewable installations, recently launching two innovative hubs on the Western Isles and in Angus in order to showcase the latest renewable technology.

Absolute Solar and Wind Ltd’s Managing Director, Tom Newall, said: “As experienced installers we know first-hand that, whilst many business owners are interested in investing in renewable energy, the various products and the process of choosing a solution can be overwhelming.

“This advice clinic is designed to give anyone interested in reaping the environmental and economic reward of renewables an

understanding of what products are available, what the benefits are and what is, realistically, going to work for their business based on space, size and function.

“Once the nature, and the location of your business is established a wind turbine, solar PV system or biofuel instillation could make a world of difference to the cost of operations.”

Earlier this year Absolute launched an innovative renewables hub in the Western Isles, showcasing the latest green products to hit the market for businesses. Open seven days a week, the decision to open the Benbecula based hub in the Western Isles follows the successful launch of Glenskinno Biofuels in 2014 – an initiative founded by renewable solutions experts Absolute in partnership with Angus based farm owners the Gall family.

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| Renewables

Biomass: The truth behind the technology The cost of supplying heat to a farm can be significant, so it makes sense to review energy supplies on a regular basis to see where any savings can be made. ot surprisingly many poultry farmers, who have a critical, year-round requirement for heat, consider a switch to biomass a tantalising proposition when assessing their current energy usage.

This is because the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which makes biomass technology viable, promises to deliver a significant return on investment and / or savings over a 20-year period. However, as Calor Gas explains, the theory does not always translate well when put into practice; with a modern indirect gas-fired system delivering the same in-shed environmental benefits of a biomass boiler system, at a fraction of the capital cost.

RHI incentive – the impact of degression In recent years UK government has pushed the use of biomass to help meet an EU target of generating at least 15% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2020, incentivising businesses to switch in return for payments under the RHI. The introduction of the RHI offers a financial reward over the 20-year life of the renewable heating technology installed. Tariffs have been calculated to offer a target rate of return of 12% on the initial investment across the tariff bands.

However, RHI ‘degressions’ have led to a reduction in the tariff for small biomass installations under 200kW. If the existing trend is followed, future degressions will lock new investors into a lower rate of payment, again for 20 years. Some industry predictions suggest that future rates of return could drop to as little as 2% to 3%.

Inappropriate plant specification In order for a biomass system to be a viable heating option, it must be appropriately specified to accurately match the precise demands of the farm it is being installed in.

Whether a biomass project is self-funded or installed via an energy service company (ESCO) contract, the payback from the RHI will

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effectively be used to pay off the loan. As a result, there is typically a race to install a system before each RHI degression date.

To keep costs down and speed up the rate of return, some installers may be cutting corners by specifying cheaper, lower quality biomass systems and underspecifying some elements of the system. Such systems will not last as long and are likely to be less efficient and prone to breakdowns.

Calor has heard of poorly sized pellet storage and feed systems leaving farmers with the headache of having to rely on pellet deliveries every two days to keep their boilers fed. Servicing can be labour intensive too, with a major overhaul required twice a year, along with a minor service after every growing cycle to de-coke the system.

For systems installed via an ESCO contract, reliability is likely to be less of an issue, particularly as the ESCO is responsible for maintaining the plant and equipment. However, ESCO contractors are often taking the lion’s share of the RHI payments, leaving the farmer with much smaller cost savings than the RHI would deliver to a private biomass plant investor.

System inefficiency To be accredited as a renewable source of energy, biomass boilers need to achieve an 85% efficiency rate for converting fuel to energy.

However, in a recent study by the DECC it was found that biomass boilers in the nondomestic sector, which account for almost 90% of payments under the RHI, were around 10% to 20% less efficient than expected.

The 85% target rate may actually be unreachable, as the report also found that the biomass heating systems surveyed "can only achieve levels around 76% (on average)."

With boilers often operating below business case projections, and also less reliably than estimated, true costs and the resulting drop in savings reduces the attractiveness of biomass and increases the need for gas-based back-up

systems to be on full standby.

There is also the cost of the fuel itself. As more commercial enterprises move towards biomass, simple supply and demand suggests that the price of fuel for biomass systems will increase in the future, possibly offsetting any benefit the user may get from future RHI payments. The capital investment required for a biomass system is also typically three times more expensive than an equivalent indirect gasfired heating system.

Think before you switch, a simple gas burner upgrade could be the answer There’s no question that biomass technology can work well when accurately specified. The industry would not have survived without some success stories. However, the issue remains that the window of opportunity for vendors in this market is closing relatively fast due to RHI tariff degression, and their priorities will be to install as many systems as they can before moving on to the next opportunity.

Therefore, farmers should think carefully before switching from a proven, hassle-free gas-fired technology. After all, indirect burner systems deliver the same in-shed environmental benefits that a biomass boiler system does at a fraction of the capital cost.

Unless farmers are technically up to speed on biomass and happy to manage its complexities on a day-to-day basis for the next 20 years, retaining an existing, and relatively maintenance-free gas-fired heating system is probably the best option.

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| Buildings

CE Marks the spot for UK manufacturer

Garguston Farm - Inverness

Why CE registered? It was reported that in the winters of 2011 and 2012, over 5,000 farm buildings collapsed as a result of heavy snow fall in the UK. This rang alarm bells about the quality of steel framed buildings across the country, and triggered tougher regulations to ensure security and safety. ince July 2014 the markings now have to be applied to steel framed buildings. For UK manufacturer Graham Heath Construction, they acted fast and employed a third party expert to help them achieve accreditation in order to continue supplying their steel framed buildings to their ever growing customer base.

Impact on customers Choosing a company who are CE Marked gives the farmer the reassurance that their building has been correctly designed and is fit for purpose, something that farmers wouldn’t have had in the past. Farmers should always ensure that the building is designed to BS 5502 standard and quotes are carefully checked.

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Quotes may look the same but the specifications of how strong the building will be can vary dramatically. If unsure, ask to see the calculation paperwork and examples of the manufacturers work at a farm nearby to give the extra confidence where your money is being invested.

Every building that Graham Heath Construction supplies comes with a structural calculation so the customer has the confidence in the finished product. The regulation isn’t something GH Construction takes lightly and in May this year on their yearly review, BSi highlighted no non compliances or even made any recommendations. This is why the only marking a farmers should look when purchasing a new building is the CE marking,

which is the only guarantee of a quality build.

Owner of the company, Graham Heath ensures that they have full control over the design and manufacture and GH Construction is now one of the largest agricultural and equestrian building producers in the UK. With many clients located across all four corners of the UK, they show their dedication to the agricultural and equestrian world by proudly declaring full CE registration.

Graham Heath said: “With aims of providing quality, value and durability, the extra confidence that CE registered status brings means our customers can be assured they are making the right choice when they choose GHC.”

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| Buildings

Class MB and barn conversions: The success rate remains high The legislation governing residential barn conversions is being used with great success for many BCM clients. lass MB now breaks away from local planning policies, which are far more restrictive in allowing residential uses in the countryside.

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“We have been entrusted to secure permission and to deliver a project that will have real benefit to them” Over the last month, BCM have gained consent for a number of conversions; maintaining a 100% success on

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the Isle of Wight.

David Long states “we are extremely pleased for our clients. We have been entrusted to secure permission and to deliver a project that will have real benefit to them, and their farm buildings which are entirely conducive for a residential use.

Although there are risks within the planning process, maintaining a high success rate is extremely pleasing. It gives us confidence that both modern and traditional barns can be converted”.

For all enquiries contact David Long on 01983 828800

A.C. Bacon officially FAB RIDBA recognition for East Anglian grain store specialists. . C. Bacon Engineering Ltd have achieved multiple successes at this years FAB Awards hosted by RIDBA (the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association).

The awards ceremony was held at the Royal York Hotel and the prizes were presented by Countryfile presenter Tom Heap.

A. C. Bacon had been shortlisted for four prizes and also won 3rd place overall, thus claiming five prizes on the night.

They have been designing and building grain stores and feed supply stores for over 50 years, either to a customer’s bespoke design or following a standard layout with storage shed capacity to suit customer requirements.

Available shed storage options include fan houses, door barrier steelwork, roller shutter doors, steel personnel doors, concrete or galvanised grain walling, concrete foundations, internal partitions, stirrer system support steelwork, louvres and cowls.

The key to their success and level of repeat business is down to

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the high quality of product and service they deliver at competitive prices.

Since 1961 they have produced an enviable list of very satisfied customers and a reputation that is second to none.

A. C. Bacon Engineering is a proud holder of the Royal Warrant of Appointment as a tradesman to The Queen for the manufacture of steel-framed buildings.

Extensive in-house production contributes to achieving the quality and flexibility that delivers projects on time to the required high standards of CE marking.

Operations include state-of-the-art cutting, drilling, welding, shotblasting & painting.

Membership of RIDBA & BCSA provides assurance of competence and financial standing. They directly employ an in-house Health & Safety Officer, leading to an exceptional safety record.

Services offered include initial consultation, planning assistance, design, production and site installation of steelwork, cladding, grain walling and doors.

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| Buildings

Choosing the building contractor to suit your requirements Matching the requirements of your building project to the right contractor or supplier is not always a straightforward process, writes James Harrison, contracts manager for Bowie Lockwood Structures Ltd. few key questions to ask which will point you in the right direction are: • What standards are their buildings designed and manufactured to (e.g. BS5502 class 1, and are they CE Marked)?

• How do they ensure their site staff are competent?

• Are all H&S requirements catered for within their price?

• Will they visit site to gauge site conditions prior to starting?

• What are the payment terms and contractual requirements for you the client?

As an example, at BLS we use full time employees or trusted, repeat contractors or to carry out site works. We carry out regular training to ensure they are proven

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to be competent on all of the equipment they use and we assess the site and supply all plant and H&S equipment to ensure that no corners are cut in making the construction as safe and efficient a process as possible.

Our buildings, whether erected by us or sold on a a supply only basis are designed and fabricated to standards laid out for CE Certification (Class 2).

We send as much information as possible to the client for approval prior to starting to ensure all parties understand the requirements of the job and maintain regular contact with the Client throughout the project using our experienced team of Project Administrators.

Importance of CE marking

Galvanized steel in agriculture Steel is one of the most commonly-used materials across the agricultural industry for buildings, fencing and gates, feed barriers, penstocks and other equipment. However, as a material, it must be protected or it will rust, and this costs the agricultural industry millions of pounds every year. alvanizing as a protective process provides unrivalled whole-life cost benefits for steel structures and components, and it offers an economic method of steel protection that is tough, durable and safe for animals.

It is estimated that 80% of a building’s whole-life cost can be attributed to running, maintenance and refurbishment costs. Hot dip galvanizing provides a long, maintenance-free life without any requirement for maintenance like painting.

For example if you look at a steel frame building over a 25 year project life, the cost of a cheaper paint system is almost 70% more than the cost of galvanizing, while the cost of a more expensive paint system is almost double.

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In initial cost terms, hot dip galvanizing is comparative with a good quality paint system, however when looking at lifetime costs hot dip galvanizing works out to be considerably cheaper.

Painting are very labour intensive compared with galvanizing, which is a highly-mechanised, closelycontrolled, factory process.

For more information contact: Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd on email: farming@wedgeglav.co.uk

As a member of RIBDA, MJ Barrett Constructions Ltd (part of the MJ Barrett Group) received their CE status in 2014 after working closely with BM Trada to put in place the correct procedures, and showed the standard required to fabricate, supply and erect agricultural buildings under the new legislation. he CE marking of Agricultural Steel Framed Buildings is a welcome and major step in the ongoing task to balance the market place where all Steel Framed fabricators and suppliers work to the same high standards and designs.

It will be a year in July since the CE mark was introduced for farm buildings, yet there are still companies in the market place who for whatever reason, choose not to invest in the appropriate measures necessary to achieve CE status.

More must be done by official bodies, voluntary bodies, Insurance Companies and the agricultural community in general to re-educate or remove these non-compliant companies so that the end result, is all buildings being the same high quality in both fabrication and erection.

MJ Barrett Construction Ltd has been fabricating and erecting Agricultural and Industrial

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Buildings throughout the UK for over 45 years and is an established and well know name within the Industry - and a name that customers can trust. We are continuously looking for ways to improve our already high standards in both fabrication and site services.

In May we took delivery of 2 new JCB 5350-125-140Hi Viz tele handlers costing in access of £115,000.00 as part of our ongoing programme to raise site efficiency using the most modern plant available whilst still providing highly competitive prices.

However, whilst companies continue to operate without CE status, the market place will remain unbalanced, with noncompliant companies supplying buildings and site services at lower prices and generally lower quality.

It is ultimately up to the end user to decide on the fate of these businesses - if they can’t sell their product, they either join the majority and conform to CE legislation or leave the Industry.

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| Buildings

Steadmans provides roof and wall materials for new Highland farm building Leading building products manufacturer Steadmans has once again demonstrated its ability to supply to projects the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland he company, a principal UK provider for steel construction in the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors, supplied products for the roof and walls of a potato shed at Garguston Farm, in Muir of Ord, Ross-shire.

The site is in the Scottish Highlands but less than 100 miles from Steadmans’ branch in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire.

Steadmans provided almost 1,300 linear metres of its AS35 composite panels, in merlin grey – almost 750 linear metres, 100mm thick, for the roof and over 530 linear metres, 80mm deep, for the walls. The company also supplied almost 600 linear metres of cold rolled Zed purlins, nearly 250 linear metres of cold rolled side rails and about 40 linear metres of cold rolled eaves beams for the project.

The Steadmans materials were installed by John Duncan Roofing Services, based in Buckie, Moray, which has been in the industry for more than four decades. The company specialises in flat, metal and asbestos cement roofing, fabrication and complete building services. In addition to agricultural buildings, the organisation has significant expertise in industrial premises, car showrooms and garages, sheds and rig installations.

Scott Gordon, of John Duncan Roofing

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Services, said: "We've used Steadmans products regularly for many years, including in a previous potato shed at Garguston Farm, which we completed in 2009. We’ve always found Steadmans’ products thoroughly wellmade and dependable, its people knowledgeable and approachable, and its customer care outstanding. We therefore had no worries about specifying the company’s products for the latest job at the farm, and have no doubt we’ll do so for projects elsewhere in the future.”

Garguston Farm is run by Mike Martin and his sons Ally and John. It contains animals such as steers and sheep, plus 1,300 acres of spring barley, 200 acres of high-grade seed potato production and 200 acres of grass. The Martins also operate a co-operative sharing agreement for arable machinery with nearby Foulis Farms, which takes cereal production to 2,500 acres in total.

In addition to composite wall and roof sheets, Steadmans' output includes steel cladding, galvanised roofing sections, metal cladding, roofing products and fibre cement sheeting. All its relevant products conform to CE marking regulations and meet their requirements.

The company’s AS35 composite panels consist of two coated steel profiles bonded to a

core of PIR insulation, which are used to form roofs, down to a four-degree pitch, and walls.

Including a comprehensive range of guttering, flashlights, sealants and roof lights, the AS35 system offers swift completion of a wide variety of weatherproof and high-quality building envelopes, from commercial and warehouse premises to office blocks.

Manufactured in a quality process certified to ISO 9001:2008, using non-ozone depleting technology, AS35 panels are environmentallyresponsible, provide excellent thermal performance and have a predicted service life of 40 years. Available in thicknesses ranging from 40mm to 137mm, the panels can be specified to achieve insulation U-values, aiding compliance with the latest L2 regulations, and are Loss Prevention Certification Board approved.

In addition to its headquarters site in Carlisle, Cumbria, Steadmans has facilities in: Uddingston, near Glasgow; Fyvie, Aberdeenshire; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The company employs 150 people overall and benefits from being part of the SIG UK group.

For further information on Steadmans’ full range of products call 016974 78277, email info@steadmans.co.uk or visit www.steadmans.co.uk

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| Tyres

Michelin launches key new telehandler tyre for farmers Michelin has extended its range of BibLoad Hard Surface tyres, unveiled last year, to include a new size popular on telehandlers used by farmers across the UK and Ireland: the 500/70 R24. he new tyre has been specially designed for working on hard surfaces, whether dry, wet or greasy, with a tread made up of unique, diamond-shaped tread blocks, building on the supreme robustness of the previous generation Michelin XMCL tyre.

Commenting on the tyre’s launch, Mike Lawton, Commercial Director of Michelin’s agricultural tyre division in the UK and Ireland, explains: “Each diamond-shaped tread block has seven sides and 12 distinct bevelled edges; giving it a very different appearance to traditional telehandlers’ tyres.

“The net result is a product with unmatched performance on the market, providing better traction, stability, comfort, damage resistance and a longer service life than the XMCL it replaces. It’s a natural result of Michelin consistently spending more than €600 million on research and development every year.”

The diamond-shaped tread blocks ensure

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that whatever the direction of the machine, the tread block is always in the right position for working efficiently. Alongside it, the new lug tread pattern makes it possible to evacuate quickly any debris that may have got caught in the tread grooves, whilst also providing greater transverse adherence on slippery ground.

With the launch of this new tyre, Michelin has further improved damage resistance, with new features including enhanced sidewall protection and a wheel rim stone guard preventing damage to the edges of the rims when working on difficult terrain.

Tyre life is also extended by increasing the surface area of the tyre in contact with the ground to 44 per cent, from 29 per cent for the equivalent size XMCL tyre. The new diamondshaped tread blocks and shoulder blocks also provide increased rigidity to the tread in the event of lateral forces being applied, improving resistance to wear-and-tear.

This increased rigidity also delivers greater operator comfort because for each revolution of

the wheel, 24 tread blocks on each side of the tyre and 48 in the centre – making 96 tread blocks in total – come into contact with the ground in an offset fashion, rather than Michelin is also extending its BibLoad Hard Surface tyres to include the 400/70 R20, ideally suited to compact loaders and backhoe loaders simultaneously. This helps to reduce vibrations and noise, particularly at high speed.

At the same time, Michelin is also extending its BibLoad Hard Surface tyres to include the 400/70 R20, ideally suited to compact loaders and backhoe loaders.

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

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| News

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| Security

Seddons (Plant and Engineers) Ltd Bolton, North West England 01204 854600 www.seddonplant.co.uk

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

World of Power Buxton, Derbyshire 01298 213145 www.worldofpower.co.uk

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| Machinery

CARGOS – a new concept in forage wagons CLAAS is to introduce a completely new concept in forage wagons to the UK market. he new CARGOS 8000 is a dual purpose machine and designed so that when it is not being used as a forage wagon, the pick-up and chopping unit can be quickly and easily removed, and a blanking plate fitted, so that it can be used as a trailer, thereby maximising its use.

CLAAS has sold the larger CARGOS 9000 range for a number of years in Europe, but the new smaller CARGOS 8000 features a new, heavier-duty design that makes it ideally suited to maintain

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high outputs in the heavier crop conditions in countries such as the UK and Ireland.

Three models are available in the CARGOS 8000 range, the 8500, 8400 and 8300 which have a loading volume of 41, 35.5 and 30m3 respectively. The new design features a heavy duty drive system, with a pneumatically driven pick-up and the option of a hydro-pneumatic suspension system.

From the pick-up, the crop is fed into the cutting and loading system via a 860mm diameter rotor fitted with nine rows of tines in a helical pattern, which are

bolted on for ease of maintenance and replacement if necessary.

The chopping chamber contains a bank of 40 double blades that are twin edged so that they can be easily turned to reduce downtime blade sharpening. The blades have adjustable pre-tensioning so ensuring that a precise chop quality is maintained.

To ensure that high outputs can be constantly maintained and the CARGOS can be operated at maximum capacity, the chopping chamber features a hydraulicallylowered drop-floor. This is lowered automatically if the unit is overloaded and the driver can remove any possible blockages by simply reducing the PTO speed from the driver's seat.

The CARGOS 8000 also features a new lowered floor conveyor, that can be hydraulically pivoted 90 degrees downwards so that the blades can be easily accessed for changing, or it can be pivoted upwards for improved unloading. To increase efficiency, the CARGOS can be fitted with an automatic loading system, that works either via the deflection of the front cover or also via a torque sensor on the rotor.

From the chopping chamber, the crop is transferred via the floor conveyor into the wagon where it

is built-up steeply to ensure that the wagon can be used to its full capacity.

CLAAS has sold the larger CARGOS 9000 range for a number of years in Europe, but the new smaller CARGOS 8000 features a new, heavier-duty design that makes it ideally suited to maintain high outputs in the heavier crop conditions in countries such as the UK and Ireland.

When not required for use as a forage wagon, the loading system can be quickly and easily removed in around 15 minutes using a carrier frame, and a filler plate inserted so that the CARGOS 8000 can be used as a conventional high capacity trailer.

Three different control terminals are available for the CARGOS 8000, ranging from the COMMUNICATOR II ISOBUS terminal, the smaller and simpler OPERATOR terminal or the ISOBUS Cable control unit, which allows the CARGOS to be used with an external ISOBUS terminal.

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 55

| ATV

The Crew at Longlands Care Farm Longlands Care Farm, on the Herefordshire and Worcestershire border, provides care and support through meaningful work to help vulnerable young people. t’s a Community Interest (Social Enterprise) Company, based on a commercial farm, providing the perfect environment for young people who are not succeeding in formal education to benefit from being in the heart of the countryside.

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“We use the Polaris for all tasks, checking on and moving livestock, fencing and repairs and the Crew is a more powerful machine than we have been using. It goes places and tows better and the older students get the benefit of driving it” With a 200 acre organic livestock farm, comprising fields, pastures, streams, hedges, orchards and 300 acres of woodland, the young people work with a herd of pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle, a flock of Lleyn sheep,

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ponies, dogs, pigs and poultry.

Naturally, All Terrain Vehicles play a major role in running the enterprise and Longlands recently took delivery of a Polaris Ranger Crew, six seat, side by side utility 4x4 after trialling it on loan from Murray Boss at ACE ATV, the Polaris dealer for the area. Chief Executive, Julia Evans, has been managing Longlands Farm for 15 years and four years ago she diversified into care farming, having started with just three children from a pupil referral unit and some part-time help. There are now four fulltime staff caring for about sixteen young people a week. A Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, Julia has also been running a Riding for the Disabled Group on the farm for twenty years.

“Our aim is to provide access to vocational experiences and qualifications in a working farm for young people who require specific support to enable them to take part in social and employment environments,” she says. “we offer C&G Land Based Studies to our students to award, certificate and diploma level, including machinery maintenance and tractor

driving, animal care, horticulture, equestrian skills and cooking. The Polaris, whilst being a working vehicle for the farm, is a great hook for teenagers not interested in learning.” Students are encouraged to enrol in one of the City and Guilds courses with a view to leaving by 18 with a nationally recognised qualification. Being able to use the Polaris utility vehicle helps prove they are sensible and responsible enough to drive.

“We use the Polaris for all tasks, checking on and moving livestock, fencing and repairs,” Julia adds, “and the Crew is a more powerful machine than we have been using. It goes places and tows better and the older students get the benefit of driving it.” Longlands also took advantage of the EASI European ATV Safety Institute training scheme and are in fact hosting an EASI event in June where the Polaris Crew will play yet another role in helping the young people towards vocational and work placement. Longlands is part of Whitbourne Estate: www.whitbourneestate.co.uk. Polaris Britain: 0800 915 6720 www.polaris-britain.com

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| ATV

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| ATV

Great Timing for Suzuki KingQuad 500 Winner!

Agricultural shows are important dates in the calendar for farmers looking for technical advice and new products. But of course, there’s often time at these events for a breather and a bit of fun – like entering prize competitions. o when farmer David Hunt made his annual trip to the Cereals Event in Cambridgeshire last year and saw that assurance scheme, Red Tractor, were running a competition at their trade stand, he decided to try his luck. The fact that the competition prize donated

by Suzuki was for a brand new KingQuad ATV struck a particular chord.

Generations of David’s family have farmed their mixed 1200-acre site near Woburn in Bedfordshire since 1924. The farm grows wheat, barley and oilseed rape and has around 2,500 sheep.

So when, just one month before David entered the competition, the farm’s old ATV had been put permanently out of action, the timing could not have been worse.

The farm relies on using an ATV all the year round and one of the busiest times of the year was now

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approaching – lambing season, with nearly 4,000 lambs on the way.

However, good fortune was about to smile on David as his was the prize-winning name picked at random from hundreds of competition entrants.

We asked him to tell us about what the win meant for the farm.

Is having an ATV important for your work?

An ATV is an absolutely vital piece of equipment for our farm. A lot of us depend on it to get us around quickly, especially when we have so many lambs to look after once lambing has finished.

We use it all the time to check on them, as well as for rounding up and for worming and shearing.

Plus, an ATV makes catching the odd sheep which may need help or treatment much easier as we can fit a small trailer on the back.

It’s also essential for our work with the crops, such as slug pelleting, spraying margins and

58 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

footpaths, moving scarecrows on oilseed rape, and keeping a careful eye on the growing crops.

In fact, we use it so much that we had to hire an ATV when we lost the old one.

How did you find out that you had won the Suzuki ATV? Our farm is a member of the Red Tractor scheme, so I just filled out a competition entry form while I was visiting their trade stand at the show and promptly forgot all about it. Then I got a phone call when I was out working in the fields to say that my name had been pulled from the hat as the winner! Obviously any farmer would love to win this prize, but you never expect to win these things, so I was amazed.

What was the first thing you did?

We found the Suzuki to be vastly superior to the old make of ATV we had been using on the farm. So having won a manual version for free, we decided to we

could afford to treat ourselves and upgraded it to the KingQuad 500XP with power-steering.

What are some of the best features of the 500?

The great thing about the 500 is the extra power it gives us, plus the electric power-steering makes it really light and easy to manoeuvre around the farm.

It’s the ideal tool for any job as it’s so versatile. It feels incredibly stable and gives you an extremely smooth ride. It’s so comfortable too, whether you’re riding it for a long time or over rough terrain.

Another key benefit for us is that the low ground pressure tyres don’t make any marks on the land.

Having a local Suzuki dealer like MKM Agriculture offering fantastic service and support is an extra bonus as well.

Winning this ATV was such a well-timed stroke of luck. It just goes to show that you should enter these competitions as you never know…!

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| ATV

New Forest Garden Machinery 316-318 Salisbury Road Totton, Southampton Hampshire SO40 3ND Tel: 023 8087 1764 www.nfgmltd.co.uk

Jacksons Motorcycles Unit 11 Summerlands Trading Estate Kendal, Cumbria LA8 0FB 01539 560 926 www.jacksons-motorcycles.co.uk

Off Highway Plant Solutions Tel: 01305 858 623 Mob: 07899 848 569 www.sphere24.com

Exeter Quads Exmouth Road Exeter Devon EX5 1AR Tel: 01392 877621 www.exeterquads.com

Quad Bikes R Us Waldon House Farm Waldon House Road Great Tottenham Essex CM9 8PN Tel: 01621 893 227 www.quadbikesrus.com

NSL Motors The Showroom Weyhill Service Station Weyhill, Andover Hampshire SP11 0PH 01264 772 661 www.nslmotors.co.uk

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 59

Cherokee proves it’s no cowboy | Motors

Jeep is a name synonymous with 'get anywhere' off-road ability not unlike Land Rover, with reputations built in wartime and developed into popular vehicles in peacetime for the customer with more 'adventurous' requirements.

60 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

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| Motors

ndeed, Jeep in the US enjoys the same status as Land Rover in the UK – and they are aiming to build on that success here by introducing models that aim to challenge the best we have to offer and alter the perception of the brand once and for all.

Previous iterations have suffered from boxy looks, uninspiring handling and thirsty 'gas guzzling' engines courtesy of their American roots but since Fiat have got involved, things have changed.

Welcome then the new Jeep Cherokee with distinctive exterior styling and more frugal and refined diesel engines amongst other notable changes.

Sitting below the Grand Cherokee in the range, it might be fair to say that Cherokee is pitched against notable competition from the likes of Land Rover Discovery Sport, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and BMW's X3. But there is another problem here.

Cheaper crossover rivals are biting at its heels in the form of the Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage and the like, with top range models close to the Cherokee offering.

Jeep's ace in the hole though is a true 4x4 heritage and Cherokee will outperform any of these off-road (in Trailhawk form at least) – and if that's important to you then it could be case closed.

Jeep supplied us with the New Cherokee 2.0 JTDm-2 170 bhp 4x4 Limited Auto and we decided to put it through its paces by taking it up North to see how it coped with some 'Tourde-Yorkshire' stages – no bikes involved!

First impressions Styling of the Cherokee has taken a new twist, with the front end especially enjoying the most attention from the designers - though retaining the signature 7 bar grill. Love it or hate it, it's certainly a unique look – personally, I like it. Other Jeep trends survive the makeover, including the squared off wheel arches.

Inside the cabin The interior of this Cherokee, for me at least, is a mixed bag. Whilst you can see additional effort has gone into upgrading the cabin, it just falls short in some areas for a vehicle of this price. Whilst the steering wheel and dashboard are nicely finished and the large touch-screen and dials are of very good quality, the lower down you go, the more 'scratchy' the plastics get. Whilst it is a definite improvement on older models, it isn't quite up there with Audi and the like.

It seems like I have to say this in many of my reviews – and eventually, perhaps manufacturers might take note – but here it is again...

If you want to convey a consistent feeling of quality in the cabin, make the items that you interact with the most of high quality! Yes – you guessed it. My personal gripe rears its head again in the Cherokee – interior door handles.

It's such a small detail – but so important.

When you have a quality, leather clad steering wheel, similarly well presented gear

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shift, decent switch-gear – then get out by pulling a dubious (yet functional) plastic door handle – your perception is tainted. Make them aluminium or similar – just not this. Jeep - pass this on to your designers.

The leather seats are comfortable and supportive, electronically adjusted and offer cooling as well as heating options. This certainly came in useful during the two days of decent weather we had recently and certainly keep your ‘nether regions’ aired!

Rear seats offer plenty of leg room and can slide forwards/backwards, not only providing for legroom but also creating additional load space when folded down.

Centre console armrest is ideally positioned for your elbow and houses a wireless charging pad for your smartphone amongst other things like USB and charging ports etc.

The Uconnect media system (which includes 8.4” touch screen) is excellent – though I think that the Sat-Nav in our vehicle needs updating – taking us on an unnecessarily long detour in use when avoiding a jam on the motorway.

There's also a reversing camera which works well on the big screen – though we do have to mention the Nissan X-Trail's 'birds eye view' system as one of our favourites so far. There’s a digital readout between the dials on the dash too, which displays some useful info.

Boot space is not quite as large as it appears – though with the seats folded flat, it does make it rather cavernous. We did also have the full size spare specified which takes up all the room under the boot floor – which would otherwise provide useful extra storage space.

Numerous useful bag hangers are also provided along with an essential ‘toneu’ cover to hide the boot contents from view.

Also of note is the automatic boot open/close function - very convenient.

The panoramic roof option really brightens the cabin and provides a decent size opening though at the expenxe of some headroom.

On the road As you would expect from a weighty vehicle such as this, you do suffer some lean around corners but that being said, road manners were generally very good. The cabin was surprisingly quiet with little wind noise at motorway speeds and engine noise was well insulated. Stable at speed and with a decent steering weight, the Cherokee felt sure footed and secure.

The 168bhp diesel engine is refined and pulled well (and as we found, delivered great fuel economy for this type of vehicle, helped by the stop-go system no doubt), but star of the show was the 9 speed automatic gearbox which was smooth and unflustered by undulating country roads where constant changes were frequently necessary.

Benefiting from Jeep's Active drive technology and Selec-Terrain, there are several settings to choose from including auto, snow, sand/mud, sport and rock. Standard driving mode is Auto but selecting Sport has a direct and obvious effect on the driving style of the Cherokee. Faster gear changes were immediately apparent and everything was just

'quicker' and more responsive, demonstrating the full potential of the 168 horses.

Off the beaten track Cherokee performed very well on the various dirt tracks, gravelly inclines and fields that we tested on. If you want true off-road capability though, look to the Trailhawk model which benefits from high ground clearance and locking diffs etc. - our model is definitely road biased.

Economy The Cherokee is one of Jeep’s cleanest ever vehicles, with a front-wheel-drive version that emits 139g/km of CO2 providing an official fuel economy figure of 53.3mpg.

Four-wheel-drive Cherokee's don't quite achieve this, averaging between 48.7mpg and 50.4mpg. That still puts the Jeep amongst the top of the rankings. We achieved an average 43mpg on our Yorkshire run overall, according to the computer.

Overall With a 5 star safety rating from Euro NCAP, 10 airbags, stability control and various systems which can intervene on your behalf, there's no doubt that the Cherokee is a safe place to be.

With prices starting a shade over £25,000 for the 2.0 Longitude 140 6 Speed Manual FWD going up to just under £37,000 for the Cherokee 2.0 Limited 170 9 Speed Automatic 4X4 there's a model to suit most budgets.

The 3.2 V6 (Petrol) Trailhawk 270 9 Speed Automatic 4x4 (Active Drive Lock) model comes in at just over £34,000 on the road, though I really think that this should come with a diesel option.

Our test vehicle was the Cherokee 2.0 JTDm2 170 bhp 4x4 Limited Auto and included options such as Special Paint (£625), Full Size Spare (£225), Panoramic Roof (£1095) and Technology Group (Advanced brake assist, lane departure warning plus, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot and cross path detection, parallel & perpendicular park assist - £2000) bringing the total for this model as driven to £40,255.

Initially, I baulked at this price 'for what you get' but the more I drove it, the more I liked it.

And that's the crux of the matter – at this price, the Cherokee has some serious competition – not least from the Grand Cherokee in the range above this. I can't help thinking that a few interior cosmetic changes and a keener price would make this a real contender in this segment - as it deserves to be. After all, Jeep have got a lot of things right with the Cherokee.

Buyers might be swung by the unique styling, economic engines, smooth 9 speed gearbox and good standard equipment – but resale prices might still be an issue, so keep this in mind.

Make no mistake, this is a big step forward for Jeep. It's no secret that we liked the Renegade too and hope that the company can continue to build on their new model's successes.

Andrew Poulton Editor

June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 61

| News

62 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

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| Motors

Great Wall Bath Somerset Tel: 01225 473014

MTC Great Wall Cambridgeshire Tel: 01733 309782

Haven Motor Holdings Ltd Sussex Tel: 01403 891700

Garland Great Wall Hampshire Tel: 01252 367373

www.bathhonda.co.uk

www.mtcars.co.uk

www.havenmotors.co.uk

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

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| Motors

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| Motors

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| Motors

Land Rover reveals unique Defender to carry Rugby World Cup Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender will carry the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour around the UK and Ireland. and Rover has today revealed the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a modified 110 Station Wagon created to transport the Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour across the UK and Ireland, delivered by England Rugby 2015.

Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of this year’s international Rugby World Cup and has created a very special Defender worthy of custodianship of rugby’s most instantly recognisable icon – the Webb Ellis Cup. The specially-modified 110 Defender Station Wagon was developed and built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division at its headquarters at Oxford Road HQ in Ryton, UK. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender has been designed to safely and securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

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“The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the perfect showcase for the ability of our Special Vehicle Operations division to make bespoke vehicles” The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender made waves today as Land Rover unveiled the vehicle in spectacular fashion at Tower Bridge in London where it emerged, from a giant rugby ball, driven by Land Rover Ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody.

The 8.2m high ball floated 25 miles up the River Thames from Tilbury Dock on Thursday, passing iconic London landmarks such as the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf along the way.

66 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

The focal point of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the bespoke Trophy cabinet to the rear of the vehicle. A one-of-a-kind Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender App has been developed specifically for the purpose of controlling the high-specification technology within the Trophy cabinet – making sure that conditions are just right. Lighting, temperature, the locking mechanism that secures the Webb Ellis Cup and the 40-inch flat-screen Toshiba television are all controlled through the App on a 10” Toshiba Windows Tablet which acts as the interface. The Trophy cabinet is also protected with toughened security glazing.

The climate control system is crucial to ensuring the Trophy is always the star and visible to fans throughout the tour. It maintains a constant temperature within the cabinet to eliminate fogging and is aided by anti-glare security glass. To add a touch of theatre, three different lighting modes have been incorporated whilst the flat-screen TV will play a host of memorable moments from Rugby’s illustrious history.

The passenger interior is based on the Defender Autobiography edition and offers a high level of personalised design touches.

Black Windsor Leather seats have been embellished with gold contrast stitching and Rugby World Cup 2015 blue piping whilst the contrast stitch extends to the dashboard and doors. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour logo takes prominent position being embroidered onto the front headrests.

Powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission, this iconic all-terrain vehicle also features a front winch, aluminium sump guard, side and rear steps, modified raised air intake and expedition rack. These are complimented by striking Rugby World Cup 2015 graphics to

the exterior. Vehicle spot lights illuminate the immediate surroundings like a floodlit pitch while the broader 16” off-road tyres give the Defender a purposeful and self-assured stance.

John Edwards, Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division, said: “It’s been a privilege to work on this one-off Land Rover. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the perfect showcase for the ability of our Special Vehicle Operations division to make bespoke vehicles. From the illuminated Trophy cabinet at the back to its luxury interior, every aspect of this unique and special vehicle has been carefully engineered to provide the ultimate platform for the Webb Ellis Cup as it travels around the UK.” The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, around the UK and Ireland, reflects the Defender’s legendary go anywhere, do anything character as it traverses countrywide to bring the Webb Ellis Cup to over 300 events in 100 days and engage with fans and players at all levels.

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland kicks off on 10 June and will culminate on 18 September at the Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour Defender will continue to transport the Webb Ellis Cup throughout the Tournament, which takes place across 13 stadiums in the UK until the final on 31 October.

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| Motors

MTC Subaru Cambridgeshire 01733 822 943

Cross Roads Warwickshire 01608 433 163

Cambridge Subaru Cambridgeshire 01223 633 706

Maple Garage Ltd East Riding of Yorkshire 01964 782 297

www.mtc-subaru.co.uk

www.crossroads-subaru.co.uk

www.cambridge-subaru.co.uk

www.maplegarage-subaru.co.uk

Perkins Essex 01371 483 379

Unity Leicester Leicester 01162 149 060

Burrells Motor Group South Yorkshire 01302 515 767

www.perkins-subaru.co.uk

www.unityleicester-subaru.co.uk www.burrellsmotorgroup-subaru.co.uk

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| Motors

68 | Farming Monthly | June 2015

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| Motors

Guy Salmon Portsmouth

Kentdale Kendal

02392 177196, guysalmon.portsmouth.landrover.co.uk

01539 814444, kentdale.kendal.landrover.co.uk

Guy Salmon Knutsford

Lakeland Torver

01565 632525 guysalmon.knutsford.landrover.co.uk

01539 441317, lakeland.torver.landrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Stafford Land Rover

02380 215800 01233 506070, barretts.ashford.landrover.co.uk

01785 214140, stafford.landrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Duckworth Market Rasen

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

01673 799393, duckworth.marketrasen.landrover.co.uk

Ripon Land Rover

Duckworth Boston

01765 646464, ripon.landrover.co.uk

01205 449758, duckworth.boston.landrover.co.uk

Chipperfield Land Rover

Hunters Southampton

01923 263030, chipperfield.landrover.co.uk

02380 215800 hunters.southampton.landrover.co.uk

Cambrian Aberystwyth

Pentland Cupar

01970 624841, cambrian.aberystwyth.landrover.co.uk

01334 800368, pentland.cupar.landrover.co.uk

Hunters Norwich

Pentland Edinburgh

01603 944836, hunters.norwich.landrover.co.uk

01312 025466, pentland.edinburgh.landrover.co.uk

Lloyds Kelso

Pentland Perth

01573 224345, lloyd.kelso.landrover.co.uk

01738 500679, pentland.perth.landrover.co.uk

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June 2015 | Farming Monthly | 69

| Motors

Mazda CX-5 production surpasses one million Popular compact SUV reaches production milestone after just over three years on sale. he one-millionth Mazda CX-5 rolled off the assembly line at the end of April. The company’s popular compact SUV achieved the landmark less than three years after going into production in late 2011. Only one other model from the carmaker – the Mazda3 – has reached the figure faster.

Introduced to the fast-growing global segment in February 2012, Mazda’s first-ever compact crossover was also the first production model with the complete range of SKYACTIV Technology and a KODO: Soul of Motion design. The CX-5 thereby ushered in a

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new era at Mazda that has helped put the carmaker on the road to success. The model has since won more than 60 awards* around the world, including the prestigious Car of the Year Japan 2012-2013 as well as numerous best SUV and crossover accolades. It was Japan’s top-selling SUV in 2012 and 2013, and is also Mazda’s most popular model in several European markets including Germany**.

“I am delighted to see the CX-5 reach the 1 million unit mark in only three years and five months,” said Masashi Otsuka, CX-5 programme manager. “I would like to express my gratitude to the people all over the world who have appreciated and supported the CX-5.

We are committed to continue enhancing this model into the future to ensure that it remains a popular choice among people with active lifestyles and will appeal to even more customers.”

Only one other model from the carmaker – the Mazda3 – has reached the figure faster In the UK the multi-award winning Mazda CX5 continues to win praise from journalists and owners alike with more than 19,000 having been sold since its debut in 2012.

Land Cruiser: The perfect nesting spot Birds raise their brood beneath 4×4’s bonnet. here’s a new kind of twitter buzz about the Land Cruiser since a pair of robins picked Toyota’s mighty 4×4 as the perfect place to raise their young. The bold birds built their nest in the engine compartment of the car and travelled more than 250 miles before they were discovered.

Dave Merchant, from Henley in Somerset, only found the stowaways when he went to check the oil in his Land Cruiser Amazon.

The mother bird had been sitting on a clutch of eggs that successfully produced five chicks that are now well on the way to fledging.

Dave said: “The fact that I was driving the Land Cruiser around while the robins were nesting and

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that the birds hatched successfully shows what a good car this is. As soon as I saw the chicks I of course stopped driving the car and I won’t use it again until they have flown the nest.”

Dave is a great advocate for Land Cruiser performance and reliability – and now it merits as probably the world’s biggest bird box. He has covered more than 80,000 miles in his vehicle since acquiring it in 2008 and has also chosen a Land Cruiser for his son.

Robins are renowned for their fearlessness, territorial behaviour and their sometimes strange nesting choices. Although unusual, this is not the first Toyota to house a bird’s nest: last year a local newspaper in Victoria, Australia, reported on a birds nest in the engine compartment of a RAV4.

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| Motors

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

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

RIVERSIDE EASTERN LTD North Yorkshire 01723 821 625 www.riversideeastern-isuzu.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAPLE GARAGE LTD East Riding of Yorkshire 01964 782 292 www.maplegarage-isuzu.co.uk

CROSS ROADS Warwickshire 01608 433 021 www.crossroads-isuzu.co.uk

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

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