March 2016 Farming Monthly National

0% on Suzuki ATVs p56 |

Farmers maximise digestate biofertiliser value p21 |

Farming

MONTHLY National

March 2016

Inside this issue...

On Topic | Organisation is key to spring calving success P12

Finance

Brothers grow farm by 25% after funding p17 |

6 Steps

Research

to sward success after wet, mild winter p 32 |

| endorses yield from quality forage p14

Adam Henson | at Bishop Burton college P11

Also Inside: Buildings | Education | Machinery | Fencing | Tyres | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS March 2016

FEATURES 11

12

10 Education NSC Spring Lambing Day 2016

14 Livestock Yield from quality forage: Research

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36 Fencing

34

40 Forestry

Dragon EstateWIRE, M&M Fencing..

38 Buildings

Planting trees a priority for flooding

50 Tyres

Graham Heath still reporting enquiries from LAMMA

Michelin CargoXBib

16 Finance Brexit uncertainty & expansion news

24 Slurry Storage, spreading, handling

28 Irrigation Irrimec irrigation solutions

REGULARS 06 News All the latest news this month

30 Arable Australian harvest, grassland, soil..

34 Precision The future of farming is tech...

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12 On Topic Spring calving success

18 Energy Energy Now Expo, digestate storage

42 Machinery Latest news

52 ATV ATV news...covered.

60 Motors All the latest motors news

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Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@farmingmonthly.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Advertising Director: Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Smith j.smith@farmingmonthly.com Phil Barry p.barry@farmingmonthly.com ACCOUNTING Accounts Payable Manager: Cheryl Arnold c.arnold@farmingmonthly.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION studio@farmingmonthly.com

From the Editor...

We all know how wet and miserable this winter has been, with unprecedented flooding in fields and pastures which might lead one to think, “what can I do to get flooded fields back to full fitness”?

Let me direct you now to pages 32 & 33 where you will find some handy tips and information to not only get your swards back into shape but also to manage potential soil compaction damage to wet soils this spring.

Also inside this month, we take a look at slurry storage in addition to how to maximise digestate biofertiliser value. On page 34, Smithers Viscient consider what future farming might look like in the next 10 years – what will be your biggest challenges in the next 10 years?

On farm energy generation is going to be one area that will stay in focus for sure, as well as farming's ability to produce food at the cost that supermarkets want to pay. Farmgate prices are in the news as we speak, so with the spotlight firmly on the industry, will it result in a positive outcome for food producers and farming as a whole?

Then there's the EU exit question. What do you think Britain should do – are you for or against the possibility of an EU exit? There's certainly plenty of scaremongering going on but whatever happens, farmers will still be producing food for a growing population. I can hear Churchill now...”Never.....was so much owed by so many to so few....”

Whatever the future holds, there’s one thing for certain - tomorrow the sun will rise and you’ll carry on doing your thing - because farmers love what they do. But I’m sure that a bit more appreciation wouldn’t go amiss..

“Too many people talk about the weather, and not enough people talk about agriculture. When somebody says to me, "Beautiful weather we're having,” I always reply, "Irrigation and crop rotation.”

Jarod Kintz Andrew Poulton, Editor

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Follow us For editorial, general enquiries or to advertise please call +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com Farming Monthly National is published monthly in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Printed in the UK No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or publication. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as required and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies.

Full copyright applies. All rights reserved.

ISSN 2044-0190 (print) ISSN 2044-0200 (digital)

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

LMR – 25 years on and going strong LMR the farmers’ and rural business co-op in central and east England is celebrating 25 years of trading, serving the many varied needs of its’ 650 members. LMR facilitates the efficient and timely supply of machinery, labour and competitively priced inputs for its members.

MR was founded in 1991 as the Lincolnshire Machinery Ring Ltd to co-ordinate the supply of contracting services between farmer members in Lincolnshire.

By the year 2000 LMR had responded to the demand from members for the supply of inputs such as fuels, oils, gases and tyres. This grew rapidly to become the major trading activity of LMR with the addition of new services such as wearing parts, concrete, aggregates, seed and fertilisers.

Members benefit from access to a vast pool of machines and services on offer from fellow members spread across the LMR territory which now covers the counties of Lincolnshire,

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Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland as well as parts of adjoining counties.

Members also benefit from access to similar services on a national basis from our links with the other machinery rings in the UK. This provides additional work opportunities and access to services that would otherwise have been hard to procure. The wider non agricultural community also benefits from LMR members providing services such as snow clearance and gritting for hospitals, schools, supermarkets and business parks. Through LMR, members have also been involved in environmental works restoring chalk streams and hedges, as well as responding to natural disasters by clearing floodwaters from affected communities.

06 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

Ring Manager’s Jayne Hunt & Andrew Beckingham

LMR has worked with many farming and rural businesses in its 25 years and is proud that so many of the founding members are still very active in the group today. One such member, Robert Hammond of John Hammond and Co values his membership and says “it simplifies fuel purchasing, anyone on the farm can place a fuel order knowing that with one call they are getting the best price.” There will of course be many non member farmers, contractors and rural businesses that we hope to connect with in the future so that we can bring the

Members benefit from access to a vast pool of machines and services on offer from fellow members spread across the LMR territory many services and savings available in LMR to their businesses, whilst also boosting the range and quality of services on offer to existing members. For further information on LMR and membership please visit our website www.lmr.org.uk and call us on 01507 600888.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Tractor Ted co-founder honoured for services to agriculture David Horler, Somerset farmer and co-founder of the popular children’s brand, Tractor Ted, has been honoured by the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies in recognition of his contribution to the practice and development of agriculture. n a presentation at the House of Lords, David was awarded with an Associateship of Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS) by the Countess of Wessex who received a Fellowship from the Association on the same day.

David was honoured for his work with Tractor Ted with special reference made to how the little green tractor has educated many hundreds of thousands of young children over the years on British farming and countryside matters.

“I was thrilled to be asked to join this prestigious association and to accept the award not only for myself but also in recognition of the work of my Tractor Ted cofounder, Alexandra Heard, the excellent Tractor Ted team and the

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thousands of Tractor Ted little fans who have supported and are still supporting us with all our ventures,” said David.

“It was a real pleasure to meet the Countess of Wessex and particularly as she admitted that they have all the Tractor Ted DVDs back at home as he’s a firm favourite with her family!“ he added.

The Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies was set up in 1984 with the principal aim of recognising services to agricultural.

Submission for the award takes on a rigorous process including nomination, supporting letters from two Sponsors who must be Fellows of the Association, a written application and interview.

“We have worked very hard to make Tractor Ted the success that

it is today and he is very much part of my family’s farm,” said David.

“We employ eight staff on a full time/part time basis and run a team of seven sales agents across the UK, as well as distributors in the Republic of Ireland, USA and New Zealand.

“The Head Office is based in the old calving sheds and granary on the farm and we’re all adept at taking customer phone calls one minute and herding cows the next!

“The day-to-day farm work is managed by my nephew, Tom Wheeler, but even he is now

becoming involved with Tractor Ted as he’s starred in a few of the latest DVDs!” David added.

Tractor Ted is an animated green tractor who presents real life farm and countryside stories to young children.

With a unique combination of DVDs, books and toys alongside live events and visitor attractions the little green tractor provides an entertaining, engaging and educational introduction to agricultural for children aged two to six years.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

LEAF appoints former Head of Sustainability at Waitrose as Director Business Collaboration LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), has announced the appointment of Quentin Clark, former Head of Sustainability at Waitrose, as its new Director Business Collaboration.

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uentin’s role will be to plan and lead a business collaboration strategy to work with third party organisations to place sustainable food and farming high on their agenda.

2016 marks the 25th anniversary of LEAF and to commemorate, a number of events will be held by the organisation over the course of the year Quentin held various positions at Waitrose for 29 years including Head of Commercial Buying for produce and poultry, fish and eggs.

For the past six years, he led the engagement of suppliers, Partners and customers in the sustainability and ethical sourcing agenda.

Speaking on his new position at LEAF, Quentin commented: “I am very excited to have

08 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

joined LEAF. For the last 25 years, I have seen what LEAF has achieved and am greatly looking forward to working with the team.

LEAF has such an important role to play in promoting the values of sustainable farming to the general public, helping farmers maximise resources and delivering more sustainable food and farming across the supply chain. The next 25 years are full of potential.”

Chief Executive of LEAF, Caroline Drummond said: “We are absolutely delighted that Quentin has joined our growing team. His vast knowledge of the sustainability sector as well as his wide ranging commercial experience will be invaluable as we embark on an ambitious five-year strategy to meet the growing need for our services and continue to build on the potential of the organisation.”

As part of the organisation’s growth strategy, LEAF has also announced the promotion of key players within its technical team with Kathryn Mitchell as Sustainability Manager, a new role designed to strengthen and oversee the

integration of LEAF Marque into its core work on Integrated Farm Management.

Anthony Goggin’s role has increased responsibilities and a new title of Certification and Assurance Manager, ensuring the robust and transparent development of LEAF Marque and its standards, and Alice Midmer becomes LEAF’s IFM Manager. LEAF also welcomes Jenny Clark to its technical team as Technical Assistant.

2016 marks the 25th anniversary of LEAF and to commemorate, a number of events will be held by the organisation over the course of the year. These include a LEAF Marque Summit (8th April 2016), a Consumer Engagement Conference (6th May 2016) and a LEAF Demonstration Sites Conference (19th May 2016). LEAF also runs the annual Open Farm Sunday initiative, taking place this year on 5th June. For more information, please visit www.leafuk.org

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| News

Access to EU markets

NWF acquire Jim

vital for lamb exports: FUW Peet Agriculture Ltd When we think of St David’s Day many things might come to mind not least of which will be those iconic ingredients for Welsh Cawl: Lamb and Leeks. And whilst the quality of Welsh Lamb is well recognised throughout Wales it is also increasingly being recognised further afield. n Europe in particular, where the market for Welsh meat is worth close to £200 million a year with a significant proportion of that being for lamb, there is a fast growing market for Welsh lamb as a niche premium product.

“There’s no doubt that its Protected Geographical Indication Status, which guarantees a genuinely authentic product is highly important,” said Alan Davies of the Farmer’s Union of Wales.

“But we’ve known for years that the combination of our brilliant farmers, along with some of the lushest grass in the world and a plentiful supply of rain, all combine to produce a great product.

“We heard only recently from Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion

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Wales that Welsh Lamb is gaining ground in Germany where is it marketed as a niche, premium product, and rightly so. It is a wonderful product, taking the German market by storm.”

Access to EU markets, especially with regards to lamb exports, is vitally important for Welsh agriculture. Officials figures showed that in 2014, approximately 35 percent of sheep meat produced in Wales was exported to the European Union.

“We need to be able to guarantee access to this market freely and that is only possible if we remain in the EU. Yes the EU is not perfect, we know that. But being part of it brings with it so many positive benefits that ensure a prosperous and economically viable rural Wales. We must not jeopardise that position.”

It has been announced that NWF Agriculture Ltd has completed the purchase of Jim Peet Agriculture Ltd. ounded in 1977 in Carlisle Cumbria, Jim Peet Agriculture has developed and grown into a major Brand in the Feed Industry and now employs 23 people based at Longtown in Carlisle, Aspatria in Cumbria with offices in Langwathby, Penrith.

The company was founded

by Jim Peet who worked in the business until recently, being succeeded by his son Simon Peet and his son-in-law Alastair Renvoize. Together they have seen Jim Peet Agriculture grow from humble beginnings to today where it enjoys a sales volume above 50,000 tonnes.

“The acquisition is a fantastic fit for both businesses, NWF Agriculture supplies 100,000 tonnes of product to the North and Scotland and has long sought a supply base for this volume whereas Jim Peet own two production facilities perfectly placed to supply our Northern tonnage and ready to expand and grow” comments Andrew Downie, Managing Director of NWF Agriculture.

“The Jim Peet personnel are a great addition to our NWF team,

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they have a salesforce of 5, all working in geographies which complement the existing salesforces of NWF Agriculture and New Breed” further adds Andrew.

The North is and remains a crucial market for NWF Agriculture with 3,000 dairy farms and a huge opportunity for Beef and Sheep sales growth, a sector where Jim Peet enjoy an excellent reputation.

“Upon completion we plan to expand both of the Jim Peet facilities at Aspatria and Longtown through a capital expansion programme adding plant and equipment to add capacity, improve quality and reduce cost through automation, whilst we will add offices at Longtown to support our Northern team” .

“I am delighted to announce this news, in tough market conditions NWF Agriculture has continued to prosper and thrive, growing volume and share through the hard work and dedication of its people and this acquisition serves perfectly to continue this success by providing our Northern Teams with a platform to grow” concludes Andrew.

Farmgate price enquiry The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee recently published their report into farmgate prices. rla appeared before the Committee on 4 November 2015 and also delivered written evidence. A statement from David Christensen, Arla farmer owner and Board of Representative member, and Ash Amirahmadi, head of milk and member services appears below: “Arla and its 2700 British farmer owners thank the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee for their important intervention during a tough period for dairy farmers. We welcome the recognition of the role that producer organisations, like Arla, have in helping improve the strength of dairy farmers. As well as the importance of seizing

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opportunities for domestic and global market growth”, said David Christensen, Arla farmer owner and Board of Representative member.

Ash Amirahmadi, head of milk and member services, Arla Foods UK said: “Arla recognise the importance of working closely with the Government to boost exports, drive innovation within our sector and to highlight the dietary and nutritional benefits of dairy. As the report points out, it’s also about highlighting the importance of collective working amongst the farming community. As a farmerowned dairy company, where all our profits are returned to our farmers, this is central to everything we do.”

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 09

| Education

North Shropshire College’s

Spring Lambing Day ‘16 North Shropshire College (NSC) will be holding its increasingly popular Spring Lambing Day on 20th March 2016; the College will be opening up its Walford Campus to visitors. ast year’s Spring Lambing Day attracted over 4000 visitors, who visited the College’s farm, animal care centre and engineering department. The farm’s 200 strong dairy herd took part in many milking displays and demonstrated the Fullwood Merlin milking robot, but the stars of the show were the lambs. Most born in the preceding month and some born on the day.

Many of the popular attractions from last year will be making a welcome return in 2016, those returning are: Whitchurch Dog Display Team, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Archery, NSC’s Robot Milking Display, Face Painting, Treasure Hunt etc. The extremely popular Animal Care Department at the Harris Centre,

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welcomed visitors last year who crowded around the Meerkat enclosure, and met the College’s wide array of reptiles, insects and spiders in the exotics room and even saw the College’s many Birds of Prey.

The entrance fee on the day will be £10 per car/family on foot, there will be free parking at the Walford Campus or at Corbet School with a park and tractor/trailer ride to the event.

There are limited commercial stalls are available. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with Lucy Evans at l.a.evans@nsc.ac.uk For more information about Spring Lambing Day or courses at NSC, please visit the College website at www.nsc.ac.uk - you can also call the College Reception on 01691 688000 or email info@nsc.ac.uk

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| Education

Adam Henson at Bishop Burton College A farmer who has become the face of the industry through his role on TV's Countryfile said young people are needed to inject innovation into the farming industry while talking at a conference at Bishop Burton College recently. dam Henson took a break from filming the UK’s most-watched TV programme to talk about his life as a farmer at the sixth annual Agrii Northern Conference held at the College.

He said; "Countryfile tries to shed agriculture in a positive light and banish the image of overworked whinging farmers. We must market ourselves to youngsters with good technical and business qualifications that farming can be sexy and a great industry to work in.

“Being a farming ambassador is a weight on my shoulders, but it is great to come along to places like Bishop Burton to spread the good news about agriculture.

“I am also pleased to report that, for the first time, the average age of the farmer is getting younger, suggesting the industry is seeing a surge in popularity with the next generation. That’s down to colleges like this.”

The Agrii Northern Farming conference saw almost 1,000 farmers from across the North, come together to debate a range of issues faced by farmers, including the increasing commoditisation of wheat. Topics discussed included maximising yield, caring for soil, and the rise of precision technology – a highly

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technical and specialist farming technique.

"I think these are very exciting times for farming and there are some great opportunities for youngsters in the industry,” Mr. Henson said.

"Farming requires young people that are switched on, intelligent and who can solve problems.

Farmers have to solve problems every minute of the day so young people looking to agriculture as a career, need to make sure they are prepared for constant change and innovation.”

College Chief Executive and Principal Jeanette Dawson OBE, gave Mr Henson a tour of the College's 360-hectare farm, which includes cattle, sheep, pigs and crops, and showcased the worldclass precision technology that students have access to as part of their course.

She said: "There is a lot going on at the College and he was particularly impressed with what we are doing on the farm and how we continue to innovate by teaching the very latest in precision farming techniques.

"It is the sixth year that our partner, Agrii, has held this unique exhibition at the College, which attracts hundreds of farmers from across the North of England each year, and we’re pleased to be able to continue to support their efforts."

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

Organisation

is key to spring calving success “Now that the beginning of the year is well and truly behind us, thoughts should start to turn to spring calving. Time spent planning now will be time well spent to ensure problems are minimised,” says Keith Cutler, Veterinary Surgeon at Endell Veterinary Group and a member of the National Beef Association’s (NBA) Animal Health Committee. Here, on behalf of the NBA, Keith discusses further that organisation is the key to calving success. he aim is that your cows will all calve easily and unaided delivering a vigorous, live calf. To do this they need to be in a ‘fit not fat’ body condition. Too fat and the diameter of the birth canal may be reduced resulting in a difficult or prolonged delivery which may affect calf viability. Too thin and the cow may lack the stamina to push the calf out.

Colostrum quality and quantity is also likely to be poor if cows are too thin. If you are worried about colostrum quality it can be measured easily using a colostrometer. If colostrum quality is poor intakes can be supplemented, ideally using a bottle and teat but via a stomach tube if necessary. Colostrum from a donor cow will provide antibodies specific to pathogens present on your farm. Additional antibody content can be stimulated by vaccinating the donor cow against E. coli, rotavirus and coronavirus

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Keith Cutler

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between twelve and four weeks prior to calving. Care should be taken, however, as it is possible for some pathogens (for example Map which is the cause of Johne’s disease) to be transmitted in colostrum. If donor colostrum of high quality from a known health status animal is not available, either fresh or frozen, various freeze dried colostrum replacers are available and may be useful in an emergency situation.

“Although calves are born with a fully functioning immune system they do not have any passive maternal immunity because antibodies from the cow cannot cross the placenta,” continues Keith.

Colostrum, as well as providing nutrition, is vital in providing this passive maternal immunity, but antibodies can only be absorbed efficiently before ‘gut closure’ which begins within hours of birth.

Calves therefore need to suckle as soon after birth as possible. The recommended amount of colostrum varies between different authorities; however, more

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| On Topic

recently it has become common to recommend 10% of the calf’s body weight within five hours, again repeated before a day of age. In truth, an exact amount is not important; new born calves need a lot of good quality colostrum quickly.

No matter how much colostrum is taken by your calves and how good its quality you should not forget that disease is a complex interaction between pathogens, the immune system and the environment.

It is important to remember that if the attacking pathogens are overwhelming then the immune system will be defeated. As well as ensuring an early and adequate passive maternal immunity through colostrum intake, it is vital to reduce the pathogen challenge to your new born calves. Calving paddocks should be clean and well drained and calving yards and boxes bedded with fresh, clean bedding.

One of the main routes by which pathogens are

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able to infect calves is through the navel. The application of clips and antibiotic spray may help reduce the risk. However, an antiseptic solution, such as Strong iodine BP, which dries the navel at the same time is recommended. This should be applied liberally as soon as possible after birth. If the cow licks it off there is no harm in a second application a few hours later.

It is also useful to plan now for what you will need when inevitably a difficult calving presents. How are you going to handle the cow, especially if your animals calve outdoors? Is your calving aid in a good state of repair? Do you have clean ropes or chains and plenty of obstetrical lubricant? Have you got stimulants, a supply of colostrum or colostrum replacer and a clean stomach tube? A little time spent planning now will ensure that everything required to deal with the emergency is all to hand when it is needed.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Livestock

Research endorses yield from quality forage

Richard King, Head of Business Research, Andersons Centre

Farmers are urged to reconsider feeding systems and look at margin not yield as recent research suggests forage based dairy systems, which balance high milk output with the maximum use of forage, can be the sustainable ideal according to dairy consultants Andersons. n a study1 commissioned by leading fertilizer company Yara, Andersons’ Friesian Farm model, a notional 150-cow Midlands dairy with year-round calving, confirmed that whilst milk from grazed grass is the cheapest/litre, a forage based system, using good quality conserved forage, can be the most profitable alternative.

The study compares the pros and cons of three of the UK's typical dairy feeding systems: • A concentrate based system, aiming to maximise milk yield (averaging 9,300L) • A grazing based system, producing milk cheaply with lower yields (averaging 6,500L) • A forage based system, looking to balance high milk output with the maximum use of forage (averaging 8,000L) The results show that, whilst the concentrate based model produced the highest yields, they are expensive to achieve with a cost of production of 28.6ppl (£3,988/ha) and, at current milk prices (and adding in BPS and ELS support payments) leave a negative business surplus of -0.9ppl (-£122/ha).

Comparatively, the grazing based system – with less feed, labour, machinery, lower replacement and housing costs - had the lowest cost of production at 25.7ppl (£2,503) with a business surplus of 3.1ppl (£302/ha).

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Livestock Event: New machinery demonstration area launched 14 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

“The study did show that grazed grass is the most cost-effective way of feeding dairy cows, but also that each model has its benefits,” said Richard King Head of Business Research at the Andersons Centre. “Whilst variable and overhead costs are reduced for the grazing model, property depreciation charges increase due to investment in grazing infrastructure.

Also, for reasons of farm size, layout, soil and climate, not all farms will be able to adopt an extreme grazing system.”

The concentrate system, not only relies on expensive bought in feeds but is based on pushing yields, which can place extra demands on the cow, and brings higher veterinary, AI fees and replacement rates, also higher bedding and labour costs. “These increases in variable costs are not proportional to milk yield,” Mr King continues “which makes them more difficult to recover, especially given current milk prices.”

The forage based model, which is still quite intensive but with good quality conserved forage substituted for concentrate feed, had a slightly lower milk yield but the lower cost of production (26.83ppl/ £3,220/ha) led to a business surplus of 1.1ppl (£126/ha).

This approach was adopted by the winner of the Yara Grass Prix, David Murphy, who achieved a grass value of £2,281/ha having spent £185 on fertilizer.

The competition, in which leading beef and dairy farmers compete to achieve the highest energy yield averaged over their first two silage cuts gives grass a financial value by comparing it to buying in the same amount of ME in compound feeds and has shown that the greater the yield from forage, the more profitable a system can be.

“Both the Anderson Report and the Grass Prix confirm that the key to a successful forage based system is to grow good quality grass, and it is easier to achieve than you think,” says Jez Wardman, Agronomist at Yara UK. “This means treating grass just as you would an arable crop, including regular reseeding, the use of quality fertilizers and by completing a nutrient management plan – based on soil analysis – to ensure all the crops nutrient requirements are met by balancing the use of slurries with appropriate fertilizer recommendations.”

To find out more about the Andersons Report and the Yara Grass Prix competition and how you can start to implement on farm visit www.yara.co.uk/grass-prix Ref 1. Modelling the financial effects of the Yara ‘Grass Prix’ results on Dairy Farms 2. Based on BSFP data average application rates and spend on 'British' dairy farms, grass <5yr old per/ha.

orking mixer wagons, loaders, cubicle bedders and straw choppers - essential kit on most intensive dairy and beef farms, will all be featured in the new Machinery Demonstration Arena, sponsored by Agco, at the Livestock Event, to be staged at The NEC, Birmingham on 6 and 7 July by its organisers the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

Visitors will be able to observe and compare models as they are put through their paces in this practical outdoor demonstration throughout the two day event.

Event director, Matt Knight comments: “Times are tough, consequently this year we are organizing a free entry event which is all about helping livestock producers find out more about relevant products and concepts that will save money and help keep their

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| Livestock

Vets welcome roll out of compulsory BVD testing in Northern Ireland The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Veterinary Association Northern Ireland Branch welcomed the commencement of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme in Northern Ireland (01/03/16). eamus O’Kane, President of BVA Northern Ireland Branch, said: “The introduction of compulsory BVD testing is a part of the joined-up DARD, profession and industry approach that is crucial for the delivery of a successful BVD eradication programme in Northern Ireland. We welcome

the Minister O’Neill’s commitment to disease control and hope we will see similar successes as we did with our Officially Brucellosis Free declaration.”

Sean Wensley, President of BVA, said: “Vets and farmers have been well engaged with the process so far to control BVD and keen to see it progress; the announcement for a compulsory BVD testing scheme was made

businesses on track. This new practical demonstration arena will enable visitors to make more informed decisions on which model best suits their farm before making an investment.”

Massey Ferguson’s Lindsay Haddon comments: “The dairy sector is one of our most important and sponsoring the machinery arena at Livestock Event 2016 shows that we are continuously investing in these farmers

through research and development of livestock machinery. Sponsoring the Livestock Event’s new demonstration arena will enable them to view our latest range of awardwinning machinery and see potential time and cost saving benefits to their business.

She adds: “We wholeheartedly back British dairy farming and encourage people to visit us at the machinery demonstration arena. Now, more than ever our dairy customers need our

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more than two years ago so we are very pleased to see the roll out now of the legislation.”

support and so we endeavour to keep strong relationships with our farmers during these times. “ RABDF is offering free entry to Livestock Event 2016: open doors to ALL farmers, their families and staff, farm contractors as well as vets, consultants and the supply trade.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Finance

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“Our clients enjoy complete peace of mind whilst working with us; often because we let you get on with your busy lives whilst we sort out the details. Over the years, thousands of satisfied clients have expressed total confidence in our solutions, people and products.”

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Farmers deserve a ‘plan B’ to end Brexit uncertainty A minister’s claim that there is no ‘plan B’ for British agriculture in the event of a Brexit, is simply not good enough. That is the view of John Thame, at the UK200Group of independent charted accountancy and legal firms, who believes farmers deserve greater reassurances that their livelihoods will be properly protected. peaking at the Oxford Farming Conference recently, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Liz Truss, confirmed that the Government has no "plan B" to support British agriculture in the event that the UK leaves the EU following a promised referendum.

Ms Truss said it was "not the case" that officials within her department were working up a contingency plan that would form the basis of UK agricultural policy should the referendum result in Britain quitting the EU. Ms Truss' comments came after Meurig Raymond, president of the NFU for England and Wales, said

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the referendum - due to take place before the end of 2017 - could completely change the way agriculture works.

That scenario was confirmed by a study by independent, Londonbased analysts Agra Europe, which has predicted that only the most efficient 10 per cent of British farmers would be able to survive without the multi-billion pound subsidies handed out by Brussels.

The report also points out that, for the majority of British farm businesses, EU subsidies represent the difference between profit and loss.

John Thame, Chair of UK200Group’s Agriculture Group and a partner with Ellacotts chartered accountants and business advisers, commented:

16 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

“The consequences of Brexit for the agriculture sector will very much depend on the policies that the UK might pursue post-Brexit and there are so many unknowns that it makes it hard to draw any definitive conclusions about the likely effects for farmers at this stage.

“Despite this, anecdotal evidence points to a substantial number of farmers broadly being in favour of an EU exit, possibly because they believe that they will be better off, unfettered by EU bureaucracy and red tape.

“The current uncertainty over Brexit leaves British businesses – and farming in particular – in a state of confusion, creating significant difficulties regarding long term planning and growth. At

a time like this, it is not helpful for the government to dismiss these uncertainties by stating that there is no ‘plan B.’ It is simply not good enough and the Government has a duty to ‘fill in the blanks.’

“Another concern being voiced, is that in any negotiations, agriculture might suffer against other sectors such as financial services and the pharmaceutical industry which make a greater contribution to the UK's GDP. The government cannot afford to leave things to chance. There is an urgent need to engage with agricultural representatives now to explain how this vital sector will be protected, regardless of which way the British public votes in the referendum.”

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| Finance

Brothers grow farm by 25% Farming brothers from Salisbury have expanded their farm by 98 acres thanks to a new funding package in excess of £1m from Clydesdale Bank. rothers Derek and Arthur Woodvine have expanded their holding at Kings Farm, Fordingbridge, by 25% from 390 acres of arable land to 488 acres.

Additional land will be used to increase the farm’s production of winter wheat, winter and spring barley, beans and peas.

Over the past 30 years the brothers have continued to grow their business, building their own farm sheds and grain drying complex, on top of managing a herd of cattle which at one point reached 500 head cattle.

Derek’s previous experience includes working up to 3 farms a day in his youth and in later years working night shifts at a local feed

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blending plant. That has proved especially valuable as he utilises his blending knowledge to benefit the thriving farm.

Derek currently manages the land and cattle and now boasts his own blended feed enterprise with Arthur providing crucial support where required. Arthur also runs his own venture in the form of a business threshing straw for thatching.

Clydesdale Bank has provided the business with 100% of the purchase cost. The 488 acre farm, situated on the outskirts of Salisbury, has been a customer of the bank for almost 20 years.

As well as the funding for the land purchase, Clydesdale Bank assisted with the swift acquisition of a new tractor for the farm. The

funding for the development was organised by Justin Hayward, Relationship Manager for Agribusiness at Clydesdale Bank’s Business and Private banking centre in Oxford.

Derek Woodvine, Partner of A & D Woodvine said: “Running a farm is all I ever wanted to do from the moment I helped my dad drive the tractor at the age of five.

“We’re thrilled to have received the funding from Clydesdale Bank to purchase new equipment and make this opportunity for growth become a reality. As a bank, they’re always there for us, as they have shown throughout the land purchasing process” Mark Laughlan, Head of Clydesdale Bank’s Reading and Oxford Business and Private Banking Centres, said “We are pleased to have assisted Arthur and Derek Woodvine with the growth of their business and look forward to working with them going forward.

“Clydesdale Bank remains focused on supporting the growth ambitions of local businesses”

Lincolnshire farm more than doubles output following bank deal A North Lincolnshire family farm has built a new free range egg-laying facility with financial support from Yorkshire Bank, leading to the business more than doubling its production output.

Wilkins & Sons has developed the new facility which will house 64,000 free range hens, on its existing site in Ulceby between Scunthorpe and Grimsby. This will increase the total number of hens the farm can house from 40k to 104k.

The funding was provided by Oliver Maxey, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank in Lincoln, and has led the farm to employ two new full-time members of staff.

The third-generation family business was established in Leicestershire by Victor Wilkins, the grandfather of current owner, Paul Wilkins, who runs the farm alongside his father Richard.

Paul’s son Sam (19) also recently joined the business.

Starting out as a traditional mixed farm in the 1920s, V Wilkins & Sons now specialises in arable farming and free-range egg production.

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Sustainability is a major focus for the business, which utilises grain grown on the farm as feed for the hens. Conversely, the birds’ waste is used as fertiliser for the crops.

The business has experienced steady growth over the last decade and has been increasing the number of hens on the farm every few years since owners Paul and Richard diversified into egg production in 2004.

Paul said: “As we’ve evolved into a competitive business, sustainability has become a priority for us and we’ve managed to nicely tie together our farming activities to help achieve this. In the future, I hope to continue increasing the number of hens and grow production even further, in line with market demand.

“I can’t speak highly enough when it comes to Yorkshire Bank’s support. The team’s knowledge of agribusiness is very strong and

they’ve been really helpful in steering the business in the right direction.”

Oliver Maxey, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Lincoln, said: “V Wilkins & Sons is an example of a family farming business diversifying its offer and experiencing significant growth from doing so, while creating jobs for the local community. We are proud to support the farm’s recent development and look forward to working with Paul and the team as they grow.

“As economic conditions continue to improve, Yorkshire Bank remains focused on supporting the growth ambitions of businesses in Lincolnshire.”

March 2016 | Farming Monthly |17

| Energy

Energy Now Expo 2016 With renewable energy surpassing coal as the leading electricity source for a whole quarter for the first time last year, the expanded Energy Now Expo 2016 turned out to be a lively event. ccording to government statistics released last September, renewable energy has outstripped coal by a record 25%, compared to the same period the year before, when renewables contributed 16.4% of electricity.

With this news there’s been a new wave of interest in generating renewable energy, and farmers and landowners wanting to find out about the opportunities available did not miss the new format Energy Now Expo 2016.

Taking place at Telford International Centre, on February 10 and 11, 2016, the show was more extensive than ever.

The hall was extended to twice the size, accommodating a total of 200 exhibitors.

Conference sessions on each renewable energy type were included inside the exhibition, and the conference format evolved to become a hotbed of debate.

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Three provocative topics were proposed by a chair, and then discussed by three leading industry professionals who had half an hour each to state their case, with the audience being invited to contribute.

At the start of each day the conference was kicked off by three keynote presentations, from leading figures in the renewables and farming industries.

David Jacobmeyer, Energy Now Expo director, was excited about the new changes. “We wanted to keep visitor on their toes, and we’re always evolving the show to grow with advances in the renewable industry. Farmers and landowners are more knowledgeable than ever about renewable energy, so we wanted to provide the latest, most innovative platform to enable them to make informed decisions,” he says.

“The show welcomed a ‘new product development (NPD) zone’, where exhibitors launched new

products to the market. Also new this year was an ‘education zone’ which was an area dedicated to providing information on the training available to better understand and operate renewable energy schemes.

With over 3000 farmers and landowners through the doors at the Energy Now Expo, it’s certain that the sector is resilient in light of the hard time it’s had. Farmers are interested in renewables, especially those struggling to make ends meet due to low

market prices. And with the industry in flux, it’s encouraging new ideas to boost returns on farm.

AD4Energy launches anaerobic digestion plant maintenance service at Energy Now Expo 2016 Energy Now was the company’s first exhibition, giving them an opportunity to meet with the invaluable customer base that this influential annual trade show attracts, and as expected, the show did not disappoint. pecialising in small scale biogas plants for the agricultural community, AD4Energy offers a full suite of products and services to the AD sector. Having recently successfully commissioned three AD plants, and with a fourth nearing construction completion, AD4Energy launched their new Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) service at the Expo; which is available to all AD plant owners and operators with a plant output 500kWe or less.

AD offers an exciting opportunity for farmers to diversify into creating a sustainable and reliable source of income and green energy for the farm. As soon as a plant is operational, it will start to generate revenue. Due to this, it is equally as important for the farmer to have the ability to maintain digester health, stability

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and output potential once it is constructed. Through their PPM service, AD4Energy can take this concern away from the farmer, ensuring it is one less thing to worry about.

Following an initial on-site assessment, AD4Energy’s technical team will use their knowledge and experience to recommend the most suitable maintenance programme for the customer. This recommendation is offered in two key parts, which can be taken together or separately depending on the farmer’s needs.

Firstly, planned preventative mechanical maintenance combines a team of skilled service engineers with a bespoke, detailed servicing schedule and an emergency call out package. Secondly, biological monitoring and optimisation offers clients access to an in-house process team, who can work with the farmer to improve the health and efficiency of the digester.

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| Energy

Eco Angus boiler sees Somerset venue profit from a renewable heat solution Aldwick Court Farm & Vineyard is located at the foot of the Mendip Hills in Somerset. With its stunning views of the surrounding countryside, it is an extremely popular venue for weddings, wine tasting tours and other special occasions. Heating across the entire site had previously been provided by expensive and inefficient oil boilers.

Aldwick Court Farm and Vineyard, Somerset

t was necessary to provide heating and hot water to multiple areas of the farm including; farmhouse, visitor centre, function and event Rooms, offices and a flat in an affordable, eco-friendly and sustainable way.

With Eco Angus’ help the team of highly trained installers at Blake Ecotec designed and installed an environmentally friendly, high powered solution capable of providing heating and hot water across the entire site. A purpose built barn was constructed to house the Eco Angus Orlan Super 130kW Log Gasification Boiler, 10,000 litre Akvarterm accumulator tank and the 6 metre high, 300mm NOVA stainless steel flue.

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This solution is not only an eco friendly and sustainable source of heat but also a financially rewarding investment The boiler's 130kW heat output and large loading capacity means it is capable of burning logs, with a moisture content of 15-20%, up to 100cm in length. The solution works at 91% efficiency and can burn for up to 12 hours continuously. This high efficiency

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Aldwick Court - Eco Angus 130kW Orlan Super Log Gasification

means that, during the summer months, a single weekly load will provide enough hot water to every building on site.

This solution is not only an ecofriendly and sustainable source of heat but also a financially rewarding investment. The new system is compliant with the NonDomestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme and will receive payments over a 20 year period. They will receive RHI payments of 8.8p per kWh of heat generated by the system, a total of approximately £403,900 in Government Payments.

The Eco Angus Orlan Super 130kW Log Boiler solution will also deliver substantial net fuel cost savings of £258,636 across the 20 year scheme. In comparison with fossil fuels, this will save £4,000 in the first year, rising to £26,000 in the final year of the RHI scheme on fuel alone. Add this to the savings made on fuel and the project will gain approximately £662,500 in additional income over 20 years. The RHI payments and the fuel cost savings will see the initial outlay paid off in just over 1 year, before turning a profit for the remaining 19 years of the scheme.

Aldwick Court’s carbon footprint will be reduced by an incredible 36 tonnes of CO2 per year, a 90% reduction.

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| Energy

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| Energy

Farmers maximise digestate biofertiliser value Matt Hale, International Sales Manager for HRS Heat Exchangers, explains how innovations in heating, pasteurisation and concentration technology can help on-farm AD businesses to thrive in the face of dwindling renewable energy subsidies. he past five years have seen an unprecedented growth in Britain’s anaerobic digestion (AD) sector, with the number of operational plants increasing by over 600 per cent outside of the water sector*. Alongside facilities treating food waste, sewage and municipal/commercial waste, there are now 181 AD plants treating a variety of agricultural feedstocks such as manures, slurries and crops**.

The benefits of on-farm AD It’s easy to see why on-farm AD has proved so popular. Victims of supermarket price wars, rising energy bills and volatile commodity markets, many of Britain’s farmers are struggling to remain profitable and are also under pressure to reduce high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Processing organic farm waste through an on-site AD plant is a neat diversification option which allows farmers to remain within farming. It provides an environmentally friendly waste management solution, helping to reduce their emissions; it generates biogas that can be converted into electricity, heat or biomethane for use on-site or to be sold to the grid, helping to reducing their energy bills; and perhaps most significantly, it produces a biofertiliser (digestate). Not only can the production of digestate dramatically reduce farmers’ fertiliser bills, it also returns valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus back to the land, thereby helping to ensure the future of British farming.

Government’s assault on renewables However, recent government policy has failed to recognise these considerable benefits.

No sooner had the industry announced the UK’s 400th AD plant in July 2015, than the new Conservative government slammed on the brakes, removing both pre-accreditation for the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and AD’s exemption from the Climate Change Levy. Although DECC has recently confirmed its commitment to reintroduce pre-accreditation for the FIT scheme, its ambition remains startlingly low: government will provide support for a maximum of around 20 MW of additional AD capacity each year between 2016-19. This compares to an industry deployment of 48 MW in 2014 alone.

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Farmers are always looking to reduce costs in every area of their AD operation With government laying the foundations for a zero-subsidy future, it is therefore more important than ever that on-farm AD plants are operated efficiently, with every aspect of the process optimised, to ensure maximum return on investment.

Today’s responsible operators keep digestate production firmly at the heart of their business. They understand that creating a quality end product, which can also be sold to other farmers – and using as little energy as possible to do so – is essential for a thriving AD operation that will continue to appeal to investors.

Efficient digestate pasteurisation For digestate to be viewed as a product, not

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a waste, it must be pasteurised to PAS 110 certification standards. This accreditation provides reassurance to growers that it is safe to be applied to land. The 3 Tank Batch Sludge Pasteuriser System from HRS Heat Exchangers achieves this using up to 70 per cent less energy than existing competitor technology.

The system works on a three tank principle: while one tank is being filled, the second tank holds the digestate above 70°C, at the same time as the third tank is being emptied. Each process last one hour.

Traditionally, systems that heat digestate in a tank use a heating jacket – a bit like waiting for a giant kettle to boil – and then dump the heat after it has served its original purpose. The HRS system, however, employs energy recovery and is typically two to three times more efficient. By transferring energy from the hotter (pasteurised) sludge to the colder (unpasteurised) sludge, energy consumption is reduced by up to 70 per cent, maximising heat which would have otherwise been wasted. This also circumvents the need to install an additional heat source such as a biomass boiler, which could add hundreds of thousands of pounds to a project.

Reduced costs With farmers looking to reduce costs in every area of their AD operation, today’s efficient pasteurisation systems offer reduced downtime and increased digestate production. The inner tube in the HRS system’s exchanger which carries the digestate is a unique corrugated design; unlike the smooth tubes used in alternative exchangers. This boosts heat transfer by creating extra turbulence and also helps reduce fouling – as the digestate travels around the system, it’s less likely to stick to the tube wall, downtime and maintenance, as well as increasing the system’s lifespan.

Flexible and adaptable Digestate stocks can fluctuate depending on the volume of feedstock being processed. It is therefore important that operators employ a pasteurisation system which is capable of running a continuous process even when stocks fall. HRS’s addition of four level temperature probes – three in the bottom of each tank and one in the top – means the tanks can be filled to half capacities should the demand or flow drop off, allowing for continuous and flexible digestate production.

Without these probes, the system would be put on a ‘go slow’ waiting for the tanks to fill, which would not only require more heat but would also incur the expense of slowing down production or shutting the system and restarting.

It is also imperative that a pasteurisation system is tailored to meet an individual plant’s needs. On-farm AD operators are now increasingly demanding systems which offer a reduced footprint, scalability and a flexible leadtime; all of which are standard with HRS. Traceability But perhaps the most important factor for any digestate producer looking to purchase a new pasteurisation system is traceability. The ability to trace a batch of digestate back to its original feedstock consignment is invaluable in demonstrating accountability and providing

peace of mind, and is an important feature of the HRS system, which uses the company’s inhouse software to ensure its clients remain accountable and compliant with PAS 110 standards at all times.

Overcoming digestate storage issues Yet while heat exchanger and pasteurisation technology is helping on-farm AD operators to create a quality digestate, the sheer volumes being produced can be difficult to manage. A typical 1.5 MW plant generates as much as 40,000 TPA of liquid digestate, bringing significant economic and logistical challenges associated with its storage and transportation.

And as best practice dictates that digestate cannot be applied to land all year round, digestate storage is a major consideration for AD operators. In fact, spreading digestate at the wrong time of year, when the crop is unable to take full advantage of its nutrients, reduces its value, can damage crops and risks polluting the environment.

Reducing the liquid fraction can greatly help to overcome these issues. The Digestate Concentration System (DCS) from HRS superheats liquid digestate in a vacuum, increasing the dry matter typically from four per cent to 10 per cent and reducing the overall volume of digestate produced. This means that up to 60 per cent less storage capacity is needed and fewer tanker loads are required, helping curb a plant’s transportation costs and carbon footprint. The water removed by the process is then recovered and can be mixed with the AD feedstock, increasing the efficiency of the digester and reducing the overall amount of energy and water used.

Survival of the fittest The use of intelligent heat exchanger, pasteurisation and concentration technology could help farmers to recover nearly half the heat produced by their AD plant and assist them in producing a quality biofertiliser, at the same time as making cost and energy savings.

Maximising the value of digestate will give AD operators the best chance of not only surviving, but thriving in the face of uncertain government subsidies.

Sources: *Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), Sept 2015 **ADBA Policy Report, Nov 2015 *** Projected ‘low’ scenario, ADBA Policy Report, Nov 2015

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Energy

22 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

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| Energy

How should the valuable resource that is livestock slurry be stored?

New research considers the impact of mechanically separating livestock slurry into a liquid and solid fraction during storage on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. ivestock slurry is valuable source of free, organic fertiliser, which farmers can spread on farmland. However, gases which can be lost from slurry, during collection, storage and spreading, are of environmental concern.

Scientists at Rothamsted Research and the University of Milan, Italy, have examined the effect that mechanically separating anaerobically digested cattle and pig slurries into their liquid and solid fractions during storage has ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions.

A main finding of the research, which is published in the Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment journal, was that storage of the separated fractions of pig and cattle slurries increases nitrogen and ammonia emissions, compared with unseparated pig and cattle slurries.

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During storage ammonia and greenhouse gases are emitted from slurry. Emissions of ammonia can cause excessive richness of nutrients in our lakes and rivers, resulting in dense growth of plant life. Emissions of greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which makes the Earth warmer. However, slurry can also be an asset to the wider population, at a time when we need renewable energy resources to combat climate change.

Anaerobic digestion, whereby microorganisms break down slurry in the absence of oxygen, results in the production of biogas - a renewable energy with a small carbon footprint. A by-product of producing this energy is the digested, leftover slurry. But what is the best way of storing this digested slurry before spreading on land?

For this experimental research, containers of unseparated, solid, or liquid fractions of either pig or cattle digested slurries where set up in a temperature controlled room for over a month. Once a week, chemical analyses for determining nitrogen and organic matter content were carried out on each container. Twice weekly each container was stirred, in order to give the effect of being disturbed or agitated, after which a sample from each container was collected and tested for potential ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions.

It was found that mechanical separation increased nitrogen losses by 35% in separated fractions of pig slurry and 86% in separated fractions of cattle slurry.

The liquid fractions for both pig and cattle were found to emit the most amount of ammonia, accounting for 75% or more of total emissions. The disturbance to slurry by mixing also caused a considerable increase in ammonia emissions.

Dr Francesca Perazzolo, from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, said: “the results of our experimental research highlight the need to adopt mitigation techniques when slurry is mechanically separated into liquid and solid fractions of storage. This will help us to reduce the increased environmental impact of emissions. In this instance, we would highly recommend that the liquid fractions of slurry be contained within covered storage

tanks and/or that the pH value of the liquid fraction is lowered by the application of an acid treatment, as a means of reducing or mitigating ammonia emissions. It would also be recommended that disturbance of slurry, by crust destruction or tank filling and emptying, is restricted until the period just before slurry spreading” A main finding of the research, which is published in the Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment journal, was that storage of the separated fractions of pig and cattle slurries increases nitrogen and ammonia emissions, compared with unseparated pig and cattle slurries.

Dr Tom Misselbrook, a Principal Research Scientist at Rothamsted Research, who is strategically funded by the BBSRC, concluded: “Anaerobic digestion of livestock manures in combination with crops, food waste of other byproducts is increasing as a renewable energy source across Europe. The resulting digestate is a rich source of nutrients for recycling to agricultural land, but also a potential source of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.

Mechanical separation of the digestate into a liquid and solid fraction can help farmers to utilise the nutrient content more effectively, but this study has shown that the potential for emissions is greater from the storage of the separated fractions than for the whole digestate. It is important therefore that appropriate mitigations are included as part of the management process to minimise environmental effects and maximise the potential for nutrient utilisation.”

See more at: http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news -views/how-should-valuableresource-livestock-slurry-be-stored

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Slurry

Bauer solutions to slurry storage pressures When dairy farms set out to address a shortage of slurry storage capacity, minimising the volume of ‘dirty’ liquid generated by the daily routine is a good place to start. odifying drainage systems to collect dirty water, such as yard run-off and parlour washings, and channel them to a separate storage facility rather than the slurry lagoon or store helps minimise slurry volume. And dirty water can be applied during the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) closed period when conditions allow.

But to really have an impact on the problems created by slurry, installing a separator is the most positive step to take. With the liquid fraction extracted and pumped to a lagoon, only fibrous material remains to store in bulk.

“Separating allows these different materials to be stored and applied to the land in the most appropriate way – and with minimal smell,” emphasises Adrian Tindall of Bauer.

“They will also provide more consistent nutrient analyses than slurry, so they can be applied at the appropriate rate to reduce reliance on bagged fertiliser, while conforming to Nitrate Vulnerable Zone restrictions where necessary.”

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“Extracted solids with 30% or higher dry matter can be stockpiled in field heaps where nitrogen losses will be lower than from slurry, in readiness for application ahead of ploughing for maize, cereals and other spring crops” Traditional methods of bulk slurry storage do not make it easy to properly utilise what a growing number of producers now recognise as a valuable commodity

rather than mere ‘waste’ – especially as mineral fertiliser prices continue to rise.

“Unlike slurry, no pre-application mixing is needed so the liquid fraction is easily applied by dirty water irrigator, or by tanker or field injector,” he adds. “Extracted solids with 30% or higher dry matter can be stockpiled in field heaps where nitrogen losses will be lower than from slurry, in readiness for application ahead of ploughing for maize, cereals and other spring crops.”

Applied by spreader to fields where its nutrient content and organic matter will do most good, the switch over also eliminates the ‘slop factor’ that comes with loading, transporting and spreading slurry.

“That’s got to be a better approach than scraping or pumping whole slurry to an above ground store or lagoon where it settles out and has to be mixed before being spread,” Mr Tindall adds. “In fact, the cost of installing mixers in a new slurry store is about the same as a separator, so it makes more sense to go the separation route and reap the additional benefits.”

For the majority of livestock producers, the prime attraction of separation is its impact on storage capacity.

“A dairy unit with an existing storage problem or looking to increase herd size will find 20-30% more storage capacity by installing a separator,” Adrian Tindall points out. “In that situation, the handling and utilisation benefits are an added bonus.”

Two types of separator are available: the large screen type with revolving rollers and brushes, and the screw type, which Bauer has produced for the past 25 years.

“All our separators are built with a cast iron housing that contains a

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heavy-duty stainless steel screw and stainless steel screens,” Mr Tindall points out. “They have few moving parts and components are hard-wearing for a long and lowcost service life.”

Screens are available with a choice of slot sizes to suit different materials and the weighted discharge flaps are adjustable to create sufficient resistance in the raw material for liquid to be extracted efficiently at good throughputs.

Bauer’s two established models, the S655 and S855, use a 5.5kW motor, with the S655 able to tap into single- as well as three-phase electricity supplies.

Otherwise, the principle difference between them is the length of the separation chamber, which influences throughout.

The S655 is rated to handle up to 20cu m of slurry an hour, while the

S855 is rated at 30cu m/hr – although in both cases, output is greatly influenced by the consistency and make-up of the material.

The Bauer Compact separator with a 3kW motor can run on singlephase electricity in addition to threephase and uses the same stainless steel screw and slotted-screen separating technology as the larger units. Its small size – it weighs 420kg and measures just 1.3m in length by 0.7m wide and stands 1m high – means it is easier to install as part of a waste management system.

With a typical output of around 5cu m per hour for cattle slurry and 7-10cu m for pig slurry, the Bauer Compact is a cost-effective option for dairy herds of up to 150 cows or so.

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| Slurry

Spread more for less Efficient spreading of large areas entails minimum downtime in the field. A cost effective solution might be the use of a high capacity NurseBag system... he Albers Alligator NurseBag imported to the UK

by TRAMSPREAD, is the most cost effective nurse tank system on the market with capacities ranging from 100m3 up to 350m3 which is considerably higher than conventional nurse tanks currently on the market, and with complete 100m3 systems starting from just over £20,000.00, it is also attractively priced.

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The large capacities minimise downtime in the field This simple high capacity tank is used in conjunction with the NurseBag Reeler, which can be either linkage/fork tine mounted or a slow tow version mounted on a twin axle chassis.

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A NurseBag is simply reeled out onto smooth level ground, and using the two standard 6” inlet/outlets can then be filled by tanker whilst liquid is simultaneously pumped out for spreading. The large capacities minimise downtime in the field, with up to 350m3 available to be pumped as opposed to the typical 40 – 60m3 of a conventional steel nurse tank.

When a block of land has been spread, the Reeler reels the NurseBag onto its spool, expelling any remaining liquid as it goes. It can then be transported to the next site with the minimum of downtime. Multiple NurseBags can be served by one Reeler.

TRAMSPREAD are currently offering special deals on this system so call them on 01449 766133 for professional advice and service.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Slurry

Slurry handling at its best with Storth S Storth Machinery Ltd - a comprehensive range of umbilical spreading systems.

lurry handling specialist Storth Machinery has recently launched a comprehensive range of umbilical spreading equipment. It includes various types of reelers, centrifugal chopper pumps and hose

applicators, as well as 65m3 or 100m3 nurse tanks & polyglass mobile tankers.

Designed and manufactured by Storth, the umbilical systems can be built to meet the demands of the everyday user â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from those with small farms to large-scale contractors.

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There is a choice of hose reelers with different hose-carrying capacities: the bobbin reeler can take 400-1000m of hose, the rearmounted reeler takes 1000-1600m of hose, and the trailed reelers can carry up to 2000m. All are galvanised and most rely on a heavy duty planetary gear box

drive: these provide high torque when reeling in, has less wear, and is more reliable, than chain alternatives.

Storth are also offering a full range of slurry applicators â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from simple splash-plates to single or twin dribble bar and trailing shoe injectors.

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| Slurry

Greencrop solutions Greencrop Irrigation offers a range of dirty water solutions; to spread waste and dirty water from livestock farms and washing plants. e offer a portfolio of PTO driven, electric and manual irrigation pumps feeding static sprinklers or our Multicam mobile low volume dirty water irrigator. This unit can carry up to 350m of cable and has a wide three wheel frame for stability on undulating ground. It also has a twin ratchet system and a large three ball bearing rota head stock with folding booms as standard. This makes the boom easier to turn with less drag as with bronze bushes. The machine has an adjustable seven speed cam shaft, plus a braking system that is applied when needed.

Multicam mobile low dirty water volume irrigators can normally spread between 6mm and 18mm per pull. Application rates for our other equipment can be adjusted from 4mm up to 30mm depending on the

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system.

Greencrop Irrigation dirty water product range include: • PTO driven impellor or stator rotor pumps • Electric single and threephase submersible pump sets • Pump in a Box horizontal stator rotor pumps with manual or automatic control systems • Stand up sprinklers and sledge mounted irrigation rain guns • Multicam low volume dirty water mobile irrigators • High range engine driven hose reel irrigators and booms for spreading slurry Whatever your farming enterprise, Greencrop has something for you.

For further information or details of your nearest dealer, call Greencrop Irrigation on 01328 701992, Howard Chantry on 07881 787997, email howard@greencrop.co.uk or visit www.greencrop.co.uk

Spreading muck on land: Proposed changes The Environment Agency (EA) has announced proposed revised rules governing the spreading of waste on land. he EA undertook a consultation in 2015 with regard to the revised rules, a summary of the proposals are detailed below: • The maximum storage of waste will change from 3000T per permit to 3000T per deployment.

Because an operator can have multiple deployments under one permit, this should benefit permit holders who have deployments separated across the country • The EA will have to be prenotified at least 48 hours and no greater than 7 days before the landspreading of waste under a standard rules permit; • The quantity of non-stackable waste stored under a deployment is to reduce from 3000-1250 tonnes. The maximum volume of stackable waste stored under a deployment will remain at 3000T; • Wastes with a high readily available nitrogen content will have to be covered if stored adjacent to sensitive locations such as SSSIs;

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The National Farmers Union has requested comments on the economic or logistical impacts the proposed changes could have.

Tom Selby of Rostons stated “As time moves on more red tape will be laid out for the agricultural sector and this is evident from the EA’s proposals. Data and information management will likely to be more common, especially with regard to environmental matters, it will be those that take the front foot and actually take on board the proposals that will be less likely to breach the regulations and then be penalised.

For further information contact the Rostons office on 01829 773000

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Irrigation

Irrimec Elite range of Irrigators The Irrimec brand has held a strong presence in Europe since 1974 and exports equipment worldwide from its factories in Italy and France. Irrimec’s aim is to consolidate its international presence in two ways; by designing and producing irrigation systems that will benefit and improve agricultural management and secondly, by placing all their industrial knowledge and expertise to adapt to changes in the industry. ith this in mind, Greencrop Irrigation, the UK importer of Irrimec Hose Reel Irrigators, are pleased to offer a new range of machines. The Elite 730 and 735 offer a range of hose diameters, from 100mm to 140mm, and hose length options, up to 580m long. The intention is to offer longer hose lengths with the introduction of the new Elite 800 series, which will follow shortly.

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The Elite range of machines are designed with the professional grower in mind who demands reliable and easy-to-operate irrigation systems that require simple maintenance.

The Elite range of machines are designed with the professional grower in mind who demands reliable and easy-to-operate irrigation systems that require simple maintenance.

The attention to detail starts with each machine being steel shot blasted, then painted in epoxy anti-corrosive primer, with a final coat of oven baked polyurethane paint for a superb

28 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

long lasting finish. Trolleys are hot galvanized.

The drive system continues with the proven Irrimec design. The drum is driven from one side by a cut gear ring positioned on the outer diameter of the drum. Unlike a chain drive, the hose drum is driven by a low-torque gear drive, which is positive and low wearing. Drum bearings are now fitted with an auto lube cartridge ensuring problem free reliability. The turbine drive retains Irrimec’s patented partial flow “Turbimec” system, interchangeable for flows of 10-130mc/hr at low inlet pressure.

For more durability during long demanding irrigation periods, the chassis’ are constructed of large steel frames using a 5mm thick box section. The hydraulic legs are 50% larger with built-in internal rams for improved weather resistance and are designed to exert a central push against the drum for added stability. All of the guards are now manufactured in steel for increased durability and to enhance the appearance of the machine. The gun lift frame is also 50% larger, pivoting higher on the machine for additional strength and reliable operation.

The Elite is supplied with a full hydraulic system for operation of the jack, turntable and legs with the control levers now mounted on its own adjustable stand at the front of the

machine. This can be adjusted to the right or left hand side of the drum, therefore when turning the drum into the work position you are always in the line of sight to position the trolley in the correct row, making the machine set up easier.

The reinforced turntable gear and hose guide has not one but four metal bearing rollers guiding the hose onto the drum, aiding drum rewinding and improving hose durability. Gun trolleys are self-pivoting, have been made 50% stronger, are fitted with wheel weights and have a double support wheel for the hose.

Machines are supplied as standard with the new ‘Dosicontrol’, a simple-to-use computer control system that follows a logical formula for setting rates and delaying start/stop times.

These can also be controlled remotely by GSM system ‘Dosicontrol Pro’ for improved operator and management convenience.

The machines are available with either a single or tandem axle chassis, with a large range of tyres.

For further information on any of our Greencrop products, please contact your nearest dealer or contact Howard Chantry on 01328 701992 or email howard@greencrop.co.uk

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| Irrigation

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

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Arable

Farm tech gains boost South Australian grain harvest he state produced 7.2 million tonnes of grain in 2015/16, slightly down on the 7.6 million tonnes harvested in 2014/15. Although it was the seventh consecutive year the state was above its 10-year average, the result was well below the 5-year average of 8.2 million tonnes.

Wheat again led the way with

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4.3 million tonnes while Barley contributed 1.9 million tonnes.

Grain Producers SA CEO Darren Arney said it was a rollercoaster season courtesy of a slow start followed by a cold, wet winter and a very hot, dry spring.

“In the end it was quite incredible that we actually had the harvest that we did,” he said.

“The crops had the potential to yield another 15 to 20 per cent if we’d had a normal spring so it

30 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

Advances in farming technology are being credited for an average grain harvest in South Australia despite a major bushfire and challenging weather conditions. could have been 8 to 9 million tonnes of grain.”

Arney said a fall in world grain prices generally had been offset by a falling Australian dollar.

He said varietal advances resulting in better strains of wheat and barley, more efficient matching of fertilisers and the strategic use of herbicides were among advances helping to achieve productivity gains.

“A similar rainfall year was probably 2007 where we produced 5.5 to 6 million tonnes so we’ve picked up 20 to 25 per cent because of advancements in research and development and advancements in cropping systems,” Arney said.

The Upper South East and Western Eyre Peninsula regions recorded below average harvests while the Eastern Eyre Peninsula and Mid North regions experienced relatively good seasons, helping them to produce about a million tonnes each.

Extreme weather conditions in late November resulted in a fire in the Pinery area, which spread rapidly and burnt approximately 85,000 ha.

About 22,500 ha of unharvested crops were burnt with estimated crop losses of 60,000 tonnes of grain, 33,000 tonnes of hay and 50,000 tonnes of straw. The fire also destroyed 18,000 sheep and 87 cattle.

Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said the farm gate value of the crop was estimated at $1.8 billion and the export value was estimated at $2.2 billion.

“Despite the challenging season, South Australia’s grain sector continues to be a powerhouse industry generating more than $4.6 billion in revenue in 2014-15, with approximately 85 per cent exported around the world,” he said.

Primary Industries and

Resources South Australia Grains Industry Account Manager Dave Lewis said overall the yields were highly variable.

“Wheat crops were generally more affected by the hot, dry finish with significant tonnages downgraded,” he said.

The future of grain research in South Australia has been secured through a joint $50 million investment by the State Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Bignell said the five year deal included $25 million from GRDC and $25 million in-kind support from the State Government’s South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

“SARDI is the nation’s leading research provider in farming systems for low to medium rainfall areas, crop protection and improvement as well as projects such as the National Oat Breeding Program,” he said.

“SARDI will commit staff, equipment and resources to the value of $25 million and the GRDC will match the State Government’s investment with a cash investment.”

In other South Australian agriculture news, the State Government has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to relocate offices of the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to Adelaide.

The latest results from the State Government’s soil improvement project have confirmed sandy soils can be greatly improved, resulting in increased grain yields.

Bignell said the New Horizons Project had shown vastly improved crop production at three trial sites through managing the top 50 cm of soil, rather than the traditional top 10 cm.

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| Arable

Better grassland fertilisation can improve the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food supply Global improvements in grassland management could see grasslands taking on a significantly more important role in food production. etter management would increase the production of meat and milk and prevent the need for additional feed for grazing livestock â&#x20AC;&#x201C; feed in the form of grain crops that could otherwise be available for human consumption.

Better management mainly involves proper fertilisation in order to retain sufficient amounts of, for instance, phosphorus in the soil. The phosphorus input will have to increase fourfold, if we are to meet production targets for the year 2050. These are the conclusions of scientists from Wageningen University, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Utrecht University and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in a new article published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Grasslands make up two thirds of the global agricultural area. The over three billion hectares of grassland are hardly managed at all, with the exception of some north-western European countries including The Netherlands. The fact that grasslands are rarely if ever fertilised is an

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even greater problem, as this means they become more exhausted every year, among other things, due to a lack of phosphorus. In their Nature Communication article, the scientists describe the scale of the phosphorus exhaustion and what is needed to improve this situation.

In order to grow, grasses require nutrients, such as phosphorus from the soil. Grasslands are then grazed by livestock and the phosphorus ends up in the animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stomachs.

Some of this phosphorus is needed in the production of milk and meat and eventually, thus, is removed from the grassland. Much of the phosphorus intake leaves the animals again in the manure. Only half remains on the pastures, as the manure is also used to fertilise arable land for growing food crops such as grains, fruits and vegetables, or for other purposes.

In their publication, the scientists show the extent to which grasslands have become exhausted, over recent decades. However, these grasslands should be making a larger contribution to the future food supply, providing

feed for livestock, to limit the use of grain crops that could otherwise be used for baking bread.

The scientists, therefore, advocate paying more attention to grassland management, with a specific focus on better soil fertilisation using organic and mineral fertilisers. For the coming decades, they suggest the use of four times the amount of phosphorus in fertiliser than is currently the case. Only then will grass growth reach a level that would allow meat and milk production to increase, considerably, without too many additional grain crops having to be used as feed for livestock.

Grasslands make up two thirds of the global agricultural area The situation in The Netherlands and some other European countries is different, since the phosphate content in grassland soils is high due to long-term surpluses. Here extra fertilizer inputs are not needed in the coming years.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Arable

Six steps for sward success after wet, mild winter Barenbrug forage grass experts release top tips for getting fields back to full fitness. inter 2015/16 has seen record temperatures and rainfall across the UK, and the unseasonably mild and wet weather has had a dramatic effect on pastures. To help farmers get flooded fields back to full fitness, and tackle grass that has grown all winter, Barenbrug UK has produced a list of top tips for getting swards back in shape.

This winter heavy storms have repeatedly battered the UK. The North West has been hit hard by large scale flooding with huge swathes of farmland waterlogged off and on since November. As a result, soil in many places has become compacted by the weight of the water lying on it. Valuable nutrients will also have been lost to leaching.

In other drier parts of the UK the weather has created different challenges. The mild temperatures experienced pre-Christmas meant that grass continued to grow. With no dormant period, swards have become very open. Low winter light levels also mean that any grass growth was weak – leaving plants fragile and susceptible to disease.

Mhairi Dawson, Research & Development Manager (Forage) at Barenbrug UK, said: “Weather wise, it’s been a very strange winter.

One way or another our fields have had everything thrown at them. December was the warmest since records began in 1910 but also the wettest of any calendar month on record*.

As a result, there is a question mark hanging over the productivity of a large percentage of pastures. Our advice to farmers across the UK is to tackle any problems head on – now ideally or as soon as conditions allow. For many farmers compaction is going to be the big challenge. For others, the priority will be applying nutrients to fields fast to strengthen existing grasses and enable tillering to fill in gaps. This will also prevent the ingression of poor, very low yielding grass weeds like annual meadow grass.”

Barenbrug's six steps to help farmers achieve sward success this spring are:

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32 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

Step one: Get a grasp on your grass: As

Step five: Know your nutrients: Getting a

soon as conditions allow complete a visual assessment of your field/s. Those that need most attention will be easy to spot. If pastures look an unhealthy shade of yellowy green, that’s a clear indicator of stress. Patchy areas of growth are also a definite sign of compaction and poor soil structure.

handle on soil phosphate (P) and potash (K) status is critical. P is primarily associated with energy transfer within plants and is crucial at the establishment phase for root development.

K plays an important role in water regulation within plants. The P and K needed by crops can be supplied by reserves in the soil or – after a prolonged wet period – through the addition of bagged fertilisers and livestock manures.

Achieving a target soil index of 2 for P and K is the aim.

Step two: Dig deep for a solution: The best way to assess the extent of any damage is to dig a pit to around 30cm or to the depth of any pan. Take a close look at the soil structure.

If the grass roots aren’t penetrating below 10cm then you are dealing with a clear case of compaction. Another sign is the water content of the soil. If the soil is bone dry from 7-15cms down then you have compaction.

Step three: Correct any compaction: Until you have addressed compaction there is little point doing anything else. Compaction can drastically affect the growth rate and rooting structure of newly sown grasses – reducing productivity by 10-20%. It can also prevent the uptake of nutrients; restrict drainage; and ultimately cut down on the number of working days you’ll get from a field. To correct compaction down to six to eight inches use a sward lifter to aerate the soil. For compaction of just one to two inches, a sward slitter will suffice.

Step four:

Assess acidity: Once any compaction has been dealt with, think about tackling any pH, phosphate and potash problems. Soil pH can have a massive impact on grassland success and high levels of water, like we’ve seen this winter, can drastically affect pH. To optimise nutrient use, as well as grass growth and quality, the target pH should be 6, increasing to 6.5 for grass and clover mixtures.

Just a small decline in target pH to 5.5 can reduce grass yields by 35 to 40%: the more acidic the soil, the greater the chance of lock up – which makes vital nutrients unavailable to plants.

Step six: Lay new leys: Once soil structure has been addressed, new leys can be drilled into place or overseeding can occur. If the aim is to get grass producing quickly then it’s best to overseed with a mix of fast growing vigorous tetraploid ryegrass species. These will start delivering results after six to eight weeks of establishment – improving ground cover and giving a real spring boost to yield and quality.

But remember, overseeding is only a short-term solution. For longer-term results on problem pastures it is advisable to replace the grass with a more suitable ley come the autumn.

Concluding Mhairi said: “As a general rule of thumb – whatever the weather – farmers should soil sample every three to four years and build slurry and fertiliser applications into an annual nutrient management plan. They should also make sure they apply maintenance phosphate for silage cuts at soil P index 2. Failure to apply maintenance P dressings on a three-cut silage system can reduce yield by 10% at soil index 2.

Typically a three-cut system will require 80kg P2O5 /kg split over the three cuts.”

For further advice on field renovation or on varieties and mixtures suited to different farming systems and parts of the UK, please contact: info@baruk.co.uk or go to www.barenbrug.co.uk. You can also request a copy of the Barenbrug Good Grass Guide – a handy, pocket-size booklet designed to help UK farmers index the quality of their fields and take remedial action to improve pasture productivity and yields.

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| Arable

Managing soil disturbance and potential compaction damage to wet soils this spring The recent very wet conditions means that treading lightly on all soils this spring will be of vital importance. hile many tractors, trailers, harvesters and implements now have flotation tyres fitted, it is worth spending a little time to ensure you are getting the best from your equipment and minimising soil compaction, is the advice from Neil Watson, Hutchinsons southern region technical manager.

“Root development in spring crops is more crucial than winter cropping, not least as a consequence of a shorter growing season for roots to fully exploit the soil’s profile. Compaction creates a physical barrier to normal root development, restricting water

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How to avoid and minimise the impacts of compaction?

• Firstly reduce the number of passes required to produce a seedbed; it is in producing the seedbed that the most random trafficking is likely to occur, at a time of year when the soil is at its most vulnerable.

• Run at the lowest inflation pressure possible, consistent with the tyre’s specifications • Be conscious of machine weight and its effect on compaction. Ballast for performance, optimising weight distribution between the front and rear axles.

Removing excess ballasting if it is not needed (e.g. front/axle weights).

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infiltration, water holding capacity and air exchange of the soil, ultimately impacting on yield.”

He underlines the importance of the correct tyre choice, ballasting and inflation pressure in order to minimise compaction, whilst maximising performance. “A figure of 70% of land trafficked might seem high, but looking at it more closely even if we direct drilled land using a 3m drill, two standard rear tyres at 750mm will represent 50% of land trafficked remember2 rear tyres x 750mm = 1.5m of a 3m drill - and that does not account for any further operations. “ “We also need to be conscious that the first pass of any tractor wheel is potentially the most damaging -subsequent passes along the same wheeling will have an incremental effect. “ Top soil compaction is related to ground contact pressure only , compaction of the upper part of the subsoil is created by contact pressure and axle load, whereas lower subsoil compaction is created by axle weight alone; which is the most difficult and costly compaction to remove.”

Inflation pressure Inflation pressure should be calculated on the tyre dimension, axle load weight and speed. “You can refer to the tyre manufacturers’ charts consistent for the individual tyre, or download one of the available smartphone apps to help do the job for you. “ “With regards to inflation pressure, it is the volume of air within the tyre that supports weight. As the weight increases,

the volume of air within the tyre needs to increase accordingly.”

“This can be achieved by increasing the inflation pressures within the existing tyres, thereby reducing the tyres’ contact footprint and increasing the potential for soil compaction.

Alternatively, it’s possible to increase a tyre’s capacity to take a higher volume of air, by changing to wider tyres or tyres with taller side walls, as this maintains a lower tyre pressure whilst increasing the load bearing capabilities of the tyre.”

Ballasting for performance The pulling power that a tyre can exert is proportional to the weight it carries. The higher the tyre load, the greater the traction it can exert. However, this needs to be balanced by the compaction it is likely to cause, continues Mr Watson.

“There are several steps that can be taken to improve optimum performance which include determining the tractors actual weight and distribution manufacturers’ handbooks are a useful starting point – as well as optimum ballasting and distribution of weight per axle.”

He underlines the importance of considering the need for additional

Ensure you are getting the best from your equipment and minimising soil compaction, is the advice from Neil Watson, Hutchinsons southern region technical manager

front and rear axle weights, and an understanding of how to compensate for the effect of weight transfer by adding or removing weights.

“As a rough and ready rule, the guide below gives some indication of the amount of ballasting required, depending on the work the tractor is likely to do. Using this approach, a 200hp tractor would require to be approximately 9 tonnes for medium work (200hp x 45hp/kg= 9000kg).”

However it is not just about overall ballasting, Mr Watson is keen to highlight how weight is distributed between the forward and rear axles. “For a normal fourwheeled drive tractor where the front wheels are smaller than the rear, this would equate to a 40:60 split (front to rear). It is then a matter of determining the tractor’s overall weight between front and rear axle and adding or removing weights to compensate.”

“Adding weights in front of the fulcrum point, not only has an added effect on the front axle weight beyond the actual weights added, but also has the effect of lifting weight from the rear.”

Optimum weight required (kg/hp)

Type of cultivation Heavy work Medium work Light work

Primary cultivation work Light/secondary cultivations Transport work, PTO work

55 45 35

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| Precision

UAVs, Big Data & IoT to realise smart farms by 2025, according to Smithers Viscient A new report from Smithers Viscient, Ten-Year Forecast of Disruptive Technologies in Crop Protection to 2025, is the result of an exhaustive primary research programme incorporating interviews with a panel of leading crop protection technology experts. The report profiles and evaluates a broad range of disruptive technologies, ranking the top 25 that will impact on the crop protection industry through to 2025 and beyond. echnology transition in agriculture has typically been rather slow, but over the coming decade it is expected that technology adoption will take shape a lot more quickly: as technologies emerge and mature they will converge to provide more intuitive, easy-to-use and cost-effective solutions.

The need for food sustainability will continue to drive the global crop protection market and related sectors between now and 2025.

“A priority for the future of agriculture will be to find ways of producing more food while using less fossil energy,” said Charles Rowlands, author of the report.

“Finding cost-effective and efficient ways to store and deliver energy, when it is needed, is one of the biggest obstacles to new technology breakthroughs. Disruptive, new power systems such as next generation batteries and energy harvesting will enable the implementation of new disruptive technologies.”

Modern agriculture continues to rely heavily on the use of chemical interventions to control the majority of pests and pathogens. By 2025,

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34 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

the combined global market for synthetic pesticides and biopesticides is estimated to reach $103 billion, according to the report.

Biopesticides are anticipated to increase their share from 5% today to 16% in 2025. However, demand for synthetic pesticides is expected to slow as a result of higher environmental standards and increasing consumer awareness of the harmful effects of pesticide consumption.

High value is now being placed on alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Food production in the next 10-25 years will have to come primarily from existing agricultural land. Consequently, farming is increasingly moving towards a precision approach, which offers enormous productivity gains. Precision agriculture (PA) uses only the optimal amount of any input (water, fertiliser, pesticide, fuel, labour), applied when and where it is needed to efficiently produce high crop yields.

PA brings advanced engineering technologies, computing, IT and communications into agriculture – making full use of emerging and much-hyped technologies related to Big Data and the Internet of Things

(IoT). The goal is to optimise productivity, profitability, and sustainability of farming operations through the development of new farm management software tools and decisionsupport solutions. The market for PA is estimated to reach $29 billion in 2025.

The use of robots and UAVs for weed control and pesticide application offers new opportunities for site-specific, even plantspecific, control. UAVs are already highly disruptive in agriculture, with a surge in popularity being driven by increasing affordability and ease of use. The market for agricultural UAVs is estimated to reach $4.4 billion in 2025, according to the report.

Farming of the future will be a very different environment to the one of today. Farms will be designed for data generation and data capture, and fully connected farm machines will function as integrated systems to perform planting, cultivation, harvesting, nutrient and chemical application based on the data generated. Such disruptive change will bring agriculture firmly into the digital age.

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| Precision

Precision arable farming Enhance your skills and gain conservation insight...

Members of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFC) will be joining conservation and farming experts to enhance their understanding and skills in precision arable farming. he National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has joined forces with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) to develop an arable precision farming day at the Allerton Project demonstration farm, Loddington, Leicestershire.

Nuffield scholar Davina Fillingham shares her professional expertise and study project on precision farming, and Clive Blacker from Precision Decisions explore scanning, yield mapping and guidance for successful but sustainable farming enterprises of the future.

GWCT’s Phil Jarvis commented: "It's really important to show the next generation of farmers how technology can aid both profitable food production and help protect our farmed environment. I'm sure this event will stimulate

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informative discussion and positive messages."

Sam Dilcock, newly-elected Agriculture and Rural Issues (AGRI) chairman and selfemployed contract farmer said: “As an Industry, we are becoming ever more scrupulous over our inputs, returns and best practice to deliver on our customers’ expectations. Best practice is a combination of cutting-edge innovations alongside tried and tested methods, to produce food which is safe for the consumer and the environment. This is paramount for the future of agriculture. This precision farming event will deliver knowledge from experienced industry experts which our members will find both intriguing and informative on a practical level.”

Young farmers will experience conservation and farming practices first-hand at the 333 hectare mixed arable and livestock business headed up by Phil Jarvis , hear from the

project’s director of policy Dr Alastair Leake, and from head of Allerton’s development and training Jim Egan.

The Allerton Project is home to groundbreaking research on many areas of farming, including the successful implementation of water-friendly farming. As crop profit margins are squeezed, the need for informed management of the natural resources available to the farm becomes paramount. The Allerton Project’s aims are to research the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment, and to share the results of this research through educational activities.

For more information on the event and to book, contact: sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk or book directly via the NFYFC website.

Are you ‘Appy’ with your productivity?

It's a common complaint that farm staff spend too much time on their phones. Increasingly however, it's possible to use apps to help farm teams be more productive. ne such app is HarvestYield, which helps reduce paperwork for job sheets.

Tasks can be scheduled from the web or on the HarvestYield iPhone app and sent directly to a job list on the employee’s app. The work is then tracked on the phone and all of the job information is sent back to your account, making it easy to keep track of all of the work going on.

The app is also useful for keeping machinery logs repairs

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and can also help you keep track of how much fuel is being used each month for each machine.

Staff members can record every time a machine is refuelled with their app, and the manager can view the history on their dashboard.

Particularly useful for contractors is the ability to map out all of their client’s fields in the app so that their job records can be easily saved. This reduction in paperwork helps with getting the invoices out faster.

HarvestYield is free to try, with a basic account allowing records for

5 fields and machines to be recorded. To keep records for all of your fields and machines, a Pro account is £7.99 per month, and Manager plans start at £39.99 per month (3 employees). To get an

account go to harvestyield.com or search HarvestYield on the Apple App Store.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Fencing

Dragon gobbles up green fencing market When ArcelorMittal launched its new Dragon Estate®WIRE 2Life® fencing at this year’s LAMMA exhibition, it proved to be one of the show’s biggest hits. ony Hinchliffe, CMO of ArcelorMittal, was pleased with how this ground-breaking product was received: “Having made EstateWIRE in Sheffield for more than 30 years we know that the critical factor with fencing is the quality of the steel wire from which it is made,” he explains.

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“Until now, the market has had limited choice for green agricultural fencing. We are making products better than those already available and so using 2Life® wire to compliment the rest of our product range was the obvious choice” “One thing that really struck me was the appreciation from end users of buying and

36 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

working with a product that is UK manufactured. In these difficult times for the UK steel industry, it is reassuring to know that our farmers are sticking by us and buying UK manufactured products.

“Inferior material gives you fencing that is difficult to erect, won’t stand square and cannot cope with the weather and wear of a British winter.

“The technology behind 2Life® wire (zinc and aluminium coated) is unique to ArcelorMittal Sheffield. A product range that will last at least twice as long as a heavily galvanised product was certainly an interesting factor for the potential customers we met at LAMMA. “Dragon is based on our traditional 2Life® fencing, with a longer corrosion-resistant life, even when folded or bent - if the green coating is damaged the 2Life® properties remain intact.

“We sell exclusively to retailers but exhibiting at LAMMA 2016 gave us the opportunity to talk

to the farmers, fencing contractors and the land owners who actually use our products.

“We have loyal customers and when we launched Dragon it was clear they want a British made, long life, green product that is superior to what was already available.”

Senior Sales Officer, Shaun Gervis agrees: “Until now, the market has had limited choice for green agricultural fencing. We are making products better than those already available and so using 2Life® wire to compliment the rest of our product range was the obvious choice. Explaining to customers that they can now have a green fence that will last at least twice as long as a heavily galvanised equivalent was certainly a big talking point.”

Dragon retails for a price comparable to ordinary heavily galvanised, green-coloured wire products and will always be in stock.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fencing

M&M Timber stocks up to meet demand M&M Timber has manufactured extensive stocks of fencing materials to meet every customer order it receives from its extensive range of product options without any hold-ups. his is the time of year that sees timber producers facing tremendous pressure to supply large amounts of fencing timbers to the farmers and the trade, a situation that has in the past caused untold problems across the industry with late deliveries and shortages of stock.

A major player in the fencing products market for more than 30 years, M&M Timber recognised that action had to be taken to ensure its customers could confidently order from stock and expect immediate delivery. Having increasingly concentrated its manufacturing output in the fencing products sector, which has benefited from investment in new product development since the company became part of the Forest Garden Group, the company has now acted on accurate forecasting from its market analysts to build stock levels to meet this year’s anticipated demand.

Establishing an industry benchmark in long life fencing

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solutions, the company’s trademark Agricised machine rounded fencing timbers are expected to achieve record sales again this year, as will the Agricised peeled and pointed option, which has been so warmly welcomed by the farming community. With the threat of ever rising overheads swamping already slim margins in the farming industry, the economic benefits of an in-service life three times that of ordinary nonAgricised timber simply cannot be ignored. Taking a typical installation of 500 metres of fencing for instance, M&M Timber has calculated that, with Agricised posts costing only 4% more than the non-Agricised equivalent, the same amount of fencing will return an overall saving of around £4,500 in materials and labour over its guaranteed 15 year life span.

M&M Timber’s written warranty package, available on both the machine rounded and peeled and pointed Agricised fencing timbers, is backed with an online registration scheme that allows customers to log their purchase on

the company’s website for absolute peace of mind, which customers clearly regard as a major product ‘plus’ point. Over the last twelve months on-line registrations soared to five times the total of the previous year.

Company heads are confident this upward trend will continue well into this year.

Building on the comprehensive range of fencing options it is now able to offer, M&M Timber's popular AgriPost range, featuring pressure treated machine rounded posts is still regarded as one of the best low cost options for traditional fencing. And the top of the range Prestige scalloped post and rail fencing is proving the perfect choice where visual appearance is all-important. Both are pressure

treated with Tanalith E preservative.

Fielding its largest and most comprehensive choice of market leading fencing options to date, M&M Timber has never been better prepared for meeting heavy demand from customers over the coming months, with its highest stocking levels ever and a new flexible approach to its nationwide delivery service. The minimum carriage paid order requirement across the product range has now been reduced to just five packs, with a useful just-in-time delivery option when required. And to make bulk handling and on-site storage more manageable, fencing posts are bundled in a square format.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Buildings

Cheshire construction company announces record year at LAMMA 2016 Cheshire-based Construction Company, Graham Heath Construction has reported a record year at LAMMA 2016 with customer enquiries up 40% on previous attendance.

It was also the first year for sister company, Concrete Panel Systems, who were blown away by the response to their product. his year's LAMMA show was the biggest ever with over 40,000 onsite over the two days.

With over 1,000,000 sq ft of net exhibition space, and free to enter, it is said to be the biggest annual trade show in the UK.

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“A key focus for us now is fulfillment, alongside the success of the show offer, we have also had a huge number of requests for bespoke buildings, so the team is now flat out ensuring that each and every order is brought to fruition” Graham Heath Construction customers new and old, showed up to make enquiries or to express how happy they were with their finished product and customer service.

A key question throughout the event was whether the industry was improving Business Manager, Stephen Raybould comments: “LAMMA was a massive success story for

us this year and we have received an overwhelming response to the Graham Heath Construction offering. As such, we would hope that LAMMA’s success was a good barometer for the industry as a whole moving forward into 2016.”

“Our show exclusive Grain Store offer has generated a massive amount of interest, with post event enquiries flooding in. A key focus for us now is fulfillment, alongside the success of the show offer, we have also had a huge number of requests for bespoke buildings, so the team is now flat out ensuring that each and every order is brought to fruition. The fact that we have already booked the hotels for next year is testament to LAMMA’s success.”

In addition to the Graham Heath Construction offers, the Concrete Panel Systems stand had queues of people waiting to enquire about their latest products. With Graham Heath himself manning the stand throughout the course of the show, people were keen to gain as much knowledge as possible from the man who has built up such a hugely successful business.

Further information about Graham Heath Construction products can be found at www.ghconstruction.co.uk

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| Buildings

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March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Animal Health

Vale Gardens Ltd Evesham, Worcestershire T: 01386 831000 www.valegardens.co.uk

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

Lakedale Power Tools Croydon, Surrey T: 020 8683 0550 www.lakedalepowertools.co.uk

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

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

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Forestry

Confor welcomes flood petition response Confor has welcomed a positive response by the UK Government to a parliamentary petition on tree planting and flooding - but stressed that more funding will be needed to deliver the planting and a wide range of associated benefits. he petition - Make planting trees a priority to reduce flooding by improving soil and drainage - has received almost 28,000 signatures in only two months and has now triggered a detailed response from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It begins: "Trees can slow the flow of water down and reduce the impacts of floods; we are currently exploring the increased role that this could play in flood risk management."

The response also highlights the "leading research and

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demonstration projects" supported

by Defra - including the 'Slowing the Flow' scheme in Pickering North Yorkshire, which was a case study in Confor's Forestry and Flooding paper, launched in early February.

The Defra petition response says: "These projects indicate that woodlands can slow the flow of water through smaller catchments and reduce the impacts of some floods. We will continue to support such investigations, gathering further evidence into the potential benefits that land management changes, such as tree planting in catchments, could have on reducing flood risk, in addition to

the wider environmental and economic benefits that they could provide.

"We are also supporting ongoing Forestry Commission research into the role that woodlands could play in reducing flood risk. The England Woodland Grant Scheme has already targeted 1,857 hectares of planting to help reduce flood risk and diffuse pollution in England. We have also designed the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in the new Rural Development Programme to help achieve multiobjectives including flooding and water management."

Confor's Technical Director Andrew Heald, who wrote the discussion paper on forestry and flooding, said: "This is a very encouraging response by Defra, reflecting the ideas and case studies highlighted in the Confor paper.

"The case for tree planting being part of the solution to reduce future flood risks has been made - and there is very positive work going on to identify where planting would be best deployed and what form it would take.

"The big challenge is identifying those 'innovative funding mechanisms' mentioned by Environment Secretary Liz Truss so we can deliver the right woodland in the right places. We

need to be honest and say additional finance will be needed but if deployed in the right places, that funding can not only help reduce flood risks, but also deliver a range of other benefits.

"They include providing enhanced habitats for wildlife and recreation and helping with climate change targets. Trees soak up carbon - and in the longer-term, those trees can be harvested to create wood products, which store carbon, as well as helping to stimulate local economies."

Confor has been very active in campaigning to highlight the role tree planting can play in reducing future flood risks. There was a detailed discussion on the subject at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry in February, when the Forestry and Flooding report was launched. Confor has been asked to give evidence to the series of parliamentary inquiries into reducing flood risks, has worked with the chair of the APPGF to ask a parliamentary question and delivered positive coverage of the subject in a wide range of media outlets.

Please encourage everyone to sign the petition, as 100,000 signatures in six months (by June 29th) means the topic will be considered for debate in Parliament.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Machinery

Portable Power from Briggs & Stratton Briggs & Stratton, the world’s largest manufacturer of petrol powered outdoor equipment, has launched its new power product line up for the 2016 season which features four new generators. he Sprint range contains three of the four new models to provide reliable and portable power. All three feature a Briggs & Stratton OHV engine with recoil start as well as an automatic low-oil shut down feature to protect the engine.

The Sprint 1200 has a 79cc engine with 900 running watts that will run for 14 hours at a quarter load. A compact and lightweight option, it has one power socket with a circuit breaker and has a fuel capacity of 4.9 litres.

It retails at £210 including VAT. The Sprint 2200A has a 196cc engine and 1700 running watts that keep providing power for 11 hours at a quarter load. For increased power, the Sprint 3200A has 2500 running watts that provides 7 hours output.

Both the 2200A and the 3200A have an Automatic Voltage Regulator to deliver the correct level of power for the application, as well as a Power SurgeTM alternator to limit voltage for sensitive equipment, and they have two power sockets with individual

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circuit breakers. For these two models, a transportation kit is also an option for increased manoeuvrability. The 2200A retails at £329 and the 3200A is £379.

The fourth addition to the companies’ generator range is the P3000i PowerSmart that retails at £1099. The PowerSmart is an ultra quiet, computer controlled generator that provides 10 hours runtime (on a quarter load) from 2600 running watts. The engine is a Briggs & Stratton 171cc 4-stroke OHV with a 5.6 litre fuel tank capacity.

The P3000i provides clean sine wave power that is ideal for recharging as well as powering sensitive equipment. It also has a multi-socket control panel with two power sockets with individual circuit breakers, one 12v battery charging socket and a USB port.

The new range of Briggs & Stratton Power Product also includes five pressure washers.

The new range of Briggs & Stratton Power Products are available through Henton & Chattell’s 1500+ nationwide dealers. For more information, and to find you nearest dealer, visit www.hcuk.co

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Kubota kick starts 2016 with new promotion

Kubota UK is getting 2016 off with a bang with the launch of a new promotion available across its M60 and MGX-II Series tractors.

or a limited time only, buyers can take advantage of a range of added value services when purchasing a new Kubota tractor, including an extended warranty package, competitive and tailored finance on all purchases and generous discount offers on all loader packages.

The offer, available on Kubota’s M8540, M8540n, M9960, M6060, M7060, M110GX-II and M135GX-II tractors, gives buyers access to an

impressive free 5-year, 2,000-hour warranty (worth up to £2,000); 3years interest free finance; and generous discounts off the RRP on Kubota loaders purchased with participating models.

In addition, Kubota is also offering its ‘cash match’ promise, meaning customers with existing finance agreements can upgrade to a new model without increasing their current periodic payments*.

Rob Edwards, Business Development Manager for Kubota Agriculture commented: “Customers are always on the look

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out for added value when investing in a new machine, which is why we’ve decided to launch this latest promotion.

“Extended warranty and flexible finance packages really do give our customers complete peace of mind that they are buying a quality machine that meets their budgets, so we’re delighted to offer them this package deal.

“The opportunity to upgrade to one of our latest models, without affecting existing budgeted outgoings is something we feel will be hugely beneficial to agricultural

and groundcare industry professionals looking to get ready for the year ahead.” * Deposit requirement and length of new finance agreement will vary according to individual circumstances.

To find out more about Kubota and its market-leading range of solutions for the groundcare sector, visit www.kubota.co.uk or get in touch with your local dealer http://www.kubota.co.uk/dealers/

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Machinery

Versatile GIANT skidsteer in full production t’s clear that these powerful and all-round machines are the right expansion of the current range of machinery. The first machines are already delivered to dealers in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Denmark and United Kingdom.

GIANT skid steer loaders combine a low weight (750 kg) and compact sizes with a high tractive force and tipping load. This makes the

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GIANT revealed its first skid steer loader during the GIANT open days in October 2014. After more than a year of development and testing the little GIANT is ready for production. Especially for this range of compact machines we have built a new and modern production line at the end of 2015. Since January of this year, the line is in full production. machines extremely flexible and suitable to use for different areas of application. Together with a wide range of attachments it is possible to adjust a GIANT skid steer loader to working conditions for agricultural purposes, (road) construction, property maintenance or for private use.

The current range of skid steer loaders exists

of 3 different models. One gasoline version with 21 HP (SK 211 G) and two diesel versions with 20 HP (SK 201 D) or 25 HP (SK 251 D). The machines are equipped with 4 powerful hydraulic wheel motors, which have a low need of maintenance.

Kuhn appoints new Technical Support Specialist to assist Southern customers KUHN Farm Machinery has appointed Johnathan Lovell in a technical support role to provide specialised aftersales help for its customers in the South and South West of England. ohnathan, who has a background in mechanical, aeronautical and agricultural engineering, has joined KUHN from New Forest Farm Machinery.

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He will be responsible for providing technical support and aftersales service advice for KUHN’s full range of grassland, arable, livestock and landscape maintenance machinery ranges.

Liaison with and support of KUHN’s arable and livestock

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farmers will form a key part of his role, with Johnathan covering the South and South West of England, from Kent to Cornwall.

Johnathan will be working in support of KUHN’s southern dealers and will work closely with KUHN’s well-known sales

manager for the South and South West, Tim Holliday.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Forestry

Featured Dealers: 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

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Andrew Symons South Moulton, Devon EX36 3LZ T: 01769 574455

Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6HL T: 01409 254040 www.andrewsymons.co.uk

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

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Machinery

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| Machinery

New flexible ARION 400 CLAAS has completely redeveloped the ARION 400 tractor range and in recognition of the broad range of tasks that tractors of this size are used for, instead of the three models previously, the ARION 400 range has now been expanded to six models.

or each of these models a number of specification, including CIS versions, and cab options are available, including a new unique and striking PANORAMIC cab, which sets a completely new standard for cab visibility.

The new PANORAMIC cab features a one piece windscreen, that is joined to roof pane without a crossbeam. This gives the operator an unrestricted 90 degree field of vision over a front loader and gives the cab a large feeling of space that is unprecedented.

The new design for the ARION 400 maintains the even weight distribution that is a common feature on CLAAS tractors. The ARION 400 also features a ‘wasp waist’ design to the bonnet, which allows a tight turning lock for maximum manoeuvrability and also provides plenty of space above the front axle for the radiator assembly.

The ARION is built around a solid cast frame with integral oil sump. Where the ARION is to be used with a front loader, the brackets can therefore be bolted directly on to the engine frame and transmission, and a front linkage can be fitted to the front chassis, ensuring maximum stability and ease access for servicing.

PROACTIV front axle suspension is also available as an option for models over 90hp. This has a steering lock of 55 degrees and when activated provides independent suspension with automatic height control.

FPT power The new ARION 400 range, which vary from 90hp up to 140hp, is powered by a powerful and fuelefficient 4-cylinder, 4.5 litre FPT turbocharged and charge-air cooled engine. To uses the combination of SCR technology and a diesel oxidation catalytic converter (DOC/Oxicat) to meet TIER 4 emissions regulations, and all the components are housed under the bonnet so they don’t restrict driver visibility.

The engines have no boost, so provide full power is always available at all times, and are governed using a CLAAS engine management system designed to provide optimised engine performance curves.

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Drive to the axles is through the well-proven 16 forward/16 reverse speed QUADRISHIFT transmission. The four powershifts and four ranges can either be changed manually without needing to use the clutch or, alternatively on CIS models, there is also the option for QUADRACTIV in which gear and range changes are all made fully automatically.

Multifunction control lever The QUADRISHIFT transmission and other main operating functions are controlled using a new multifunction control lever.

This is designed so that all the gearbox functions can be controlled using a thumb-operated rocker switch.

Depending on specification, the new multifunction control also incorporates controls for the headland and linkage controls, can be used to operate ELECTROPILOT proportional electronic spool valves, or a front loader in either FLEXPILOT or ELECTROPILOT modes.

Hydraulic control options The range of hydraulic options available for the new ARION 400 again reflects the varied uses that these tractors will be used for, with three different hydraulic circuits available for each model in the range.

For general work, a 60 litres/minute (l/m) open circuit hydraulic system is available.

Where a higher flow rate is required for more demanding work, a 98l/m open centre hydraulic system can be specified which combines two pumps, one with a flow rate of 57l/m for the control systems and a second of 41l/m for the rear linkage, which can be merged if required. Finally a 110l/m load-sensing hydraulic circuit is also available with optional Power Beyond, which is a first for this size of tractor.

Up to three mechanical or four electronic spool valves can be fitted to the ARION 400. Two additional spool valves can be fitted to the front of the tractor for a front loader, operated by FLEXPILOT or ELECTROPILOT. The spool valves are all clearly colour coded and an oil spillage container is also fitted to the tractor.

Two PTO options are available on the ARION 400 – 540/540 ECO or 540/540 ECO/1000. Speeds are

The new PANORAMIC cab features a one piece windscreen, that is joined to roof pane without a crossbeam

selected using buttons on the ‘B’ pillar. There is an automatic PTO function that will turn the PTO on and off according to the height of the rear linkage, which has a maximum lift capacity at the ball ends of 4.5 tonnes on the smaller ARION 410/420, rising to 5.75 tonnes on the ARION 430-460.

For the front of the tractor, a fully integrated 2.8 tonne capacity CLAAS designed front-linkage is available that requires no side reinforcement. A factory fitted front 1000rpm PTO is also available, as are connections for 3- and 7-pin sockets, plus one hydraulic spool and one free-flow return line.

Cab In addition to the new PANORAMIC cab, the ARION 400 is also available with a conventional cab built on a 6-pillar design. The ARION 410/420 is also available with a low profile roof with or without a transparent sunroof.

This low profile roof has an overall height to the top of the cab of about 2.5m on 34 inch tyres.

This is one of the lowest on the market for this size of tractor, making it ideal for situations where height is restricted.

Five different Grammer or Sears seats are available and a passenger seat is also fitted, under which is a cool-box linked to the air-conditioning system.

As on larger AXION models, the length and angle of the steering column, which also incorporates the instrument panel, is fully adjustable and can be swung up to make access easier. All the main operating controls are conveniently grouped to the right of the driver’s seat, with the secondary controls located on the ‘B’ pillar.

Where CIS is fitted to the tractor, this enables additional monitoring and setting functions, such as hydraulic and transmission settings, event counters and the on-board computer to be accessed using a rotary/push switch and an ESC button, with the information displayed on the ‘A’ pillar.

The ARION 400 can also be used with the full range of CLAAS EASY electronics systems, including TELEMATICS. CLAAS GPS PILOT, S7, S10 and other control terminals can all be easily mounted on a frame above the control console, and the tractor is fitted with cab and rear ISOBUS connections.

In addition to the plentiful storage space within the cab, there is also space for a storage drawer under the right-hand side steps, and the lower link balls are safely stored beside the rear mudguard.

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Machinery

2016 The year of

Deere

John Deere Limited celebrates its 50th anniversary in the UK and Ireland in 2016. The company started trading from Langar in January 1966, and the original premises are still in use today as John Deere’s visitor centre and national parts distribution centre. ne of the tractors sold by John Deere dealers 50 years ago, and on which the company started to build its reputation, was the 4020 Diesel. This 91hp six-cylinder tractor was the first to appear on the UK market with a powershift transmission and became arguably the most popular tractor of its era. The rest of the John Deere Limited product line in 1966 included the 710, 5010 and 5020 tractors, ploughs, cultivators, disc harrows and the 530 and 630 combines.

Langar’s own specially restored 4020, nicknamed BEV after its original registration plate, played a starring role in last November’s

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Lord Mayor’s Show in London, helping the Worshipful Company of Farmers and the NFU to promote the Back British Farming campaign.

In a nod to the 2016 anniversary, it was chosen to parade alongside its modern day descendant, the new flagship 620hp four-track 9620RX, to highlight just one aspect of the tremendous advances that have been made in farming technology over the last 50 years.

The tractors stood side by side once again at LAMMA 2016 to help promote a very special event that will take place at Langar in September. John Deere customers and fans are being invited to get involved in the 50th anniversary celebrations by visiting a dedicated page on the company’s website at

www.JohnDeere.co.uk/50years.

Classic John Deere tractor and machinery owners can register their machines for this field-based event, which aims to gather together examples of John Deere products sold through the company’s UK and Irish dealers during the period 1966 to 2016.

There will be demonstration and working plots for those who would like to bring implements (preferably made by John Deere) and use them, plus parades and prizes.

Owners of old and new John Deere machines are encouraged to submit an application form for the event, which is downloadable from the dedicated website.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Contact your local dealer AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY P Tuckwell Ltd (Ardleigh) Essex Telephone 01206 230283, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Darrington) Pontefract Telephone 01977 795241, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Ripon Farm Services (Ottringham) Hull Telephone 01964 622351, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

P Tuckwell Ltd (Worlingworth) Suffolk Telephone 01728 628325, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk P Tuckwell Ltd (Dunmow) Essex Telephone 01371 875751, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

GROUNDCARE MACHINERY

P Tuckwell Ltd (Cromer) Hertforshire Telephone 01438 861257, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

A J & R Scambler & Sons Ltd Cambridgeshire Telephone 01954 718484, Visit www.compactmachinery.com

P Tuckwell Ltd (Maulden) Bedfordshire Telephone 01525 405848, Visit www.tuckwell.co.uk

Godfreys Kent Telephone 01732 741177, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Keighley) West Yorkshire Telephone 01535 632661, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys East Sussex Telephone 01323 846866, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Ripon) North Yorkshire Telephone 01765 692255, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com

Godfreys Berkshire Telephone 0118 402 6870, Visit www.godfreys.co.uk

Ripon Farm Services (Stockton) County Durham Telephone 01740 630254, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com Ripon Farm Services (Tadcaster) North Yorkshire Telephone 01937 835454, Visit www.riponfarmservices.com www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 49

| Tyres

Michelin CargoXBib Heavy Duty tyres prove perfect fit for Stewart Trailers Michelin’s new CargoXBib Heavy Duty trailer tyres are now available as original equipment on Stewart Trailers’ latest Road King XV 20 26 S trailer. he agricultural trailer manufacturer chose the 560/60 R 22.5 Michelin fitment as an option for its new trailer after being impressed by the tyre’s reliability and stability while using heavily loaded agricultural trailers on the road and in the field.

Tyre choice is a major consideration for the new tri-axle tipper, which was designed to preempt the proposed second phase of agricultural tractor and trailer legislation due before harvest 2016, which includes changes to gross vehicle weights, speed limits and potential roadworthiness tests.

James Stewart, Director at Stewart Trailers, said: “Trailers are a large capital investment for our customers, and with legislation changes on the horizon we wanted to make sure this new model was future-proofed as much as possible.

We like to be at the forefront of agricultural technology and giving our customers the

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option to specify the latest Michelin tyres seemed like the perfect fit.

“With gross vehicle weights of agricultural trailers due to increase from 31 to 37 tonnes for a tri-axle trailer, we wanted a tyre that not only helped minimise soil compaction but could also cope with hauling high volume loads on public roads,” explains Stewart.

This new tyre replaces the original CargoXBib tyre in this fitment and has been designed to provide increased longevity on the road and to have superior self-cleaning properties compared to the previous generation tyre. The tyre is ideally suited to work both in the field and on the road thanks to its high load capacity of almost 8,300kg per tyre and durable casing structure.

With the capability of being run at low pressures in the field, it reduces rut formation and protects the soil as a result of a maximised ground contact patch. The large flat tread pattern also increases traction, helping farmers

to save both time and money.

On the road, the tyre optimises efficiency and comfort, whilst the alignment of the multisided tread blocks and their alternating pattern increases resistance to wear and promotes selfcleaning.

The Road King XV 20 26 S 20-tonne capacity trailer is fitted with an air braking system, ABS, front view grille, high level rear road lights and roll cover as standard. A tri-axle configuration with air suspension increases the trailer’s roadfriendliness and the rear steer axle improves manoeuvrability.

Stewart Trailers was established in 1988 and builds trailers and livestock floats at its base in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. The company featured its new trailer fitted with CargoXBib Heavy Duty tyres on its stand at LAMMA, which took place last week.

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Polaris Crew gains National Trust

Take the power and performance of the Polaris ProStar engine delivering 31hp. Wrap around it the new Sportsman 450 H.O. and you have a full-size capability ATV at a 400cc class, entry-level price.

t follows that any choice of vehicles used to move around the estate needs very careful consideration, given the impact of four-wheel drive and the associated rutting.

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The six-seater is ideally suited to the work and has been set up with specialist accessories Looking for a new 4x4 Lawrence turned his attention to low damage vehicles and tested a short

wheelbase Polaris to see how it impacted on the chalk soil, areas of clay and flint, and particularly on gradients.

However, given the requirements of Lawrence’s team of four and those of the Head Forester’s four person team who would share use of the vehicle, they decided they would need a larger 4x4. Their Polaris dealer, Taylors Tools of King’s Langley, suggested the Polaris Ranger Diesel Crew. Whilst by far the biggest vehicle they tested, the physical impact across the ground was very small, even in wet areas.

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The six-seater is ideally suited to the work and has been set up with specialist accessories, from essential guarding and a winch, to a roof mounted frame for carrying two and three stage ladders, and a chainsaw mounting. The Crew is used to move both teams around the estate, fixing gates and fences, doing forestry work and generally patrolling.

“As well as off-road use with minimum impact on the environment,” says Lawrence, “it’s a fantastic vehicle which gets the teams to places you would never drive in a normal 4x4. It’s also a

vehicle that’s inviting to visitors so there’s the positive and welcoming aspect of stopping and talking to them.”

From its monastic origins, to ownership by Henry VIII and the canal-building Duke of Bridgewater, the Ashridge Estate is an outstanding preserve for generations to come, with its wildlife and flowers that thrive in the chalk grassland. It’s good to know the Polaris Ranger Crew is contributing to the preservation of the delicate balance of the park. www.polaris-britain.com Tel: 0800 915 6720

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Polaris awards dealers at Poland conference More than fifty Polaris dealers gathered last month for the annual business conference, held at the Polaris factory in Opole, Poland. or many it was their initial chance to see the factory, which has completed its first full year of production. The 345,000-square-foot facility was also the first Polaris plant dedicated to manufacturing Off-Road Vehicles (ORV’s) outside North America, producing approximately 35 different ORV vehicle models destined for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) region. The Polaris dealers arrived from across the UK including Shetland, Wales and Northern Ireland to see the 2016 line-up and receive Dealer of the Year awards covering three main areas and best newcomer.

“We were very pleased to welcome our Polaris dealers,” says Polaris Country Manager for UK and Ireland, Jim Clarke, “with a fantastic

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opportunity for everyone to see the new factory production, including the new Ranger and Sportsman line-ups. Congratulations to the winners of this year’s awards” “We were very pleased to welcome our Polaris dealers” Winners of the Dealer of the Year Awards for Top Dealers across the country were All-4 Ltd. of Nuneaton, JMK Quads of Banbridge, County Down and Turf Machinery Engineering in Chobham. Stratton ATV from Scotland took the best newcomer award and NORA SxS Ltd of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire took the award for Best Sports & Leisure.

Winners All-4 Ltd NUNEATON, Warwickshire, CV13 6DD Tel: 0121 270 7057 JMK Quads BANBRIDGE, County Down BT32 4LQ Tel: 02840 629 155 Turf Machinery Engineering CHOBHAM, Surrey GU24 8SP Tel: 01276 855870 Stratton ATV PERTH, Perth and Kinross, PH1 3JE Tel: 01738 634 841 NORA SxS DEWSBURY, West Yorkshire WF12 9BJ Tel: 01924 460873

March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 53

| ATV

Accessories & applications from

Honda ATV With the worst of the winter weather behind us, but ground conditions still soft and susceptible to damage, an ATV provides the ideal transport solution for many farms with its ability to travel lightly on grassland and arable crops. or livestock farmers, with animals out in the fields after the winter under cover, an ATV can save a lot of time and hard work, handling tasks such as rounding up or checking the stock with ease while its front and rear load racks have space to carry bedding and feed out to where they are needed.

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Whatever your situation, Honda has an ATV to improve your farm’s transport efficiency this spring On arable farms the narrow width and ability to travel lightly makes an ATV the ideal vehicle for tasks such as vermin control or transporting gas cylinders out to bird scarers while, for field walking’, the flotation tyres allow fields and crops to be thoroughly and quickly monitored, often without the operator leaving his seat.

Maximising use Whatever the situation, one of

the first accessories purchased by many users will be a trailer to make the most of the ATV’s ability to travel where other vehicles would struggle. However, when selecting a trailer, care should be taken to match the size and capacity to the ATV, with thought given to the working environment and terrain likely to be encountered.

The trailer should have features which allow the user to get the best out of the combination. When correctly loaded it should transfer the optimal amount of weight to the ATV’s hitch maximising traction without compromising handling.

Key to an ATV’s ability to travel across almost any terrain, even in soft, wet conditions, are its large flotation tyres which spread the weight over a large contact area and selecting a trailer with wheels of a similar design means the trailer will travel equally well making it easy to pull. A swivel hitch is essential, as it should prevent the ATV overturning in the event that the trailer becomes unstable.

Which ATV? Care should be taken to match

54 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

the trailer and its likely laden weight to the capabilities of the ATV which will be used to tow it.

An ATV’s ability to pull heavy loads is often impressive, but being able to stop the same load effectively when needed is essential and the ATV’s size, weight and power, as well as transmission type and the terrain, and the ability of the operator, should all be considered.

The market-leading Honda range includes utility models from 250–680cc, with recommended maximum towing weights starting at 225kg and up to 600kg for some of the heavy-duty TRX500 Foreman machines, which means there are models available to suit almost any application.

For livestock use in hilly

situations, the TRX420 Fourtrax 4wd models are usually favoured offering plenty of power and traction combined with light operation whereas, for heavy lugging tasks, the larger TRX500 Foreman machines offer greater capability and are often the choice of arable farms and shoots as well as being popular for forestry tasks.

For many lighter situations a 2wd machine will be quite adequate; smaller TRX250 Fourtrax models ideal for equestrian use, while the larger TRX420 2wd has more power and is better suited to carrying rackmounted loads across arable land.

Whatever your situation, Honda has an ATV to improve your farm’s transport efficiency this spring.

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| ATV

of the The trailer should have features which allow the user to get the best out to the weight of amount optimal the transfer should it loaded correctly combination. When ATVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hitch maximising traction without compromising handling.

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New 0% APR representative campaign on utility

Suzuki ATVs Suzuki GB PLC has announced a new 0% APR Representative campaign, running from 1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016, available on selected utility ATVs in the range. ncluded in the offer is the flagship ATV of the range, the KingQuad 750, the KingQuad 500 Power Steering and non-power steering model, and the KingQuad 400 Auto and Manual model.

George Cheeseman, ATV Sales and Marketing Manager Suzuki GB PLC said, “With our dealer network able to arrange low deposits and manageable monthly repayments, this makes upgrading to a new

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ATV easier than it has ever been.

Also with free Datatag security protection and EASI Rider safety training, ATV riders can be sure that they stay comfortable and safe when they buy a Suzuki.”

To find out more information, customers can visit or contact their local dealer. Full terms and conditions can be found on suzuki-atv.co.uk.

Other benefits that come with choosing Suzuki include: Try before you buy Knowing that customers want

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

Free Suzuki workwear kit Suzuki knows that customers will be riding their ATVs in all weathers and conditions. So when customers buy a Suzuki utility ATV from an Authorised Suzuki Dealer, they will receive a free Suzuki workwear kit worth over £40, consisting of a branded bodywarmer and overalls.

Courtesy ATV scheme Suzuki understands that customers rely on their ATVs and therefore gives a courtesy Suzuki ATV to keep customers’ businesses on the move when they take their machine – whatever the make or model – in to an authorised Suzuki dealer for service or repairs.

Theft deterrent as standard FREE on all new Suzuki utility ATVs, the CESAR Security System powered by Datatag gives each ATV a unique ‘fingerprint’ with an identity that cannot be erased.

This acts as a strong theft deterrent and a tool for recovery should the worst happen – plus, it reduces insurance premiums too!

“With our dealer network able to arrange low deposits and manageable monthly repayments, this makes upgrading to a new ATV easier than it has ever been” For more information, and to find your local Authorised Suzuki ATV Dealer, visit www.suzuki-atv.co.uk

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Kawasaki

Brute Force 750 4x4i available in new colours

The high performance off-road Kawasaki ATV, Brute Force 750, is now available in three colour schemes – black, white and camo. riced at £7,929 for the camo and £7,629 for the black and white colour versions, the Brute Force 750 features a powerful liquid-cooled, four-stroke 90° VTwin 749cc engine.

Producing 36.6 kW of power @ 6,750rpm and 59Nm of torque @ 5,250rpm, there’s plenty to play with – or work with. Stopping power is provided by dual 200mm discs with 2-piston calipers on the front and enclosed multi-plate brakes on the rear. A parking brake comes as standard.

The addition of tie down loops and larger diameter tubing make the new luggage racks even more practical and cast aluminium lightweight spoked wheels add style to the machine’s uprated design. New handlebar grips aid rider control while offering reduced vibration. Adding security, the rear brake can be operated via either the left handlebar lever or foot pedal.

Improved multi-purpose meter assembly includes: speedo, odometer, trip, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, clock and hour meter plus neutral gear, 2WD/4WD, belt life and oil warning indicators.

The fuel-injected Brute Force 750 has double wishbone with five-way adjustable preload suspension on the front and rear and a fuel capacity of 19 litres. As well as Electronic

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Image courtesy: Paul Fishwick

Power Steering which is not only speed variable, it also acts as a damping system, reducing bump steer.

Simon Riches, Kawasaki Motors UK Product Manager for ATV and MULE, said: “The Brute Force 750 has recently seen a price decrease which helps make this grunty giant a competitive price. They are the flagship of the Kawasaki utility fleet and a fantastic machine – whether you want to use it for leisure or as a work bike.

“The Electric Power Steering on the model really sets it apart and enables you to turn it round in a tight yard or narrow lane and gives a lot more control and stiffness in the steering.

Having seen the camo paint scheme in the flesh, I think it looks amazing.”

Image courtesy: Paul Fishwick

For more information, or to view the whole utility range from Kawasaki, visit: www.kawasaki.co.uk For more information

Jim Price Machinery Ltd Farmore Mills, Shropshire SY7 9QG 01588 673746 www.jimpricemachinery.com

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

Richard Jones ATV Ltd Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3DA 01544 350256 www.richardjonesatv.co.uk

D H Wadsworth & Sons Malton: 01653 692244 Flockton: 01924 840319 www.wadsworthquads.co.uk

Hopkins Machinery Mid Wales: Brecon South Wales: Newport South West: Devon 01633 680754 www.hopkinsmachinery.co.uk

Contact your nearest dealer

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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John Deere Gators get on track John Deere has approved the use of Camso rubber tracks on its Gator utility vehicles in Europe, following their availability in the US for several years. n XUV 855D Gator equipped with a Camso UTV T4S four-track system supplied by UK distributor Supatracks was recently featured on the company’s stand at LAMMA 2016.

Designed to extend the versatility and all year round use of these popular all-terrain vehicles even further, the Camso tracks reduce ground pressure by up to 75 per cent to less than 1 psi and take less than two hours to install

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in place of the wheels, with no other modifications required. Track widths are 318mm (12.5in) in front and 356mm (14in) at the rear. The tracks are steered and therefore minimise disruption of the soil surface when driving off-road.

Camso tracks are manufactured in Canada by the same company that supplies units for John Deere’s 8R, 9R and new 9RX fourtrack Series agricultural tractors.

Camso is the world’s leading maker of tracks for farm and construction vehicles as well as snowmobiles. Track systems

provide better weight distribution and maximum flotation on all types of off-road terrain.

The 25hp XUV 855D Gator 4x4 has a standard top speed of 32mph (52kph) and features true on-demand four-wheel drive, activated by a dash-mounted electronic switch, power steering and all-round independent suspension, adjustable at the rear.

Ground clearance on the tracks is increased by around 45 per cent to 406mm (16in), while total

payload and towing capacity remain the same at 635kg and 680kg respectively.

The Gator’s standard deluxe Mauser ROPS frame can be upgraded to a full glass cab if required, and models can be ordered with a variety of other factory and dealer installed options and attachments. These include tool carriers, cargo box dividers, a front mounted load rack, a bull bar and side extensions.

Apache showcase latest childrens quads Apache's latest range of Children's Quad bikes have been re-launched following design enhancements to meet the demands of its ever more adventurous junior riders. or almost 20 years, Apache Quads have been regarded as the nation's favourite and 'most wanted' children's quad range and are renowned for being the most robust, reliable and great value machines.

The latest Apache Quads line up includes all the favourite models including the Apache RLX 100 Sport, a stylish premium quad bike that comes as standard with bright metallic paint and an extra wide wheel track perfect for more demanding environments. A new addition to the Apache stable is the standard RLX 100 suitable for the more budget conscious.

The ever popular Apache SX

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100 SilverSport is also back, having the added advantage of reverse gear and digital speedo, together with superb silver metallic paintwork. The baby of the range, Mini Tomahawk 50cc is suitable for the smallest child and has the most advanced safety features for total peace of mind. The Mini Tomahawk comes as standard with remote cut off fob that can be operated by a parent up to 100 metres away.

Apache Quads have been regarded as the nation's favourite and 'most wanted' children's quad range

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Kubota’s RTV-X900 stamping out rural crime

Law-breakers across rural Oxfordshire villages are thinking twice before carrying out agricultural and construction machinery thefts or taking part in anti-social behaviour thanks to Kubota’s RTV-X900 utility vehicle. he sturdy RTV has been loaned to Thames Valley Police to allow the force to patrol miles of countryside and protect farms and local businesses from being targeted by criminals.

Thames Valley Police is the first police force in the UK to introduce an all-terrain vehicle to its fleet and the impact is already showing after six months, with the force seeing crime rates fall rapidly thanks to the constant presence of police officers being able to access areas of land that were previously out of bounds or difficult to access.

Two residents who have experienced the RTV’s benefits first hand are Colin and Pauline Rouse, residents of Backhouse Farm in Bampton. The couple had

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previously been victims of an arson attack when bales in their field were set alight, causing huge devastation and a significant loss of income. The use of the RTV by the force meant that when a second arson attack took place, Police Community Support Officer, Colin Davies, was able to get to the scene of the crime within minutes before heavy rainfall washed away incriminating evidence.

Colin said, “The RTV has been invaluable in helping us reach a much higher percentage of rural crimes and improve the service we provide to the local community, such as the arson attack at Backhouse Farm. Local farmers have recognised what we can now do and have been fantastic in supporting us, providing access to their land so that when an incident

takes place, we can be patrolling the difficult countryside terrain in rapid time.

“We only have two cars at the station, so six months ago if a crime had taken place off road on difficult terrain, we would have struggled to get to the crime scene quickly. Having use of the RTV means that we can now be patrolling the fields much more efficiently, with the rural environment we are able to attend before some specialist departments.. This significantly improves our chance of catching the perpetrators.”

In addition to being used to patrol the countryside, the utility vehicle has been put to good use in the town centre proving its versatility.

The force has attended around 96 crimes across Carterton,

Bampton and Norton since the RTV arrived in June 2015, with each officer able to get to the scene in under one hour.

Landowners and farmers have also reported a lack of suspicious incidents taking place in the area over the past six months.

“The RTV has been invaluable in helping us reach a much higher percentage of rural crimes” Colin said, “Rural crime is a hard problem to tackle when you don’t have the equipment to get out and about over harsh lands to catch the offenders. Now that we’re regularly patrolling the fields and parks in the RTV however, offenders know that if they commit a crime, they won't get away with it anymore.”

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Volvo XC90 Excellence makes European debut in Geneva The most luxurious car in Volvo Cars’ 89-year history – the exclusive four-seat XC90 Excellence – made its European debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. he top-of-the-line XC90 Excellence is based on the award-winning XC90 SUV and further reinforces the company’s credentials as a premium car maker.

It features extended leather-covered surfacing, finest-quality upholstery and hand-crafted crystal glasses from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glass maker.

The superior comfort of the individual and adjustable rear seats, combined with a massage function and specially designed headrests, is further augmented with a refrigerator, two folding tables and cup holders with both heating and cooling options.

The XC90 Excellence is built on Volvo’s modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and comes with the award-winning T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain as standard, offering three distinct driving modes in one car – Pure, Hybrid and Power. This means the XC90 Excellence can provide up to 410 hp combined with impressively low emissions.

“The XC90 Excellence offers a sublime and luxurious experience. It is our top-of-the-line XC90 offer and we see a lot of interest from our more affluent customers,” said Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service at Volvo Cars. “The additional sound insulation, enhanced Bowers & Wilkins sound system and convenience of rear-seat controls takes the XC90 Excellence to a new level of luxurious calm and comfort.”

The XC90 Excellence is now exclusively available for ordering online in selected markets, reflecting the growing importance of

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digital commerce in Volvo’s sales and marketing strategy.

It follows in the footsteps of the First Edition XC90, a special and limited series of 1,927 individually numbered cars sold only online via www.volvocars.com. All 1,927 XC90 First Edition cars, celebrating the year Volvo was founded, were sold out within 48 hours after the start of sales in 2014.

Online sales for the XC90 Excellence have now started in Switzerland, France, Belgium and Luxembourg, while China will be added later this spring.

While the car is exclusively available online for now, it will become available for ordering at Volvo dealerships in other markets later this year, including in the United States.

“Selling the XC90 Excellence exclusively online is a perfect example of how Volvo Cars is changing the way it sells cars and adjusts to new customer trends,” said Björn Annwall.

“Regardless of where they order their cars, the aim remains to offer Volvo buyers the best customer experience possible together with our dealers.”

The digital commerce platform is an important element of Volvo’s Way to Market global marketing strategy and was developed following the successful pilot with the First Edition cars. It will be used more often as Volvo gradually starts to sell special-edition cars online around the globe as a complement to Volvo dealerships.

The company has therefore worked closely with its dealer network in developing the tool in order to retain the personal touch that is so important in selling, delivering & servicing cars.

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| ATV

Crossroads Garage Ltd Warwickshire Tel: 01608 661544

Great Wall Bath Somerset Tel: 01225 473014

Winchester Motor Co. Hampshire Tel: 01962 866331

www.unityautomotive.co.uk

www.bathhonda.co.uk

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

MTC Great Wall Cambridgeshire Tel: 01733 309782

Garland Great Wall Hampshire Tel: 01252 367373

www.mtcars.co.uk

www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk

www.stalhameng.co.uk

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Guy Salmon Knutsford

Duckworth Land Rover, Boston

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

01205 449758, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen

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

01673 799393, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Conwy Land Rover

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

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

Ripon Land Rover

Stafford Land Rover

01765 646464, www.ripon.landrover.co.uk

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

Hunters Norwich

Likes Land Rover

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

01497 842100, likes.hayonwye.landrover.co.uk

Lloyds Kelso

Cambrian Aberystwyth

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

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

Kentdale Kendal 01539 814444, www.kentdale.kendal.landrover.co.uk

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Subaru announces upgrades to XV Compact Crosover Subaru has announced details of a series of upgrades to the XV compact crossover, designed to refresh the car’s exterior styling, raise cabin quality and improve refinement. In spite of the range of upgrades across the full model lineup, pricing for the Subaru XV is unchanged for the 2016 model. ince its introduction in 2012, the XV has stood out in its sector with Subaru’s legendary permanent Symmetrical AllWheel Drive as standard. The XV boasts higher ground clearance than most rivals and is among the lightest vehicles in the compact crossover segment, aiding the car’s genuine off-road ability. Its centre of gravity and low-mounted four cylinder Boxer engines make it one of the most agile compact crossovers on the market.

Updates to the 2016 model follow hot on the heels of a range of upgrades made in 2015 which included a raft of suspension modifications and a quicker more direct steering rack, resulting in more engaging and assured handling and smoother ride.

Higher-quality cabin with new connected infotainment system Among the most important changes to the upgraded XV is an upgraded interior, finished in higher quality materials and featuring Subaru’s new factory-fit 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. Changes include the adoption of new metallic and piano black trim as well as new contrast stitching throughout the cabin. The driver’s TFT LCD instrument binnacle has also been redesigned, now emitting a soft, contemporary blue glow.

The overall result of these changes is a cosseting ambience with a higher-quality, more modern look and feel.

Subaru’s all-new 7.0-inch touchscreen display allows smartphone-style control of the advanced navigation and infotainment features, with a swipe and pinch control function for map displays. Consistent with other updates to the cabin, the infotainment system echoes the new

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blue glow of the driver’s instrument binnacle.

The infotainment system houses a standard-fit rear view camera, offering a super-wide 160degree field of view behind the car when reversing.

Other functions of the car – such as changing navigation settings or adjusting the power or temperature of the climate control – can be controlled though the company’s latestgeneration voice control facility, allowing the driver to keep their eyes on the road ahead.

The system also enables Apple iPhone users to activate Siri® Eyes-Free functionality, providing full voice control of their iOS mobile device when linked with the new infotainment system.

The smartphone functionality extends to a range of apps, which pair users’ mobile devices with the vehicle via Subaru StarLink, making the XV one of the most connected cars on the road. StarLink enables occupants to display weather forecasts and traffic reports, access wireless audio, receive the latest news updates and check their calendar while on the move.

The 2016 XV is fitted with an extra USB port in the front of the cabin, allowing passengers to listen to music from one USB device while charging another at the same time, reflecting the evolving needs of today’s motorists.

Lower running costs and improvements to fuel efficiency The upgraded Subaru XV continues to offer UK buyers a choice of two horizontallyopposed, four-cylinder Boxer engines – a 2.0litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel – and two transmissions (six-speed manual and six-speed CVT automatic). For 2016, both engines in the XV line-up offer improved fuel economy over the existing model.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel, equipped with a six-

speed manual transmission, features a range of updates and longer gear ratios to improve fuel efficiency by 4%. The modified engine – which still produces 147 PS and 350 Nm of torque – achieves 52.3 mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions fall from 146 to 141 g/km, placing the car in a lower BIK tax band (25% for 2016/17). In spite of the longer gear ratios, driveability hasn’t been compromised, with the car still able to accelerate from 0-to-62 mph in 9.3 seconds.

Subaru has also introduced a series of updates to the 150 PS 2.0-litre naturallyaspirated petrol engine which produces 196 Nm of torque. Fuel efficiency increases by 2% to a combined average of 43.5 mpg when equipped with Subaru’s smooth-shifting Lineartronic transmission (CVT) and emissions fall to 151 g/km. Longer gear ratios for models fitted with the six-speed manual transmission promote greater efficiency at motorway speeds.

Rugged appeal: modernised exterior styling and new paint finishes As part of the updates for 2016, Subaru has revised elements of the XV’s exterior styling to further enhance the cars rugged appeal.

Subaru’s signature identity can be found in the upgraded ‘face’ of the XV, which now features updated ‘hawk-eye’ headlights and a redesigned front grille and bumper.

At the rear, the 2016 XV features a discreet new boot spoiler and LED combination lamps.

A stylish new black and silver diamond cut aluminium alloy wheel design completes the revised exterior.

Two new colour options are available to UK buyers: Hyper Blue and Dark Blue Metallic.

Pricing unchanged – 2016 Subaru XV now on sale from £21,995

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| Motors

Ford unveils new Kuga SUV Ford Motor Company has revealed the new Kuga, offering customers a more technologically advanced, refined and sportier redesign of one of Europe’s favourite sport utility vehicles. he sophisticated new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable. These include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

The bold and sporty new Kuga debuts at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new Kuga also will offer Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology that helps drivers park handsfree in spaces alongside other cars; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System for optimised visibility in low light. Further sophisticated technologies include Hands-Free Tailgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.

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“New Kuga offers cutting-edge new features and technologies that will help drivers stay connected, comfortable, safe and stylish on the road,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The sophisticated redesign has given Kuga a fresh and modern feel, while SYNC 3 enables drivers to communicate with their vehicle and connected devices in seamless ways that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.”

Ford is launching the new Kuga and the larger Edge SUV this year, after introducing an updated EcoSport last year. Ford is bolstering its SUV line-up just as it has been predicted by industry sales analyst IHS that sales in the SUV segment are poised to increase to 27 per cent of all vehicle sales in Europe by 2020.

New Kuga and the Edge are among five allnew or redesigned Ford vehicles that will compete in the SUV and crossover space in the

next three years.

Kuga spearheaded the company’s SUV expansion in the UK after first going on sale in 2008. 2015 sales for the full year were 32,936, up 35.2 per cent, compared with 2014.

EcoSport sales also grew to 11,315 in 2015, securing 4th position in the small SUV segment. Ford expects SUV sales to treble in the UK in 2016 compared with 2013.

“Ford is delivering a European SUV line-up that offers the stylish design, carlike dynamics, and sophisticated technologies that consumers desire,” Bakaj said. “Demand for SUVs is stronger than ever, and Ford is expanding its range to offer everything from rugged models with true goanywhere ability to sporty models designed to suit urban lifestyles.”

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER:

Maple Garage Ltd

Perkins

Unity Leicester

East Yorkshire 01964 670392 www.maplegarage.co.uk

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

Leicester 01162 149 060 www.unityleicester-subaru.co.uk

MTC Subaru

Central Motors

EMG Motor Group

EMG Motor Group

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

Somerset Tel. 01460 64747 www.centralmotors.co.uk

Suffolk Tel. 01284 330535 www.emg-subaru.co.uk

Norfolk Tel. 01553 600205 www.emg-subaru.co.uk

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| Motors

Jeep celebrates anniversary at Geneva International Motor Show Jeep® and its legendary spirit returned to the 86th Geneva Motor Show with a stand “packed” with history and excitement where the models of yesteryear met those of tomorrow to celebrate the brand's 75th Anniversary. s is Jeep tradition, the legendary brand introduced a special edition, on all models of the current line-up, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary, which will be available in dealerships across the UK from the second quarter of 2016. More than just celebrating this important achievement, it’s also a milestone in the brand’s ambitious future,

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faced with the same determination which made 2015 the best year for sales for Jeep in the UK. Produced in limited quantities – with only 8,000 units available for the entire EMEA region – all of the 75th Anniversary models are distinguished by a new livery, a 75th Anniversary badge, low gloss bronze-coloured rims, bronze and orange-coloured exterior inserts and exclusive interiors with seats sporting the 75th Anniversary logo

in relief.

To celebrate this momentous milestone, there were three vintage models on show at the Motor Show alongside four examples of the new 75th Anniversary special editions, as well as a Jeep Time Machine, which enabled visitors the chance, through the Oculus Technology, to get close to the iconic models that made the brand what it is today.

For more information about the

75th Anniversary editions, visit: http://www.jeeppress-europe.com/ Also exhibiting on the stand in Geneva, Jeep presented a new limited edition Grand Cherokee SRT Night. It features a stealth-like appearance with the front grille bezels, B and C pillars and side window surrounds all adorned in Matt Black. The front applique is Satin Black, as is badging on the bonnet and rear lift-gate.

SEAT unveils ‘Ateca’ the comapny’s first SUV Ateca will boast a widerange of efficient, powerful engines up to 190 PS and will be keenly priced from £17,990 in the UK - a full range pricing and specification will be released on 1st May 2016.

EAT held the world premiere of its eagerly-awaited first SUV, Ateca, at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Ateca is claimed to be a “unique combination of distinctive design, dynamic driving fun, urban versatility and compelling utility”.

First-class connectivity, innovative assistance systems and highly efficient engines are among its technology highlights and make it one of the most innovative SUVs in the segment. Outstanding quality,

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precision production and very attractive value-for-money ensure it is a true SEAT. When pre-order books open for SEAT Ateca this spring, a wide range of versions will be available.

The choice of powerful turbocharged TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines spans from 115 PS to 190 PS, with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive (latter with diesel engines only in the UK), not to mention manual or dual-clutch DSG transmissions (again, latter with diesel engines only in the UK).

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D-Max Blade in new Venetian Red marks 100 years of Isuzu The Isuzu D-Max Blade – the flagship model of the multiaward winning pick-up range – is getting a centennial Venetian Red paint finish as part of the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary since the company first set up operations in Tokyo, Japan. The glowing red colour scheme will be limited to 100 D-Max Blade pick-up vehicles. he vibrant Venetian Red colour will leave a lasting impression as it takes hints from the same shade of red consistently used by Isuzu throughout the brand’s history. The top-of-the-range double-cab Blade is available from just £25,249 (CVOTR) in manual transmission and £26,249 (CVOTR) in auto, and the eyecatching Venetian Red finish comes at no extra cost. The Blade, which has been a big hit since it was launched in 2014, is already available in Cosmic Black or Pearlescent White.

The D-Max Blade range-topper comes with a host of extra features and quality interior appointments for a premium level of comfort and refinement, including superior leather upholstery, 18-inch Shadow alloy wheels and choice of Black Mountain Top Roller Cover with Black Rear Style Bar or Colour Coded Aeroklas Leisure

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Canopy.

At the heart of the Blade remains the powerful-yet-efficient 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel engine, producing 163 PS and 400 Nm of torque. Isuzu’s advanced power unit returns a highly impressive fuel economy of 38.7 mpg on a combined cycle. Owners also benefit from a heavyweight towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes (braked trailer) and 1,072 kg (manual) / 1,067 kg (auto) payload.

Isuzu entered its centenary year on a rich vein of form, as the longest-running Japanese car manufacturer continues to break sales records in the UK. With 6,220 vehicle registrations in 2015, Isuzu UK made a 13% year-onyear improvement while also recording a 478% sales boost compared to five years ago.

Further model news is expected later in the year.

Every new D-Max sold in the UK is backed by the company’s pioneering, five-year / 125,000mile warranty.

70 | Farming Monthly | March 2016

New Peugeot 2008 The brand’s compact SUV. he PEUGEOT 2008 entered the market in 2013 and immediately appealed to British new car buyers.

Customers particularly appreciated its elegance and dynamic performance. It has enjoyed continuous growth in sales volumes, with production of over 500,000 units[1] worldwide. In Europe, this success is illustrated by a podium place in the segment which has been firmly established since launch. In the UK 40,000 have been sold since 2013.

PEUGEOT 2008 is now taking on an even more assertive, powerful and appealing SUV design. Its wheel arch extensions (from Allure level), new vertical front grille and scuff plates (from Allure level) confirm its robustness, designed for everyday use. The new Ultimate Red colour further epitomises the power and desirability of the new 2008. The Access, Active and Allure levels are complemented by the new superior ‘GT Line’ model. This desirable trim level is already a very popular choice on other key PEUGEOT models (208, 308 and 508), and adds a sporty theme with a red/black coloured features.

The BlueHDi 1.6L Diesel engine is a combination of the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology and additivated Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). This engine is

T

characterised by its pleasure to drive and record low fuel consumption, regardless of the version – 75hp, 100hp and 120hp.

The SCR technology is the most effective on the market in terms of post-treatment of nitrogen oxides (NOx), as it is the only one to reduce NOx by up to 90%. Installed upstream of the additivated DPF, it is activated at an early stage. This is made possible by the additivated DPF's ability to regenerate at a lower temperature than the other DPF technologies as used by our competitors. The additivated DPF removes 99.9% of all particles, including the finest.

This excellent NOx reduction effectiveness optimises both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, which is up to 4% lower than the Euro 5 engines. he Diesel range includes three engines, all of them with CO2 emissions at less than 100g/km: 1.6L BlueHDi 75, 5-speed manual gearbox, 76.3 MPG, with CO2 at 97g/km - Best-in-Class, 1.6L BlueHDi 100, 5-speed manual gearbox, 76.3 MPG, with CO2 at 97g/km, 1.6L BlueHDi 120 S&S, 6speed manual, 76.3 MPG, with CO2 at 96gCO2/km – Best-inClass.

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| Motors

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

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (South) 01205 449 758 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

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

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

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

HOLDCROFT ISUZU Staffordshire 01782 484 954 www.holdcroft-isuzu.co.uk

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

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

BULLDOG TWYFORD Berkshire Tel. 01189 320922 www.bulldogtwyford-isuzu.co.uk

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

NORTHGATE ISUZU Kent Tel. 01227 829930 www.northgate-isuzu.co.uk

MAPLE GARAGE LTD East Yorkshire Tel. 01964 670392 www.maplegarage.co.uk

DUCKWORTH ISUZU Lincolnshire (North) 01673 799 393 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

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

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March 2016 | Farming Monthly | 71