March 2021 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: The ALL New Isuzu D-max page 88

Farming MONTHLY National

March 2021

I Meet the next generation supporting sustainable farming page 12

| On Topic

Also inside this month..

| The Island of Sark opens its first community dairy farm page 18

Plugging into renewabl e energy

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PLUS: Arable| Grain | Potatoes | Building | Mental Health |Sheep |Tyres| Livestock| ATV | Motors

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CONTENTS

M a r c h 2021

FEATURES 29

36

42

53

20 Arable

52 Livestock

60 Muck &Slurry

24 Potatoes & Root Crops

58 Sheep

78 Tyres

30 Fertilisers and Sprayers 36 Grain

FM REGULARS National

42 Mental Health

06 News

68 Machinery

45 Ground care

18 On Topic

80 ATV

48 Energy

46 Buildings

88 Motors

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p8 Agriculture. Covered.

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UKRI and Defra partner to launch £12m Farming Innovation Pathways funding competition

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KRI and Defra have today announced their R&D collaboration for an exciting new funding opportunity, Farming Innovation Pathways.

The competition will be delivered through UKRI's ISCF Transforming Food Production challenge fund, aimed at developing new and existing farmfocused innovations. Farming Innovation Pathways will ensure practical translation of leading research in agriculture, so that it can directly benefit farmers and support them to address the challenges of productivity, sustainability, and net zero emissions in UK farming.

This is the first competition of its kind following the UK's departure from the EU. It will pave the way for R&D to turbocharge future innovation in the agricultural sector. Farming Innovation Pathways will act as a bridge between the final stages of the Transforming Food Production programme and the launch of Defra's R&D Innovation package in 2022.

It will build on the ground-breaking innovations already funded by the Transforming Food Production programme, which has seen advancement in areas as diverse as insect farming, sustainable livestock feed, agricultural robotics and autonomous growing systems.

Similarly, Farming Innovation Pathways will be open to ideas addressing challenges across the agri-food sector.

Priorities will include robotics and automation, which could include things like vision-guided robotic weeding systems, and novel food production systems, including vertical farming.

Funded through Defra's Future Farming & Countryside Programme, this £12M opportunity will bring together farmers,

growers and businesses, enabling them to develop novel technological solutions. Through its dual-pronged approach, the competition will support a range of exciting projects, from the initial spark of an idea through to developing transformational technologies that could revitalise farming practice and be taken up across the sector. Crucially, Farming Innovation Pathways aims to support the adoption of innovative technologies and practices, so it will be vital for applicants to develop solutions with the engagement of farmers and growers.

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Feasibility projects (£5m): To evaluate the potential of earlystage ideas or innovations that tackle on-farm challenges, that could lead to further R&D to develop ideas into technically and commercially feasible solutions.

Victoria Prentis, Defra Minister for Farming, Fisheries and Food, said: "The Farming Innovation Pathways competition offers farmers and growers the opportunity to see their bold and innovative ideas become reality, and to drive forward green growth in the sector.

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To develop novel high-potential solutions targeting real issues affecting farmers, growers and other agribusinesses, or further develop existing solutions. This will deliver transformative solutions that tackle problems farmers are currently facing. It will include working with stakeholders to assess how solutions will be integrated within production systems to achieve widespread adoption.

"We want to see farmers manage their businesses in a way that delivers profitable food production and the recovery of nature, using the best modern technology available today.

Promising innovations such as robotics and automation, and novel food production systems have the potential to transform business performance for our farmers and help them address some of the industry's greatest challenges. "

Katrina Hayter, challenge director for UKRI's Transforming Food Production challenge, said: "Working alongside Defra for this competition will ensure a coordinated approach to support innovation to help drive future green growth and develop a worldleading sustainable agricultural sector.

There are many new individual solutions for the farming sector, but strong engagement with farmers in the innovation process ensures that these solutions can be quickly deployed within an agricultural production system. t its very heart, the business of government is mostly about either taking in money or giving it away.

Of course, that's a simplified view but grant management is a large, important and complex area of government. Its raison d'être is to support policy objectives across government from education, health, rural affairs, innovation and research as well as abroad through international aid for public good.

A new vision A for grant management requires familiar IT

It requires both process flexibility and mandatory security and monitoring to ensure safe case management and the payment of grants. And while the funding mechanisms, rules and scopes may differ, grant management is something nearly every department of every government does.

The challenges are familiar across

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"It is also really important that we can demonstrate the benefits of these solutions to farmers and growers, as well as the wider industry. There are many economic and environmental challenges facing the agriculture sector in the UK and further afield. In this context, it is vital that we work with innovators and farmers to ensure good ideas and new technologies have clear routes to adoption, effective business benefits for users and the ability to improve longer-term productivity and sustainability of the sector."

Links to the competition: Competition overview - Farming Innovation Pathways (FIP) – feasibility studies - Innovation Funding Service Competition overview - Farming Innovation Pathways (FIP) – industrial research - Innovation Funding Service Register for the briefing event scheduled for 11th March governments too – with the need to improve the efficiency of grants administration, the effectiveness of the grant funding and reduction in losses from fraud driving innovation.

Grant management following exit from the EU While the Grants Management Function in the Cabinet Office is continuing with its ambitions to make grant management more effective efficient and safe, the UK's exit from the EU is ensuring that grant management is rising up the agenda across many other departments as they re-think how grant funding can better support policy.

For farming in particular, the end of EU farm subsidies represents one of the biggest changes to farming policy in half a century. With the end of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Future farmers to benefit from two new apprenticeships wo brand new apprenticeships will be launched this year to equip a whole new generation of farmers with a more extensive and up-to-date skillset.

AHDB has worked closely with industry to establish the criteria for two new Apprenticeship Standards, with the goal of meeting the future needs of the agriculture and horticulture industries during a period of unprecedented change.

The new apprenticeships are the result of an industry-wide consultation survey, commissioned by AHDB, which ran throughout October 2020 to gauge the needs of employers. The results reflected a wide range of farm businesses, covering all sectors and across the supply chain.

As part of an industry first, the General Farm Worker apprenticeship will help budding farmers take their first steps into the industry, with the Livestock Unit Technician scheme honing in on more specialised areas of expertise.

As well as appealing to those already committed to a future in farming, the apprenticeships provide new opportunities for young people who, due to the pandemic, may now be looking to switch to a more secure career path.

School leavers and individuals entering into the world of agriculture for the first time will be able to start their journey with a level two General Farm Worker apprenticeship – a standard which has been widely sought after by industry employers.

With General Farm Worker standard, the apprentice completing their training, which covers both arable and livestock, is able to progress to a level three qualification to gain a greater understanding of their chosen sector. For Livestock Unit Technician, there are a number of progressive pathways to take which can help further their knowledge on livestock

and management of people. These can be accessed here.

AHDB Skills Development Manager Amie Burke said: “We‘re delighted that after an intense period of industry-wide collaboration, we’ve been able to get these two new standards over the line. We listened to the feedback from employers who said they needed a wider skillset among their new recruits and that is exactly how we have shaped these two new apprenticeships.

“Taken in conjunction with the three previously developed standards, this apprenticeship offers so much scope for development and covers a range of skills – all of which are essential as we look to the future of farming. ”We are also looking to set standards for the next stage of their career with a level four apprenticeship. For this, we need further input from industry employers to ensure that we continue to provide the right standards to meet the needs of farming industry.”

The General Farm worker will work alongside their supervisor and support daily operations, including identifying and maintaining animal or plant health performance, as well as conducting routine tasks and assisting with general record keeping practices.

Apprentices that progress to a level three qualification will be in a position to manage tasks on farm, applying the skills they’ve learnt such as monitoring animal health and welfare from conception and birth through to the customer and to support business productivity.

Defra will assume responsibility for designing, implementing and managing its own domestic agricultural policies and schemes. And is now starting its 7year transition towards a system that pays farmers to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.

Platforms that are clunky and rigid, and not realistically up to the job of delivering what government and society wants.

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Essentially, they are moving away from decades-old practices of funding based on land size, to instead reward farmers for work that only they can do – whether that's ensuring the survival of threatened species or locking up carbon on their land. Work that benefits everyone in society.

This move will have to be both driven by long-term policy, and reactionary to need. Yet, the UK grant management function is underpinned by platforms and processes formed in the 1950s. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Innovate around proven solutions If government needs to underpin a reimagined grants management function with a new platform to ensure it meets its ambitions, how should it do that? It could, in the established way, start from scratch and build something that might work. Yet we know projects often fail to deliver on time, exceed the budget, and do not provide the value promised. The alternative is to look at what others are doing. As we said before, the grant management function remains relatively the same from government to government, as do the challenges and aspirations to streamline processes and improve transparency.

The individual will be able to make key decisions on a day-to-day basis, ensuring the standards of cross compliance, farm assurance, biosecurity and infrastructure security are met.

The new

apprenticeships have been welcomed by the Development Board of The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). TIAH will launch later this year as the home of professional development and training for the agriculture and horticulture industry in England.

David Fursdon, Chair of the TIAH Development Board said: “Equipping people working in farming and growing with a more extensive skillset, and promoting our exciting industry to newcomers, is at the heart of TIAH’s ethos.

“We therefore very much welcome the launch of these two fantastic new apprenticeships and we will certainly be shouting about them as part of our work to promote the opportunities available from existing training providers and the range of excellent career opportunities that are available in farming and horticulture.”

Employers can get involved with the scheme by visiting https:// ahdb.org.uk/trailblazerapprenticeships. *Apprenticeships are approved subject to funding

With this in mind, wouldn't it be better to adopt proven solutions that create agile, future-proof systems, based on open components that ensures full flexibility and the opportunity for ongoing innovation? Take this approach and government can spend 20 per cent of the effort getting 80 per cent of the way to the digital national scale grants solution they need. Why should Defra and the like build their own when suppliers have already delivered these proven solutions to other governments?

With little effort government can create a cutting-edge grant management system, own it and be responsible for it, leaving more space to innovate around the edges creating the impetus, through data-led funding and subsidies strategies, to create behaviour changes that will benefit society.

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NEW HayBoss 7 Series Application Equipment for 2021 Season ayBoss is launching the new 7 Series bale management systems for all types of large square baler. The 7 Series builds on the precision and functionality of the previous 600 Series while reducing the overall capital cost of a system.

The 7 Series has three key components.

The components are plug and go systems so are easily upgraded to meet the demands of the progressive baler operator.

The H2O precision moisture sensor and is the building block for additional 7 Series modules. Accurate measurement of moisture is key to understanding further improvements in the management of your baling operation. The H2O moisture sensor with its twenty-four

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types or density. The twin star wheels measure by pulsing an electrical signal through the entire bale flake profile. The HayBoss team is often asked ‘why we would pay more for your moisture sensor’, the simple answer is accuracy and reliability with ease of use whether it is integrated to the baler or as a smart device standalone system. Why should a baler operator accept data that is less accurate from a rub pad or moisture probe? With the twin star wheel system, the operator can have full confidence in the data produced.

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

years of infield experience is built for the latest generation of high density large square balers.

The technology used to read moisture is market leading +/- 1% accuracy with zero calibration requirements in different crop 8|

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The third component is the automatic variable rate applicator which is suitable for all large square balers. The new 7 Series is approximately a 20% saving in capital cost. HayBoss uses the balers onboard sensors such as the electronic bale length and weigh scale to monitors the balers performance, adjusting Baler’s

Choice application in real time.

Baler’s Choice pH6.0 animal safe buffered acid. This is an integral part to assist in the baling of high moisture hay and straw when the weather is fighting you all the way to the barn. We have all

heard stories of straw baled too wet and turns out like cardboard or hay baled to wet and the usual comments of ‘leave it in the field for a few weeks to sweat’ or at worst self-combust. Once you exceed 16% moisture just as with grain there is varying degrees of spoilage unless using our high quality bale preservative.

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

Improving your understanding of moisture in crops and being able to manage high moisture bales with the wet bale marker or utilising the ultimate bale management applicator system. Baler’s Choice and HayBoss is available form your local Massey Ferguson dealer.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Prescison moisturesensors Bale management solutions Manual & Automatic applicators

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Competitive PI cover extended to agricultural advisory services and farmers association operators Pioneering specialist PI broker Trafalgar Risk Management (TRM) has announced the extension of its comprehensive and highly competitive professional indemnity (PI) insurance protection to cover agricultural advisory services and farmers association operators against claims of negligence or breach of duty made by a client.

Launched in 1995 by managing director and former underwriter Kelvin Wheat, TRM was soon recognised as a pioneer in the PI market, notably in the simplification of both cost and administration of this type of insurance. ollowing news that a leading London broker has extended its professional indemnity (PI) cover to agricultural advisory services and farming association operators, we look at the perils that may confront such agricultural practitioners, and help them evaluate whether to consider taking out PI insurance.

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Risks to farming professionals today are greater than ever. Despite developments in health and safety measures of recent years, perils confronting farms and farming advisory services remain high, and the associated risks are often overlooked. In today’s increasingly litigious commercial environment, it is more important than ever to ensure you have the right kind of protection.

To ensure you are covered in the event of death or injury of a visitor to your farm, for example, you need public liability (PL) insurance.

However, the role of professional adviser leaves the likes of both agricultural advisory services and farmers association operators exposed to potential claims for clients’ financial loss that allegedly arises from following their advice.

The type of insurance required in such cases that may lead to claims of professional negligence is PI insurance.

In many professions, PI cover is a legal requirement, but not so in agriculture. However, it does provide cover against risks that agricultural practitioners can and do face. A PI policy would cover legal costs and any amount paid out in the event a client successfully accused an agricultural advisory service of 10 |

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professional negligence, for instance by miscalculating how much fertiliser to buy, or suggesting crop yields would be significantly higher than they turned out to be, resulting in a financial loss.

PI is a specialised form of cover, but it is one that agricultural professionals should not overlook.

The fundamental legal principle is that anybody who provides professional advice, support or guidance in return for some kind of reimbursement can be held liable if a client can demonstrate that they relied on that advice, and that by doing they suffered a financial loss as a result. Essentially anyone giving the advice or guidance or advice in a professional capacity in return for some form of remuneration may be exposed to such a liability.

The advice concerned might be in the form of a phone call or email, a sample contract or an answer to a specific query, or even a membership booklet in the case of farmers association operators.

Notably, the vast majority of PI polices specifically exclude liability for death or personal injury – the kind of loss most often associated with a perilous farm environment. Nor will they cover liability in respect of claims for occurrences that may be insured by another policy such as public liability as mentioned above, or one required by law such as employers’ liability, and they do so specifically because these risks are more properly insured elsewhere.

According to former chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers Association Mike Williams, who for many years provided PI cover to a

wide range of clients, professional indemnity insurance can be a minefield, and it is important that you consult a specialist broker if you are looking for advice and guidance relating to the particular professional risks you may face as well as the type of cover you should buy.

For example, he says: “If an agricultural advisory service were advising a farmer to use as a particular rotational policy, or to source their seed from a specific location, or to use a certain fertilizer at a specified time of year, this should not cause any concerns about the risks of death or injury arising from this advice. There could be a toxic element in a fertilizer that could cause such injury or death, but this would be the manufacturer’s problem rather the adviser’s. However, if the client’s projected income were to take a hit as a direct result of following that advice, they may sue for damages.”

Farming association operators face many forms of potential liability arising from the services they provide, against which PI insurance will offer protection. For example, if a contractor employed by your farm to sow a grain crop were to make an error in setting the seed depth, resulting in a substantially reduced crop yield, the corresponding claim, which may run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, would be covered under a PI policy.

What are the risks of a farming association operator acting in such a way in a professional capacity that may give rise to a financial loss for the client, culminating in a PI claim?

This will depend on the membership benefits available through to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News members, says Williams. “They may provide standard forms of contract wording which the member might use. If you are selling either produce or livestock there will almost certainly be associated terms and conditions.”

shows no sign of slowing down, and it follows that an agricultural advisory consultant may, for example, recommend that a farmer should invest in arable rather than livestock farming.

However, using the example above, if following the advice given culminated in the product not being up to scratch, there could be a financial loss; for instance, if the livestock or produce were of sub-standard quality, he says. If the claimant could prove that this loss arose directly because they followed this advice, they could sue you the association operators for professional negligence.

However, if for some reason there were a fall in local demand for vegan food, perhaps offset by a growth in demand for meat that a farmer is unable to meet owing to their investment in cereal crops, it may be alleged that the subsequent financial loss resulted from professional negligence on the part of the advisor.

The advice in question might be about when to plant, varieties to grow, breeds of cattle or sheep to buy, advice on procedures to follow to enhance yields, or guidance on winter harvest that turns out to be wide of the mark. The claimant may argue, ‘Excuse me, you told me if I did this then yields would grow, they haven’t, I have lost a fortune and I am suing you’.

Fashions or trends A sector that is responsive to consumer demands, farming is to a large extent driven by social tastes and trends. The factors that may result in a PI claim include advice concerning fashion, taste or trends, such as the popularity of vegan crops. The UK market for meat-free foods is said to have risen in the last three years by more than one third, according to market researchers Mintel, to £638m this year, up from £539m only three years ago. Interest in vegetarian and vegan products

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

This is where PI cover kicks in. As with many risks against which insurance is bought, the scenario is unlikely but the risks are real.

While an insurance broker advising a farming association operation concerning its risk exposures will point out that the overwhelming majority of PI insurance policies will contain a requirement that you include in your own terms and conditions the stipulation that you do not accept liability and cannot be responsible if you express an opinion on trends or fashions that turn out to be wide of the mark and result in a financial loss. The terms and conditions should state that you can simply give an opinion in this regard, for example predicting that “everyone is going to be vegan in five years’ time so stop selling cattle and start growing turnips”. In other words, you can’t be held liable if your crystal ball turns out to be cloudy.

lead to a financial loss, but this should go hand in hand with having your own contracts reviewed by an expert to make sure there are caveats and exclusions offering a degree of protection. This might also lower the cost of the PI cover by reducing your risk exposure.

But you can never eliminate risk entirely, which is why people need insurance against the residual risk out of which you cannot contract and should insure in order to have the fullest possible protection. This is where PI cover kicks in. As with many risks against which insurance is bought, the scenario is unlikely, but the risks are real.

Every PI policy uses a multitude of technical terms to say the same thing.

For instance, they are variously called professional liability, professional indemnity, professional negligence or professional protection. However, they all have in common a promise to indemnify you against the cost of defending claims and any award that may be made against you arising out of an allegation of professional negligence which results in a financial loss.

Bill Lumley is head of marketing for specialist professional indemnity insurance broker Trafalgar Risk Management, which now provides PI cover to agricultural advisory services and farmers association operators.

The cover is available with premium funding from www.trafalgarinsurance.co.uk.

Contact tradmin@trafalgar.uk.com or phone 0333 8 000 000.

They should also make clear that following advice in this regard could

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Meet the next generation supporting sustainable farming mproving sustainability in the agriculture sector has become a goal for many farmers. It’s also an ambition backed by the Government who announced last November that they will pay farmers to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions. To do this successfully, new technologies and systems must be created to ensure sustainable choices are easily accessible, inexpensive, and hopefully improve the efficiency of structures already in place.

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Four of this year’s Young Innovator Award winners, announced by Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust, have ideas that promise to have a big impact on the world of agriculture. The awards recognise young people from across the UK with great business ideas who have the potential to become future leaders in innovation and successful entrepreneurs. The inspiring young people will each benefit from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.

This year many of the winning projects touched on sustainability, with four of the winners developing businesses to reduce the environmental impact of the agriculture sector.

Saving the world with seaweed Growing up in rural Wales, Young Innovator Award winner Alex Newnes has always felt close to agriculture. Seeing the huge amounts of plastic in his local area spurred on his passion to protect the environment. As he researched more about the issue, Alex discovered millions of tonnes of agricultural plastics are wasted every year. Often considered contaminated after use, even recyclable plastics are sent to landfill.

This led to the development of Alex’s first product, a biodegradable mulch film derived from natural and sustainable raw materials. His 12 |

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business, PlantSea is a biotechnology start up developing sustainable plastic alternatives derived from seaweed. Their current project is focusing on developing a biodegradable, non-toxic film to replace petroleum based plastic films used for mulching by growers and the agricultural sector.

Alex says, "I've always been passionate about trying to do something positive for the environment. I want to help protect the countryside and this seemed the perfect opportunity for me to try to make a difference. This could drastically reduce the plastic consumption of agriculture and reduce waste production. For us to really make a difference and be helpful, we need to know what people want and what they need.

Once we understand this, we can tailor our product to meet this need."

PlantSea aim to offer an affordable and environmentally friendly solution to conventional, environmentally damaging plastics.

Not only is this solution eco-friendly, low carbon and reduces waste, but will save the user valuable time as it dissolves and returns to the earth after use.

Alex, is keen to contact growers, farmers and people in the agricultural sector who use plastic covers and mulches, in order to discuss its ideas. If you’re interested in speaking with Alex, please reach out him on: info@plantsea.co.uk Using wood waste to store carbon Lottie Hawkins, cofounder of Earthly Biochar, is on a mission to develop and optimise one of the best tools in the fight against climate change: Biochar. 5–10 million tonnes of wood waste is generated in the UK each year. Most of that is burnt for energy, made into particle board or used in landscaping where the carbon dioxide the tree pulled from the air is returned to repeat the cycle. Instead, Earthly Biochar turns this wood waste into biochar, which means 50% of the carbon is safely stored for 100s of years, and the

other 50% is used to generate energy.

Biochar is a natural soil amendment to help farms become more drought tolerant and sustainable, and it doubles up as a form of carbon sequestration and storage. A few grams of biochar has the surface area of a football pitch. When biochar is applied to soil, it improves three main properties: aeration, water retention, nutrient retention.

These benefits compound together to increase microbial activity, organic matter and plant health.

Lottie explains, “From a young age I have always been interested in farming, growing up in a rural area, and I am passionate about caring for our environment. This has led me to embark on a PhD, looking at biochar’s role in UK agriculture. We started Earthly Biochar in 2018 because we wanted to help farms and landowners adapt to climate change, and also support the global effort of reducing carbon emissions.

We are thrilled to have won the Young Innovators of the Year award. With the award, we will be able to develop our business model and enter new markets. Our big goal for the end of 2021 is to set up the UK’s first production site, capable of making 500 tonnes of biochar per year at a cost farmers can afford.”

Tackling unsustainable salmon farming Young entrepreneur Reiss Jones wants to disrupt the way farmed animals are fed, to produce a more sustainable and environmentally friendly system.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 52% of the fish we eat are farmed, and farmed fish, like many animals, require omega-3 to thrive and be nutritious. They are fed fish oil made from wild caught fish to provide this omega-3. It takes on average 816 wild fish to provide enough omega-3 for just one farmed salmon over its lifetime, and there’s often more salmon in just one fish farm than there are wild salmon in the entire www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News ocean. This destroys wild fish stocks, making it an unviable long term source of omega-3, and it pushes up prices.

To solve this, Synthesea is developing a biological platform technology which converts plant oils into sustainable omega-3 for the aquaculture market that’s up to 80% cheaper than fish oil.

Reiss Jones commented: “What we’re developing is a platform technology.

This means we can develop a range of different fats and oils for a wide variety of markets, including the livestock market. For example, the omega-3 we’re currently developing for aquaculture could also be mixed into livestock feed to provide a higher concentration of omega-3 in meat. In fact, it could be mixed with other sustainable components, such as insect protein, to create a novel sustainable feed.”

Monitoring bees to improve crop yield

Finally, Casey Woodward, a scientist and long-term supporter of the UK agri-tech sector was inspired to found AgriSound after observing monitoring devices used to support livestock production. The company launched last year to bring remote monitoring technologies to pollinator management. Initially focusing on tools to support beehive health and productivity, the company has expanded recently into automated wild pollinator management to support farmers, land owners and environmental enthusiasts to better understand and track pollinator activity within the local environment.

Casey hopes the technology will support the production of insectdependent crop pollination (leading to higher yields) and help evaluate natural capital to support land management schemes. He explains, “I saw how transformative low-cost sensors could be in supporting

farmers and growers to rear livestock to help make better decisions on farm.

Given all of the public debate around the loss of bees, I thought it would be useful to see whether we could repurpose these technologies to protect pollinators and our natural environment” AgriSound already sells a range of affordable beehive monitoring products and intends to bring the new wild pollinator counting device to market in late 2021. Longer-term, the company is aiming to enhance its product range with new insect-specific devices and collaborate with farmers internationally to optimise the technology to support pollination services in resource-poor areas including Africa and Asia.

If you think you’ve got the next big idea to support sustainable farming, check out how Innovate UK could support you here: https://ktn-uk.org/ programme/young-innovators/

Magic beans rowing peas and beans and precision farming are among the most effective measures in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farms, new research has found.

Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) assessed various farm technologies and practices which can reduce GHG emissions as part of the Scottish Government’s plans to meet a net-zero target by 2045.

The researchers found that while increased grain legume cultivation is the most effective measure, providing on average 553 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per hectare savings annually, it is also the most expensive option with a net average cost of £406 per hectare per year.

Precision farming, using variable rate nitrogen and lime application, or liming in itself, can provide more than 100kg CO2e emission savings annually per hectare.

Intercropping provides the highest cost saving of £45 per hectare

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annually, while other practices such as using crop varieties with higher nitrogen use efficiency and soil pH management can also improve farm finances.

Cattle mitigation practices – including using specific feed additives, breeding for low methane

emissions and using impermeable covers over slurry stores - can save between 57 and 854kg CO2e and £31 to £359 every year per animal.

The figures provided are average estimates, with mitigation and the net costs varying on an individual

farm basis, and researchers did not look at options such as afforestation or agro-forestry.

However, Climate Change Researcher Vera Eory said the research offered key options for farmers interested in reducing their GHG impact.

Vera, who carried out the research with SRUC colleagues Kairsty Topp, Bob Rees, Illka Leinonen, Juliette Maire, Michael MacLeod, Alasdair Sykes and Eileen Wall, said: “Farmers are increasingly interested in opportunities to reduce their GHG impact and this research highlights some key options they could implement either now or in the near future.”

The Marginal abatement cost curve for Scottish agriculture report was commissioned by the Scottish Government and published by ClimateXChange, which provides independent advice, research and analysis about how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The research also utilised scientific information synthesised by SRUC in earlier projects funded by Defra and the Climate Change Committee.

For more information, visit: climatexchange.org.uk

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| News

Budget opens prime opportunities to invest, says Old Mill A gricultural businesses have a prime opportunity to invest in the coming two years under new super deduction and loss relief schemes announced in the

According to Catherine Vickery, associate director at Old Mill agricultural accountants, limited companies are being provided with a great chance to invest heavily now and grow, ahead of changes to corporation tax.

“From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2023, limited companies investing in new kit – be it a new piece of machinery or a parlour will be able claim 130% superdeduction capital allowance.”

On integral features, like plumbing and electrical installations in agricultural buildings, farmers will still be able to claim up to £1 million under the Annual Investment Allowance each year at 100%.

“But under the new superdeduction, everything over and above that is now also eligible for a 50% first-year allowance for these special rate assets – up from 8%.

“What’s really eye-opening is that there is no cap to the qualifying spend; the Government wants to get the economy moving again, and is encouraging businesses to be Farming Monthly |

“Do be wary that this only applies on new contracts – any that have been signed before 3 March 2021 or monies spent before 1 April are not eligible for the allowance.”

Alongside the super-deduction, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has introduced new temporary loss relief rules. “These are going to apply to sole traders, partnerships and companies,” explains Ms Vickery. “Ordinarily businesses could backdate losses by one year to reclaim tax, however this has been extended to three years.

Spring Budget.

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part of this,” she explains. This could cut company tax bills by as much as 25p per £1 spent.

March 2021

“This means anyone who has suffered significant losses or who will be investing heavily using the super deduction – and therefore making a loss – can now carry this back three years to reclaim tax paid in that time,” she says. It applies to losses of up to £2 million per year in the years ended 5 April 2021 and 5 April 2022.

“One thing to bear in mind is that HMRC can’t process any claims or make any repayments until the new rules have royal assent – which is likely to be June or July – so there’s no rush to put in claims,” advises Ms Vickery.

In less positive news for farmers, changes to corporation tax rates were also announced in the Budget. Currently, limited companies are subject to corporation tax at 19% but from 1 April 2023 this is going up to 25%,” says Ms Vickery. “This is a significant change that some companies will find off-putting, but those with small profits of under £50,000 will remain on the 19% rate.”

The rate on profits of £50,000£250,000 will be 25% but businesses will be able to claim marginal relief.

Businesses which have diversified into hospitality and tourism will welcome the continuation of the 5% VAT rate until September, says Ms Vickery. “Then from October to April 2022 this will continue at a rate of 12.5% to help stimulate the tourism trade.”

Landowners will also welcome an extension of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday until 1 July 2021, reducing the rush the complete before the end of March. This means no SDLT needs to be paid on residential properties under £500,000 and non-residential land and properties under £150,000.

For those businesses that have staff furloughed, the scheme has been extended until the end of September, but from July businesses will be expected to contribute 10% of their employees’ wages and 20% from August.

“Self-employed support has also been extended to help those who couldn’t get support before (for example, the newly selfemployed), but they must have submitted their latest 2019/20 tax return to put in a request for payment,” she explains.

“This past year will have seen a lot of people being financially cautious, but the announcements in the Budget are encouraging those who can go out and spend,” says Ms Vickery. “The ability to be able to convert losses into cash going back three years hopefully means a lot of businesses can get a significant cash injection they may desperately need.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

ilhill, the UK's leading forestry management, timber harvesting and landscaping company, has announced their support for tree improvement charity Future Trees Trust.

As the UK market leader in forest and woodland management, it makes perfect sense for Tilhill to be supporting the work of the UK’s only tree improvement charity.

Future Trees Trust is dedicated to improving broadleaved trees to increase their timber yield and resilience and Tilhill will be supporting their work across a

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number of hardwood species.

There is much synergy between the two organisations. A sustainable source of home-grown hardwoods is essential to Tilhill’s business and supporting those who share this objective is an important part of the company’s investment into the future of UK forestry.

Future Trees Trust’s work will help ensure such a sustainable supply.

Tim Liddon, Forestry Director at Tilhill says: “The work of the Future Trees Trust is vital for the future of our woodlands where trees need to be resilient to the impacts of

climate change such as pests and diseases. Tilhill is therefore pleased to be able to offer our support to such important work.”

Tim Rowland Chief Executive Officer at Future Trees Trust says: “We’re delighted to be working with Tilhill. As the market leaders in UK forestry and timber harvesting, we’re honoured to count Tilhill as a key supporter of our work. Their enthusiasm for what we’re trying to achieve makes working together mutually beneficial.”

Wynnstay announces complementary, bolt-on acquisitions Expansion into eastern side of the UK ynnstay, the agricultural supplies group, is pleased to announce that it has completed the purchase of two complementary bolt-on acquisitions that strategically expand the Group’s presence in the eastern side of the UK, where it is less established.

The acquisitions comprise the Agricultural division of the Armstrong Richardson Group (“AR Group”), the family-owned business that has been serving the rural and agricultural communities in the North East of England since 1925, and the fertiliser manufacturing business and assets (“HGBF”) of HELM Great Britain Limited, part of HELM Group, the German multinational chemicals company.

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The Agricultural division of AR Group supplies a wide range of agricultural inputs for arable and livestock farmers, in particular seed, fertiliser and feed, together with grain trading services. It also owns the Yorkshire Green grass seed brand, known for its speciality seeds. The division’s managerial staff, except the family director, will transfer to Wynnstay. The acquisition opens up a new trading area and farming customers for Wynnstay, in line with strategic growth plans.

HGBF is based at the inland Port of Howden, on the River Ouse, near Goole, and produces and wholesales blended fertiliser. Its acquisition increases Wynnstay’s blended fertiliser manufacturing capacity and extends the Group’s

geographic reach in the South Yorkshire region. The HGBF team will benefit from strong synergies with the Group’s existing fertiliser blending and trading activities at Glasson.

Gareth Davies, Chief Executive Officer of Wynnstay Group plc, commented: “These are highly complementary acquisitions, which expand our presence on the eastern side of the country, and add modern blendedfertiliser production facilities. They bring new customers to the Group and staff with significant experience and local knowledge. We are delighted to welcome them to Wynnstay, and look forward to working with them to develop the opportunities ahead.”

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| News

Arrowquip and P&D Engineering partner to bring innovative cattle handling equipment and squeeze crushes to farmers in the United Kingdom &D ENGINEERING HISTORY P&D Engineering is a family owned company which was originally founded in 1976. They service and sell a variety of agricultural machinery including tractors, Merlo telehandlers, utility vehicles, and livestock handling equipment from their location on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border. Their fully trained staff provide customers with the best experience possible through their purchasing journey, and skilled engineers who continue to provide support long after their purchase has been made.

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

ARROWQUIP HISTORY Philip Firth created his first cattle crush in 1988 because he needed a better way to manage the cattle on his family farm in Tamworth, Australia. The cattle crush that he made was quickly recognized by local veterinarians as a safer way to complete processing tasks, and that is how the Arrowquip story began. Now, over 30 years later, Arrowquip has expanded to serve cattle producers around the globe with the mission: “To influence the livestock handling industry globally through the practical application of animal science and welfare standards, and increase producer safety and profitability with innovative equipment”.

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

Just a few short years after entering the market, Arrowquip has quickly become

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the most sought-after cattle equipment manufacturer in the United Kingdom thanks to their industry-leading innovation and unmatched 7-Year No Bull Warranty.

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

The Q-Catch 87 Series squeeze crush is also available in a hydraulic model that features a unique pivoting control

arm, enhanced fast-touch hydraulic controls, and truly silent operation. The QPower 107 Series is designed for maximum cattle control, while providing a safe and effective space for producers to manage their cattle.

The 700 Series cattle crushes are available in manual, hydraulic, stationary, and portable models with a variety of accessories and add-ons.

To see the full lineup of Arrowquip cattle handling equipment, visit arrowquip.co.uk/cattleequipment or contact P&D Engineering.

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

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| On Topic

The Island of Sark opens its first community dairy farm ark is the smallest – the jewel of the Channel Islands. Famous for its unspoilt beauty and for having no cars and for being the world's first Dark Skies Island. But the island paradise of wildflowers and honey bees is

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lacking its own daily milk.

• Sark Dairy Trust has been set up with a mission to secure dairy production on Sark which they feel is central to the island's future. The provision of a sustainable modern facility is crucial to the island's economic future and its proud spirit of independence. The scale of the start-up is small – 16 milkers, acres, two farmers, around 500 residents – but the scope for the future is huge: for every resident Sark has 100 visitors.

processing and hospitality.

Tenant farmers with skills that include veterinary and cheesemaking, can offer Sark's young people opportunities and skills in animal husbandry and artisan food production.

The Dairy will benefit Sark and its residents in many ways.

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Daily milking means top-quality cream, butter and cheese for homes, hotels restaurants, tea gardens.

Local produce avoids importing, reduces transport miles, cuts pollution and plastic waste, and lowers our carbon footprint.

Traditional grazing helps keep historic pastures and field banks rich with grasses and wildflowers.

A new dairy business stimulates new jobs in agriculture, food • A modern farm that welcomes visitors will be a major attraction for Sark's holiday makes and will form valuable learning centre.

For the Dairy to be a success, the people of Sark have secure land for pasture and to grow feed crops. Engaged expert dairy farmers with the best Guernsey cows

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| On Topic feed crops for the herd, with more in the pipeline.

– and are now building shelter and milking structures alongside up-todate processing facilities.

• Beautiful cows We have land enough for a starter herd of sixteen Guernseys of course, pride of the bailiwick. With rich grass pastures and dedicated welfare, the cows will enjoy unstressed and long lives.

Calves not needed for the dairy will be reared in Sark's grass-fed beef herd. By working together, everyone will benefit.

• The farmers Of 80 applicants worldwide, Jason and Katharine Salisbury stood out. With 20 years' experience of Channel Island

dairy cows in Suffolk, they harboured the dream of a small artisanal farm in Sark. They had visited the island with their young family and knew many of Guernsey's dairy farmers. Their enthusiasm for small-scale dairy farming will engage visitors and inspire young ones about the future.

In spite of the difficulties thrown up by the pandemic, the project is on course.

Their resident engineer and local crew of builders have responded magnificently to delays in shipping, lockdowns on team work, and the wettest winter in memory. The Salisburys' hand-picked Guernseys are due to calve in Sark from the end of May, so there can be daily milk and cream for most of the visitor season.

This month they are going live with a crowdfunder to help take the project over the finishing line. Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sark-dairy to support us.

With groundwork underway and the frame and roof of the host building in place, they are driving forward with a plan to open this summer.

• Pastures new The Dairy has been given a central 'home site' and four fields on a 50-year lease.

Four publicspirited landowners have pledged 40 acres of land on peppercorn rents. Some fields are already growing www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Arable

CN Seeds proudly supporting new seed donation initiative to promote wellbeing lobal seed breeding company, CN Seeds, has announced that it is supporting a new seed donation organisation launching in the UK.

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The long-established family business is supplying surplus seeds to Cultivating Change; an initiative providing seeds to organisations such as retirement homes, businesses, schools and individuals that wish to benefit from the mental, physical and social wellbeing generated through gardening.

Dan Nye, managing director of CN Seeds, explained: “We regularly have surplus seed that we wanted to distribute in a sustainable way, in reflection of our business values, and were looking for a long-term and appropriate opportunity with which to genuinely make a difference.

“Cultivating Change is a fabulous support scheme; connecting people with gardening to benefit from sowing, growing, reaping and eating their own crops, especially beneficial at this testing time for us all.

“The fit was perfect because we have a culture of innovation throughout the company and Cultivating Change is a

truly innovative scheme. Our business strapline is ‘growing together’ and this activity is the physical embodiment of that ethos to benefit those that need some support. It is also the first time a seed company has supported a consumer facing initiative in such a direct way”. Seed will be packaged and distributed from the site in Cambridgeshire to organisations that apply to take part from across the UK via the scheme’s online application at www.cultivatingchange.co.uk. CN Seeds is a pioneering seed development company that specialises in herbs, baby leaf salads, oriental vegetables and microgreens and ships to horticulture growing partners across the world, with 65% of production being export sales. The company is proud of its strong relationships with all its partners, and the link up with Cultivating Change demonstrates its long-term commitment to the horticultural industry and supporting the benefits of growing together for health and happiness.

New DSV Duplo oilseed rape Combines classleading Vigour with three-way yield protection SV’s new Duplo oilseed rape has the highest vigour rating of all the company’s new triple layered varieties combining exceptional yields with a feature set designed to protect gross outputs against the challenges of modern-day production, says the company’s Sarah Hawthorne.

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Added to the AHDB Candidate List for 2021, DSV Duplo features an oil content of 46.8% and a yield of 109% for the East and West region plus RLM7+ multi-gene phoma stem canker resistance, turnip yellow virus (TUYV) resistance and pod shatter resistance, she says.

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less intensive and more environmentally-friendly production methods, DSV Duplo is a strong, high yielding variety suitable for all areas of the UK. “It’s the perfect variety for modern production with real ‘get up and go’ in both the autumn and spring for the strongest competition against weed and pest threats, allied to an unbeatable agronomic package and yield potential.

“It’s proved itself to be a very robust variety in all conditions across Europe and is a first choice for growers in less than ideal growing circumstances.

“As well as its high yield and oil content, DSV Duplo’s other stand out figures include a 9 for stem canker resistance and 8s for lodging

resistance and stem stiffness.”

DSV Duplo has also performed exceptionally well in DSV’s new non-inversion tillage trials, Sarah Hawthorne adds.

“These trials, which also include notill, aim to identify varieties that produce strong establishment, exceptional performance and consistent gross output delivery in reduced cultivation systems and Duplo has more than proved itself in these.

“The variety has also been bred for maximum N-efficiency delivering the highest possible response to Nitrogen fertilisers so every kg N applied works as hard as possible to produce yield with minimum waste.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Arable

LAND FORMING FIRM IN A FIELD OF THEIR OWN

n entrepreneurial agricultural contracting business has enjoyed a 30% increase in turnover after introducing an innovative land forming service.

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AMS Contracting in Chichester, West Sussex, is currently the only contractor in the UK using the Mastenbroeksupplied Trimble® FieldLevel IITM system to generate cut and fill maps for farmland.

Established by Ashley and Myles Strange in 2011, AMS Contracting began life as a specialist big bale contractor, but significant competition and low margins forced the brothers to look at new opportunities.

Fate works in mysterious ways they say, and at the time of considering their future, a local farmer approached them and asked if they could reinstate a field that was prone to ponding. The field on the Chichester Plain, which had previously been used to grow potatoes, also suffered from rutted headlands.

Ashley and Myles decided to take the job on and started to look into how they could best level the land and remove the ponding.

"The condition of the field wasn't the best," says Myles. "It had been subjected to torrential rain and made harvesting a real issue. In fact, half of the crop had perished in the ground, and it was too wet to lift. It was so bad that even some of the headlands were suffering from ponding. We wanted to 22 |

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do the job but didn't quite know how to go about it. So, we started to have a look around at what other people were doing."

The brothers' research took them online, and by chance, they came across several American and European videos showing scrapers being used to form agricultural fields.

"What we found was the exact technique that we wanted to employ," says Myles. "The only problem we faced was sourcing the GPS software that the contractors in the videos were using.

However, it is a relatively niche area, and it didn't take us long to find Mastenbroek's website."

Headquartered in Boston, Lincolnshire, Mastenbroek has been designing and manufacturing self-propelled drainage trenchers since 1977. Since then the company has grown into a globally respected name in trenching, ground stabilisation and groundwater control.

In 2010 after working in partnership with Trimble®, the two companies introduced a new GPS system, which was far more accurate than laser-based systems.

Based on Trimble's Field Level II technology, Mastenbroek's GPS system boasts several benefits over laserbased technology: much quicker field surveying times; reduced drainage installation costs through more accurate movement of top soil for cut and fill; no need for regular calibration; and issues arising from dust, rain, fog, snow, wind or other related weather conditions are eradicated.

Myles' enquiry was directed to Fred Clarke, Technical Sales Engineer at Mastenbroek. "Myles called us in early 2017, and the Trimble® system sounded like the perfect solution to what AMS was aiming to achieve. We sent an engineer out to meet them and look over their set-up. It was a straightforward process to get them up and running, and by June 2017 they were good to go."

Mastenbroek supplied and fitted the Trimble® control system to AMS' tractor and scraper. Drivers received thorough training on surveying fields on a quad bike and machine control for scraper.

Initially, Mastenbroek supplied the Trimble® FieldLevel II system with a TMX-2050TM Display System. The easy-to-use TMX-2050TM display features a large high-definition touch screen with sharp visuals and a choice of FmX® Plus or Precision-IQTM display applications to suit specific farm practices.

The TMX-2050TM display was supplemented with the Trimble® WM Sub Surface drainage software in 2019, allowing AMS to also plan their agricultural drainage projects and control their trencher.

"The Trimble® system is incredibly intuitive and features an excellent user interface, so training the guys was straightforward, and the operators soon became familiar with the functionality," says Fred.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable With the Trimble® system producing a topographic map is a straightforward process. All the operator has to do is drive around the boundary and the interior of the area. The data received is used by the onboard design screen to calculate the cut and fill map and provide the volumes of soil to be moved depending on the design parameters the operator sets.

Once a suitable design is made, the display automatically controls the scraper to the correct elevations. A live display shows where the material has to be cut and placed, ensuring the correct amount of material is moved only once during the job, which increases efficiencies and reduces the overall cost.

With everything installed, surveying the redundant potato field took less than an hour and armed with a survey AMS Contracting was able to use its scraper to trim excess soil and deposit it in areas that needed to be formed.

"We did look at bringing excavators onto the field, but that was going to be a very expensive option," says Myles. "It would also be a very inaccurate way of achieving a level field; in fact, it probably wouldn't work. With the Mastenbroek and Trimble® system we are just removing the top 25mm of the soil, it's

hardly anything, but when you have a large field, it soon mounts up. There is no way we could be so accurate using a bulldozer."

AMS's client was delighted with the results and went onto to plant wheat in the field. The crop performed exceptionally well. Levelling the land also had a positive effect on a previous blackgrass problem.

"Our client said that at one point you couldn't see the crop for the blackgrass.

After the land was levelled, it practically disappeared.

"The farmer was delighted with the results, and we were talking to him about introducing a new drainage plan to the field based on the information gleaned from the survey. Sadly, he passed away before we could do the job for him."

The success of this first project did lead to other jobs for AMS Contracting, and today, nearly a third of the company's turnover comes from land forming projects across the South East. It hasn't been all plain sailing though.

"Land levelling is quite a difficult sell," says Myles. "I don't know why, but the technique is not as common in the UK as it is in the United States or Europe.

"We've been very lucky so far, and lots of farmers have put their trust in us, and word of mouth from delighted clients has undoubtedly helped.

"I don't think people are aware of the benefits of land levelling and it's important to remember that not all fields can be formed and not every area of a field has to be worked on. This is one of the many benefits that the Trimble® system brings to growers; they can clearly see the land's topography and where it needs to be altered to maximise yields.

"As well as arable farmers, we've also helped fresh fruit growers, creating fields that look like billiard tables! Land levelling can turn some of the least productive areas of land into the most productive."

And with turnover up 30% since introducing its land forming service it would appear the technique can increase productivity for agricultural contractors too.

For more information about the Trimble® FieldLevel II system and Mastenbroek visit www.mastenbroek.com and to find out more about AMS Contracting have a look at www.amscontracting.co.uk.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY TO CONTINUING POPULARITY OF SPRING BEAN VARIETY LYNX

pring bean Lynx is set to continue as the widestgrown variety drilled in 2021 - and for a good reason. It has been a mainstay of the PGRO List since 2016 with consistently high yields and excellent agronomic characters including the highest Downy mildew rating (8), equalled only by its sister variety Yukon.

"We expect Lynx to make up over half of the increased crop area drilled this

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spring," says Chris Guest, LSPB's Managing Director. "This popularity with growers is driven by its consistent year-on-year yield performance over control as evidenced by the PGRO 5 year List data.

"It looks Like Lynx is set to become a classic variety for UK pulse growers as longevity in the market is a feature of pulse varieties. One spring bean has stayed on the list since 2005, however, its yield of 97% of control compared to 106% for Lynx,

underlines the varietal yield development breeders have achieved since then."

Mr Guest added that the only other spring bean to equal the Downy mildew rating of (8) for Lynx is Yukon, which is targeted for growers in the north of England and Scotland, with the highest possible rating of (9) for earliness.

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| Potatoes & Root crops

BIOX- M destined for fresh and organic markets Biox-M is a well-established and highly effective treatment for the control of sprouting of potatoes in store, in widespread use in the UK and on the continent on crops destined for both fresh and processing markets. ith the withdrawal of CIPC for the 2020 harvest, many growers have been using BioxM for the first time this season; and for many rocessors this is the first season in which they will handle Biox-M treated crops at scale in the UK. Growers and store managers are gaining familiarity with the product and adopting best practice.

For many users, Biox-M is a relatively new product, which requires particular attention to detail in store management.

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Biox-M: •

Biox-M has been approved for use as a sprout suppressant in the UK since 2012 and has been used on a wide range of British potato varieties delivering excellent sprout control. For crops destined for fresh and organic markets, Biox-M is well understood and in general use; it is part of the normal toolbox. Many of the lessons from use in the fresh sector are being reinforced in processing stores treated this season: • • •

Store integrity is paramount. Biox-M is a volatile compound and should not be allowed to escape from store. Leaks should be sealed before treatment.

For optimum control of sprouting, the first treatment should be as eyes first ‘blink’; do NOT wait for sprouts to develop.

Air circulation during and following treatment must be sufficient to ensure an even distribution of Biox-M through the crop.

Stores should be kept closed for at least 48 hours following treatment. Closed means closed. There should be no ambient air exchange during the closed period.

Part-filled stores or stores with substantial headroom should be closed for more than 48 hours following treatment.

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is 100% naturally occurring spearmint oil, extracted from leaves of spearmint (mentha spicata) by steam distillation; suppresses sprouting in potatoes by causing local necrosis of the bud meri-stem with no visible damage to the skin of the tuber; is approved for use on organic potato crops, and can be used in multi-use stores; is widely used on crops grown for the fresh market, with longevity of control well in excess of normal commercial requirements; can be used on processing crops stored at up to 10oC, thus allowing store managers to address concerns about the development of acrylamide; has no harvest interval and no MRL; is applied to stores as a hot fog using approved technology; leaves no residue in buildings or boxes.

AHDB EVENTS NOW ONLINE Potatoes Sprout Control: Best practice for ethylene and mint oil

Potatoes: Let's Rhizoctonia

When: Tues, 9 March 2021 3:30 - 4:45pm

When: Wed, 17 March 2021 3:30 - 5:00pm

Controlling sprouting with ethylene and mint oil is requiring a more careful approach to store management.

Join Adrian Briddon and Adrian Cunnington from the Sutton Bridge team, with input from industry specialists Colin Davey and Graeme Skinner, to hear about putting the latest research into practice and how to get the best out of these sprout suppressants.

This webinar will cover: •

Optimising application rates and timings

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Store closure and CO2 levels

•

Improving airflow and other store environment measures

•

Making ethylene and mint oil work for long-term storage

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get

(Bio)-Physical

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This webinar will discuss management of soil borne pests and pathogens with the focus on Rhizoctonia. It will aim to cover off measures on how to deal with Rhizoctonia in the soil by looking at husbandry methods, climate effects such as water and soil temperature and also takes a look at choices in terms of potato variety.

This session will also include a discussion on rotational effects on pests and pathogens.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

BIOX-M

| Potatoes & Root crops

Exceptional sprout suppression in fresh and processing crops

Contact:

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Peter Hall peter@junopp.com 01622 821276 Nick Tapp nick@junopp.com 077 75785748 www.junopp.com March 2021 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Potatoes & Root crops

Tong introduces updates to its range of vegetable polishing equipment A

s part of the company’s ongoing development programme, Tong Engineering has unveiled several updates to its range of vegetable polishing equipment.

“As a supplier to the food industry we have been fortunate that demand for advanced and automated vegetable handling equipment has continued to strengthen,” explains Simon Lee, Sales Manager at Tong Engineering. “With this in mind, our product development team not only focus on designing and introducing new equipment to the market, but they are also committed to developing our existing machinery. Updating our vegetable polishers is the latest phase of this continuous development strategy.”

Originally introduced to the market in 2012, the TPS-Pro polisher features an electric direct-drive motor inside every brush shaft. The machine’s low-

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maintenance design uses the highest quality components, providing exceptional longevity, labour efficiency and superior polishing results.

The latest model of the TPS-Pro polisher has been carefully finetuned for 2021 resulting in a more refined design that maximises performance and makes maintenance even easier.

Manufactured in a 14 brush model featuring a 3m long x 800mm barrel, as well as an 18 brush model featuring a 3m long x 1050mm barrel, the TPS-Pro polisher is suitable for effective polishing of root crops including potatoes, carrot and parsnips, providing outputs of between 1530 tonnes per hour.

For lower throughputs of up to 10 tonnes per hour, Tong’s popular U-Brush polisher is a favourite amongst smaller packers who require a reliable, low-maintenance machine that provides a high-value polished

finish, but at a lower cost.

The U-Brush polisher has also been updated for 2021 to increase the machine’s capacity.

Besides being a very economical machine, one of the unique features of the U-Brush polisher is its internal bypass system which allows operators to effectively bypass the polisher in instances where the polishing process is not required.

“Our range of vegetable polishers accommodates the throughput requirements of both the largest vegetable processors and smaller fresh-pack companies and we are very much dedicated to providing the complete handling solution at all capacities,” added Simon.

For further information about Tong’s complete range of vegetable handling equipment please visit www.tongengineering.com.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes & Root crops

Martin Lishman Brings Quality Control To A 1000 Year Old Potato Store stimates by the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) indicate that potatoes are one of three root vegetables that make up more than 50% of the overall food waste in primary production. This worrying amount leads to staggering financial losses and the effects on growers and producers cannot be over-estimated.

Optimization of food production has become of significant importance in recent years.

Primarily driven by climate change, legislation and financial implications, growers and producers can no longer afford to be wasteful.

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For mass importer and producer of seed potatoes, AR Tarim based in Turkey, the need for stringent quality control became a significant factor in helping them meet their goals and to respond to the changing needs of the industry. Up to 8000 tons of seed potatoes are imported and around 11,000 tons are locally produced by the company and stored in their 1000-year-old cave storage facility located in Kayseri. For AR Tarim, ensuring continual high-quality produce with minimal waste is central to their aim to become more efficient and to exceed customer expectations.

“We had come across some quality issues,” explained Ekrem Suad Sadak, Managing Director of AR Tarim. His team approached UK crop quality and storage specialists Martin www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Lishman Ltd, after seeing their extensive range of potato quality equipment on display at Potato Europe. Martin Lishman’s 45+ years’ experience in the industry has led to the development of several cost-effective agri-tech solutions to help aid farmers and producers to maximise their yield and minimize waste. Mr Sadak adds “The range offers solutions for medium size companies with limited resources and budget to improve the quality of their products, gain more trust from customers and expand.”

“We have worked with growers and producers all over the world to continuously develop our product range,” explains Dr Gavin Lishman, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “This hands-on approach allows us into the mindset of our customers, helping us to understand the challenges they face so we can offer a solution. When AR Tarim approached us, we were more than happy to share our knowledge and provide them with the tools to help improve the quality of their produce.”

Potato bruising was a big concern for the team at AR Tarim. Thankfully, Martin Lishman offers two tried and tested solutions in answer to this problem. The TuberLog Electronic Potato, a data logger disguised as a potato, identifies the location and severity of damage-causing impacts in harvesting and handling machinery, enabling the user to carry out adjustments, and the HotBox, a sealed cabinet that exposes tubers ready for storage to both humidity and heat to test for disease, infections and bruising. “The TuberLog has helped us to reduce mechanical damage; meaning the grading machine no longer causes any tuber bruising. The harvester seems to work better too, since the crop

which arrives from the field shows less problems.

The Hot Box is now so well established in our process that it is unthinkable not to have it. It is essential for us in the early detection of seed tuber issues like Alternaria, Dry Rot etc.”, stated Mr Sadak.

To further help improve the quality of the seed potatoes, the introduction of a soil testing kit from Martin Lishman has added to AR Tarim’s quality control armoury. A popular choice for agronomists and farming professionals worldwide, the portable SKW500 soil laboratory gives the growing team an insight into soil condition and highlights any requirements for healthy seed growth.

AR Tarim’s 1000-year-old cave storage facility is a natural way of storing potatoes. With little energy demands, the cave’s unique design naturally provides ideal storage conditions throughout the year. Ambient temperatures of 4°C in winter and 14°C in summer are easily achieved, even when outside temperatures can reach up to 35°C. The introduction of 21st century quality control measures to complement the cave’s effective storage conditions has given the AR Tarim team a reassurance boost, knowing that the products they sell are of the highest quality possible. Mr Sadak closed with, “Our investments in achieving a better quality product, combined with before and after-sales service makes us stand out. We will continue to develop our company in this direction”.

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| Potatoes & Root crops

Vervaet introduces new rollerbed option Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd, UK importers of the Vervaet sugar beet harvester range, have announced a new primary cleaning system utilising a rollerbed which will be offered as an option in place of the existing highly regarded turbine based system.

Although not intended as a replacement for the extraordinarily successful turbine-only configuration, the introduction of the Vervaet rollerbed is intended to offer another option for potential customers already operating a rollerbed-type machine in suitable soil types and conditions. This addition makes Vervaet the only harvester manufacturer to offer their customers the option of both methods of primary cleaning.

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Lifting is still carried out by Vervaet’s industry leading rotating walking shares, which are well-known to excel in the toughest of conditions. Row width is hydraulically adjustable from 45cm to 50cm in the usual way. The shares are arranged in a straight line so that they present the lifted beet evenly to the rollerbed which is used in place of the two front turbines and consists of seven full-width 100mm diameter rollers. To maximise its cleaning path the first two spiral rollers take the beet outwards whilst all subsequent rollers gather the crop to the centre for onward transport towards the rear of the machine. This configuration can be altered by substituting rollers if required. Shorter rollers either side of the throat form a backstop, helping to bring the beet to the centre.

Roller speed can be varied from the cab to cater for differing conditions and soil types, with the first six grouped together and the seventh roller operated independently. If additional cleaning is required the seventh roller can also be operated in reverse so that it counterrotates against the preceding roller for a more thorough action.

But it is what comes next which really sets the new Vervaet machine apart from the competition. All other rollerbed-type harvesters use a trace to transport the crop between the front wheels, but the Vervaet rollerbed discharges the beet onto a central cleaning turbine, eliminating a potential problem area and continuing the positive cleaning action. This central turbine is a well proven method already in use on over 160 Vervaet turbine-only harvesters currently at work in the UK. The rollerbed is currently suitable for the flagship six-wheel Vervaet Beet Eater 625, but it is anticipated that it will also be available for the popular fourwheel Q-Series in the near future. Even with a rollerbed in place of its first two turbines, due to its unique layout the 625 still retains six turbines – more than any other machine on the market making for industry leading cleaning capacity. This is of ever higher importance as contractors continue to battle unrelenting weather and arduous

conditions during ever more drawn-out sugar beet campaigns. “We believe there is definitely a market for a rollerbed,” says Jeremy Riley, managing director of J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd. “We were being asked by people running competitor’s machines when Vervaet will make a rollerbed, so they’ve produced it to fulfil that obligation. They have managed to eliminate the less successful points of other rollerbed designs, namely the transport belt between the wheels, and we think it is an improvement on existing rollerbeds from other manufacturers. However it isn’t a replacement for the turbine configuration, because modern turbines will ultimately provide the most cleaning and we still believe that a turbine machine is the best all-rounder – we’re definitely not forgetting our heritage.”

His views are echoed by the company’s sales manager, Matt Carse, who has extensive previous experience with a competitor’s rollerbed-type harvesters.

“On certain soil types the rollerbed can allow for a faster forward speed,” explains Matt. “On the right soils they can offer good cleaning, and are generally regarded as being gentle on the beet. The web between the front wheels is always a weak point, especially in stony conditions, so what Vervaet have done using a turbine instead is excellent, it is a big plus point. Its open construction also sets it apart, and it still retains the signature Vervaet simplicity of design, giving all of the necessary features without unnecessary complications. During testing it has been running in some very challenging wet conditions at 8kph+ and doing a good job, I’m very pleased and it’s producing a satisfying sample for the grower.

“The rollerbed widens our portfolio and complements what we are already offering,” he continues. “There are guys who currently have a rollerbed and want to stay with one, and vice versa with turbines, so we now really can offer an ideal solution to everyone. In the long term I think this new option will have the knock-on effect of further widening the appeal of a reconditioned Vervaet harvester as well.”

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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes & Root crops

Freewheel chips in for potato harvester reliability f you like chips, chances are that you owe your dinner to a potato harvester. Towed behind tractors to automatically harvest potatoes from the soil, these machines are an important tool for ensuring the world's food security. Global demand for potatoes grows with the expanding population, which means potato harvester OEMs need to deliver more reliable and efficient machines to maximise the yield of the potato crop.

To enhance its machinery, one global manufacturer approached Tsubaki to provide their Cam Clutches or freewheels to support a new model potato harvester.

The importance of potato harvesting for the global food supply is undisputed. In 2017, an estimated 388,191,000 tonnes of potatoes were produced globally1.

Growers in Asia, the Americas, Africa and Europe support this large output, and are constantly looking to maximise the yield of each crop. Increasing yield translates to increased profitability for farmers, as more produce is sold to feed consumers or livestock.

Maximising yield has led to the development of the modern potato harvester. Initially, potato harvests would be carried out by hand or with the help of animals. Then, potato spinners, an early form of harvester, would be drawn along by livestock or tractors. As technology improved, modern potato harvesters entered the market, with the ability to collect more potatoes from the ground over multiple rows. Modern designs feature sieves for removing clods of earth and separation units. This transition has improved the speed of the harvest while maximising its yield, as less potatoes remain in the ground.

Modern farm machinery offers multiple

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advantages but must be highly reliable to capitalise on them. Harvests are seasonal, so equipment is required to operate intensively over relatively short periods. A breakdown during harvesting is very costly to a farmer, as not only will maintenance be required, but the time lost gathering produce can adversely affect the yield.

Maintenance issues can be exacerbated by the fact that farm machinery can be in storage for long periods between usage. This means a reliability issue may not be identified until it is too late.

The very nature of potato harvesting adds further complexity.

Collecting potatoes directly from the soil entails shocks and mechanical stresses that are transmitted through the powertrain, which can cause inferior components to fail.

Furthermore, lifting potatoes from the ground requires high torque.

An area where OEM's devote attention is the powertrain of the potato harvester. Ultimately, the goal is to design a highly robust assembly featuring long-life components to maximise reliability. This reduces maintenance costs and provides increased security when it comes to intensive harvesting. With such a powertrain, farmers can maximise their machinery uptime, enhancing yield and profitability.

When it came to upgrading the clutch on a new model potato harvester, an OEM contacted Tsubaki, a leading

designer and manufacturer of cam clutches, to provide a solution. The OEM had experienced reliability issues with a previously utilised clutch and wanted to improve this aspect of the design.

Working closely with the OEM engineering department, Tsubaki engineers tested two different clutches in the field to assess performance. Upon completion of the trials, Tsubaki recommended the MDEU35-TK Cam Clutch. Offering a torque capacity up to 460 Nm, it provided the required performance to suit the application. Furthermore, it was highly reliable during the test period, ideal for the needs of farm equipment.

The OEM fitted the MDEU35TK to the new model potato harvesters, which proved to be highly robust in the field. This ensured that potato farmers could carry out the harvest in most efficient manner, maximising yield.

The zero maintenance Cam Clutch also contributed to increased equipment uptime, reducing repair costs. Both of these factors conspired to improve productivity and profitability for the farmers using the new harvester.

Tsubaki is a global provider of power transmission components to leading agricultural OEMs. Supported applications include balers, harvesters and seed drills, with all Tsubaki components specifically designed to tackle the shock loading, dust and intermittent operation that defines farming. Tsubaki engineers can work closely with OEM design and engineering teams to provide a tailored solution for each individual design, as well as structured maintenance support.

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| Fertilisers and Sprayers

Soil treatment unlocks vital phosphorus supply for spring crops M aking better use of existing soil phosphorus reserves will greatly reduce the risk of spring-sown crops running short of this essential nutrient during establishment.

Spring cereals in particular have a high demand for P in the first few weeks after germination. But they are often unable to secure enough to support optimum growth even where the nutrient appears to be plentiful.

Agrovista technical manager Mark Hemmant says: “Phosphorus is critical for cell biochemical functions and cell division, so is required in relatively large quantities during seed germination and establishment to underpin healthy root and shoot growth.

“New sowings on high calcium or high pH soils are especially vulnerable to shortage, as most of the phosphorus is bound up as insoluble calcium phosphate and is not available to the crop.

“This risks poor growth and tillering and puts plants on the back foot before they can get going.”

Applying bagged fertiliser to overcome this is expensive and inefficient.

Depending on soil type and pH, as much as 90% of P applied in this form can be locked up quickly, often within days.

“It makes much more sense to make use of what’s already in the soil,” says Mark.

“In these situations, I advise using Phosphorus Liberator, a soil-applied product that can free up significant amounts of P in a very short time.”

Phosphorus Liberator, which is based on carboxylic acid technology, releases bound calcium phosphate and keeps it in solution, where it breaks down into its constituent parts. This ensures phosphate is available for root uptake during the first critical few weeks.

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mixed with a wide range of preemergence herbicides at rates tailored to soil P levels and crop need.

It is effective over a wide temperature range, is biodegradable and is not classified as hazardous to the environment, with the added benefit of reducing fertiliser bills and improving efficiency from applied phosphate fertilisers and manures.

the untreated area. Foliar and root weights were 133% and 122% higher respectively on the treated part. “Visually we saw a big benefit in establishment and in plant weight,” says Quentin.

Trial results

Hot, dry and subsequent drought conditions for the rest of the season took its toll on the sandy soil. However, plants on the treated area formed more pods than the untreated before the main impacts were seen and thus performed to the national average.

The potential of Phosphorus Liberator to boost spring crop performance was clearly shown in a fully replicated trial on heavy calcareous soil at Agrovista’s flagship Project Lamport trial site in Northamptonshire last season.

“The field had a P index of 4.2 but we still got a good response, showing that even where there appears to be plenty of phosphorus it is important to make sure it is available to plants during the critical early phase,” says Quentin.

A statistically significant 0.4t/ha yield increase was seen in plots where the product was applied pre-emergence compared to the untreated controls, despite applying a commercial rate of bagged phosphate fertiliser to the whole trial.

“I have used the product commercially and run a lot of trials and have had a 100% strike rate, seeing massive plant responses. The additional root growth enhances a crop’s ability to capture nutrients, manage against root-related diseases and cope with drought conditions.

The effect could also be seen in grain specific weight at harvest, which increased by 1.49kg/hl. “Both gains were impressive and statistically significant, despite there being no visual difference observed between plots,” says Mark.

“We saw similar results in spring barley, and it seems likely we could see an increase in specific weight in spring oats.

Meeting milling specification is critical with this crop, so that’s an area we will be looking at.”

Late-sown beans which came under extreme drought stress in the spring showed a very positive response to Phosphorus Liberator last year.

Oxfordshire-based agronomist Quentin Ham conducted a split field trial on winter beans sown at the end of December. Phosphorus Liberator was applied at 10 litres/ha with preemergence herbicide to an area of crop, the rest received pre-em only.

“Phosphorus Liberator is likely to work as well in spring beans in a similar situation and may be even more important in spring crops generally, due to the shorter period of time available to obtain sufficient root growth.”

How to use Phosphorus Liberator •

Apply through conventional boom sprayer at usual water volumes

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Widely tank-mixable with agrochemicals, including glyphosate and many pre-emergence herbicides

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Apply pre-planting to early crop emergence

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Apply at 5 litres/ha when used alongside phosphate fertilisers or organic manures

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Apply at 10 litres/ha when applied alone.

Plant numbers on the treated area hit 22/sq m on 4 April, compared with 13 on www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fertilisers and Sprayers

DIDIN NprotectioN from Omex P

roviding NprotectioN to protect your Nitrogen, lowering emissions and improving yields are key

targets for Spring 2021.

OMEX offer NprotectioN with DIDIN, a urease and nitrification inhibitor, with over 30 years proven results.

How It Works DIDIN protects the nitrogen until it’s safely in the ground, and delivers a steady supply of nitrogen to the plant throughout the growing season, meaning the full seasons nitrogen can be applied in one simple pass – saving time and reducing passes over the soil.

DIDIN is formulated with NprotectioN technology, with urease and nitrification inhibitors, ensuring the safe delivery of crop available nitrogen throughout the season, leading to improved quality and yield. The nitrification and urease inhibitors control the release of nitrate nitrogen and reduce the risk of ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions, increasing

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yield, reducing application costs and simplifying the nitrogen management of the crop.

Tried and Tested

dry conditions in April last year.

The lusher, greener plots in the trial below, demonstrate where DIDIN has been applied, alongside several other applications. In all instances, using DIDIN, produced a healthier crop:

DIDIN, is the most proven nitrification and urease inhibitor, with over 30 years of nitrogen use efficiency data. Trials consistently demonstrate improved yield and reduced emissions, where DIDIN has been used: •

7.7% yield increase

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66% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions

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49.5% reduction in nitrate leaching

Recent OMEX trials have taken an in depth look at how farmers can best achieve a positive increase in NUE, comparing different forms of fertiliser, different application timings and the use of inhibitors. Take a look at drone pictures of one of our plot trials, taken of a light land wheat site during the very

To speak to our technical team of advisors, on how best to protect your nitrogen this Spring and improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency, find your local advisor on our interactive map, here.

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Make the most of early fertiliser applications arly spring fertiliser is essential for supporting crop growth as day length and temperatures rise, but after a second consecutive wet winter and varying crop requirements, applications will need careful planning, leading agronomy firm Hutchinsons says.

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Indications are that heavy winter rainfall across much of the UK could have increased losses of some of the more soluble soil nutrients, such as nitrogen and sulphur, particularly on lighter, less nutrient retentive soils, so it is important crop requirements are fulfilled as growth increases.

“We’re still waiting for results from N-Min testing, but my feeling is that given the rain we’ve had, there will be a low reservoir of nitrogen in the soil, and with crops generally showing good potential, it will be vital to protect that from the outset,” says Yorkshire-based agronomist David Stead.

often focuses on nitrogen, Hutchinsons fertiliser manager Tim Kerr says it must not be considered in isolation.

Several other nutrients, notably phosphate, potassium and sulphur, influence how efficiently plants assimilate nitrogen. Magnesium is also important as it is fundamental to chlorophyll production and any shortfall reduces photosynthesis, which in turn reduces nitrogen uptake, he adds.

Soil testing, such as Terramap high definition soil scanning, provides a valuable insight into the nutrients available to plants, and highlights any variations within individual fields that may need addressing with more targeted measures.

“We’ve done quite a lot of Terramapping and it’s been really interesting to see how much soils can vary chemically within the same texture,” notes Mr Stead. “For example, a sandy clay loam can have very different readings for pH, phosphorus or potassium.”

He prefers a “little and often” approach to nitrogen applications, using multiple splits through the season.

Understanding this variability is essential to feed growing crops correctly through the season, and to formulate longer-term management plans for evening-out the variability, he says.

“February is still relatively early in the season, so I wouldn’t go on with much more than 40-50 kg N/ha in the first split. However, once we get into March and growth picks up, I’d be looking to nearer 70-80 kg/ha.

Mr Stead believes tissue testing ahead of the T0 fungicide offers a useful way of detecting any potential nutrient deficiencies in time for them to be rectified by including products with the T0 spray.

“Typically, the aim is to have applied around 80-100 kg N/ha in two doses by mid-March, but you’ve got to be flexible and adapt to the individual situation. It is also very important to maximise nitrogen use efficiency to get the most from any inputs.”

Manganese, magnesium and zinc are likely additions at this timing depending on crop requirements, he says.

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This season, users of Omnia have free access to satellite imagery that can help identify variations in crop growth within fields and allow accurate application plans to be formulated, says agronomist Rob Jewers.

Two types of imaging are available. One measures the red and near-infrared light reflected by vegetation to produce an NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index) map. Once uploaded to Omnia, it can be used to highlight variations in biomass growth for closer inspection, and/or used to produce a variable rate application plan.

Mr Jewers says NDVI imagery is most useful earlier in the season, as once crop growth becomes more advanced (typically beyond GS 30/31), maps can become too saturated to pick out clear differences.

That is where the second form of satellite imaging becomes more useful. This combines near-infrared band measurements to produce a relative score of the crop’s chlorophyll content to give a relative index. As with NDVI maps, Omnia converts this chlorophyll map into a variable rate application plan, or it can be used as another tool to support field walking and management decisions.

“September-sown wheat looks healthy and well tillered, while even late October and early November-drilled cereals are nicely established with two to three tillers.

We need to make sure we can maintain this biomass growth and not compromise the yield potential that’s there.”

Nitrogen is the main focus for early fertiliser applications as crop requirements increase significantly as canopies develop. Although N-Min tests are best done early in the year, Mr Stead says it is not too late to get soils tested to gauge the extent of any winter losses and help inform later fertiliser applications.

such as chlorophyll analysis with Yara’s N-Sensor, or digital satellite mapping.

Tools to refine fertiliser plans Alongside tissue testing, other tools are also available to help fine tune fertiliser applications as the season progresses,

“Nitrogen fertiliser is invariably the largest single variable cost in broad acre crops, and we are at pains to produce precise nutrient management plans. For these plans to be effective, accurate application and correct timing are imperative to get the best out of the fertiliser,” says Mr Kerr.

Beware of low boron Frequent soil sampling of land going into potatoes over recent years and cereal leaf testing around GS 37-39 has revealed increasing issues with low boron content in some situations, Mr Stead notes.

Boron is important for grain formation in cereals, so is something to be aware of later in the season and if necessary, treat crops at the T2 timing.

“There aren’t that many fertilisers or natural sources that contain boron, so it may be a case that soil reserves have gradually been depleted over the years, particularly in rotations growing a lot of oilseed rape. It’s definitely something to be aware of as it could become more of an issue.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fertilisers and Sprayers

CF FERTILISERS APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF AGRONOMY F Fertilisers has appointed Dr. Sajjad Awan as company agronomist to head up the business’s technical services for customers and lead new initiatives in the development of best future fertiliser practices.

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Formerly the AHDB’s crop nutrition research and knowledge transfer manager, Sajjad gained his doctorate at Warwick University where he led several important crop nutrition focused projects.

“Fertilisers have transformed global food production in recent times and maintaining their role in delivering high levels of agricultural output in the most sustainable manner possible is now of

critical importance to everybody,” he says.

adds.

“Coming from a farming background, I have always appreciated the importance of sound crop nutrition and this has been reinforced over the years working in research and developing practical fertiliser guidelines on behalf of the AHDB.

“We want to be at the heart of the debate about fertilisers in the years ahead and play a leading role in shaping the thinking that will define their use in the future.

“Services like CF’s unique N-Min system to fine-tune fertiliser application levels, Nitrogen fertiliser Use Efficiency (NfUE) analysis to ensure optimal use of nitrogen by plants and lower carbon fertiliser manufacturing, are all important steps on the journey.

“My role at CF will build on this to help growers understand more about using fertilisers more efficiently, drive an industry-wide R&D programme to support improved productivity and work with key stakeholders to ensure we can all achieve our net zero ambitions.”

“But in the future we’ll be concentrating even more on helping our customers understand the implications of their fertiliser choices and playing a pivotal role in shaping ‘best practice’ without compromising crop productivity.”

CF has a strong foundation on which to develop these initiatives across both arable and grassland production, he

Further information on CF Fertilisers’ products and services can be obtained at www.cffertilisers.co.uk

PolyNPlus foliar fertiliser anticipates more eco-friendly farming rules post-Brexit FS Fertiliser Services, a leading crop nutrition specialist, has released a third season of trial data which show that its revolutionary foliar fertiliser, PolyNPlusTM, reduces the overall nitrogen requirement by at least 25 per cent while maintaining or increasing crop yields.

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The agriculture industry is facing transformational reforms this year postBrexit under the UK government’s promised comprehensive Net Zero Strategy and the Environmental Land Management Scheme, which will be rolled out by late 2024. Both are expected to entail the industry using fewer nutrients on crops in a drive to reduce their impact on the environment.

PolyNPlus already anticipates these strictures and helps to reduce pollution.

Formulated with ureic polymers, micronutrients and organic uptake enhancers, PolyNPlus foliar fertiliser eliminates nitrate leaching and minimises ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it virtually 100 per cent efficient – many mature plants, particularly cereals, use less energy by absorbing nutrients through their leaves rather than through their roots. PolyNPlus solution is safe to apply direct to the leaf, eliminating potential leaf damage.

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When applied in a coordinated programme with soil-applied nitrogen, the result is similar or higher yields using at least 25 per cent less nitrogen than in standard farm practice.

bonus in these economically challenging times. It can also be tailor-made to farmers’ requirements for specific trace elements such as sulphur, manganese and magnesium.

NIAB trials

Additional benefits:

A third year of trials were conducted in the UK during 2020 to test the efficacy of PolyNPlus. NIAB, one of Britain’s oldest agricultural research centres, held a series of trials on Extase winter wheat in Cirencester which showed (see graphs below) that, using PolyNPlus, significantly lower levels of nitrogen were required to produce comparable or better yields. Even in the very dry spring of 2020, the yields held up impressively.

•

There are no microplastics in PolyNPlus.

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PolyNPlus is supplied in reusable packaging 1,000 litre IBCs.

Recommended usage In practical usage, provided 140-180kg of soil-applied nitrogen is used at the start of the growing season, foliar applications of PolyNPlus can replace the third application of soil-applied nitrogen, resulting in the same or higher yields using 25 per cent less nitrogen.

PolyNPlus is particularly useful during dry spells – such as occurred in the spring of 2020 - when a crop’s uptake of soil-applied nitrogen is low.

In addition, PolyNPlus can be tankmixed with crop protection products, reducing the number of passes needed, saving time and application costs – a

Rosalind Platt, managing director at BFS Fertiliser Services, said: “The agriculture industry is bracing itself for significant new restrictions in the future on the type and amount of nutrients they can use to produce crops. We are continuing to refine our revolutionary PolyNPlus range of foliar nitrogen to help farmers get ahead of the game.

The third year of data from independent tests on PolyNPlus demonstrates clearly that less nitrogen is needed than in standard farm practice to produce the same or improved yields while benefiting the environment.”

Further trials will be undertaken this year to determine how farmers can use PolyNPlus to maximum effect.

For further information, please contact:Rosalind Platt, BFS Fertiliser Services: 01245 325849 or Caroline Cecil, Caroline Cecil Associates: 020 7610 4110; ccecil@carolinececil.co.uk

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Nozzle choice key to optimising spring grassweed control ccurate application of post-emergence grassweed herbicides in winter cereals will be especially important over the next few weeks after prolonged wet weather hampered earlier attempts at control.

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Agrovista technical manager Mark Hemmant says: “Many spray programmes aimed at blackgrass and other problem grass weeds have been compromised or not even started.

Getting the best performance out of post-emergence actives is going to be critical.”

Choosing appropriate nozzles and setting them up correctly is vital to achieve the correct spray pattern and quality, particularly when grass weeds are small and difficult to hit.

“We need to ensure as much of the active ingredient as possible reaches the target,” says Mark.

“Grass weeds are extremely competitive and some, notably blackgrass, have become increasingly difficult to control.”

Nozzle angle is key. Agrovista trials have consistently shown that alternate angling of nozzles forward 30 degrees and straight down has produced significant improvement in control over the conventional vertical set-up, when using flat fan nozzles applying 100 litres/ha to create a medium spray quality (see graph).

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advise using blue 80-03s in the forward-facing position and blue 110-03s vertically to achieve the best droplet size and spray pattern.

“Angling nozzles in this way improves efficacy by breaking up the spray sheet to reduce drift overall, but increasing droplet movement at the target level which applies more active ingredient to the leaf. This is a particular advantage when you are faced with a small grass weed

with upright leaves.”

Where drift is a concern, Lok-it can be added at 0.25% by volume, says Mark. “The product can also enable increased forward speeds of up to 14kph in the right conditions as long as booms are stable.”

Lilac 025 nozzles can be used to produce a finer spray quality if necessary, and would be the nozzle of choice with twin lines, using forward-facing nozzles on the front line and vertically mounted ones on the back.

Matching nozzle to task The combination of nozzle choice and adjuvant is a cheap and simple solution that growers cannot afford to ignore, says Jonathan Cahalin, Agrovista’s head of arable in Scotland.

“There are no magic bullets when it comes to grassweed control, so anything we can do to improve control has to be worthwhile.

“It is not expensive to ensure the nozzle set-up is correct, especially when you consider the paybacks that can be achieved. Every extra percent of control is critical, particularly with blackgrass, and this is a really practical way of improving performance.

“On a more general note, given the wide variety of tasks a sprayer has to perform, operators should have more than one set of nozzles and should replace them regularly to maximise efficacy and boost returns.”

To help growers better match nozzle to task, Agrovista is rolling out a UK-wide nozzle delivery service after a very successful pilot in Scotland.

“Plant protection products are not cheap, so we want to ensure that growers can get the best return on their investment,” says Jonathan.

“Our agronomists can not only advise on which product is most appropriate to use, and how to get the best from it, but can now also supply to growers the right nozzle technology to maximise efficacy and boost returns.”

Alternatively, growers can contact Paul Soppit who looks after Agrovista’s new sprayer care facility at the Dundee depot, which dispatches to all corners of the UK usually within 48 hours of an order.

Agrovista carries a large stock of nozzles from leading brands including Hypro, Syngenta, Teejet, Billericay and Lechler. Further details at www.agrovista.co.uk www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Fertilisers and Sprayers

INSECTS ARE TRANSFORMING THE WORLD OF FERTILISERS

And Offer A Sustainable Alternative To Commercial Fertilisers nsect derived fertiliser contains chitin and it is highly effective at locking in nitrogen. Its slow-release bioavailability encourages positive nitrogen uptake and works by pre-charging the soil with good microbial activity.

This in turn has a doubleaction effect. It stimulates and promotes root development and plant growth whilst boosting the plant’s natural defenses against pests and diseases.

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balancing micro organisms in the soil. It also activates immune responses and elevates natural defenses against attack from insects and diseases.

Composition of Hexafrass •

Chitin, chitin-melanin compounds, fatty acids, proteins, and cellulose

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Over 27% bioavailable

Certified organic by the Irish Organic Association (IOA), Hexafrass is suitable for a variety of horticulture and agricultural practices.

It’s of particular interest to organic soft-fruit growers, vegetable and flower producers, viticulturists, and garden enthusiasts.

Equally, it’s good for developed plants or winter spreading as a soil conditioner and ideal for up-coming crops such as wheat, barley, potatoes, brassicas, and root vegetables.

What is chitin? It is commonly found in the outer coverings of insects and shellfish, as well as in the cell walls of fungi and algae. Pronounced KAITN is a modified polysaccharide that contains nitrogen ( N-acetyl-Dglucosamine) a derivative of glucose. When plants are in the presence of chitin it increases the bio-active health and performance of plants by stimulating and www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

protein, giving positive nitrogen over time •

NPK 3-2-1

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High in organic matter 60%+

It’s recommended to use less over time, compared to other mineral soil balancers because it’s pre-charged with microbial colonies that slowly release nitrogen over time.

Either combine it with water or scatter across the soil, much like other soil improvers and fertilisers.

Alvan Hunt, CEO of Hexafly says, “Hexafrass is a very innovative new organic insect fertiliser that we know growers will love. We have seen some very positive trial results across a broad range of horticulture and cereal plants and the feedback has been extremely positive”. Hexafrass is a bi-product derived from the production of sustainable protein for the aquaculture, animal feed, and cosmetic industries.

Following closed circular-economy practices, organic brewers’ waste is upcycled into protein using Black Soldier Flies. The castings and manure from the BSF containing the chitin are called ‘frass’.

Once the frass is collected, it is dried and milled by Hexafly in accordance with the Irish Soil Association (IOA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine Ireland. This powerfully potent energising fertiliser is sustainably made, contains no-nasties, is part of the ‘userecycle-and-reuse’ circular economy, and is the natural choice for organic growers everywhere!!

Hexafrass is available milled in 5 Litre and 650kg and pelleted 1,000kg.

Prices: 5 Litre € 11.99 and from € 350 per tonne Direct sales from Hexafly on sales@hexafly.com . ROI +353 85 187 6408 or UK: +44 7949 944 956

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| Grain

Drying, Handling & Storage Solutions To Fit All Budgets

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erry of Oakley Ltd. specialise in manufacturing continuous mixed flow grain driers to fit all capacities and budgets.

Two drier models are available: the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah” series. The two drier ranges provide driers to fit requirements and budgets from farms to commercial grain stores. Both driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, which can be linked to any smart phone for full control of the drier from any location. This technology is designed and programmed in house also allowing Perry engineers (UKbased) remote access for diagnostics and adjustments. The auto control uses both the exhaust air temperature and hot grain temperature to give advanced control of the drier, to maintain a consistent moisture content of the discharged grain.

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

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

Perry also provide fire detection systems that can be retro-fitted to any make of drier, giving you vital early warning of fire helping you reduce the damage to the drier and surrounding plant. The system can be stand alone or integrated into your control panel.

In the handling range, Perry manufacture and supply a full range of

handling equipment including chain & flight conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners, belt & bucket elevators, belt conveyors, U-trough and tubular screw conveyors, which come in three different performance levels: industrial (1501000tph), light industrial (60-150tph) & agricultural (8-60tph).

Perry are known for designing and manufacturing equipment that lasts for decades and decades. It’s not unusual to receive phone calls about machinery manufactured back in the 1960s. Perry’s 70 year heritage means they have documentation on all the machines supplied, so when one breaks down they know exactly what is needed to repair it. Their confidence in machine longevity, especially in the agricultural range from 8tph to 60tph is why the agricultural range is supplied with an industry first 10 year performance guarantee against perforations in the trough base.

In 2019, Perry added silos to their product range. The extensive range includes flat bottom & hopper bottom silos from 3m to 32m; storage capacities from 27m³ to 26,000m³. All of the silos within the range come with Z600 galvanising and S450 steel construction.

A wide corrugation profile of 106mm pitch for only 13mm profile depth is standard, helping to reduce product hang-up ensuring a cleaner bin. The silos are manufactured on state of the art equipment and can be specified to meet either ANSI or Eurocode standards.

Alongside the extensive product range, Perry also hold over £1,000,000 worth of stock, a valuable asset during harvest. This includes over 45,000ft of

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chain which gives Perry customers the benefit of a swift response to breakdowns and spares requests.

Perry regularly handle jobs as small as a single conveyor up to full greenfield plants by working with an extensive range of dealers throughout the UK.

The Perry sales and technical support team have over 450 years of industry knowledge. That combined with their 70 years experience in manufacturing of handling, drying & storage equipment, make Perry of Oakley Ltd. the supplier of choice. They have won several awards for being one of the top companies in the country, one being from SHAPA, which demonstrates their performance in the sector. In this new period where parts and machinery entering the UK from Europe are less certain and more costly there is no better time to choose the UK’s most experienced manufacturer for your handling, drying & storage equipment.

Contact Perry today for all your handling, storage & drier requirements on +44 (0)1404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk, and receive a free, no obligation quotation. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Grain

Warwickshire farm brings global markets into the farm office with CRM AgriCommodities rga Products farm manager Frans Hamman finds that working with independent grain market advisors CRM AgriCommodities helps them make more sense of both the global and local markets – saving time and hitting a higher profit margin through making more confident marketing decisions at more strategic times, whilst managing risks appropriately.

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Dave Tomes, and two seasonal staff for harvest, saving time is a priority for Frans, reducing time in the farm office.

Director Richard has also attended one of CRM AgriCommodities’ grain marketing courses to better understand the different market influences and be even more confident in selling decisions.

Delivering accurate and timely analysis is at the heart of CRM AgriCommodities’

consider any other influences; that is why working with James and his team, who are completely independent, is crucial to our working relationship,” explains Frans.

CRM AgriCommodities founder, James Bolesworth, says: “Through a range of tools and an experienced team we ensure that we suit differing working preferences, we are able to empower each and every one of our members to make decisions with confidence, and the results are clear to see with Orga Products, it is a pleasure to work with a business that realises the difference grain marketing makes to their bottom line and values the advice we give.”

“Last year we launched our Graintab platform, which makes it even easier for our members to access our professional research and consultancy in a transparent and straightforward way, whilst our grain marketing courses, both online and in person, delve deeper into the markets.” James continues: “The goal is for our members to be able to navigate the markets confidently, making strategic selling decisions to manage market volatility and improve their profit margin; our main advantage is our independence, this allows us to focus on what is best for our clients.”

Following a successful two-year working relationship with CRM AgriCommodities, Frans says: “We have always marketed our grain ourselves rather than in the pool systems. We use CRM Agri and their farmer focused platform Graintab to make more sense of the markets; their completely independent, well researched opinions and advice makes it an easier task than in the past and saves a lot of time researching world markets. Ultimately, we have total confidence following their advice, knowing that they are independent and close to the market.

commitment to their members, simplifying and making the global markets more transparent. To focus on delivering 100% independent and unbiased insights, CRM AgriCommodities do not trade for themselves, this is a rare attribute within domestic grain markets.

“Most definitely the goal is to get the most for me as farmer without having to

Grain market disruptors, CRM Agri, offer market analysis, grain marketing advisory services, online Graintab platform, training academy and joint marketing groups for hundreds of farmers, advisors, consumers and multinationals throughout the UK, Europe and the Black Sea.

Farm manager, Frans Hamman (photo credit Oli Lees Photography)

“For Orga Products, the value in working with CRM AgriCommodities comes in seeing increased profitability from our pricing strategies, being able to make informed decisions based on the world market from analysis that is usually well ahead of any other publication.”

Orga Products is a family owned 525ha enterprise, comprising 465ha arable cropping (winter wheat, rye, OSR, spring barley) and 60ha of salads and herbs. Managed by Frans, the business is owned by Richard Kerby, who has been a tenant on the Alscot Estate, Warwickshire for over 20 years. With one other full- time member of staff, 38 |

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| Grain

Grain handling solutions – giving customers what they need and not what they want!

Andrew Head, MD, BDC Systems Ltd

DC, like many other agrifocused businesses, is lucky to have been largely unaffected by the pandemic. Brexit too, seems not to have deterred our existing, and indeed potential customers, from making sure that they have the right grain handling solutions and equipment in place, not only for this year’s harvest but for harvest 2022 as well.

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One thing I think businesses, across all sectors, should remember in today’s uncertain times is just how important it is to be ‘close’ to your customers. To understand what they really need which is not always what they want.

We recognised very early on that it is was key to work closely with our customers. To really understand why they are looking for a completely new grain handling solution or a new piece of equipment, and most importantly to understand their reasoning behind why they think they want, what they want!

By listening closely to a customer, you get a real feel for the issues and challenges they are facing. Often, they have a pre-conceived idea around what solution or which piece of kit will take their pain away.

Understanding exactly what a customer wants to achieve from a new solution or new piece of kit, allows us to recommend solutions that exactly fit the bill. Invariably, what we know will serve them best is not

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necessarily what they had in mind.

Being close to your customers means giving them what they need and not always what they think they want!

I recommended a Svegma Continuous Flow drier because it would quickly dry the customer’s own crop and contract crops with over 20% mc.

The Svegma drier would also negate the need to constantly run floor driers to bring the grain to the right mc as once grain has passed through the drier it just needs to be cooled, and it would allow the dried grain to be surcharge stored. An important factor when contract drying as it enables more tonnes of grain to be stored within the same building footprint.

For example, during a recent site visit a prospective customer was quite certain that he wanted to store and dry his grain using a drying floor system. He was ‘pretty sure’ that the average mc of his grain from the field was around 20% - so a drying floor system would be sufficient.

It was easy for me to recommend a solution that the customer needed rather than wanted, because we have an extensive range of complete grain handling solutions, from multiple world-leading manufacturers

As we discussed different options, I realised that the customer needed to sell his own crop quickly as he wanted to contract dry for others.

I pointed out that the mc of grain from other farms may well be higher than 20%, which a floor drying system would take longer to dry and that he needed to dry and sell his own grain quickly, to make room for the grain he was drying under contract.

Unlike our competitors, BDC is not constrained to offering a solution from a single manufacturer. We really are able to deliver the solutions our customers need. obligation quotation.

For more information contact: bdcsystems.com - 01672 810851

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| Grain

Selling grain is not your only option to fix a price - online grain academy educates farmers to market grain C RM AgriCommodities, the team powering independent online grain marketing platform Graintab, have adapted their popular year-round programme of grain marketing courses into a range of modules available on-demand at www.graintab.com/ academy

AgriCommodities.

“We have now adapted this further to launch an online academy that can be accessed anywhere and at any time, at what we think is a really

The course has already been taken by a number of innovative farmers, including Ranuld Pattullo of Mains of Kelly, Scotland, says: “I find the online academy very useful; it allows me to learn at my own pace, and when I get time.”

“Naturally, it was disappointing to have to postpone our usual programme of grain trading courses, however we quickly realised the demand was still there and within weeks of lockdown we started to replace our normal format with oneto-one and group online courses, as well as starting Graintab TV, launching Graintab and the online academy,” explains James Bolesworth, founder of CRM

risks when marketing the crops that they spend so long producing.”

Having completed the course, a farmer will clearly understand what drives domestic grain prices, what factors to watch, how to ensure that as much value as possible remains on farm rather than in the supply chain and how to use all the tools available to manage price volatility including price insurance, managing basis and carry with case studies and live examples.

The completely independent grain market academy offers a range of modules on an on-demand basis, as well as live and bespoke training options.

accessible price point with academy modules starting at £100 + vat,” continues James. “Farmers from across the UK have benefitted from our training courses, allowing them to manage price volatility and make better and more timely decisions that avoid them having to take large

CRM AgriCommodities are also pleased to announce that they are now part of the Syngenta partnership programme so that farmers can now spend their points on valuable skills and knowledge.

Contact us for more information on how to book one of our academy sessions, or visit https:// graintab.com/courses/. Call 01223 608910 or email info@crmagri.co.uk

Advertise here with us Get in touch with our team: Email: sales@farmingmonthly.com Tel: 02476 353537 40 |

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March 2021

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| Grain

Farming language; software company solves digital barriers igitalisation has changed the way farmers record, curate and receive data.

But with business-critical information now online, how easy is it to find what you are looking for? Not very, until now.

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With the help of grant funding through Agri-Tech Cornwall and the Cornwall Development Company, SimSage brought in a range of partners to speed up this development.

not have the pathways in place to make information on the site easy to find.

Global market research provider IDC says 25-30% of the working day is spent trying to find information.”

SimSage is now working with Farming Health Hub to enable access to

A significant proportion of farmers’ time online is therefore wasted – even when technology is supposed to be increasing

information covering multiple farming topics from a wide range of sources in one place. “Ordinarily, the more information there is, the more complicated and time consuming a search can become, but the plugin simplifies all that,” says Mr Wilson.

efficiency and freeing up time for farm work.

Software company SimSage has revolutionised the way website search tools can be used by agri-businesses and organisations to better connect farmers with the information they need.

It has developed a downloadable plugin website search function, which uses artificial intelligence to understand agriculture’s natural language.

A farmer typing ‘artificial insemination’ into the Google search bar will provide a colourful list of results, but unlikely will it be the shade they were looking for. “In industry, natural language is the use and interpretation of words and phrases that are specific to that sector,” says cofounder Sean Wilson.

And acronyms are another sticking point. “Type AI into any popular search engine and ‘Artificial Intelligence’ will dominate the search results – even when combined with ‘agriculture’ – but standard search functions aren’t configured to the broad range of agricultural language.”

While this example may seem trivial, it reflects on the incompatibilities creating barriers for an industry trying to keep digital pace. “When looking at farmers’ web use, Duchy College’s Rural Business School (RBS) found that farmers are online to find important information; most frequent in those searches were government websites,” explains Mr Wilson.

Additionally, finding information is often hindered by inadequate search engines– with participants calling for a ‘farmers google’.

The information gained through the RBS survey highlighted an opportunity for the business to adapt its original software.

“SimSage started up in May 2019 with our core product – software aimed at streamlining a business’s internal information storage and sourcing,” explains Mr Wilson.

“While the original software has been successfully implemented in agribusiness – including Glas Data’s knowledge base and data connect platform – we could see our core technology tackling challenges raised through the RBS survey.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

However, once configured, the plugin uses artificial intelligence to understand farming language and searches. From which frequently asked questions can be automated.

This means farmers can type in a question or keywords into the Hub’s search tool and quickly find specific information, no matter how they pose their query, he explains.

So what difference could this make to farmers sourcing information online?

The biggest problem is that business websites are not intuitive; most are company-centric rather than customercentric, says Mr Wilson. “They might be industry relevant and look great, but still

Installing the plugin to business websites will make them more easily searchable, so Mr Wilson is encouraging all farming organisations to use it to benefit the wider industry. “We developed the plugin search tool on WordPress as around 93% of UK websites are built on that platform; immediately that makes this tool widely implementable,” he explains. “Any website using WordPress can apply it directly from the internet.”

The software also benefits the business or body behind the website, allowing them to see what farmers are asking in real-time. “If agri-businesses are able to look at what farmers want to know, they can build and update the information and answers presented when these topics are raised as questions,” he explains. “An effective search tool on a website can generate anywhere between two and six times better engagement and revenue.”

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| Mental Health

New Zealand Dairy Producer Urges Farmers to Put Themselves First as He Shares His Emotional Struggles with Depression New Zealand dairy farmer who has spoken candidly about his battles with mental health urges farmers to put themselves first before their farm.

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Speaking during the Dairy-Tech Mental Health Awareness seminar on Thursday (11 February), Wayne Langford a sixth-generation farmer from Golden Bay, explained how he used to put his farm first, but says now his priorities are with his family and having fun.

Wayne, better known as the man behind the You Only Live Once (YOLO) Farmer Blog, said he decided to do something about his depression on his 34th birthday in 2017, after getting to the point where he had stopped making decisions and was becoming angry and irritable.

"My kids said I was no fun anymore, which was a real killer for me," he said.

"After a week or so mostly in bed, I had an out-of-body experience on my 34th birthday which made me realise I was fit, healthy and had a family.

"I got out of bed and took my family to the beach that day, sparking the idea we should challenge ourselves to do something different every day," he explained.

That is when Wayne and his wife Tyler set a challenge for a year of doing one

thing each day to show that they had lived that day, recording it on his YOLO blog and in doing so, changed their lives completely.

Wayne continues to share his daily challenges on Instagram.

Wayne says one of the hardest things is reaching out for help.

He said: "I remember thinking I would be locked up and put in a straight jacket. It could not be further from the truth."

To use a farming metaphor, Wayne says his brain had "cooked itself" like a tractor engine. "My engine needed to be cooled down and the damage repaired before it could achieve great things again."

He added: "For two years I felt like the lame cow in the herd holding everything back. No cow wants to be the lame cow, and while they will try and not be a straggler, all it takes is a bit of treatment and love from the farmer to help them improve."

Mental health is a growing issue in agriculture and according to the World Health Organisation the next pandemic is predicted to be a mental health one.

In 2019, 102 suicides were registered in England and Wales in those working in farming and agricultural related trades with farmers feeling the effect of pressures on their mental health.

Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation said: "Our industry is facing some very unique pressures at the moment, with COVID, Brexit and more. Whilst

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farmers are renowned for the attention they give to their livestock, crop and machinery it appears they do not have such a good track record when it comes to taking care of themselves and their own wellbeing."

She said it was important to start having genuine, non-judgemental conversations with people about their mental health and start normalising conversations around the subject.

"If you are worried about someone ask if they are okay and if they don't respond ask again. It is an opportunity to open up a conversation. While it is not your job to diagnose, you can show you care by having these conversations," she said.

The Farm safety Foundation recently ran their fourth annual Mind Your Head campaign to raise awareness about mental health issues in agriculture. You can find out more at yellowwellies.org/mind-your-head/ Pictures: Stephanie Wayne Langford

Berkeley

and

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| Mental Health

‘

THI S I S OLIV ER S S TORY Click here to watch the video

TALKING CAN SAVE LIVES – SHORT FILM HIGHLIGHTS VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY FARMING SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS new short film has launched today (Tuesday 9 March) which highlights the vital role of support organisations and charities in helping farmers during challenging times and supporting mental health and wellbeing.

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The film, titled 'The Hill Farmer', features Oliver Edwards, a well-known Exmoor farmer, telling his story of dealing with pressures on the farm at the same time as battling a diagnosis of colon cancer. This took an enormous toll on Oliver's mental health, and he had suicidal thoughts.

Initially Oliver found getting help difficult, as he shut himself off from others and didn't want to burden those around him. Thankfully, his diagnosis served as a 'wake-up call', which motivated him to ask for help.

Oliver said: "I felt really down and couldn't see any way out. I found it difficult to speak about what I was feeling. Those who aren't from a farming type of world can struggle to relate, as they don't know the same types of stresses that you might be under. I felt a bit foolish, and didn't think others would understand the problems I was facing.

"I'm usually seen as being the stable person and the rock who others come to for help. When you're in that role, it www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

is hard to be the one to ask for help.

"If I'd spoken to somebody earlier about the stress of what I was going through, it could have really helped my mental state. I urge those watching this film to talk to somebody. Talk to a neighbour, a family member, or organisations like The Farming Community Network, RABI or the NFU. Someone will have been in a similar situation to you and will understand."

The film has been produced by The Somerset Mental Health in Agriculture Group (SMHAG). SMHAG is group of individuals, from various rural organisations, with a common interest in raising awareness about mental health in agriculture.

The Farming Community Network (FCN), a charity and voluntary organisation with volunteers in England and Wales, has seen an increase in the percentage of calls to its Helpline (03000 111 999) over the past year that contain a mental health component, such as stress or anxiety.

One SMHAG member is Tod Merson, an FCN volunteer in Somerset. Tod said: "Oliver's story mirrors my own.

When I experienced depression during my farming career, admitting it to anyone else was the hardest thing to do. It is also the essential first step on the path to recovery."

The film was financed by The Bridgwater Agricultural Society (BAS), as part of its role in supporting farmers in Somerset. BAS director and Levels farmer James Winslade is also one of the founders of the national charity, Forage Aid. James said: "My work helping other farmers through extreme weather crises has convinced me of the need for better support for mental health. My hope is that this film, and the training built around it, will make a contribution to this."

SMHAG's Chair, Becky Wright from New Leaf, runs mental health training courses throughout Somerset and the South West. She said: "'The Hill Farmer', as well as being a very powerful film, will make an ideal training tool. The issues that Oliver talks about are central to an understanding of how farmers see themselves. I am developing a course which uses the film to help train others in giving support to the farming community."

Last month, a study by the Farm Safety Foundation revealed that 88% of farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today, and that 89% of young farmers believe that talking about mental health in farming will remove any stigma attached to it.

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| Technology

MAKITA LAUNCHES NEW SELF RIGHTING SITE LIGHT akita has launched a new self-balancing area site light - the latest addition to its range of LED site lighting solutions. The DML810 18V Self Righting Site Light LXT delivers up to 5,500 lumens (lm) and 360 degree illumination with the option for corded or cordless operation.

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The self-balancing design of the Makita DML810 means that it remains upright even when knocked or bumped, making it ideal for busy sites.

The 202 super luminous daylight white LEDs provide high quality illumination without the heat of halogens or incandescent lights. It features three operation modes, High (5,500 lm), Medium (3,000 lm) or Low (1,500 lm), and three illumination direction modes – full 360 degrees or 180 degrees to the left or right.

on High. When using AC power, the batteries function as a power back up to keep the area lit if the power fails.

This durable light unit is 787mm high and 420mm wide and is both dust and water resistant, with an IP54 rating when using battery power. It is also possible to connect up to 8 units together using the AC inlets and outlets to deliver light across the whole job site area.

Convenient carrying handles and a balanced side position allow for easy movement, transportation and storage.

With over 270 products compatible with Makita’s Lithium-ion LXT battery technology it is one of the largest battery / cordless platforms in the world. This allows users to use just one battery type and seamlessly swap between different pieces of equipment as required.

Lyndsey Bailey, Assistant Product Manager at Makita UK said: “The DML810 18V Self Righting Site Light has been engineered to provide a robust, durable and versatile lighting solution that is suitable for the toughest site conditions. The high quality illumination makes work easier and safer, especially as the LEDs eliminate the hazards associated with the heat of halogen and incandescent lights.”

To find out more about the Makita DML810 18V Self Righting Site Light and the full Makita range visit www.makitauk.com.

For versatility, the DML810 offers corded or cordless operation and utilises two Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion batteries, using one battery at a time. This means the light delivers up to 15 hours of continuous illumination on Low with two 5.0Ah 18V batteries, and over 3 hours 44 |

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March 2021

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| Groundcare

Mid-sized, RC40 expands McConnel ROBOCUT range

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cConnel has extended its remote-control product lineup of with the introduction of the new ROBOCUT2 RC40.

The new, mid-range, 40hp ROBOCUT bridges the gap between McConnel’s smallest, 28hp fine-turf remote control mower and the larger 56hp and 75hp, heavy-duty RC mulchers.

Designed especially for tackling tough terrain, the ROBOCUT2 RC40 features a low centre of gravity design and durable rubber tracks that make it an

outstanding all-terrain mowing machine, capable of mastering slopes up to 55 degrees whilst enhancing operator safety by removing them from the danger zone.

Power comes from a 40hp, three-cylinder, Yanmar diesel engine that uses a DPF filter system to ensure it meets the latest Stage V emissions regulations without the need for Adblue.

Hydrostatic drive features two speed range, with speeds up to 4kph in range one and up to 7kph in range two. Track options include; standard-rubber, super-rubber, studded and spiked and allow the ROBOCUT2 RC40 to work on slopes up to 55 degrees in any direction.

Twin roll-over protection bars and fully enclosed, all-metal body panels not only prevent the ingress of dust and debris, but also provide outstanding protection and durability when working in harsh conditions.

A Hetronic handheld remote-control unit provides intuitive and easy-to-master control of RC40 and offers a working range of 150m. Two large joysticks provide control of motion, steering and attachment control, while key features such as gearing, rotor speed, speed

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sensitivity, radiator self-cleaning and emergency stop can all be accessed at the touch of a button.

The new RC40 is compatible with a comprehensive range of cutting attachments including the 1.3m and 1.6m grass flailheads and 1.3m mulching flailhead. Further attachments such as stump grinders, trenchers, material handling and snow blowers transform the RC40 into a versatile remote-control work platform that increases safety, productivity and efficiency in a wide range of applications.

ROBOCUT2 RC40 is in full production and available through McConnel’s extensive distribution network. Retails prices start from £48,500

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| Buildings

Achieving Net Zero: The Importance of Energy Performance O

ver recent years, UK farmers have witnessed the impact of climate change first-hand.

An increase in extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, storms and extreme temperatures have caused lower yields, earlier harvests, establishment difficulties and the need to provide livestock with supplementary feed.

As environmentalists and climate scientists have been warning for decades, this will only get worse unless we take steps to fight back and protect our planet for future generations.

For this reason, the UK government announced in 2019 the nationwide goal of reaching net-zero by 2050.

With agriculture accounting for around 10% of the UK’s carbon emissions, the National Farmers

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Union took it a step further by aiming for net-zero agriculture by 2040.

“Our goal of net-zero agriculture by 2040 means the industry as a whole being a net-zero contributor to climate change,” says NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts, “It is a challenge but by coming together to encourage progress it can be done, and it will also help improve our business resilience as well as our environment."

What do carbon emissions have to do with climate change?

Carbon dioxide is a gas that appears naturally in our atmosphere. It traps the heat from the sun and ensures that the Earth is a comfortable place to live. Without it, we would face extremely low temperatures that would make life as we know it impossible.

However, due to human activities such as industry, burning fossil fuels and agriculture, levels of this greenhouse gas have risen by unprecedented levels over recent decades. This knocks environmental conditions out of balance, releases air pollutants that can harm human health and worsens the effect of climate change.

“Climate change encompasses not only the rising average temperatures we refer to as global warming but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts,” warns the National Geographic magazine.

Why does agricultural energy performance matter?

By improving energy performance in the agricultural sector and choosing more energy-efficient practices, we

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| Buildings can significantly reduce our impact on the planet.

opening windows wherever possible

2. Improve farm insulation Adequate insulation will help reduce energy ‘leakage’, reducing your energy needs and saving you money in the process. Ensure you have high-quality double glazing and both insulation and draft-proofing throughout your buildings where relevant. Make sure you’re also insulating those hot water pipes.

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Always close windows when heating buildings to reduce heat loss

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Monitor your energy usage using a wireless energy monitor and keep track of your improvements.

3. Reduce energy waste

Farmers can improve the energy performance of their businesses by taking the following steps.

A huge amount of energy used in agriculture is wasted because of habits such as leaving machinery on standby or unnecessarily leaving lights on. By becoming more mindful of these habits, you can reduce your farm energy costs and improve your energy efficiency.

Choosing more efficient appliances and farm equipment can also help you reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Whether you’re opting for an A+++ rated fridge for the farm office, installing energy-efficient lightbulbs or investing in energy-efficient farm equipment, these small changes can make a big difference.

1. Rethink your fuel source

Here are some tips:

Summary

Choose a more eco-friendly method of powering your farm building and you can reduce your carbon emissions and potentially save yourself money. To do this, you could switch to renewable fuels like solar, wind and biofuel. If you can’t do this or would prefer not to, consider an onsite fuel source such as a plastic bunded waste oil tank. This provides energy in a cleaner and more energyefficient way, you can buy your fuel in bulk so it lasts for months, you’ll reduce emissions caused by fuel transport and delivery and you could save yourself money too.

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Turn off non-critical appliances when not in use

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Ensure you’re heating hot water for the office or farmhouse when needed. This might be less than you think.

Due to climate change, Brexit and economic uncertainties, the UK farming industry continues to struggle against an uncertain future.

This will allow farmers across the country to maximise their potential revenue, reduce wastage of all kinds, streamline their business and survive the economic uncertainties caused by Brexit. By taking these steps we can ensure that UK agriculture continues to thrive over the coming decades.

Four steps farmers can take today to reduce their environmental footprint

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Keep all machinery well maintained and operating efficiently

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Only heat buildings when necessary

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Install energy-saving light bulbs

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Choose natural ventilation such as

4. Select energy-efficient appliances

By taking steps to improve energy efficiency in business and work towards net zero agriculture goals, farmers across the country can save money, streamline practices and processes and help guarantee a more prosperous future for us all.

Written by Charlotte Murphy

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Low Carbon Agriculture show online armers and landowners looking to learn more about practical solutions for regenerative agriculture, get advice on renewable energy opportunities, guidance on the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, information from experts, have the opportunity to network with likeminded individuals and view innovative case studies, should not miss Low Carbon Agriculture show online, taking place on March 9 and 10.

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Format: Fully interactive digital event with renowned multi-streamed conference Cost: The event is free for farmers landowners and related agri/rural business owners and all other attendees will be required to pay £99 plus VAT to gain access to the online content. Registration is online: https://lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk/ register/.

Free to attend and held in association with the NFU, The show is moving to a fully interactive digital format, to support farmers during not only the challenging Covid-19 pandemic, but through a rapidly evolving industry.

Maintaining its renowned multi-streamed conference, exhibition, networking benefits, and four key areas of focus - Energy Now Expo, Environmental Business Expo, Low Emission Vehicles Expo and Farm Technology Expo, Low Carbon Agriculture Show has extensively analysed different formats, gaining feedback from farmers who have attended online conferences, to create a digital event which delivers.

Visitors to the show can take part in a whole host of conference sessions, with expert speakers covering the latest opportunities in renewable energy, and new for 2021, topics such as natural capital, soil health, reducing on farm emissions, farm-tech, Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs), carbon management, and more, as well as a panel debate on reaching net zero in agriculture.

Just some of the headline speakers and topics include: • Jonathan Smith, Farm Carbon Toolkit director, will cover the topic: ‘How to calculate your carbon footprint, what’s the value and how can it be traded’ • Dr Mark Young, head of innovation at the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL) will present on ‘Net zero carbon and UK livestock’ • Ian Dickie, director at Eftec, will speak on ‘Measuring, valuing and monitoring natural capital assets’ • Phil Jarvis, head of farming, training and partnerships at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, will update on the ‘Allerton Project, examining the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment’ •

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German, will look at ‘Opportunities presented by energy storage’ • Ben Makowiecki, sustainability director at Lloyds Banking Group will present on ‘The future of environmental and sustainable finance in helping to reduce on farm emissions’

Chairing the ‘Reaching Net Zero in Agriculture’ debate is Olivia Midgley, deputy editor, Farmers Guardian, and the panellists include:

• Thomas Wilkens, Head of Technical Delivery, NFU Energy will outline a ‘Practical Guide to RHI Audits’

• Stuart Roberts, deputy president for the National Farmers Union (NFU)

• Greg Hilton, Partner, Carter Jonas Energy, will cover the rising demand for ‘Large Scale Solar’ and provide ‘Information for Landowners’

• Caroline Drummond MBE, chief executive of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming)

• Paul Cherry, Director, Groundswell Agriculture will speak on ‘The 5 Principles of Regenerative Agriculture’ • Laura Bishop, GSHPA chair will present on ‘Heat Pumps – How, Where, Why? The future of heat pump deployment in the UK’ • Jenny Clark, Assurance Manager, LEAF - Linking Environment and Farming will present on ‘Certifying Biodiversity Outcomes’ • John Baldwin, CNG Services Ltd director, will present on ‘The role of biomethane in the transport sector with specific farm industry opportunities’ • Ed Ford, Technical Agronomist, Beeswax Dyson Farming will talk through Beeswax Dyson Farming’s carbon journey Digital format Event organiser, David Jacobmeyer, enthuses that the new digital format will enable more farmers and landowners to access the information they need. “The digital show will allow greater access for a wider audience, providing the ability to engage with suppliers, in one-to-one conversations or as a group, gain expert knowledge and debate views raised in the conference sessions and easily network online with experts from across the renewables, agricultural, environmental and transport sectors.”

“Attendees can ask questions and engage with speakers.

Plus, in the exhibition, visitors will be able to access instant expert advice and ask the suppliers questions, join them in a 1:1 appointment for personal recommendations or join in group discussions about specific topics,” adds David.

Headline speakers debate ‘Reaching Net Zero in Agriculture’ Reaching net zero in farming is a cornerstone of the Agricultural Transition Plan and of Environmental Land Management (ELM) policy.

And with many farmers on board with the NFUs ambitions to reach net zero by 2040, this March, at the event, an expert panel of speakers will debate the stepping stones needed to get there.

• Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, chief executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) • Patrick Holden CBE, chief executive for The Sustainable Food Trust • Sir William Worsley, chair of the Forestry Commission Defra will discuss future environmental farm policy at the show Defra and other Industry heavyweight speakers will debate the Agricultural Transition Plan and the future of renewable energy on UK farms in the keynote conference session at Low Carbon Agriculture Show Online this March.

The keynote presentations will cover insights from industry leaders on the journey to a sustainable agricultural sector.

Discussing the Agricultural Transition Plan is Stephen Ayres, Programme and Policy Strategy Team – Future Farming and Countryside Programme, Defra.

Outlining the transformation of UK’s energy system and the role of onshore renewables, is Joe Penrose, senior policy advisor, onshore wind and solar, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

And looking at the renewable energy opportunities for farmers is Jon Swain, technical director at NFU Energy.

The keynote conference session will take place on Tuesday 8 March at 09:30 am and is chaired by Dr Jonathan Scurlock, chief advisor – renewable energy and climate change, at the National Farmers Union (NFU), a long-standing supporter of the event.

“The NFU strongly supports the Low Carbon Agriculture Show Online. The event has always been a trailblazer, and its focus on low carbon agriculture, natural capital enhancement and agri-tech is very much in tune with current policy, at a key time of change in agriculture."

Exhibition The show’s exhibition is packed with leading companies on hand to speak to farmers about opportunities for future-proofing their farm businesses, and one-to-one appointments can be booked at any time throughout the event.

To learn more and register, visit www.lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk.

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| Energy

WELTEC BIOPOWER Builds Energy-Efficient Wastewater Treatment Unit for 33,000-PE Sewage Treatment Plant

ollowing a public tender procedure, WELTEC BIOPOWER was awarded the contract for an anaerobic stage for the municipal sewage treatment plant in Bückeburg, North Germany. Apart from the earthworks and the electrical installations, the German biogas plant manufacturer will supervise the construction of the new sludge thickener, the engine room for the cogeneration power plant and the digester with its gas storage roof. Henceforth, the sludge will undergo anaerobic digestion in the stainless-steel digester. The budget for the various modernisation measures on the premises total €4.14 million. The anaerobic stage will be ready to go live in October 2021. Until now, the sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 33,000 PE (population equivalents) has applied aerobic wastewater treatment. The conversion to anaerobic sludge stabilisation will put the entire plant on track towards economic and ecological success. The new wastewater treatment solution is set to optimise operating processes and deliver significantly

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higher energy efficiency. Moreover, the new process is expected to reduce the sewage treatment plant‘s greenhouse gas emissions by 664 t/year. Within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the investment and development bank of Lower Saxony (NBank) rewards the carbon savings with a subsidy of €1 million. Besides the ecological improvement, WELTEC‘s anaerobic wastewater treatment will result in a significant cost reduction. For instance, the amount of sludge that accumulates every year will go down from 2,800 t to 1,800 t. Additionally, some 5 percent of the power consumption will be saved.

The greatest savings potential, however, lies in the sludge gas: „With the 465,000 kWh of power that we will gain from the sewage gas every year, we will be able to cover 40 percent of our own power demand“, says Rainer Klenke. The technical manager of the wastewater operations of the municipality of Bückeburg calculates that the yearly power bill will drop by two thirds from €195,000 to €65,000.The expertise for this optimisation concept originates from biogas technology.

WELTEC BIOPOWER will implement the digester as a stainless-steel tank in the tried-and-tested segmental design with a double-paddle mixer. The digester will have a height of 6.3 m, a diameter of about 19 m, and a capacity of 1,823 m³. The sewage gas will be stored in the flexible doublemembrane roof with a volume of approx. 600 m³.

This design stands out with much lower investment costs than a conventional digester and is therefore an optimum solution for smaller

wastewater treatment plants. The new static sludge thickener, which is equipped with a submersible mixer and boasts a capacity of 342 m³, is also made of stainless steel. A 226-kW CHP unit will ensure efficient utilisation of the gas. Both the generated power and the heat will be used on the plant premises.

Additionally, a gas boiler with an output of 170 kW will be installed in the engine room in order to ensure the heat supply of the digester even during maintenance work on the cogeneration power plant.

The municipal sewage treatment plant will thus experience an efficiency boost thanks to technological and processrelated improvements. Apart from the anaerobic stage, a primary clarifier will be newly integrated in the process. In this way, primary sludge will be extracted from the wastewater, reducing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) by a third. The lower this value, the easier the water can be treated. This reduces the aeration period in the aeration tank and thus the energy costs.

Thomas Sextro, Sales Manager at WELTEC BIOPOWER, explains: „Aerobically stabilised sludge contains a higher organics load and is more difficult to dewater. With the anaerobic process, the dewatered sludge has about 35 percent less volume, which saves sludge transportation and disposal costs.“ Such smart combinations of wastewater treatment, energy generation, and climate protection make existing sewage treatment plants future-proof. The costefficient technologies and proven concepts from the field of biogas are suitable to counteract fluctuating energy prices and increasing sludge utilisation costs. In Bückeburg, for example, this enables the municipality to keep its wastewater and surface water drainage costs steady without burdening the citizens with extra fees.

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Plugging into renewable energy diversification he renewable energy market is buoyant, offering enticing revenue streams for farmers thinking of diversifying. Kris Johnson, renewable energy insurance expert at Lycetts, examines the risks and explains how farmers can protect their investments.

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Growing pressure on UK agriculture – from subsidy changes and mounting regulation to climate change and volatile markets – is turning farmers into serial entrepreneurs.

What’s more, their commitment to managing land in a more environmentally sustainable manner is leading to diversification into low-carbon initiatives.

Renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, battery storage, anaerobic digestion and biomass projects, sit at the heart of the lucrative opportunities that have emerged to secure long-term returns.

The small-scale renewables market may have suffered a blow when government subsidies for solar schemes were withdrawn, but with the cost of technologies falling, the business case has once again become a compelling one, offering new revenue streams as well as a route to reducing farm energy costs.

Energy is becoming increasingly decentralised, with electricity generated from renewable sources hitting record highs in 2020, according to data from National Grid ESO. 50 |

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Many large scale projects are being developed and operated by renewable energy specialists, who will pay farmers and landowners rents of up to £1,000 per acre. Farmers, however, can also take on the responsibility and financial commitment for owning and operating schemes – but they should be wary of doing so without adequate planning, risk management and insurance protection.

At the outset, the viability of any renewable venture should be carefully scrutinised, alongside the long-term objectives of the farm in question. Expert advice in all project areas is recommended to help opportunist developers fully understand the technical complexities, to mitigate the risks and to engage effectively with local authorities planners.

Expect the unexpected The pitfalls can be many and gaps in knowledge will often lead to gaps in cover, with farmers being left exposed to unknown risks.

Over the lifecycle of a renewable project, the insurable risks can range from those faced during construction, commissioning and testing – including damage during the build, start-up delays and advanced loss of profits – through to a scheme’s day-to-day operation.

Close communication with an insurer or broker throughout any development is paramount, particularly during periods of

project transition. Gaps in cover can inadvertently occur, for example, during the window between installation and a plant’s operation.

The operational risks can then include everything from liability for workers and third parties, theft and damage caused by fire, hail or storms to the repair or replacement of equipment such as solar panels caused by electrical or mechanical breakdowns.

In the case of the latter, particular attention should be given to the quality standards of equipment and installations. These can vary greatly, and where equipment is deemed less reliable, insurance premiums can become extremely costly. In some cases, equipment may even prove uninsurable.

Conventional public liability policies covering third party property damage can also leave farmers exposed when it comes to incidents of land contamination or air pollution. Here, gaps can be bridged by specialist environmental liability policies.

Shutting the stable door after the horse is bolted is a common upshot of inexperience and a lack of expertise.

Moreover, this will invariably lead to significant financial loss.

Due diligence is therefore, more than just an advisable step for farmers embarking on renewable energy schemes, it is nigh on essential to avoid them falling foul of the unexpected. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

BIOGEST builds biogas plant in South Korea IOGEST received an order to build an agricultural and food waste biogas plant in the southern region of South Korea. The project, which is located close to Daegu, has been developed in cooperation with HC Energy and DoBangYukJong Farm, and is supported by the Changnyeong-gun city office. The BIOGEST PowerRing biogas plant will be an important reference plant to attract further local projects. The expanding energy gap, technology growth and population density has greatly increased the

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importance of renewable energy resources. Biogas production from animal, agricultural and food waste is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors of renewable energy.

The biogas plant is fed with pig slurry and the food waste will be delivered from an organic waste collection point.

BIOGEST’s proven biogas plant technology offers significant advantages in energy efficiency and operational safety, as well as an easy and costefficient maintenance system. The plant is able to produce both electric and

thermal energy. During the process, 13,000 tonnes of pig slurry and 5,000 tonnes of food waste, are transformed into high-quality organic fertilizer that acts as a substitute for chemical products. In addition, the air quality of the pig farm can be improved. HC Energy CEO Kim Hwa Su “HC Energy will build BIOGEST’s and Korea's first PowerRing biogas plant in Dobang Yukjong, Changnyeong-gun. Starting with the success of the first project, we hope that the supply of anaerobic biogas plants will be further spread in Korea.”

Producing Biomass From Hedges roducing an annual Biomass crop from agricultural hedges has to be better than paying to trim hedges and leaving the crop on the ground to rot which is the case with using current flail hedge cutters.

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vacuum collected into a hopper mounted onto the back of the tractor.

When full the hopper is emptied into a trailer in the field and when the trailer is full it’s taken back to the farm where the Biomass is either burnt in an on farm Biomass boiler to produce energy or stored and sold onto commercial biomass energy producers.

Hej Harvesting have designed and patented a new piece of machinery that does this very job.

A manufacturing partner is now required to bring this exciting new product to market that has both outstanding commercial and environmental credentials.

This evolves around a completely new cutting head design that cuts the hedges into uniform size pieces of Biomass that are www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Hejharvester.com

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Meet the Dairy Brands Flying the Sustainability Flag ou may not automatically think it, but meat and dairy products account for the most greenhouse gases compared to any other type of food production. And despite growing demand for dairy products, those in the industry must take action to reduce carbon emissions and make the future look greener for the environment.

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A 2019 report from UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) - and the Global Dairy Platform - shows that global dairy emissions increased by 18% between 2005 and 2015. During this time period, milk production had also risen by 30%.

Dairy producers are starting to take sustainable action, though. The Dairy Roadmap, launched by Dairy UK, leads the way for the industry to improve its environmental impact, with ambitious environmental targets for every section of the dairy supply chain. The initiative has already seen great progress made since its launch.

The industry has been able to reduce its waste and other pollutants.

The Roadmap will always adapt and innovate in line with standards and new targets, driving challenges for the dairy sector to never stand still. Dairy energy supplier Flogas Britain looks at the leaders within the dairy sector.

Arla Foods As one of the UK’s largest dairy

producers, Arla has ambitions that range from becoming carbon net-zero across all its operations by 2050, to using only 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.

They’re also looking for a 50% reduction in food waste between 2015 and 2030.

The company is showing good signs of progress and doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon. Whilst milk production has increased by 50% since 2005, the firm has cut its processing, transport, and packaging emissions by 25%.

Yeo Valley Yeo Valley is another brand famous for its tasty dairy products. The company believes that sustainability is the most important aspect of its production. The company’s ‘Put Nature First’ campaign highlights their commitment to protecting the world for future generations.

Organic farming is helping the company to drive forward with green initiatives.

For example, its farms now generate all their electricity from renewable energy and their cowsheds use an acre of solar panels to help power their activities.

The company believes that organic farming is the ultimate solution for lowering its greenhouse gases. Organic soils are great ‘carbon sinks’ that can hide harmful carbon and prevent it from entering the atmosphere. No chemicals or artificial fertilisers are used. Instead, the tasty yoghurt producers have dedicated 25% of its 2,000-acre site to

create a home for wildlife.

They’ve also joined the good fight with the Plastic Pact. This means they are dedicated to having packaging that is fully recyclable and made from 100% recycled plastic. Now, Yeo Valley don’t use plastic lids on its cream containers, and they’ve created a 100% recycled yoghurt pot, and milk bottles made from up to 50% recycled products.

Müller Using 1,600 farmers across Britain, Muller creates its dairy products with sustainability firmly in its day-to-day activities. Its environmental strategy is focused on doing ‘the right thing throughout the whole supply chain’.

Müller is hoping to achieve the goal of becoming net carbon zero by 2050.

They’ll also reduce their absolute carbon footprint by 40% and use 100% responsibly sourced feed by 2025. Also, by 2030, it plans to cut food waste by 50%.

The company is also looking to make all of its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. Adding to these commitments, its plastic packaging will be made from 30% recycled materials by 2025. Müller already uses 100% recycled milk bottles, and in recent times, saved 700 tonnes of plastic by light-weighting its bottles.

Its fleet of 500 delivery vehicles have gone electric, making it the largest operator of electric vehicles in the UK.

New Online Sale Announced for High End Dairy Genetics s one of the largest and most noted dairy auctioneers in the UK, Harrison & Hetherington are at the forefront of promoting and marketing elite dairy genetics.

Today, the company announces it will hold a pioneering new online sale, titled Global Connection Sale in April. This dedicated virtual sale will have consignments from across the world and will see the highest quality show cows, heifers embryos and semen go under the hammer. The auction will go live on the 19th April with bidding commencing on Friday 23rd April and will end of Tuesday 27th April.

Already, considerable interest has been received from prospective buyers and sellers across the globe. Elaborating on this, Glyn Lucas, Senior Dairy

This new genetic sale follows on from Harrison & Hetherington’s hugely successful series of online sales and auctions, designed in response to Covid19 restrictions. This unique online sale will have breeders from around the world give commentary on each lot with insight and knowledge that sometimes does not appear in a sale catalogue.

Auctioneer for Harrison & Hetherington said:

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“We are absolutely delighted to be able to now host this exciting new event for the industry, given the year we have all just had. We have all felt the effects of the pandemic making us all feel just that little bit further apart and I hope the Global Connection sale will be an

opportunity for us to re-connect and bring our dairy family together again.”

Given that Harrison & Hetherington’s annual Dairy Expo event has also unfortunately been postponed now until 2022, it is hoped that this innovative new sale will go some way to reignite excitement across the industry; albeit without the face-to-face sales that traditional live sales embody. Their Dairy Expo event is now widely recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated dairy showcase, usually attracting around 7,000 visitors from the length and breadth of the UK each year.

The auction will go live on the 19th April with bidding commencing on Friday 23rd April and will end of Tuesday 27th April.

Full details on the Global Connection Sale can be found by following the events Facebook page or by visiting: www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk. For more information on the sale, Glyn can be contacted on 07711 610255, or at glyn.lucas@borderway.com.

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Examine trace element status in organic dairy herds ahead of turnout

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s we approach spring turnout, organic dairy farmers are being reminded to monitor the trace element status of their herd.

The variety and quantity of trace elements available in organic pastures can hugely depend on the weather and differ regionally, field-to-field and right down to each cow’s mouthful.

And the transition from carefully balanced rations while housed, to spring grass, can leave herds at risk of mineral deficiency, which can lead to potential health and production problems.

Although supplementing with magnesium is a widely recognised, crucial consideration at this time of year, Hannah Reeve, group product manager at the Denis Brinicombe Group, says understanding the role of specific micronutrients is vital to help improve herd productivity and longevity.

“Many trace elements play a significant role in maximising overall performance www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

in dairy cows, supporting health, fertility and production,” she says.

Yields, health and fertility “For instance, although cobalt is only required in small amounts, its benefits are substantial when it comes to maximising milk production throughout the lactation.

“Cobalt facilitates the production of Vitamin B12 to take place in the rumen, which is then absorbed into the intestine, where it’s essential for energy metabolism.”

While warning farmers to be cautious of over-supplementing copper, Miss Reeve explains how copper, along with zinc, can support growth, fertility and a healthy immune system.

“Zinc is also an essential component, especially in the formation of keratin, which supports healthy hoof structure, which helps reduce the risk of lameness. Zinc also aids in repairing udder tissue after milking,” she explains.

“Another trace element that supports udder health is selenium. It helps fight against invading bacteria and pathogens that can cause mastitis.

Selenium also aids thyroid hormone production, alongside iodine, to enhance fertility and foetal development.

“Iodine is essential in the synthesis of

the thyroid hormone, which supports metabolic rate and promotes increased lactation, muscle function and growth. It also plays an important part in the oestrous cycle.

“In addition, manganese plays a pivotal role in supporting fertility and foetal development. And it also aids skeletal growth, in the formation of cartilage and connective tissues.”

Miss Reeve says there are many ways to supplement trace elements, that may be low or missing in organic dairy diets, such as mineralised buckets or bagged minerals.

However, she suggests a quick and efficient way to ensure trace elements are delivered to the reticulum of each cow consistently is to administer boluses ahead of turnout. This will mitigate against the potential variability in micronutrition that grazing can result in.

“Single-construction boluses, with a single-point of erosion, such as EnduraBol® Organic, can offer organic cattle with a sustained daily release of six trace elements, for up to six months, which is ideal for spring turnout,” concludes Miss Reeve.

EnduraBol Organic®, approved for use in organic systems by OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers), is available to purchase from agricultural merchants and veterinary practices. For more information, visit livestockbolus.com.

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Study highlights feeding for fertility M

etabolic profile testing could help inform farmers' decisions on beef cattle nutrition and improve calving performance.

This is according to a study led by SAC Consulting, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). Although a commonly used management tool in dairy herds to investigate the nutritional status of pre-calving and early lactation cows, metabolic profile (MP) testing has had little uptake in suckler herds.

The project, funded by the Scottish Government's Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fund (KTIF), found that MP testing is worth carrying out to highlight nutritional issues in the cows that could affect calving performance, milk production and fertility. It could also pick up on management issues, such as inadequate feed space.

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also body condition scored.

The study found that a third of cows were deficient in magnesium precalving, which is significant given the impact a lack of magnesium can have on slow calvings and then, potentially, on the health of the calf.

It also showed that a quarter of cows were deficient in magnesium postcalving. Again, this is significant to address, with low magnesium in cows going out to grass exacerbating the risk of grass staggers.

SAC Consulting Nutritionist Karen Stewart, who led the study with Dairy Consultant Lorna MacPherson, said: "Another finding was that over half the cows were short of rumen-available protein in the ration pre-calving which, if left uncorrected, may impact colostrum quality and milk production.

The study also highlighted energy deficiencies and, with corrective action, helped to safeguard calving performance and getting cows back in calf.

"In some cases, the ration looked ideal on paper and was based on silage

analysis, but feed access issues, weather and other environmental factors negatively affected the animal's nutritional status.

"We did find that trace elements and other major minerals, except magnesium, were not deficient and cows were generally well supplemented.

"Blood results from two of the 12 farms showed low albumin levels in a number of cows, indicating a potential disease issue. Liver fluke was subsequently diagnosed in these herds which had previously dosed for fluke and highlighted a potential problem with product resistance."

The study was supported by The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

It was also supported by Graeme Richardson from Thrums Vet Group and Cameron & Greig Vet Practice.

A full report on the project will be available online soon. A podcast on the topic is currently available on the Farm Advisory Service audioboom channel. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Test maize silage to unlock bypass starch benefit esting maize silage more regularly can help maximise the benefits of bypass starch and reduce the potential threat of acidosis. New maize silage tests from Eurofins can measure the extent to which bypass starch has degraded in the clamp to help prevent unnecessary acidosis through overfeeding.

“Our reports provide the information to accurately feed maize silage based on bypass starch levels. This can help prevent too much maize silage in the ration which can lead to acidosis,” says Eurofins Agro managing director, Daniel Robinson.

faster in the rumen. If farmers do not adjust the ration, to cater for this decrease in bypass starch, there is a higher risk acidosis,” explains Mr Robinson.

Furthermore, Eurofins tests show that the level of bypass starch in maize silage decreases during storage. If the level is not measured accurately, and frequently, the risk of acidosis increases. “Having silage analysed again in spring helps to prevent rumen acidosis. Our research shows that bypass starch decreases during storage which makes the silage digest

Eurofins suggests that the maximum bypass starch processing capacity of the small intestine is between 1500 and 1750 grams a day, which corresponds to approximately six to seven percent of bypass starch in the total ration. “By calculating bypass starch accurately in maize silage, farmers can maximise the available energy to the cow and increase milk

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protein production,” he says.

By cross referencing variety, drilling and harvest dates with the test data from dry near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) tests offered by Eurofins, dairy farmers can also be better equipped to maximise the value of the crop and its role in the TMR. “By identifying parameters like bypass starch, we can help farmers to choose the right maize and analyse it in the clamp to increase milk yields whilst safeguarding against potential acidosis,” he says.

To influence the bypass starch in the clamp a further evaluation of maize variety and starch structure can help to influence drilling and harvesting decisions.

“Choosing flint or dent maize and recording the drilling and harvest dates can help farmers to essentially join up the dots. Flint maize can be 20 percent higher in bypass starch than dent, therefore understanding what is going into the clamp can help to ascertain what is likely to be available when silage is fed,” he concludes.

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Ruminant Health & Welfare responds to Defra consultation on animal transport

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ny regulatory changes introduced as a result of Defra’s consultation on the welfare of live animals in transport must be evidencebased and rooted in science.

According to Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) – whose members represent the breadth of the supply chain – any new standards should be subject to a welfare benefit assessment and cost benefit analysis before being formalised.

Responding to Defra’s consultation, Nigel Miller, chairman of RH&W said: “Safeguarding the welfare of animals should be the primary focus of any regulatory change, recognising that the existing European regulatory framework has underpinned high operating standards within the UK. “Appropriate regulation must be supported by effective monitoring and enforcement. Some of the welfare problems identified in other European jurisdictions are the result of noncompliance and weak enforcement, not regulatory failure.”

The RH&W steering group welcomed the extension of what was a truncated consultation period. “However, concerns remain that the consultation was launched without a clear evidence base to support much of the detail, and that impact assessments were also incomplete,” said Mr Miller. “It is unclear that a limited extension for industry, expert, and professional bodies to input to the process will resolve these real concerns.”

It would be useful to align regulatory standards across the UK; the approach taken in the consultation paper to

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journey times and ferry movements appears to be disconnected from the experience and welfare imperatives of those working across the devolved nations, peripheral regions, and islands, warned Mr Miller.

“Without partnership working across the four nations, perverse outcomes or regulatory fragmentation are inevitable – collaboration must now be a priority.”

The proposed ban on live exports would also have farreaching consequences, which the government must plan for – including building regional abattoir capacity.

“Defra should, if a trade ban is implemented, take responsibility for the impact on businesses and support the development not only of sustainable high welfare rearing systems but markets for the classes of stock which have previously been reared in Europe.”

The introduction of temperature monitoring and forced ventilation to long distance transport vehicles was one of the positive welfare innovations supported by the current legislation, he added “However, it is clear that across the farmed species there are significant differences in their response to, and tolerance of, both high and low temperatures. Young animals including

calves and lambs having a reduced tolerance of extreme environmental conditions. A single benchmark temperature range for conventional transport is therefore unlikely to deliver benefit across all species.”

There was now an opportunity to adopt a more inclusive approach, to involve those with direct experience and relevant expertise to underpin the focus and design of the proposed legislation – in essence, a co-designed process, said Mr Miller.

“We believe time should be taken to use that resource to take the development process forward.”

The full consultation response can be downloaded from the website here: http:/ /www.ruminanthw.org.uk/

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| Livestock

FUW Livestock, Wool and Marts and Hill Farming Committee's highlight animal welfare in transport consultation concerns t a recent virtual joint meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales' Livestock, Wool and Marts, and Hill Farming and Marginal Land Committees, delegates discussed a Welsh Government and Defra consultation on ending live animal exports for slaughter and introducing restrictions on transporting animals.

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have in the UK. FUW Livestock, Wool and Marts Committee chairman Morgan JonesParry said: "The live export issue has been a hot topic for many years, and where animals from any country are transported in ways which do not meet UK and EU rules (which are the highest in the world), causing suffering, this is clearly unacceptable.

"However, there are far more intelligent ways to prevent this happening than a blanket ban on exports, and anyone who thinks the UK Government is gaining moral high-ground by proposing this need only look at the far lower animal movement and welfare standards in countries with which they are negotiating trade deals to realise this is plain hypocrisy."

The consultation paper has already been considered by the Union's twelve County Executive Committees.

Delegates were of the view that Welsh farmers should not be discriminated against by a ban on exports when those in other countries and around the world are free to move animals in ways which fall well below the high standards we

Committee members slammed proposals that animal movements should not take place in temperatures below 5 degrees centigrade unless livestock trailers and wagons have heaters and thermostats to keep the temperature above that level, given animals in the UK are perfectly acclimatised to temperatures well below 5 degrees.

"Livestock have been farmed here for about 6,000 years and are basically designed to cope well with Welsh winters, and temperatures below 5 degrees are hardly unusual in our country.

"Committee delegates therefore felt disappointed that the Welsh Government had put its name on the bottom of proposals drawn up by Defra, when their ridiculous nature was clear given temperatures in Wales are regularly below 5 degrees for weeks on end," said Mr Jones-Parry.

Responding to a recent comment by Secretary of State George Eustice that implied sheep, cattle and pigs could be excluded from the temperature range measures, Mr Jones-Parry said: "If that's the case, why is it in the consultation? Is it there to divert attention away from a proposal to place restrictions on live exports that will not be in place for the people we have trade deals with? Or is it that the authors in Defra and those checking the proposals in the Welsh Government are disconnected with the reality of outside weather conditions in England and Wales?

"Either case is completely unacceptable," he added.

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| Sheep

Free service for sheep farmers and advisors could reduce lamb mortality this spring s February has reminded us, the weather in early spring can fluctuate from extreme cold to warm sunshine within a few days.

A cold snap followed by rapid warming can result in a sudden and significant challenge to young lambs, as nematodirus larvae hatch in large numbers.

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The delivery of an important free-ofcharge service from SCOPS this spring to help sheep farmers monitor the risk to their lambs is very timely, as the first areas in the UK have registered as ‘moderate risk’ in the last few days.

The SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast is now live – a web-based facility allowing sheep farmers and advisors to check the nematodirus threat this spring and summer as new season lambs start to graze more grass.

The interactive forecast map is updated daily using data from 140 weather stations around the UK. Users can zoom into their area, select the nearest or most representative weather station and act according to the predicted risk (presented in a ‘traffic light’ format) to their particular farm. The forecast provides general advice for sheep farmers, advisors and vets to use in partnership to decide the most appropriate approach for individual farms.

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Speaking on behalf of SCOPS, Lesley Stubbings says: “Nematodirosis is a particularly nasty disease in lambs, causing a high number of mortalities and stunting the growth of many others. It is caused by the Nematodirus battus worm which, under certain climatic conditions can strike very quickly, with little or no warning. Cold weather delays worm hatching so, when we get a sudden change in temperature, as is so common in spring, it can trigger a mass hatch.”

Dr Hannah Vineer of Liverpool University developed the forecast for SCOPS. She says: “When the predicted risk increases in the local area, farmers should think about ways they can avoid or prevent infection to protect their lambs, for example by moving them to fields not grazed by lambs last year. Farmers should also be mindful that risk will vary from field to field. The Nematodirus Forecast provides useful guidance to help farmers assess the risk of each group of lambs based on the history of the field, as well as instructions to adjust the risk level for your farm based on aspect and altitude.”

In addition to the main map and general guidance, the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast includes historic data, allowing users to see exactly when the risk level in their area changed. There is also the ability to report a nematodirus outbreak that occurred before high risk was shown on the forecast, to help other users see when particularly high-risk

scenarios occur.

The forecast is available on the SCOPS website at www.scops.org.uk/ nematodirus and is completely free of charge, thanks to the general sponsorship of Bimeda and Techion FECPAKG2.

From the sponsors Eurion Thomas of Techion says: “The forecast is a great resource that gives farmers and their advisors real time information about the potential risk of nematodirus. We are proud to support the forecast, which complements our mission of helping farmers target effective treatments as part of a sustainable approach to parasite control.

We know our FECPAKG2 users will be frequent visitors to this site over the next few months.”

Mark Cokayne, Bimeda UK General Manager, says: "Bimeda supports the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast because it is a valuable early warning system for farmers to help them avoid the devastating effects of nematodirosis.

The forecast also allows the safeguarding of wormers against the threat of resistance by encouraging best practice through targeted disease control.” Bimeda UK also provides free AMTRA-accredited online training for vets and RAMAs to enable them to advise their farmers on best management and treatment practices.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Sheep

With regret, NSA postpones 2021 events t is with regret that the National Sheep Association (NSA) has made the difficult and disappointing decision to postpone its major regional events this year.

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Despite the promise of an ease of lockdown and ultimate removal of Covid19 restrictions as 2021 progresses, NSA regional event organising committees are unanimous in their decision to sadly postpone this year’s events.

Main events affected by the decision include NSA Welsh Sheep, due to be held on Tuesday 18th May, NSA North Sheep on Wednesday 2nd June, NSA Sheep South West on Tuesday 22nd June and NSA Sheep Northern Ireland on Tuesday 6th July. The organising committee of NSA Scot Sheep, an event that was also due to be held in 2021, made the decision to postpone earlier this year.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “All at NSA are so disappointed to have to cancel our popular events. We recognise these events provide opportunity for the sheep farming community to come together for a valuable day of knowledge exchange, a chance to view new and innovative products and to enjoy an opportunity to catch up with friends. But the ongoing risk and uncertainty surrounding large events have unfortunately meant that the difficult, but what we consider responsible, decision to postpone them had to be made.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

The latest postponements follow the sad cancellation of all 2020 events. including the flagship NSA Sheep Event last July.

Attention will now turn to ensuring this and other events now planned for 2022 and 2023 are able to return safely and offer the usual popular mix of seminars, farm tours, competitions, demonstrations, trade stands and other elements enjoyed by sheep farmers across the UK. Mr Stocker continues: “NSA’s series of events are run on a biennial calendar meaning these recently postponed regional events will now not return until 2023. However, we hope NSA members and other interested visitors will consider travelling to events that will run in 2022 and join the smaller activities that will now be planned in the regions, such as farm walks and field days.

“The service NSA provides to members through events is of utmost importance, so we are actively looking at other ways to deliver important updates on policy and practical information. NSA has found an online offering of these to be most effective while Covid-19 has prevented face to face gatherings, and it is now planned to continue to offer a blend of these and in-person events to the benefit of our valued members.”

Several dates have now been set for future NSA main events. These include: •

NSA Scot Sheep, Wednesday 1st June 2022, Dundee.

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NSA Sheep Event, Wednesday 27th July 2022, Worcestershire.

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NSA Welsh Sheep, Tuesday 26th May 2023, Powys.

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NSA North Sheep, Wednesday 7th June 2023, Northumberland.

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NSA Sheep South West, Tuesday 20th June 2023, Dorset.

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NSA Sheep Northern Ireland, date tbc in July 2023, County Armagh.

NSA thanks all regional event hosts for kindly agreeing to provide their time and farm locations for the new dates of the future events.

The event postponements do not include NSA annual ram sales, all five of which will be held later in the year. These are the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales (August and September), NSA South West Ram Sale (August) and NSA Eastern Region Ram Sales (August and September) Further details on NSA events, both online and in-person, and NSA rams sales at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/ events.

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| Muck & Slurry

Borger separators, pumps and macerators, now from 3 Core

orset-based 3 Core Limited, who during the past two decades have become a leading pump and services supplier, are now official regional distributors of Borger’s world-renowned separators, macerators and pumps for the UK agricultural market.

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In addition to its proven range of rotary lobe pumps, Borger’s widely acclaimed range of Bioselect Separators will now be available from 3 Core – from the recently launched 25 m³/h model (suitable for dairy farmers with herds of up to 150), up to 150 m³/h, for the easy and highly effective separation of slurry.

For 3-Core, Mike Harris, Operations Director, said: “Borger’s equipment has quality written all over it, so we’re keen to show farmers how they can benefit from this long-lasting range of pumps, separators and macerators, which are reliable,

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effective – and with Borger’s Maintenance-In-Place design, very easy to look after”.

Borger UK’s Managing Director, David Brown, added: “As well as being a go-ahead independent business with very high standards, 3 Core offer the complete package, so they are much more than a pump supplier. They have vast experience with installations, including controls and are always keen to solve problems for customers. We look forward to working together”.

Covering the South and South West of England as well as Wales and the M4 Corridor, 3 Core will be looking to develop new opportunities for Borger in the agricultural sector, which since its inception in 1975, is still run by the Borger family. www.3corelimited.co.uk 01300 348 551 info@3corelimited.co.uk.

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| Muck & Slurry

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Consolidated and in a good position for the next financial year ogelsang GmbH & Co. KG grew its revenue in 2020 by approximately 7 percent to 134 million euros. The mechanical engineering firm managed to increase its revenue in Germany and abroad in spite of the tougher market environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Above all, the agricultural technology and biogas segments drove this revenue growth. By launching new products like the XRipper XRG macerator for sewers and the UniSpread universal linkage and adding greater working widths for the BlackBird trailing shoe system in the agricultural sector, Vogelsang also responded to high market demand for innovative and targeted solutions. Based on these successes, the economic research institute Prognos AG named the family company ‘Germany’s Innovation Leader’ again for the second consecutive year in 2020.

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“We are pleased that we were able to expand our product range even in this year of crisis. We ow this success in particular to the discipline and flexibility of our employees. They followed the hygiene requirements we introduced early in the pandemic at our own initiative with great dedication and responsibility.

That enabled us to avoid partial shutdowns due to COVID-19, and even hire 26 new trainees,” says Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director of Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG. Internationalization of sales Vogelsang is now also more diversified internationally and has bolstered its sales structures.

Besides opening a sales office in Hungary, Vogelsang founded a subsidiary in Greece and hired new sales employees in several branch offices in 2020.

Recertification to ISO standards To guarantee quality standards

across multiple sites and countries, Vogelsang secured certification to the ISO Environmental (45001), Occupational Health and Safety (14001) and Quality (9001) standards. Recently, the company successfully concluded the second monitoring audit, putting it in a good position for recertification in 2022. Thus, Vogelsang once again is emphasizing its customer and employee focus.

Investment in product development In cooperation with Danish firm BioCover, Vogelsang added the SyreN system to its range, which compensates up to 70 percent of ammonia losses in liquid manure spreading by adding sulphuric acid. Vogelsang has invested in product development and optimization in the industrial segment, too: With the new RedUnit, equipped with the XRipper XRL260-1600, the company developed a prototype www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry of an even more powerful shredding technology with a unique service concept. With a throughput of up to 100m3/h, the RedUnit is already available for field tests, for example in rendering plants and applications in various areas of the recycling industry.

Well equipped for a digital year In the past few years, Vogelsang has already taken its digitalization to the next level, for example in production orders, document management and knowledge and information sharing. In 2020, Vogelsang also increased the number of online events held, hosting successful webinars on shredding solutions in the wastewater sector. The midsized mechanical engineering company is now building on this and adding a virtual 360-degree showroom to its digital services.

Customers and interested visitors can use it to find out about the company’s new products

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conveniently from their own desks. The virtual showroom has already been implemented for agricultural technology: https:// www.vogelsang.info/int/ agricultural-showroom. The wastewater, industry and biogas sectors will follow during the year.

Harald Vogelsang says, “We are looking forward to this year with optimism and will do our best to help our customers prepare to face changing requirements.”

For more information, visit: vogelsang.info

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| Muck & Slurry

It’s in the bag o meet government environmental targets, it is likely that covering slurry will be a requirement in England from 2027. This will cause concern for some farmers who will need to seek new slurry storage.

However, a flexible, scalable solution is already available in the UK that will keep slurry not just covered but entirely contained.

than 35 years. These tanks represent a cost-effective and flexible solution to contain slurry in small and large volumes. Bag tanks range in size from 200 cubic metres to 7,000 cubic metres and can be located on any soil type as only a shallow foundation is needed. The tanks have integral hydraulic or electric stirrers, fill/empty pipes and are selfventing so relatively little management or farmer involvement is needed.

Dutch company Albers Alligator have been manufacturing bag tanks for more

John Tydeman from Tramspread who markets and installs Albers Alligator

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tanks in the UK comments: “These tanks are proving ever more popular. They are lower cost and easier to assemble than comparable slurry solutions on the market and often don’t require any planning permission. We expect to see interest rise as farmers react to the need to cover slurry by 2027. These bags can help a great many farmers adhere to the new legislation.”

Bag tanks are low to the ground and have minimal impact on the surrounding landscape. Many farmers have installed

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| Muck & Slurry 350 cubic metres and are typically used as overflow storage but can be used as a temporary and portable solution requiring only a level, smooth site. A reeling device called Winsystem rolls the whole bag on to a trailer and will unreel it in another location.

bag tanks without requiring planning permission. However, those looking to install a bag tank are advised to seek guidance from their local authority. The vented tanks keep out unwanted rainwater and reduce emissions to a minimum. “These tanks are the best solution for keeping slurry at its best. The consistency of the slurry can be maintained to prevent solid build up and make it easier to pump out. The bag tanks also help to lock in the nutrients whilst preventing emissions damaging the environment,” says Mr Tydeman.

Albers Alligator also produce Winbag, a portable bag tank. These smaller bag tanks range from 100 cubic metres to

location. Once the area surrounding the Winbag has been treated it can be reeled in and moved to another location to repeat the process,” he says.

The ability to take these bags almost anywhere on the farm, unreel and fill, offers a solution to farmers with difficult to reach fields.

The bags are watertight so can be remotely situated, tanker filled, or pumped to, and emptied when the slurry is needed. “This level of flexibility is well suited to any farm that is spread over multiple parcels of land or for contractors who want to distribute slurry to different sites regularly. Winbags also enable umbilical spreading in hard-toreach areas which helps to reduce soil compaction,” explains Mr Tydeman.

Further environmental stipulations will see an end to splash plates which are expected to be banned from 2025. This will increase the need for farmers to use low emission spreading equipment, such as trailing shoe, dribble bar or injection.

Using umbilical systems also removes the need for multiple trips to fill up a tanker. “Slurry can be pumped from the main tank to a Winbag in a satellite

Further improvements to slurry storage can be gained by using a separator. The Stallkamp PSS 2.2-400 ComPress can help to reduce the volume of liquid that needs to be stored by removing the dry matter. The separator uses a screw pump to suck slurry through a contaminant filter that filters foreign objects such as stones and rubber mat residues. The filtered slurry is then transferred to a separator with either a 0.5mm or 1mm screen that extracts the dry matter leaving nutrient rich liquid.

“Separating is a cost-effective way to reduce the overall volume of slurry. It also creates a more manageable solid manure and a better-quality liquid slurry that is easier to apply using dribble bars or a trailing shoe,” he says.

Adopting and adhering to new legislation is often difficult and costly for farmers.

However, to meet targets the government is likely to introduce grant schemes to help with the cost. A typical 100 dairy cow unit producing 2.25 cubic metres of slurry per cow, per month would require a bag tank size of 1,500 cubic metres to keep 6 months slurry. “A tank of this size costs £56,500 which includes installation and is expected to last at least 20 years. A 100 cubic metres Winbag is £23,000 including the reeler,” says Mr Tydeman.

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| Muck & Slurry

Get more from spring slurry and digestate izura is a nitrification inhibitor designed for use with slurries or digestate and is available exclusively through Hutchinsons this season.

It works by delaying the natural conversion of ammonium to nitrate, thereby keeping nitrogen in a more plant-available form for longer, and reducing potential losses from nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions to the atmosphere.

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According to

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Growers applying slurry or liquid digestate ahead of spring-sown crops such as maize have a new option for improving the efficiency with which crops take up and use this valuable source of nitrogen.

manufacturer BASF, it takes around six weeks for ammonium to be converted into nitrate at low soil temperatures (5°C), but just one week at 20°C. However, Vizura can extend these conversion periods to 10– 14 weeks and 4-6 weeks respectively.

This gives more time for young plants to directly assimilate the ammonium form of nitrogen for protein synthesis and other vital plant functions, without having to use valuable energy

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| Muck & Slurry

converting nitrates back into ammonium inside the leaf.

considered to be insufficient for modern high-yielding varieties.

Hutchinsons crop nutrition manager Tim Kerr says this improves overall Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE), which in turn benefits yield. Trials in maize have found a typical yield increase of 5-7% is possible from using Vizura, giving an average return on investment of 3:1. One Hutchinsons trial in 2019 showed a yield increase of 2.5 t/ha of dry matter.

“Also, maize requires more than half of its nitrogen post-flowering, yet late fertiliser applications are difficult without damaging the crop or using specialist equipment, therefore it is vital to get as much value as possible from earlier applications.”

He stresses the particular importance of maximising the nutritional benefits from slurry or digestate applications in maize given the N-Max and RB209 guideline of 150 kg/ha is

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in wetter maize-growing parts of the country.

The ability of Vizura to reduce leaching risk has obvious environmental as well as financial benefits and is likely to be particularly important where high amounts of nitrogen are applied early onto light soils or where ground may become saturated - often an issue

Mr Kerr says maximising the uptake efficiency of ammonium fertiliser can have other key benefits too. These include lowering the pH around the roots which improves availability of phosphate and micronutrients; encouraging root growth; and increasing the plant’s resistance to stress.

Vizura is available through Hutchinsons in 10-litre cans and should be metered into the spreader or out of the storage facility via a dosing pump. It has been formulated for a low application rate of typically 2 litres per hectare.

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| Machinery

Versatile tractor/tyre combination boosts farm efficiency nvesting in three identical John Deere 6250R tractors, capable of carrying out almost any task and equipped with the latest Michelin AxioBib 2 VF tyres to reduce soil compaction, has been key to improving operating efficiency for Bedfordshire-based Bedfordia Farms.

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Approximately 2425ha of predominantly heavy land is farmed from the company’s Milton Ernest base, mostly combinable arable cropping. The business also separately contract farms 1400ha of arable crops near Leicester.

“Our Bedfordshire machinery fleet included 14 tractors from 120 to 620hp,” says assistant arable manager ‘JJ’ Ibbett. “All except six were John Deere, but because we tended to add to the fleet rather than trade in, we not only had operating systems from two manufacturers but also a range of concepts on tractors of various sizes and ages making operations complex, especially for seasonal workers.

suits heavier cultivations and drilling, but it’s bigger than necessary for other work. Reviewing the operating hours across our fleet demonstrated that tractors under 230hp worked the most.

Therefore, the 6250R with up to 275hp and enough traction for 80 per cent of our work was the logical option, and having three identical models together with duplicated implements meant they would be busy throughout the year.

“Understandably there was some initial reluctance to move from larger tractors, but we tried a demonstration 6250R and all liked it, especially the CommandPRO joystick. It’s easy to set up and use and the creep feature is superb. Although we considered other brands initially, these didn’t progress to demonstrations as the John Deere

solution seemed ideal and back-up from our dealer is so good.”

The choice of the 6250Rs was based on their year-round suitability for almost any task, matched with full-time operators and working a large number of hours. Their role includes primary and secondary cultivations, ploughing, corn carting, muck spreading, drilling and hedgecutting, plus other general work.

It was also suggested that fitting the latest 650/85R38 and 600/70R30 Michelin AxioBib 2 tyres with VF technology would further improve performance from these versatile tractors. Compared to standard tyres, the AxioBib 2 VF can operate at 40 per cent less pressure or carry 40 per cent extra load at a similar pressure, while also achieving 28 to 35 per cent more traction, seven to 10 per cent increased productivity and a potential four per cent yield increase from the enhanced soil protection, according to Michelin.

“Our previous 6210R was versatile, but couldn’t do enough of the key tasks,” says JJ. “We also have a 7310R which

Local John Deere territory manager David Purdy is a tyre and soil protection specialist, and he believes the tyre

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The three 6250Rs that Tuckwell delivered to Bedfordia were the first fitted with the new tyres in the UK and, after weighing the tractors and implements, Michelin calculated the required ballasting with inflation to 9psi for all expected operations. “We would definitely choose them again,” says JJ. “These are super flexible tractors, but the tyres provide the grip needed for larger implements such as our three 8m Horsch and Vaderstad drills, and 6m secondary cultivators.”

Although 9psi is suitable for transport too, Michelin suggests inflation pressures up to 6psi higher for intensive road use can optimise ride quality and improve wear characteristics. “Short journeys are fine but for longer periods and higher speeds, operation at 15psi improves ride quality and the tractors feel more stable,” says JJ. “We would like to see central tyre inflation added to the John Deere options list for even better results from these tractors and tyres.”

“We therefore reduced and updated the fleet, standardising where possible for improved reliability and efficiency and to lessen our peak labour requirement. With other machinery updated at the same time, seven tractors were replaced by four more versatile machines.”

John Deere tractors have been used here for more than 30 years and large, high horsepower machinery has been favoured. Supplied by local John Deere dealer P Tuckwell, the new arrivals included a 6155R and the three 6250R models, which have been key to the tractor fleet changes.

upgrade will provide multiple benefits.

“Research indicates that soil damage can be substantially reduced by lowering axle weights to below six tonnes and getting tyre pressures down to single digits. The 6250R with AxioBib 2 VF tyres achieves both of these targets, not to mention the potential for fuel savings.”

Previously a 12-furrow trailed plough was pulled by a 9630 articulated tractor, but the 6250R copes well with a sevenfurrow semi-mounted unit, achieving adequate grip while running on top.

“Clearly much of our work is at the top end of the 6250Rs’ abilities, but they perform well and the operators like them. We expect that over time our soils will benefit from the changes made, specifically with the reduced machinery weight and ground pressure leading to less compaction at depth. In turn this should result in a reduction in power requirements and potential changes in our cultivation strategy. We still have two 300hp tractors available when extra power is needed, and we will monitor each season to learn what works best and what is right for us.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Machinery

Spearhead crowns Attlefield Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year 2020 A specialist machinery supplier near Daventry has been named Spearhead’s Dealer of the Year 2020. Noted for tremendous energy and after sales support, the owner, Henry White, is just 29 years old.

Spearhead Machinery Ltd was established in 1988. The company specialises in the design and manufacture of rotary mowers and mulchers, flail mowers, and reach arm mowers for vegetation management and control. ttlefield Farm Machinery first stocked Spearhead equipment three years ago. During the last 18 months, their sales performance placed them at the top of Spearhead’s league table.

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Henry White comes from a well-known family with industry heritage. His father, Patrick White, runs PJ Services, the well-known international haulage company.

The White family also run farms in Poland. They used a 450-9S flex-wing topper to bring the farm back into production after 20 years of being fallow. As a youngster, this, Henry says first sparked his interest in the product.

An impressive single site dealer In his early 20s, Henry started selling quad bikes. Today, he operates from brand new purpose-built premises with Spearhead equipment at the helm. The Hellidon site includes fully stocked showrooms, offices, and well-run workshops. For a fledgling dealer, the 70 |

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level of investment and product knowledge is impressive.

After sales service is a huge focus for Attlefield Farm Machinery. Stocking plenty of Spearhead parts, they strive to get machinery back in the field quickly.

They also deliver parts - next day – with regular demand from across the UK and Europe.

Notably, Henry says: “Holding a continual stock of the renowned Multicut 460, 620, and the impressive new Sniper series flail mowers has been key to our success. They are the type of item you must be able to supply immediately.”

Attlefield and Spearhead teamwork Attlefield Farm Machinery’s success is also down to the fantastic relationship between themselves and Spearhead.

Working closely with Jack Norton (Spearhead Area Sales Manager) Henry is always on the front foot with Spearhead developments. He is also in daily contact with Steven Nel (Spearhead Parts Manager) in

Spearhead’s parts department, ensuring he is carrying the correct items to support Spearhead’s wide range of products.

The dealer’s success has been helped by nurturing this teamwork.

Says Henry: “I’m delighted Attlefield Farm Machinery has been named Spearhead Dealer of the Year. It’s great recognition for the team here and I’m happy to keep building on the high standards that we have set ourselves.

To my advantage, Spearhead takes centre stage here and I believe we give the brand the energy and attention it rightly deserves. There’s incredible demand for robust mowing and cutting machines across the UK. I couldn’t be prouder to align my business with the quality of Spearhead.”

Jack Norton recently presented Attlefield Farm Machinery’s trophy to Henry. Spearhead nominates a Dealer of the Year annually, basing the decision on dealer promise and success.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

System 300+ provides more feeding options

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he Kverneland Siloking self-propelled feeder range has been extended with the introduction of the System 300+ model in the SelfLine 4.0 range.

This new version represents the smallest SelfLine 4.0 conventionalchassis machine currently available from Kverneland, and is offered with four capacities – 19, 22, 25 and 27 cubic metres. It slots into the range between the 13-22 cubic metre rearsteer, tricycle-style Compact and Premium chassis models, and the larger System 500+ and System 1000+ models that span a range of capacities from 19-32 cubic metres.

Based on the proven System 500+ version, this smaller System 300+ models offers an air-suspended chassis with four-wheel steering and a 25kph road speed. Power comes from a

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218hp Volvo engine, with 1,000-hour service intervals contributing to lower cost of ownership.

Equipped with a 2m wide milling head that supplies the mixing tub using a 700mm wide belt conveyor, the system 300+ boasts twin vertical augers with adjustable, hardened knives and an integral FlowPlus hopper ring to improve bale processing. Discharge options include a hydraulic crossconveyor, and rear doors.

For the operator, the cab includes a 7in colour display showing machine functions including discharge door indicator, mixing speed and weighing data. Siloking’s programmable weighing system with feed management software is also included. A colour camera system with quad display offers connectivity of up to a maximum of four cameras, offering scope to watch feed discharge and tub mixing, for example,

in addition to a standard rear-view.

Those regularly handling high volumes of straw can now opt for an integral straw chopper. Available across the SelfLine 4.0 range, this new development sits behind the milling head, and is activated by a push-button from the cab.

This hydraulically driven straw processor delivers a chop length from 2-4cm, helping to shorten mixing times when including straw within rations.

Dimensions of the System 300+ models include and overall height from 2.93.53m depending on body capacity; an overall width of 2.54m; and an overall length of 8.9-9.4m.

List price of the System 300+ selfpropelled feeder models start at £249,104, for the 19 cubic metre model.

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Merlo Telehandlers at P and D Engineering re you looking to replace your telehandler? Do you find sifting through the huge range available both in the press and online a bit of a minefield? Then look no further than P & D Engineering, a Midlands based agricultural machinery company who specialise in sales of both new and used Merlo Telehandlers.

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Established in 1976, P&D Engineering is a Gold level award winning Merlo dealer supplying machines to both the farming community and other businesses within their operating area.

Over the years, they have built an enviable reputation for prompt supply, service and backup, providing a complete service to their customer base. "A Telehandler is one of the most important machines on the farm and it essential that downtime is kept to an absolute minimum" says Managing Director Mike Pullin. " He goes on to say that "prompt service and back up combined with ease of parts availability, gives our customers the assurance that they need and is the main reason why repeat business is at an all time high.

"Many of our used and refurbished Telehandlers have been supplied and serviced by ourselves from new, so we have a complete service records on these machines" says Mike. "This makes our job much simpler when we are preparing used machines for resale.

It also means that when selling a used whether locally or not, we have the confidence that the machine will perform reliably and to the customers expectations".

"We have a wide selection of used Telehandlers here at the depot" explains Mike. "Our machines are of

varying ages so we are well placed to find the ideal machine to suit a customers requirements. When you are buying a long way from home, it is important that your purchase is going to be reliable and capable of doing the job for which it was bought".

The company itself is founded on reliable service and backup with engineers, fully trained by Merlo carrying out maintenance work and repairs. Each machine is produced to a high standard

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and is comprehensively checked before it leaves the premises. In addition, their professional sales team are available to discuss your individual needs and to recommend the correct machine for your requirements.

P & D Engineering is also a main dealer for a number of other valued agencies

including McCormick and Kioti Tractors, Vicon, Kidd, Arrowquip and Ritchie livestock equipment plus many more. In addition, they operate a fast growing and successful Country Store stocking season essentials, animal feeds and clothing. They operate a call and collect service with delivery available, if required and anticipate having an improved online shop soon.

If you are looking to replace your telehandler, give P & D Engineering a call to discuss your needs. Speak to Mike or Paul on 01684-772912, or check out the selection of machines on the website at www.panddengineering.com www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

2017 Merlo 33.7 showing 3138 hrs. Fitted with air conditioning, Grammar air seat, boom suspension, pick-up hitch and trailer brake valve. This machine is supplied in great condition and will be serviced and checked over prior to despatch. Please call for further details. POA

2014 Merlo 32.6 PLUS showing 3817 hours. This machine is in good clean and tidy overal condition.

The specification includes a pick-up hitch and mechanical operator seat.

The machine will be fully checked and serviced prior to dispatch. POA

2012 Merlo 32.6 Plus showing 6313 hours. Good overall condition.

Specifications includes a mechanical operators seat and a roof wiper, currently not fitted with a hitch however can be added to this machine. This machine will be fully checked through, valeted and serviced prior to dispatch. POA

2011 Merlo 34.7 telehandler showing 7120 hours, with 3.4 ton lift capacity and 7m lift height.Fitted with pick up hitch and boom suspension.

This machine is in good condition and will be fully checked over valeted and serviced prior to dispatch.

POA

2008 Merlo 34.7 telehandler with showing 7766 hours. 3.4 lift capacity and 7m lift height. Fitted with pick up hitch, boom suspension and air seat.This machine is in good condition and will be fully checked over, valeted and serviced prior to dispatch. POA

2004 New holland T3020 45hp compact tractor fitted with mechanical gearbox and front linkage. This tractor is in good condition and a nice example. Good tyres all around. It has been through our workshops, checked, serviced and ready to go to work. Call us for more details.POA

2009 Merlo 36.10 PLUS showing 7360 hours. This machine has a 3.6 ton lift capacity with a 10m lift height. Fitted with pick-up hatch, air con, air seat, side shift and frame levelling. In very good condition for its age. It will be fully checked and serviced before sale.

POA

Arrowquip, premium cattle handling systems. Strong, silent quieter and safer for both your stock and yourself. We are the areas main distributor for this world class range! Give us a call today and discuss your requirements. We will tailor a system to suit your farm.

Our stock is continually changing. We have a number of machines currently going through our workshops plus other machines due to be with us shortly. Please call us for more details.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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altra Connect has for several years enabled tractor owners and their local service technicians to monitor tractor data remotely. In the near future, customers can choose to make this data available to the AGCO Machine Monitoring Center, where service needs can be

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detected in advance through the continuous processing and analysis of the data transmitted by tractors.

“Traditionally, service teams used to react to visible faults, but in the future it will also be possible to predict a wide range of service needs in advance. For example, a component that is at the

end of its life cycle can be changed during servicing before it breaks,” says Jani Rautiainen, Director, Parts and Service.

The tractor’s sensors measure dozens of different variables, such as speeds, temperatures, pressures, operating hours, flows and so on. If the Machine Monitoring Center detects that a component is failing on the basis of its temperature, operating hours and pressure, for example, a message can be sent to the local service centre or the customer.

“The nearest authorised Valtra service centre to the customer will receive a message explaining the suspected fault, instructions for fixing the fault, a list of the required components and an estimate of the time needed to make the repairs. This gives both the service centre and the customer the chance to agree on a suitable time to service the tractor,” Rautiainen

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| Machinery explains.

Service being phased in The new service underwent testing in 2020 among customers in real-life conditions. The same system is already in use or being introduced for other AGCO tractors, harvesters and sprayers, so there is already a lot of practical experience with the service.

“The service is already being phased in. The system is being developed all the time, so its ability to detect possible problems in advance and provide service technicians and the

customer with repair instructions is improving continuously.

This development work is facilitated by the fact that we can utilise the same technologies in other AGCO products.”

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No additional costs, hardware or software The new service will be offered as part of Valtra Connect, so there will be no additional cost to customers. Similarly, no new hardware or software will be required. For existing Valtra Connect customers, accessing the service will be simple. Naturally, customers also have the option to not begin using the new service.

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| Machinery

Mounted or trailed - heavy duty discs T he straw tines aid the seedbed preparation and even spreading of debris when operating the discs at 25mm depth for seed chitting. For final soil preparation the disc operated at your preferred cultivation depth in combination with the Atom subsoiler will provide a finished seedbed ready to for drilling.

The deflector board keeps the soil supressed in front of the rear disc when high operating speeds are achieved. As soil passes through the first disc is will be naturally thrown upwards. During high operating speeds this soil will hit the deflector board which diverts the soil downwards for the second row of discs to cultivate. The impact will also

aid soil crumbling aiding soil preparation.

The steel ring packer provides excellent final soil preparation.

Breaking any final soil lumps and providing an even soil consolidation. Various packers are available to suit your needs.

The PUMA seed bed cultivator has been designed with strength, quality and consistency at its core. The initial toothed levelling board effectively shatters large lumps as the soil then passes through the front depth control cage roller further

preparing the soil structure for drilling.

The standard heavy duty vertical sprung tines provide excellent penetration even in the most challenging soil types.

The passive spring

action crumbles the soil to its final seed bed readiness. Due to the vertical entry point the tines do not flick stones towards the surface. By utilising the heavy-duty tine, the rigidity of the tine is maintained which increases the effectiveness of the working tine. The added benefit of a vertical placed tine is any crop residue is evenly distributed and not collected

and transported to the lifting out of work point.

The final standard accessory is the standard steel ring packer.

Other packer options are available but in combination on the Puma cultivator it provides market leading consolidation and final seedbed preparation.

After ploughing PFC used this Puma on a single pass then drilled with their tine drill for winter wheat. Establishment has been exceptional with an even consistence seedbed produced.

More info: http://pfc-eu.com

The Ares BTX 3-meter disc harrow has 2 rows of 12 independently sprung 560mm discs which are well suited for shallow surface seed chitting to a maximum cultivation up to 170mm working depth. Standard specification includes NSK bearings, LED lights, active side screens and straw tines and deflector board between the discs. The Ares BTX can be combined with the Atom GT subsoiler as a single pass unit for the min till operation of directly after ploughing removing compaction pans and aerating the soil with a maximum working depth of 450mm

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| Machinery

Small is beautiful – Lynch Plant Hire's new Takeuchi minis fitted with GKD machine guidance safety system achine guidance manufacturer, GKD Technologies has been supplying nationwide plant hire specialists L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage for over 3.5 years in what has been a successful partnership providing Lynch with height and slew restrictor systems for the company's modern fleet.

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Lynch has recently expanded its reliable hire fleet and has welcomed five new Takeuchi TB250-2 miniexcavators. The machines have all been equipped with GKD Technologies 2RCi height, slew and load rated capacity indicators.

The Takeuchi TB250-2s are compact but powerful, perfect for when space is limited. These premium quality machines offer great operator comfort and allow for maximum productivity.

With Stage V engines, these excavators meet the highest emission standards and help Lynch customers continue their journey to a more sustainable future.

The TB250-2 also offers improved fuel economy, which leads to considerable cost savings and lower carbon www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

emissions, reducing environmental impact.

Fitted with GKD 2RCi Height & Slew limiters, these excavators meet Highways England's safety standards for Plant Machinery operating near live traffic lanes.

Additionally, the Magenta Beacon offers further visible assurance that the system is in full operation.

The 2RCi, in addition to height and slew limiters, has the option of 'envelope control', which is the facility for parallel or multipoint virtual walls, combined with integrated height control.

This provides the operator with the ability to initiate full envelope control, ensuring that the machine continues to operate safely whether in lifting or excavation modes.

The 'envelope control' function is particularly important when machines are required to operate in restricted environments, which includes working

close to open highways or underneath overhead obstructions.

The GKD 2RCi has many features to help manage the operation of a machine, which include key switches that allow supervisors to set and lock limits, also the facility to allow an RCI system to be switched off when not required, for example on rental machines.

The system provides full data logging of all actions and activities with integrated diagnostics, which provides valuable management information for the safe operation and effective maintenance of machines.

The new Lynch Takeuchi miniexcavators are already out on hire on the M1 improvement project, carrying out essential motorway upgrades.

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| Tyres

Hybrid tyre ready for silage season

new hybrid tractor tyre from Continental is now available in the UK and Ireland to help with the demanding road to field transitions of silage work. The very high flexion (VF) tyre is fitted with a pressure monitoring sensor and has a tread pattern that offers comfort and durability on the road, whilst protecting the sward in the field.

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overinflated tyres in the field lead to increased soil compaction. The ContiPressureCheck™ sensor in the hybrid tyre helps the operator to monitor

Heavier, more powerful tractors are increasingly being used on the road. The need to reduce wear through road use has inspired the design of the new hybrid tyre. “Heat build-up through heavy road use causes conventional tyre rubber to soften and wear more quickly. However, the tread design of our new hybrid tyre helps to reduce the temperature of the tyre which reduces the wear rate,” he says.

“Hybrid tyres are safer, more efficient and offer better comfort to the operator. Pressure sensor technology is the future of tyre functionality because tyres can run at the optimum pressure on the road and in the field.” says Continental’s agricultural tyre specialist, Richard Hutchins.

The Continental VF TractorMaster Hybrid tyre tread is designed to be comfortable on the road and offer excellent grip in the field. The sensor in the tyre communicates pressure and temperature to a terminal in the cab which helps the operator decide on the optimum running pressure. When coupled with onboard inflation technology, tyre pressure can also be adjusted without leaving the tractor.

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The tyre was developed using computer modelling in the research and development department at Continental’s agricultural manufacturing facility in Lousado, Portugal.

“This tyre has been specifically designed for users frequently transitioning from field to road. It is perfect for silage making and tractors travelling long distances on the road,” he says.

and choose the correct pressure to make the vehicle kinder to the soil and more efficient on the road,” says Mr Hutchins.

VF tyres can carry forty percent more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure. Alternatively, in the field, the pressure can be lowered by forty percent, even when carrying the same load.

The structure of the VF tyre carcass is more resistant than standard tyres so the tyre can operate at lower pressures in the field and at higher speeds on the road. “This will make hybrid tyres a popular choice for silage and harvest work where large loads need to be transported long distances,” concludes Mr Hutchins. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tyres

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR FODDER CROPS ounded by the Caligari family in Pralboino, in the province of Brescia in North Italy, the farming company Crocetta has been rearing dairy cows for over eighty years.

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All the activities undertaken by the company, from animal husbandry to cultivating fodder crops in the surrounding countryside, translate into a single, genuine end product: highquality milk.

Nowadays the company is run by Angelo Caligari, who every day passionately takes forward the business he inherited from his father and uncles. It is work which requires a lot of care and dedication, and which every day sees Angelo and his staff busy from the crack of dawn to late afternoon.

“Here the morning starts early – says Angelo Caligari - at 6 we start work in the sheds and this goes on to around 9, after which and until the end of the day we focus on managing and cultivating our fields where the fodder used to feed our herd grows."

In order to optimize the work in the field, Angelo decided to fit out his John Deere 8360 R tractor with BKT's best-selling tires, AGRIMAX FORCE. “What advantages do these tires offer you? For sure, great stability and perfect control of the vehicle. The

tractor does not lose power or speed, which makes our work in the fields much easier – Angelo notes. “We needed a product which would let us have the best possible ride, both on the road and in the field. AGRIMAX FORCE tires provided a perfect answer to this need thanks to their IF technology which lets you work on different types of terrain without having to change tire pressure. Lastly, the product's properties and features ensure the cleaning of the tire in just a few minutes once you leave the field.”

AGRIMAX FORCE is the highly innovative BKT product designed to equip large, powerful tractors on every type of terrain, thus improving their performance.

The IF technology which is a feature of these tires ensures that vehicles can have a wider tireprint and so excellent flotation on the ground, thus reducing

the impact on the soil.

Resistance, traction, speed and flexibility are without question the qualities which best characterize AGRIMAX FORCE tires.

“These tires really meet all our needs, simplifying the day to day work we do in the field. It is equipment which helps us manage our land and so preserve its health and thus contribute to the final production of high-quality milk."

Fully meeting the needs of customers: this is one of BKT's most important goals and the company is constantly working to expand and increase the efficiency of its tire ranges. That is why BKT Stories, i.e. the first-hand experience of the ambassadors who use BKT tires, such as Angelo Caligari, are essential for the brand.

BKT Stories also have a key role on the company's website, which thus aims to promote direct and open dialogue with end users, letting customers find the most suitable solution for their needs online.

Bridgestone's 10 year tyre pledge to farmers ridgestone's premium agricultural tyre offering has been made even more appealing to farmers and contractors, after the company doubled the period of warranty cover on its extensive range of AG radial drive products to 10 years.

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For the first time, products such as the VX-TRACTOR and the VT-TRACTOR will be accompanied by the extended cover, while Bridgestone will change the starting point of its cover, too.

Previously, it was from the date of www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

manufacture and for five years, but this has now been altered to begin from the date the farmer purchases the tyre, meaning that the farmer will benefit for the full 10 years of ownership.

Bridgestone's Technical Manager Gary Powell said: "We are delighted to offer the new extended warranty to our farmers. From our dashboard data, we have clearly seen a continuing improvement to the reliability of our products operating in the farming environment. This has been made possible by advances in production

technology and new design features.

"We are more than comfortable to double the length of warranty cover, which clearly is a powerful indicator of our confidence, in our products' reliability. And all this is at no extra cost to the farmer."

Bridgestone tyres are available and fully supported in the field by their UK network of Bridgestone AG Dealer Partners, who boast a wealth of experience in the upper premium / high performance agricultural tyre sector.

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Suzuki KingQuad Auctioned for Charity A limited edition white KingQuad ATV that was donated to the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association by Suzuki GB in 2018 was recently auctioned off for £8000 in aid of charity at Lanark Auction Mart.

Since most Charities have not been able to fund raise over the last year due to COVID-19 the Association decided that some of the proceeds from the ATV along with money from their own funds would be donated to charity. The three main charities to receive some money will be MS Scotland, Garvald West

Linton and the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).

The purchaser of the ATV was Jim Pate from Toxside Farm, Midlothian. Jim farms 4000 acres over three farms along with his two sons, Gordon and Neil. They have They have 1500 ewes including 1200 Blackface, and 160 Angus x Simmental cows. They have used Suzuki ATVs for many years and find them to be very reliable and comfortable compared to their competitors.

The ATV was handed over to Jim by

Alec Telfer, President of the Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association and Allan Wight from Suzuki Dealer, Hendersons in Selkirk. At the handover Jim said, “I was delighted to be able to purchase this special edition Suzuki ATV, especially when the money would be going to charity.”

Alec Telfer, President said, “We would like to thank Suzuki for their partnership over the last two years and providing a members’ discount on their ATV’s. The ATV was promoted at all the events that we attended and has given us the opportunity to raise some much-needed funds for these good causes.”

Try before you buy* Knowing that customers want 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 on-hand to help customers to find the right ATV for them.

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.

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he TGB Blade series of midto-high-capacity road-going and utility ATVs has been powering on through the recent lockdowns and restrictions.

An industry-leading five-year manufacturer warranty, coupled with affordable price tags of under £10,000 plus VAT across the range, allied to top-spec features and performance, has convinced many agricultural and utility operators, as well as leisure riders, to turn to the increasinglypopular Taiwanese brand.

At the top of the TGB ATV line-up, is the flagship model, the Blade 1000 LTX. It boasts the ultimate specification in ATV technology ,with a powerful 997cc V-Twin EFI engine and reprofiled camshafts that are designed to increase low-end torque and give a more linear power curve.

The big blade is equipped with TGB’s innovative front and rear differential system, which allows the user to lock either axle independently. This facility www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

provides superior on-road handling when unlocked, and, when locked, allows the off-road user to ride the machine to its full potential in low-grip situations. It also has three-mode adjustable electric power steering and hydraulic shocks.

A full LED headlight system is set in a stylish and aggressive front, wrap-round body panel, with a removable front grill and strip indicators, all topped off with a roomy and strong front rack. The TGB is a fullsize, two-up machine with a comfortable passenger seat which incorporates pillion grab bars, back rest and rear rack. A digital dash, tow hitch and electronic winch round off the Blade 1000 LTX package, which is also fully Euro 4-compliant.

At just £9,082.50 plus VAT, and that five-year warranty included as standard, this high-end quad delivers prime value-for-money.

For further product information and stockist details, contact the UK distributor for TGB: Dualways T: 01623 708607 www.dualways.com

Specifications;

Bore/stroke; 92 x 75.0mm Capacity; 997cc Clutch; Automatic - CVT Compression ratio; 10.2 Cooling; Liquid cooled Drive type; 2/4-wheel drive, selectable Dry weight mass; 380 kg Electric power steering; Yes Electrical outlet connector; DC 12V 10A 120W Engine braking system (SBS); Standard Engine Type; 4-stroke V-Twin Final drive; Shaft Front brakes; 230mm dual hydraulic disc Front differential; Electric lock Front rack (max loading); 30kg Front shock absorbers; EVO hydraulic 220mm travel Front/rear suspension; Independent double A-arm Fuel system; Electronic Fuel Injection Fuel tank capacity; 23 litres Gear selection; L/H/N/R/P Gearbox; Automatic Ground clearance; 295mm Max power; 86hp (off-road) Max Torque; 77.7nm Overall height; 1290 mm Overall length; 2330 mm Overall width; 1200 mm Rear brakes; 210mm dual hydraulic disc Rear differential; Electric lock Rear rack (max loading); 50kg Rear shock absorbers; EVO hydraulic 242mm travel Start type; Electric Tow hitch; Yes Transmission type; V-belt CVT automatic Unbraked towing capacity; 894kg Warranty; 5 year manufacturer limited warranty Winch: Yes

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A Suffolk Game Farm patrolled by Honda ATVs & UTVs Suffolk game farm has found that there is no substitute for the reliability and performance of a Honda ATV, after trying several other brands.

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Trading as Branches Park Hatcheries and based near Newmarket, the company rears approximately half a million pheasants and partridges each year. Birds are sold to shoots from the South-West of England to Wales and northern Scotland as well as across East Anglia. Peter Bailey started the business in 2009, when neighbouring estates asked him to supply poults to

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them alongside birds he was rearing for his own shoot.

The shoot is on approximately 600ha of arable fields and woodland which is owned by the Bailey family. Most shoot days are for the family and friends, but there are also a growing number of sold days each year.

Second-hand Honda “The land is predominantly heavy clay, so during the wet winter months if we try to use tractors and trailers or conventional 4x4 vehicles, they often struggle and cause excessive ground

damage including deep ruts,” explained Peter. “We needed something smaller and lighter, and invested in a secondhand Honda TRX350 Fourtrax 4wd ATV which was purchased from our local main dealer, and it revolutionised our shoot transport. Its reliability was amazing and it made travel around the farm quick and easy, and its light weight and large flotation tyres meant it hardly left a mark even in the wettest conditions.”

The TRX350 was replaced after a few years by another Honda which proved equally good, and new machines have been purchased every few years since;

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| ATV as Peter believes in keeping his machinery up to date. “I am always amazed at the way Honda ATVs retain their value,” he explained. “Whenever we change other vehicles or equipment we are disappointed at how little the trade in is worth, but because Honda ATVs are always in demand secondhand they hold their value well, so it costs relatively little to update them.”

The ATV’s main tasks include general transport, and delivering more than three tonnes of feed each day during the summer months to the rearing pens. Almost all the use is off-road, including on soft, muddy ground and along rutted tracks. Half a tonne of feed is spread for the birds on the shoot using a rear rack-mounted spinner, and the rest has to be transported from bulk bins to the rearing pens by trailer - a task which takes most of the day, seven days per week.

Foreman TRX520FM6 “Our latest Honda ATV is a Foreman TRX520FM6, which was delivered last October, and we chose it for its carrying and towing capacity,” continued Peter.

“It’s got plenty of power and a simple five-speed mechanical transmission, selectable two or four wheel drive, a front differential lock and power steering. The load racks are stronger than on previous models and it’s rated for towing trailers up to 599kg.

“It was recommended by Keith Collins at MKM Agriculture, our local main dealer, and during the 100 hours it has worked so far it’s proved ideal for our situation.”

Superior performance Although there have been Honda ATVs on the shoot from the start, Peter has also tried other brands. “An employee joined us from another game farm and strongly recommended the ATV brand he had used there. Eventually we bought one, but the reliability was awful and it just couldn’t put up with the sort of work that our Hondas do every day.

We replaced it with another Honda quite quickly.

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“We also tried a diesel-powered sideby-side UTV with a rear load bed, as we felt it might offer advantages.

However, although being able to fill up with diesel from the farm tank was convenient, the downside was that it was very noisy, heavy and lacked power. Most jobs took longer than when we used the Honda ATVs, and it couldn’t pull the feed trailers when conditions were tough. When we heard that the Honda TRX520FM6 was available with its heavy duty rear suspension and rated to carry and pull heavier loads, we traded in the diesel UTV and remain pleased with our decision.”

Although the diesel engine UTV proved unsuccessful, Peter is keen to try Honda’s Pioneer 700 UTV which has a powerful 675cc petrol engine and three-speed mechanical drive torque converter transmission.

“Being able to carry two people plus a load would be an advantage, and the quieter petrol engine would be more suitable for vermin control too. Every new Honda ATV we have had has been better than the one it replaced, so I have full confidence that the Honda Pioneer would perform equally well. We would keep our Honda ATV as it’s unbeatable for working in confined areas such as away from established tracks in the woods, but the Pioneer would offer other advantages.”

Sticking with Honda “Every day when we go to the Honda ATV we know it will start and, as livestock farmers, that’s the most important requirement of any of our equipment. It’s easy to look after, the main user loves it and the back up from MKM Agriculture is excellent.

“After experimenting with two competitor brands we have learned our lesson and will stick with Honda in future. It cost us money and downtime each time we tried something different.”

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ATV provides mobility for Para-equestrian onna Rooney has used Yamaha ATVs as mobility vehicles for almost twenty years. Following a serious horse-riding accident, she was hospitalised for almost a year. “I was categorised as having life changing injuries following a rotational fall which caused the horse to break bones in almost all parts of my body. My ankle is fused, and I have little feeling in my left leg, so I have to walk using crutches. I have since had twenty operations on my legs, but none have helped me to regain greater mobility,” she says.

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Donna competed in eventing and was based in Surrey. However, following the accident, she was forced to revaluate her life and her future with horses. “I couldn’t afford the livery, but I wanted to keep my horses, so I sold my flat and moved to Wales,” she says. Now based near Cardigan on a twenty-acre farm, Donna has her own horses and a thriving equestrian business. She opened Shiral Equestrian Centre, in Cenarth, where she teaches riders and has her own tack shop. “I never wanted to be a burden and I knew I wanted to keep and continue working with horses.

The only way was to sell up and restart,” she says.

With help from Riding For The Disabled, Donna was able to relearn how to ride with the limited sensation and use of her legs. “Leg movements control the horse and without full use of my legs I had to find new ways to communicate with the horse,” she says.

Opening the riding school gave her the opportunity to teach others and also enabled her to keep horses. “At one point we had up to 60 horses here, but it was too much. I had help from my parents, who relocated here with me, but as they got older it was too much to ask. We have subsequently scaled everything down to focus on the tack shop and the lessons I offer,” she explains.

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Throughout all of the adjustments she has made Donna has relied on her ATV. “I chose to live on a farm and keep horses. There was no way I could conceive achieving this in a wheelchair, so I bought a used Yamaha and found ways to make it work for me,” she says.

An ATV has since become the most important object in her life. It has kept her mobile and with various implements and innovations she has been able to keep horses and run a farm business. “I realised quite quickly how many tasks I could use an ATV for so I started training the horses to accept it. The noise frightened them at first but gradually they became used to it,” she says.

Her first ATV lasted sixteen years until she realised that the manual transmission, weight, and reliability was becoming an issue. She went to her local dealer Lamo’s Motorcycles Ltd in Llandissilio and was introduced to the new Yamaha range. “Victoria helped me to find a model that was easier for me to manoeuvre and we settled on a Yamaha Kodiak 450 which has quite literally given me a new lease of life,” she says.

The Kodiak is much lighter than her previous ATV and has automatic transmission with power steering. “It is quieter, more manoeuvrable and much more fuel efficient. The technology has come on so much, I wish I hadn’t waited so long,” she adds. However, the old model was air-cooled and so did not require a fan to cool the engine. “The new engine is much better because it does not overheat, but when I first had it the fan cutting in would scare the horses. I gave them a treat every time it engaged which changed their perception, so they now see the fan as a good thing,” she says.

The ATV enables Donna to carry out daily farm tasks like mucking out her horses and maintaining her land. “I

can’t push a barrow, so I back the ATV with a land driven muck spreader into the stables, fill it up and then take the muck directly to the fields, essentially using the ATV as a muck spreader,” she explains. Donna also has a roller and a topper to improve her fields and a further attachment to maintain her menage. “If the menage is uneven and I am more likely to fall because the nerve damage in my feet and legs has left me with a limited ability to feel the ground. I use the ATV to level the menage every couple of days, so I feel confident on my crutches when I am teaching,” she says.

A tipping trailer is Donna’s way of transporting everything she needs around the farm. “It carries my tools, fencing, hay and everything else I need because I can’t carry anything with me.

I pretty much tow my life around with me,” she says. The tow bar is positioned lower on the Kodiak which helps her attach the trailer and other implements. “The suspension is also a big improvement which I appreciate because of the arthritis I have been left with following so many surgeries. It absorbs the lumps and bumps well and also make the ATV easier to handle, especially with my trailer,” she adds.

Without an ATV Donna would have not been able to keep and ride her own horses or start her business. “Riding horses gives me the adrenaline rush I need to keep going through the day,” she says. Her passion has led her to compete as a disabled rider and she has been selected to represent Wales at international para dressage events. “I was told I would never ride a horse again, and I have. I was told I would not be able to have children, and I have two wonderful boys. Challenging myself with the farm and the business was the best choice I made and to have the opportunity to represent Wales is an honour I will relish when the events season restarts,” she concludes. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Free Sportsman 570 upgrade for UK and Ireland customers

olaris UK & Ireland has announced a new retail promotion for customers looking to buy a new Sportsman 570 - for every purchase of a Sportsman 570, customers will receive a free upgrade offer to the Sportsman 570 electric power steering model*

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Available to customers who buy a new Sportsman 570 between 1st February and 30th April, the promotion will give customers a free upgrade to a Sportsman 570 with electric power steering (EPS) as standard, making it even easier to go further and do more, for the same price.

The promotion enables customers to save up to £900 excluding VAT with prices for the Sportsman 570 starting at £6,999 excluding VAT, and the EPS model starting at £7,899 excluding VAT**.

The new generation of Sportsman introduced to Polaris’ 2021 line-up features a sleek, modern design with all-new LED lights and work pod, alongside a host of new features like its intuitive true on-demand allwheel-drive system that kicks in when you need it most. The Sportsman 570 EPS delivers 29.6cm ground clearance, MacPherson Strut front suspension with 20.8cm of travel, independent rear suspension with 24.1cm of travel, plus a towing capacity of 680kg - the highest towing capacity of any ATV on the market.

Overall ride performance has been enhanced thanks to a larger, more powerful 18AH battery, major improvements to the engine braking system (EBS) to deliver a more controlled ride and

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safer descents, plus a new clutch for smooth engagement at low speeds – especially useful when precision is needed, like when navigating tight trails or backing up to a trailer.

Available in Sage Green, the EU package includes mirrors, a number plate bracket with light, horn and built-in factory-installed integrated indicators.

Free ATVTrac Since October last year, Polaris Britain has worked with the leading security experts, ATVTrac, to equip all new Sportsman models with the proven tracker as standard, so riders can be confident that their new vehicle is better protected. ATVTrac’s technology and rich feature-set comes from over a decade’s worth of experience with a 94% recovery rate and recovery of over £10m worth of stolen machines to date, with updates and new features added along the way.

Free Easi Training As well as the free upgrade and free security tracker, the Sportsman 570 comes with free Easi training for one operator. Free Easi training, RRP £180, is run by the European All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute and consists of a comprehensive training course to maximise the safety of Polaris riders.

For more information on this offer, please contact your local dealer.

Please note, no finance offer can be combined with this promotion. *This promotion is available for the new 2021 Sportsman 570 Homologation EU, upgraded to the 2021 Sportsman 570 EPS Homologation EU. **Prices exclude VAT and apply to EUhomologated models.

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No job too big for the Kawasaki full 2021 MULE and ATV Range With demand for the Kawasaki MULE and ATV machines soaring, the 2021 range is available now from the extensive Kawasaki utility dealer network. espite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the shutdown of production lines, demand for the Kawasaki utility range has remained strong and the brand is pleased to announce the availability of its full 2021 range of Kawasaki MULE and ATV products.

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The 2021 collection comprises of four MULE vehicles, the MULE PRO-DXT, MULE PRO-DX, MULE PRO-MX and the MULE SX. The entire range is designed for use by outdoor professionals, such as farmers, gamekeepers and groundscare experts, providing them with the ability to easily transport equipment over various terrain.

The MULE SX 4x4 rides on 24 inch tyres and offers selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Low dual-range transfer case and rear differential lock. The 16-litre fuel tank extends the operational range of the SX with its 401cc four-stroke, OHV, aircooled engine, delivering power reliably and economically, with a restricted top speed of 25mph. The tubular steel chassis provides the best balance of rigidity, strength and ride comfort with off-road pursuits.

Drawing on the design of the PRO Series console, the dashboard puts all controls within easy reach and sight of the operator, adding ease to everyday use. The easy-to-load tilting cargo bed can carry up to 181kg of tools and materials, and an extra 500kg can be towed behind by fitting a tow ball to the ever-eager MULE. The PRO-MX offers the ideal balance between compact and full size UTVs. With conveniently small dimensions (2,795 mm long x 1,525 mm wide x 2,005 mm wheelbase with a turning circle of just 4.2m), the carrying and towing capacity does not suffer at 317kg and 680kg respectively. These small dimensions are maintained thanks to minimised bodywork overhang, also helping to reduce the chance of knocking or scraping a bumper when driving off road. Beefy 25’’ tyres on 12’’ rims provide incredible off-road traction and help to ensure ample ground clearance to protect the MULE PRO-MX. This single-cylinder 700cc petrol powered MULE is perfectly positioned between the MULE SX and MULE PRO-DX, giving customers even greater choice to find the perfect vehicle for

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their needs.

Working in tough environments demands durable, reliable machinery that continues to deliver in all conditions. Dirt, terrain and weather won’t stop the ultra-rugged MULE PRO-DX and PRO-DXT, with all essential systems designed to resist water, dust and debris. A steel ladder chassis is ready for all terrains, strong where it needs to be and flexible where it matters. Whilst the three-cylinder diesel engine guarantees the torque needed to carry loads and crew reliably, hour after working hour.

High torque diesel power moves cargo and crew quickly with the safety assurance of Roll-Over

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

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Protection System (ROPS). On site or on the farm, the class-leading 453 kg capacity of the long and low tipping cargo bed and 907 kg towing potential makes light work of the heaviest tasks. The tilting cargo bed is operated by a two-lever release system for easy opening and closing. And the innovative MULE PRO-DXT quickly changes from four to two seats in a few, swift moves that a single operator can manage in less than one minute.

Alongside the Mule products, the 2021 collection also features two ATV machines, the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Camo and the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS in

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Super Black. These highperformance vehicles feature a range of industryleading features, providing all-day working performance. Kawasaki ATVs are designed for allday comfort and durability to assist in everyday tasks.

Whether you are tending to animals in rough terrain, repairing a run of fencing or require industry leading power, a Kawasaki ATV will help you get the job done. For those looking for an entry version, Kawasaki also has the Brute Force 300 ATV available. All Kawasaki ATV vehicles have CVT transmission as standard, contributing to ease of operation and leaving you free to concentrate on the terrain ahead.

The full range is available now, visit the Kawasaki website to locate your local Kawasaki utility dealer, with decreased production but increased demand, it is recommended customers place their orders as soon as possible.

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All-New Isuzu D-Max is Smarter, Stronger and Safer he All-New Isuzu D-Max combines smart new styling and improved offroad performance with impressive safety technology. Not only does it deliver the capability and durability you’d expect from an Isuzu pick-up truck, this tough workhorse now adds superior levels of comfort and refinement.

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The D-Max appeals to a wide variety of drivers, from fleet operators to families, and the model range is structured into three segments: Business, All-Purpose and Adventure. A new line-up of trucks sit within each range to suit every customer’s requirements.

The Business range features the Utility trim and this base specification workhorse is offered in a choice of 4x2

or 4x4 and in three different cab types: single, extended and double cab.

Developed with work in mind, the Utility features a wide range of practical and safety features to ensure drivers are as productive, safe and comfortable as possible.

The All-New Isuzu D-Max has an incredible amount of additional equipment on all variants so the Utility model is anything but basic. Comfort and convenience are assured in this versatile pick-up thanks to automatic headlights with high beam assist, automatic windscreen wipers, speedsensitive power steering, DAB radio and a stop & start system.

Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) are now standard on all models. Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Limiter and Lane Departure Warning & Prevention are fitted on every model and, for the first time in the pick-up segment, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitor and Emergency Lane Keeping are fitted on all double cabs.

Utility models are ideally suited to working environments with features like an easily-cleanable vinyl flooring and durable steel wheels, while the

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bumpers, door mirrors and door handles are made from a hard-wearing black plastic.

The All-Purpose range consists of the DL20 and DL40, with ‘DL’ signifying that the rear diff-lock becomes a standard feature and the ‘20’ and ‘40’ demonstrating the model hierarchy. AllPurpose models are also available with

an automatic transmission, which come with the additional ADAS functionality of Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist.

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door handles, a medium grey radiator grille and 18” alloy wheels provide a more premium appearance.

DL40 adds a variety of sophisticated enhancements like distinctive Bi-LED headlights, LED front fog lights, daytime running lights and rear lights, a chrome radiator grille, silver side steps and twotone 18” alloy wheels. DL40 models also include front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Keyless entry, introduced from DL40, works on both the driver and passenger side and is accompanied by a push-button start system and welcome light. The interior benefits from leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel and an 8way electrically adjustable driver’s seat. The 7” multifunction colour touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and there’s also a dualzone climate control system, which allows the driver and passenger to set different temperatures.

Topping off the new model line-up is VCross which sits within the Adventure range. It features distinguishing ‘Gun Metal’ exterior styling on the radiator www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

grille, side steps, door mirrors, door handles and 18” alloy wheels. The premium interior is practical and fussfree: entertainment is provided by a 9” multifunction colour touchscreen with a CD player and eight speakers, there is an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and automatic headlight levelling, and the smart leather interior is complemented with V-Cross branded carpet mats.

There are up to eight colours to choose from on the All-New Isuzu D-Max. Utility models are available in four colours (Splash White, Mercury Silver, Obsidian Grey and Onyx Black), DL20 models also come with the option of Spinel Red, the vibrant new Valencia Orange is offered from DL40 and the stylish Pearl White is exclusive to V-Cross models.

Priced from £20,999 CVOTR, the

Stronger, Smarter and Safer All-New Isuzu D-Max combines attractive new styling, impressive safety technology and superior levels of comfort. The new model has already won the coveted 2021 Pick-Up of the Year award from 4x4 Magazine and, thanks to its even stronger chassis and intelligent new ADAS safety systems, it has become the first pick-up to achieve the maximum 5-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP tests.

The All-New Isuzu D-Max offers the same workhorse practicalities that Isuzu customers have become accustomed to, with a one-tonne payload and up to 3.5 tonnes towing capacity. Backed by Isuzu’s 125,000 mile / 5 Year warranty, the new model arrives into UK showrooms in March 2021 and customers are encouraged to register their interest now.

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Top Dealers Recognised at Isuzu UK Dealer Awards suzu UK has recognised its standout pick-up professionals in a glittering online ceremony that included black ties and even celebrity guest appearances. As Isuzu UK prepares to launch its very own award-winning All-New D-Max, the 2021 Dealer Awards acknowledge the talent and expertise across its growing UK network.

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The comprehensive awards ceremony comprised of 18 categories and recognised dealers for a wide range of services, from customer care and finance to accessory and fleet sales. In a close-run competition, Warrington Vehicle Centre was named Fleet Dealer of the Year, York Van Centre triumphed as Accessories Dealer of the Year and Cross Keys of Leeds was awarded Customer Care Dealer of the Year.

The highest accolade of all – the 2021 Isuzu Dealer of the Year – was won by David Taylor Garages of Powys, South Wales, which was commended for its high sales volumes, after-sales support and the significant investment made into the redevelopment of its premises over the past 12 months.

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In addition to the dealer awards, honorary mentions were given to 16 new graduates of Isuzu’s ‘Pickup Professionals’ training programme. The training course educates Isuzu UK dealer staff with information that is relevant for commercial vehicle operators including product, finance and legislation, in order to provide a customer experience that complies with the highest industry standards. James Williams, Sales Manager at Listers of Worcester, earned top marks in this category and was crowned Pick-Up Professional of the Year.

William Brown, Managing Director at Isuzu UK, commented: “It’s important for us to acknowledge the huge effort and dedication of our dealer network, especially after such a challenging year.

Many of our customers are key workers who provide essential services and our dealers resolved to help keep Britain working in 2020 by maintaining their vehicles so I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all the nominated and winning dealers.”

“Recognising our dealers’ accomplishments is a positive way to start the year and 2021 looks to be particularly successful for Isuzu as we

increase our dealer network coverage and launch the All-New Isuzu D-Max.” The stronger, smarter and safer AllNew Isuzu D-Max combines bold new styling, impressive safety technology and improved off-road performance with Isuzu’s renowned workhorse qualities.

The new model has already been awarded the coveted ‘Pick-Up of the Year’ award by 4x4 Magazine due to its high levels of comfort, refinement and practicality.

Featuring a wide range of new ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist Systems) and an even stronger chassis, it’s also the first pick-up to achieve a maximum fivestar rating in the latest Euro NCAP safety test. Meanwhile, off-road capabilities have improved thanks to a faster engaging 4WD shift-on-the-fly system and a standard rear diff-lock on the All-Purpose and Adventure range models.

Arriving into UK showrooms in March 2021, the All-New Isuzu D-Max comes with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4, manual or automatic transmission, three cab types (single, extended and double cab) and four trim levels.

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Checking tyres during Lockdown will pay in the long run TyreSafe is the UK’s charity dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and illegal tyres Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “It’s easy to fall into the trap of ignoring maintenance checks when you’re not using your vehicle, but there are good reasons to keep up the routine.” any vehicles will not have been used much since Christmas and those that have are likely to have only been used for short trips.

Some drivers might put maintenance checks on hold, TyreSafe is advising drivers to check their vehicle’s tyres during Lockdown to potentially save themselves money in the long run and reduce the risk of a tyre-related incident when they do return to the roads.

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Most drivers are aware that as they drive, over time their tyres’ tread will wear down however they may ignore other important checks such as condition and air pressure if they aren’t regularly out on the road.

In fact, a tyre is likely to harden and crack more quickly when it is left stationary than when it’s regularly used.

If a tyre is left on a vehicle parked for any significant period of time, without the heat and movement from nominal use cracking could occur more quickly.

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ideally tyres should be covered.

While the effect of hardening usually takes months to have a noticeable impact on tyre condition, those who have had the same set fitted for some years should be aware of the potential for cracking to appear at any time.

The weight of the vehicle resting on one section of the tyre also presents longterm problems. The tyre can become misshapen, which can create weak points internally. When used at higher speeds, these weak points create excessive heat and can lead to a catastrophic failure (or blowout) of the tyre.

Vehicles should be moved regularly to ensure they do not rest on the same point.

To reduce the risk of long-term damage caused by being out of use, a tyre’s air pressure should also be maintained at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings. The correct air

pressure (displayed as PSI or Bar) can be found in the owner’s manual, the fuel filler cap or door shut. An accurate pressure gauge should be used to check all tyres are properly inflated, including the spare wheel if your vehicle has one.

When used on the roads, underinflated tyres cause the vehicle to use more fuel than is necessary. Not only that, but they will also wear quicker and be more vulnerable to damage.

Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “It’s easy to fall into the trap of ignoring maintenance checks when you’re not using your vehicle, but there are good reasons to keep up the routine. Most likely, using a vehicle with underinflated tyres will just add to your fuel bill and increase wear but there are instances when the outcome is far, far more severe. It’s imperative all vehicle owners continue to check their tyres throughout Lockdown – look after your tyres and they will look after you.”

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THE POWER OF CHOICE: POTENT NEW DEFENDER V8 AND EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL EDITIONS JOIN THE RANGE

and Rover has launched the powerful Defender V8 as part of a range of enhancements to its unstoppable and awardwinning 4x4 family. The new 525HP Defender V8 and flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition provide a unique combination of performance and capability, with bespoke chassis settings delivering new levels of driver

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engagement and agility both on and offroad.

The powerful new models build on decades of Land Rover V8 heritage – spanning the original Stage I V8 of the Seventies, North American Specification models of the Nineties and powerful Defender Works V8 – as the characterful engine joins the latest range of efficient Ingenium petrol, diesel and advanced Plug-in Hybrid Land Rover powertrains.

The V8 petrol engine isn’t the only introduction. There's also a new XS Edition, fresh exterior design packs that provide greater personalisation potential and an optional larger 11.4inch Pivi Pro infotainment touchscreen.

Defender V8 builds on the rugged 4x4’s class-leading capability, delivering new levels of performance and driver engagement by combining a powerful 525HP 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engine with expertly developed suspension and transmission tuning to create the fastest and most dynamically rewarding Defender yet.

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Heightened connectivity is also part of the updates. Defender’s state-of-the-art Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment is now available with a range of desirable new features, including the option of a larger 11.4-inch touchscreen display*.

Wireless device charging with integrated signal booster is now included in the Comfort and Convenience Pack for improved convenience and call quality.

David Hemming, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The introduction of our V8 powertrain adds a new dimension of driving engagement and off-road capability to Defender. Fast and fun to drive, it represents the pinnacle of the Defender family and is as rewarding on the road as it is capable off it. We’ve also broadened the appeal of the entire Defender line-up with new derivatives, option packs and enhanced connectivity, so there really is a Defender for everyone.”

New Defender V8

The exclusive new Carpathian Edition is based on the Defender V8 and represents the ultimate expression of Defender design, performance and capability, while a new XS Edition replaces the hugely successful First Edition and combines bespoke design and specification enhancements inside and out.

New Defender V8 is the ultimate expression of Land Rover’s toughest 4x4 and recalls the rich heritage of eight-cylinder Land Rovers dating back to the 1970s. The potent new V8 supercharged engine is available in both 90 and 110 body designs and delivers elevated performance and driver engagement without compromising Defender’s unstoppable capability.

Defender’s personalisation potential has also been expanded with the introduction of new exterior packs. The Bright Pack, Extended Bright Pack and Extended Black Pack feature bespoke exterior trim to enhance Defender’s unmistakable silhouette.

With unique suspension and transmission tuning, including bespoke spring and damper rates and a new Electronic Active Rear Differential, it delivers more agile and engaging handling with heightened body control – all accompanied by a characteristic V8 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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soundtrack.

Power comes from Land Rover’s 5.0litre V8 supercharged petrol engine, which produces 525HP, 625Nm of torque and drives through an eightspeed automatic transmission. The Defender V8 90 accelerates from 060mph in just 4.9 seconds (0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds) with a top speed of 149mph (240km/h) and delivers fuel consumption of up to 19.5mpg (14.5l/ 100km) with CO2 emissions from 327g/ km**.

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Exceptional off-road capability is a Defender hallmark and the V8 adds a new layer of driver appeal, with the introduction of a new Dynamic mode within the Terrain Response system – only available on V8-powered Defenders. It helps drivers to exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the 525HP model on tarmac and loose surfaces. Engineered to be the fastest and most engaging production Defender ever, it delivers unrivalled agility and driver appeal.

Advanced Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine further enhances the unique character of the Defender. It sounds fantastic and delivers incredible performance – providing new levels of driver appeal. Our engineering focus has been to optimise powertrain calibration for Defender to deliver both responsive on-road performance and fine control off-road – all without compromising Defender’s unstoppable all-terrain capability and wading ability.”

Iain Gray, Senior Manager, Powertrain

Larger-diameter and solid anti-roll bars

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grey and white options offering a contrast roof in Narvik Black. Shadow Atlas exterior detailing completes New Defender V8’s distinctive exterior finish.

Careful calibration of the new Dynamic mode in Terrain Response 2, gives Defender V8 a more agile, playful and responsive character. In this setting, a sharper throttle response and bespoke tuning for the Continuously Variable Damping combine with the stiffer suspension bushes for immediate steering responses. Working in harmony with the Torque Vectoring by Braking technology, Traction Control Systems and new Yaw Controller, the Defender V8 is faster, more engaging and more controllable than ever.

Inside, Defender V8 features seats trimmed in unique Ebony Windsor Leather with Dinamica® suedecloth and Robustec accents, while the Defender’s exposed Cross Car Beam has a special Satin Black finish. The four-spoke steering wheel is enhanced by an Alcantara rim and tactile satin chrome gearshift paddles, which are unique to V8 models. Leather covers the airbag housing and gear lever, while illuminated treadplates are completed with a V8 script.

Instantly recognisable, the Defender V8 features a number of unique exterior enhancements; bespoke exterior badging, quad exhausts with distinctive tailpipes and unique 22-inch alloy wheels with a Satin Dark Grey finish combine to set the most powerful model in the line-up apart. The Defender V8 is further identified by its Xenon Blue brake calipers on the front.

Careful acoustic tuning of Defender V8’s induction and exhaust systems provides a purposeful and authentic sound. Calibrated to suit every driving situation, this evocative soundtrack can be enhanced by selecting Dynamic mode in the Terrain Response system.

Customers have a choice of three colours – Carpathian Grey, Yulong White and Santorini Black – with the

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Defender V8 Carpathian Edition The exclusive new Defender V8 Carpathian Edition is the ultimate expression of performance, durability and design, and represents the very pinnacle of the Defender range.

Finished exclusively in Carpathian Grey, it is distinguished by a Narvik Black contrast roof, bonnet and, for the first time on New Defender, taildoor.

Additional visual highlights include Satin Black towing eyes and distinctive Xenon Blue front brake calipers.

The unique exterior is finished with Land Rover’s Satin Protective Film. The PU-based wrap is applied to external bodywork giving the 4x4 a contemporary semi-matte finish that

also protects against everything from car park scratches to off-road bramble rash.

Inside, the Defender V8 Carpathian Edition features the same upgrades as the V8, with seats finished in Ebony Windsor leather with Dinamica suedecloth and Robustec accents, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and illuminated treadplates.

Defender XS Edition The new XS Edition replaces the hugely successful First Edition. Positioned above the SE models, it features a unique exterior and interior treatment and is available in both 90 and 110 body designs.

Externally, the XS Edition is identified by its bespoke body-coloured lower cladding and lower wheel arches, and distinctive 20-inch, contrast Satin Grey with diamond turned wheel. A choice of four exterior colour options is available:

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Silicon Silver, Hakuba Silver, Gondwana Stone and Santorini Black.

Inside, the XS Edition’s 12-way, heated and electric memory seats are finished in an optional Khaki Grained Leather, while the Cross Car Beam has a Light Grey powder coat brushed finish.

Comprehensive standard specification includes Electronic Air Suspension, Adaptive Dynamics and Configurable Terrain Response. In addition, the XS Edition benefits from Matrix LED headlights with signature DRL, ClearSight interior Rear View camera technology and the state-of-the-art Pivi Pro infotainment system with 11speaker Meridian sound system.

The XS Edition is available with a choice of powerful and efficient powertrains, including the P400 MHEV petrol, P400e Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and D250 Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) diesel.

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Pivi Pro upgrade

technology†.

New for 2022 model year, Defender is available with wireless device charging, which features a signal booster for optimised network reception and WiFi signal.

Intelligent learning allows the navigation system to identify routes customers use regularly, even without inputting a destination, and use this information to inform drivers of the fastest route to their likely destination based on current traffic conditions. If a faster route becomes available, Pivi Pro will propose this as an alternative.

Connectivity is also enhanced by the latest evolution of Pivi Pro infotainment, available with an optional larger 11.4-inch touchscreen* for the first time. The new interface is 60 per cent larger than the standard screen, making it even easier to follow navigation route guidance. The fast and intuitive Pivi Pro system provides immediate responses.

A simple menu structure allows the most commonly used functions to be accessed directly from the home screen to reduce driver distraction. The system can be easily customised to suit the preferences of individual customers.

Additional app ‘panels’ can be added, moved and removed, while swiping left or right of the screen quickly reveals the most relevant information at a glance, ensuring the driver’s concentration stays on the road.

The advanced navigation uses selflearning algorithms and dynamic guidance to optimise routing, while Smart Voice Guidance knows to cancel audio instructions in familiar surroundings. Navigation mapping is always up to date thanks to Defender’s Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA)

Greater personalisation with new Exterior Packs Customers can now choose from three new exterior design packs. The Bright Pack, Extended Bright Pack and Extended Black Pack further extend the personalisation potential of New Defender.

Available on all Defender models, the Bright Pack features a Noble Chrome finish for the front and rear skid plates, plus a Noble Chrome Grille bar and badging. The Extended Bright Pack adds Ceres Silver to the lower body cladding and wheel arches.

Defender X, Defender X-Dynamic and Defender V8 customers can select the new Extended Black Pack. It provides a Gloss Black finish for the front and rear skid plates, grille bar, bonnet chequer finisher, mirror caps, badging, lower body cladding and wheel arches for a stealthy and purposeful appearance.

Prices for the New Defender V8 start at £98,505 for the 90 and £101,150 OTR for the 110 in the UK. For more information and to configure New Defender visit: www.landrover.co.uk/ Defender

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MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV – EUROPE’S BEST SELLING PLUG-IN HYBRID SUV IN 2020 he Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has closed out 2020 as the top-selling plug-in hybrid SUV in Europe with sales topping 26,673 (Source: JATO). The pioneering Outlander PHEV also remains the second-best seller across all segments despite a huge number of competitors entering the market in 2020.

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The plug-in hybrid pioneer – the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – has closed out 2020 as Europe’s best selling plug-in hybrid SUV and the second best-selling PHEV across all segments A total of 26,673 examples of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV were sold across Europe in 2020, with 3,736 of those sold in the UK

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As part of Mitsubishi Motors’ Winter Sales Event, a new Outlander PHEV is available in the UK from £31,890 OTR with three years’ free servicing

In the UK, sales of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV since 2014 have now topped 53,000 with Outlander topping the SUV PHEV charts in 2020 with 3,736 sales including 320 Commercial versions.

The popularity of PHEVs is growing across Europe with many governments now incentivising the technology to encourage customers to take their first steps towards electrified transportation.

Recent studies carried out on behalf of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK show that PHEVs are accelerating an attitudinal shift for the future with 70% of PHEV owners now considering a fully electric

vehicle for the next purchase compared to just 27% of ICE drivers.

As part of Mitsubishi Motors’ Winter Sales Event, a new Outlander PHEV is available in the UK from £31,890 OTR, including a customer saving of up to £4,500 and three years’ free servicing.

A variety of competitive finance packages are also available.

The Winter Sales offer is available through the Mitsubishi Motors dealer network or using Mitsubishi Motors’ own convenient online shopping service and vehicles can either be safely collected directly from a local dealership or delivered directly to the customer’s door.

The new Mitsubishi range is available to order now from Mitsubishi showrooms and via Mitsubishi Motors’ Buy Online service: mitsubishi-motors.co.uk/buy

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onda has unveiled the latest generation of its popular HR-V compact SUV, available with a powerful and responsive two-motor e:HEV powertrain as standard for the first time. The allnew HR-V delivers exceptional hybrid efficiency and advanced safety and technology features, all incorporated into a bold and sleek coupe-inspired form designed to enhance the class-leading interior space and comfort the nameplate is known for.

Available in Europe from late 2021, the new HR-V is the latest model in Honda's line-up to wear the e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) badge, following the refreshed CR-V and all new Jazz that launched in 2020. It expands Honda's electrified line up as the brand moves further towards its goal of electrifying all of its European mainstream models by 2022.

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Premium SUV styling The next-generation HR-V e:HEV achieves a distinctive SUV presence in a compact coupeinspired design. The new model embodies the brand's seamless, clean, modern design philosophy seen in other recent new Honda models, that follows the key concepts of function and beauty.

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The design includes a new bold integrated grille, while the body shape incorporates a long bonnet and sharper, more vertical sides to ensure there is no impact on interior space. The bonnet centre is low and flat, with a shoulder line that flows to the base of the Apillars, projecting a sense of stability and security that further enhances the SUV aesthetic.

Exceptional space, comfort and utility The all-new HR-V achieves a compelling combination of premium SUV styling and exceptional spaciousness thanks to the clever packaging of its hybrid drivetrain components. As a result, the HR-V retains its predecessor’s class-leading interior space, with four adults able to sit in maximum comfort. As with the exterior, the spacious interior has a solid, premium SUV feel, but with contemporary fabrics and soft-touch materials. The modern minimalist aesthetic, which is initiated by the horizontal sweep of the instrument panel, is the result of an uncluttered interior and dashboard, with each element carefully positioned to contribute to the sense of space. The feeling of airiness and space is elevated by a new air diffusion system that creates a curtain of fresh air beside and above passengers, flowing from unique

L-shaped vents positioned in the top corners of the dashboard.

Thanks to Honda's compact, integrated powertrain technology and centre tank layout, the all-new HR-V also retains the versatile Magic Seats that offer both 'fold-flat' or 'flip-up' seat flexibility, depending on cargo space required.

The all-new HR-V e:HEV will be available in Europe in late 2021.

Customers can register their interest now on the Honda website: https:// www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/hr-vhybrid/hr-vregister-interest/registerinterest.html

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JEEP® CELEBRATES 80 YEARS OF HISTORY AND INNOVATION

021 is a special year for Jeep® as the brand marks its 80th birthday with a celebration of eight decades of 4x4 leadership, open-air freedom and adventure.

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The Jeep legend began in 1941 with the fabled Willys MB – the first ever mass-produced 4x4 vehicle – and grew over the decades with the launch of new products which helped build an enduring reputation that has seen the brand become synonymous with offroad excellence. Constant innovation has seen the legend evolve, with comfort, handling and connectivity now every bit as much of the Jeep DNA as its off-road prowess.

As the Jeep brand celebrates its eighth decade, it is entering the next exciting phase in its history; this, of course, involved electrification with the launch of its first plug-in hybrid model. As the first vehicle to carry the 4xe badge, Renegade 4xe is the Jeep take on electrification and offers zero-emission mobility, when driving in full electric mode. This has been coupled with the all-terrain safety of the Jeep eAWD system that activates when needed.

The 4xe badge identifies Jeep vehicles offering the best possible balance between efficiency and driving fun.

The 80th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the whole of 2021, with dedicated events created to bring customers and enthusiasts closer to the brand and its heritage. The first event, a web conference, saw the unveiling of 100 |

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the new 80th Anniversary specialedition models. Not only do these models pay tribute to the brand’s 80year history, they also continue the long-established tradition, started in 1966, of producing special-edition models to mark special anniversaries or achievements.

A year of exclusive events and services for all members of the Jeep family This year will see the Jeep community come together with a series of dedicated initiatives and events, bringing customers and enthusiasts even closer to the Jeep tradition. The first such initiative is Jeep Wave, a new programme offering Jeep owners exclusive services and special benefits to enhance their sense of belonging to the community at the heart of the Jeep experience around the world.

Included as standard on all new Jeep vehicles purchased or leased in 2021 by retail customers, the main benefits of Jeep Wave include the first three scheduled vehicle services , three years roadside assistance, access to a dedicated premium customer service call center and priority entry to brand events and partnerships.

Jeep Wave is marked out by a logo inspired by the traditional greeting of Jeep owners – a raised hand waving, or two or four fingers extended upward from the steering wheel. This gesture of friendship is part of Jeep history, and ‘Jeepers’ are proud to uphold this tradition.

New 80th Anniversary special-edition models The 80th Anniversary series, the celebratory special-edition models, will be available in the UK on Renegade, and Wrangler. Arriving in Spring, each 80th Anniversary model is based on the best-selling variant, and offers standard safety and technology features alongside aesthetic flourishes that make them stand out from the rest of the Jeep range.

Although there are many differences between these Jeep SUVs in terms of size and character, they all share an unmistakable look, courtesy of specific design cues, including 80th Anniversary badging and low-gloss Granite Crystal accents; black leather seats with tungsten stitching and 80th Anniversary logo; high-gloss black interior accents and logo tag on seats and mats.

Dedicated alloy wheels complete the exterior look of the new commemorative models.

They will also be packed full of advanced technology and safety features, further enhancing the unparalleled Jeep 4x4 capability. New high-tech content includes 8.4-inch touchscreens, DAB radio and navigation with smartphone integration and UconnectTM services, full LED pack and new ‘Since 1941’ infotainment system screen.

Jeep Renegade 80th Anniversary The exterior of the new Jeep Renegade www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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80th Anniversary features low gloss Granite Crystal accents on the vehicle’s iconic seven-slot front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and an exclusive 80th Anniversary commemorative badge.

Privacy glass and the full LED pack with LED daytime running lights, headlights, fog lights and taillights complete look of this new special edition model.

Inside the cabin are black leather seats with tungsten stitching and 80th Anniversary tag. Black headlining and 80th Anniversary floor mats with commemorative badging enhance the dark, all-black environment.

Building on the Limited trim, a host of user-friendly technology is included as standard, with the UconnectTM infotainment system with 8.4-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio with GPS navigation and UconnectTM services. Unique to the 80th Anniversary trim is a new infotainment splash screen featuring a Since 1941 theme. Advanced safety and security features are standard, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning Plus, Lane Departure Warning Plus, Intelligent Speed Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, front and rear parking sensors and Drowsy Driver Detection.

The 80th anniversary Renegade features a choice of two Euro 6D Final compliant petrol engines - a 3-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo engine producing 120hp and 190Nm of torque, combined with a six-speed manual transmission, and a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

4-cylinder 1.3-litre turbo engine delivering 150hp and 270Nm of torque, paired with a Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDCT) - both fitted with front-wheel drive.

Jeep Wrangler 80th Anniversary The iconic Jeep Wrangler is also available as an 80th Anniversary special-edition model, featuring Neutral Grey Metallic grille, headlight and fog light bezels and specific 18-inch twotone alloy wheels with Granite Crystal accents. Full LED high-visibility headlights with auto high beam control, body-colour hardtop and the 80th Anniversary badge on the front wheel arches help to mark out this commemorative special-edition model, along with a commemorative plaque on the rear swing gate.

The interior features black leather seats with tungsten stitching and the 80th Anniversary badge, along with a leather wrapped dashboard featuring contrast stitching and Berber floor mats.

Standard technology content includes the Uconnect™ 8.4 NAV system with 8.4-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch TFT display and a 9-speaker Alpine audio system with a 552W subwoofer.

The 80th Anniversary model will also feature Jeep Uconnect™ Services, the first time this has featured on a Wrangler. Together with the My Uconnect™ mobile app, Uconnect™ Services offer additional safety features

with SOS call functionality, vehicle finder, at home digital assistant and driver alerts, along with live vehicle information in the app, theft alarm notification and wifi hotspot ensure this is the most connected Wrangler ever.

Standard safety features include blind spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, Keyless Enter 'N Go™, forward collision warning, advanced brake assist and adaptive cruise control with stop.

The new Wrangler 80th Anniversary special-edition model will feature a Euro 6D-Final-compliant 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 272hp and 400Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Like all variants in the Wrangler line-up, the 80th anniversary edition is Trail Rated – the brand’s guarantee of a model’s superior go-anywhere capability. Featuring the Jeep Command-Trac four-wheel-drive system it uses the Selec-Trac full-time two-speed transfer case to continuously monitor and manage the torque sent to the front and rear wheels to ensure the Wrangler can master even the most challenging off-road tracks.

The Jeep Renegade and Wrangler 80th anniversary special-series will be available to order from Spring 2021, with UK pricing subject to a further announcement. For more information on the Jeep range visit www.jeep.co.uk

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