November 2016 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: Improving dairy cow health and profitability page 47

Farming

MONTHLY National

November 2016

Also in this issue...

Education

| New post-graduate course to deliver higher level skills page 30

Protecting British honey bees Also inside this month..

| Mustard farmers join forces to boost polinator numbers page 12

I own a Kawasaki MULE.. p51

OPen Farm Sunday 2017 p08

Battery barns: a new dawn p40

PLUS: Shows | Security| Slurry |Arable| Machinery | Forestry | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS November 2016

FEATURES 11

15

11 Security York rural security operation...

14 Arable Three years without glyphosphate, Oilseed rape losses

20

36 Slurry

33

44 Shows

Bauer AD digestate pumping solutions, Greencrop Sepcom...

39 Buildings

Smithfield and Farm Business Innovation Show

47 Animal Health

RIDBA discuss wind loading & ag buildings

Improving dairy cow health & profitability

16 CropTec Show preview...

20 Grain Sukup stirring silos provide benefits, BroomEx push brooms

REGULARS 06 News Biggest blow against GM crops

30 Education HE Courses at NSC, Students take part in beef feed trials and more...

33 Fencing Rhino Gates expand, M&M SolarGuard...

04 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

12 On Topic Protecting British honey bees

40 Energy Focus on AD & Biogas..

24 Machinery Latest news..

48 ATV ATV news...covered.

52 Motors Latest motors news

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

48

Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com

Protecting British honey bees p12

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

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

New Farmcare partnership to access significant mineral reserves Hills Quarry Products and Farmcare Ltd have agreed a mineral partnership that will provide access to significant mineral reserves in the Cotswold Water Park area. ills has extensive experience in operating quarries in the Cotswold Water Park area and is proud to be working with Farmcare as a longterm mineral partner,” said Peter Andrew, group director Hills Quarry Products. “These significant mineral reserves will provide an essential long-term supply of construction materials into the regions’ market.”

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“These significant mineral reserves will provide an essential long-term supply of construction materials into the regions’ market” Richard Quinn, CEO Farmcare said: “We are delighted to be working with Hills, we recognise the importance and value of long term decisions & how we identify

appropriate and like-minded businesses who can extract these resources and deliver a leading approach to restoration and the environment within such a project.”

The first phase of the partnership will see Hills operate the new Latton North Quarry on the Gloucestershire / Wiltshire border.

The 40 hectare site, which has been known as the ‘Six and One’ site, is split into two parts, east and west, and is situated just off the Cirencester Road. The sand and gravel reserve is estimated at 550,000 tonnes.

Works to complete the construction of a new access from the quarry onto the Cirencester Road (the old A419) will be completed by the end of October.

Extraction of mineral will begin in the west area and continue in four phases at an estimated 85,000 tonnes per year with progressive restoration back to agricultural land.

Farmers urged to protect their businesses from family feuds Farmers across the UK have been warned they risk unnecessary family fall-outs, heartache, and the future prosperity of their businesses if they fail to put written legal agreements in place. arming and agricultural disputes expert Helen Gough has issued the alert following concerns that too many farmers are failing to get down on paper their Partnership Agreements.

Ms Gough, an associate at law firm mfg Solicitors, said not having a written agreement in place leaves farmers being forced to rely on legislation dating back to before the invention of the tractor – the Partnership Act 1890 – risking a breakdown in relations.

She said: “For farming partnerships, a written Partnership Agreement is vital. It safeguards the assets of the business as well as the individuals interest, as it determines who is entitled to what.

“Farming is often a family affair and no-one wants to have to think about the prospect of things going wrong. However, if the worst does happen and family members or partners fall out, the chance of a reconciliation is even less if they drag each other through the

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06 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

trauma of the courts.

“Without a legally-binding agreement, the parties involved have nothing to confirm where they stand in the event of any disputes and are forced to rely on an archaic Act which may bind parties to something neither want.

“A written agreement is all about people knowing what’s expected of them, including if they want to expand the business, take on new land and assets, and even when it comes to thinking about succession planning.

“It also allows everyone to get on with the job, safe in the knowledge they know their rights, their entitlements and have a plan in place for the future. I would urge farmers to put their affairs in order as soon as possible and its never and too late to do so.”

Last month, Ms Gough was recognised for her work in the rural and agricultural sector in the latest edition of the Legal 500, the 29th edition of the legal profession’s prestigious referral guide.

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| News

The biggest blow against GM crops this century The Soil Association is delighted at Waitrose’s decision to start using non-GM soya from Europe in animal feed for their meat and dairy products – marking the beginning of the end of the last large-scale use of GM crops in the UK. his is the most significant move in the UK against the use of GM crops since 1999, when British supermarkets took the 70% of processed food that contained GM off their shelves, with it never to return. On that occasion the way was led by one retailer (Iceland), which went non-GM, and the rest followed within a few months.

While European players including France’s Carrefour, the third biggest retailer in the world, German retailers and the German Poultry Association (ZDG), have continued to move away from GM feed, British supermarkets - apart from Waitrose - have actually increased their use of GM animal feed, despite widespread public opposition.

All UK supermarkets still sell meat and dairy products from animals fed on imported GM soya

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and GM maize – which they are not required to label under EU law.

Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, GM Freeze and the Soil Association have opposed this large-scale but hidden use of GM crops for over 15 years.

Waitrose is currently the only retailer in the UK that has committed to continuing to use non-GM poultry feed and to start using non-GM soya in other animal feed.

Peter Melchett, Soil Association Policy Director said: ‘We warmly welcome this very important development. GM soya from Latin America is linked to rainforest destruction, so sourcing non-GM soya from the Danube region, and using more UK-grown protein crops, is good for the climate, good for UK farmers, and good for consumers. We expect other retailers to follow Waitrose’s lead.’

Woman left lamb to suffer with broken leg Woman who ran petting farm left young lamb without treatment. n Essex woman has been sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a lamb for failing to treat the animal’s broken leg.

Joanna Smith (DoB: 27/04/1965) of Alexandra Road, Sible Hedingham, pleaded guilty to one allegation of causing unnecessary suffering to the lamb by failing to treat the injury, under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

She was sentenced at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (1 November) to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £300 in court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

RSPCA inspector Adam Jones, who investigated, said: “Ms Smith ran a petting farm from land she rented.

“We were contacted by the landowner in May over concerns for the welfare of the lamb which had a leg injury.

“The caller had told Ms Smith

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the lamb was injured and needed veterinary treatment but she didn’t do anything. Even when he caught the lamb and confined it for her, she still didn’t arrange for a vet to visit so we were alerted.

“Luckily, we were able to treat the injury and the lamb was rehomed successfully.”

Ms Smith has now been evicted from the land at Greenstead Green in Halstead.

Inspector Jones added: “There is no excuse for leaving any animal with such a serious injury without any veterinary attention or treatment.

“As the lamb’s owner, it was Ms Smith’s responsibility to ensure that this sheep - and all her other animals - had the appropriate veterinary care and, in this instance, she failed to do so.

“However, she did admit in court that it was a mistake and a one-off incident, and the court felt that it was not necessary to remove all the animals from her care or to interfere with her livelihood running a petting farm.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

LEAF calls on farmers to stand proud on Open Farm Sunday 2017 ‘Open your gates for next year’s Open Farm Sunday on 11th June and proudly show the public all that you achieve and the breadth of goods and services you deliver.’ That’s the message to farmers from LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), as registrations for Open Farm Sunday 2017 open on 1st November. s the sector is working to determine what a postreferendum farming industry is going to look like, there has never been a more critical time for farmers to demonstrate the vital role they play in delivering a wide range of public goods, beyond food production. This includes managing the countryside, its wildlife, our natural resources such as water, air and soil, and contributing to a stable climate and resilience to flooding.

Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF explains: “Open Farm Sunday provides the perfect platform for farmers to shine a light on what they deliver and why supporting British farming matters. Everyone can and should get involved in Open Farm Sunday, regardless of the type or size of farm and help the public discover the world of farming.”

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To help more farmers host an event, LEAF is developing a new programme of webinars, blogs, Q&A sessions and case studies to give farmers the knowledge, ideas and confidence to invite the public onto their farm. A team of eight Open Farm Sunday Regional Coordinators and LEAF staff are on hand to support farmers.

As the go-to organisation delivering sustainable farming, LEAF is developing activity ideas and resources to help host farmers show the public what sustainable farming is all about.

Annabel Shackleton, LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday Manager added, “Farming is a sector which impacts on all our lives, yet so many people know so little about it. From our research it is clear that Open Farm Sunday is helping to bridge the gap between farming and the public.

This year’s visitor feedback highlighted that one in five had never visited a farm before and nearly 90% of them learnt something new about farming and food production during their visit.”

“All farmers can get involved - whether hosting a farm walk for 20 or more neighbours, or opening for hundreds of visitors, each event is equally important. LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday will have an increasingly important role in the industry’s public engagement activities as we face a new, challenging, yet exciting era as we prepare to leave the European Union.”

For more information on how to get involved or to register an Open Farm Sunday event from 1st November, visit www.farmsunday.org. To keep up to date on Twitter follow @OpenFarmSunday, @LEAF_Farming and @AnnabelOFS

Ian Bell, Chief Executive, Addington Fund

08 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

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| News

Latest Farm Business Income figures – NFU response New Defra figures have shown a dramatic fall in farm incomes for the third consecutive year. he NFU says this has had a huge impact on farming businesses with some sectors, such as dairy and pigs, seeing their incomes halved.

It believes the main reasons for the dramatic falls are lower commodity prices and market volatility including a strengthening pound in 2015.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “Our work in influencing decision-makers is more important than ever to support our members, many who’re struggling to make ends meet.

“The NFU is continuing to work with government to ensure they provide the right support for our members – from pushing for burdensome regulation to be removed that remains a major block to growing competitiveness for most farm businesses and policy decisions based on sound science. We also continue to work closely with the supply chain to ensure retailers are sourcing and promoting British food wherever possible.

“In recent weeks we have focused on urging dairy processors to be open and honest in a bid to build better, fairer supply chain relationships and to ensure contracts that are fit for purpose. We regularly meet with retailers with recent successes on those signing our Fruit and Veg Pledge that will provide security for suppliers, fair terms and price certainty. We meet with banking

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leaders to ask for their continued support for the industry in these challenging times.

“These latest farm business income figures underline the need to ensure that British agriculture is dealt with fairly when Government starts its negotiations for a postBrexit Britain.

“The most immediate issues confronting the farming sector are trade and access to labour - these must be at the heart of any discussions for the country’s future farm policy so that our industry is able to achieve its true potential.”

See how the experts have “A Way with Dogs” Hold onto your seat – the competition is fierce - top sheepdog handlers compete in CSJ’s brand new 4 part film series starting 14th November on www.csjk9.com he four episodes span ten weeks and feature nine of the UK’s top sheepdog handlers and dogs. Each uses their skills and intelligence to compete over a challenging course to be the first to win the title ‘A Way with Dogs’ Champion.

Viewers will be able to see clearly how the experts handle their dogs and hear full commentary from international judge and handler, Mike Northwood and presenter Bryony Billson at www.csjk9.com The nine top handlers compete over a tricky course in the Clwydian Hills of North Wales at the home of the late H Glyn Jones, himself a former International Supreme Sheepdog Champion and 5 times winner of the Brace Competition on ‘One Man & His Dog’.

The competition will be judged

by Aled Owen, four times winner of the International Supreme Championship and two times World Trials Champion and the handlers include a full time shepherd, Medwyn Evans, this year’s Welsh National Champion, farmers including the ‘Master’ handler Gwyn Jones (3 x International Supreme Champion), as well as a Stock Buyer, a retired head teacher/OFSTED Inspector and a milk retailer.

CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds founder, Ceri Rundle (H Glyn Jones’s daughter), is a renowned sheepdog handler herself, having been the first lady to qualify for the Welsh National Team with her homebred dog, Bwlch Hemp in

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1996, later earning two further national ‘caps’ and competing in the World Trials in Ireland in 2005.

She was the first lady to be elected on to the Panel of National Judges for Wales which has allowed her to judge in USA, Europe and Scandinavia and she was also honoured to become Chair of the North Wales Sheepdog Society in the early '90s.

Ceri now spends most of her time promoting CSJ’s feed, herbs and treats for dogs but tries to find time to train and trial her young dogs and continues to develop her world famous Moel line of Border Collies (a continuation of her parents famous 'Bwlch' line).

She says, “We wanted to portray the true skills of the handler and the dog, enabling the viewer to see the straight lines to and through the hurdles and the tight turns …. which is the aim of the handler. Our films will show this very clearly - allowing the viewer to understand what is going on and how the run is judged.”

Filmed against a stunning backdrop the action culminates in a nail-biting final film available on Boxing Day - the four programmes will be released on: Monday 14th November Monday 28th November Monday 12th December Monday 26th December Watch ‘A Way with Dogs’ and see who wins.

Visit www.csjk9.com Champions in every field

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 09

| News

Urgent action needed on BPS delays in payments and statements

The problem of late delivery of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and farmer statements has still not been resolved, with the National Sheep Association (NSA) hearing of many cases relating to sheep farmers in upland and common grazing situations.

hile the unacceptable situation in Scotland has been well documented, sheep farmers in England and Wales are also still waiting for settlement almost nine months after the deadline. Some have not even had their statement outlining the total amount they can expect. NSA believes urgent action is needed from the rural payments agencies in all three nations to remedy the problems caused to farm businesses.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “The types of farms affected are those often living hand to mouth, with struggles enough already without the issue of settlement payments still not being made. This is creating real hardship amongst farming families, some of whom we have heard are turning to charities to put food on the table.

“To make matters worse we are hearing of cases where statements have not been received indicating

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the monies due, which means getting support from banks or credit from suppliers is difficult. As the year end approaches, so too does the time of year many businesses will be looking at end of year accounts and budgeting. It is simply unacceptable for the Government to expect them to be able to do this without the financial information provided by the statements.

“The situation as it stands simply cannot be allowed to replicate itself next year. It is vital the RPA steps up its game and puts procedures and measures in place now to ensure payments and statements go out in timely fashion next year.”

NSA is hearing from an increasing number of our members on this issue, and the situations individuals are finding themselves in are growing in severity.

Greg Dalton, NSA Northern Region Chairman and sheep farmer from County Durham, echoes the comments about the increasing

Trade rules key to Brexit negotiations

severity of the situation. He says: “I know Brexit has become the main topic on people’s minds recently, but I really feel this is something that needs dealing with. I’ve heard of some farmers who’ve had bailiffs at their door demanding payments, and I know several people who’ve had to seek assistance from farming charities. There are people in this area of the country who are struggling to keep their heads above water, solely down to the fact they are yet to receive a payment which was due months ago.”

George Milne, NSA Scottish Region Development Officer, provides an update on the situation north of the border. He says: “Figures produced in mid-October show progress has been made, with 18,268 businesses out of 18,327 eligible to claim a BPS payment last year having now received it. Obviously, there are still a proportion of businesses yet to

receive their money and the whole process has been extremely difficult for farmers to say the least. In terms of this year’s payment, Scottish Government has recently announced a new loan scheme due to start this month. Farmers who sign up will receive 80% of their BPS due during November, although a start date for payments is yet to be announced. My understanding is that there are still a significant number of farmers eligible for this scheme who are yet to sign up, I’d urge those individuals to do so immediately to avoid missing out.”

In stark contrast to those farmers in England, Wales and Scotland still waiting for last year's payment, Northern Ireland delivered the 2015 scheme on time and NSA understands that 90% of eligible claimants for this year's scheme have already received 70% of their money.

Fertiliser industry rallies to support Brexit negotiations

Ensuring open trade for our exports will be a huge challenge in the Brexit negotiations, particularly for the agricultural sector.

As negotiations begin on the effect of the UK leaving the European Union, the fertiliser industry is showing increased solidarity through its trade association, says Howard Clark, Chairman of the AIC Fertiliser Sector.

he rules and practicalities surrounding trade will matter even more than tariffs, especially for agriculture, making a sizeable issue for the Government to tackle during the Brexit negotiations, says Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). “If the UK is outside the EU customs union, one key issue will be the mutual recognition of standards alongside the practicality of customs controls.”

With around 70% of the UK’s agricultural exports going to the EU, the outcome of trade negotiations will affect agricultural values and profitability more than other sectors, he warns. “Will UK produce be accepted as meeting EU requirements without detailed checking? How will we show traceability of grain if the EU bans glyphosate and the UK does not?

Will UK abattoirs be accepted as automatically meeting EU requirements for meat being exported? How long will it take to get a consignment through customs and on what procedures?” These are just some of the questions that will need

peaking at the sector’s annual dinner at the Institute of Directors in London, Mr Clark spoke of the new members who had joined the Agricultural Industries Confederation in the past year & those who were about to.

“For the commitment and backing of Members new and old, I thank you wholeheartedly,” said Mr Clark. “Right now the sector is rallying to the call to back AIC, its national trade body, as we prepare to enter into once in a generation negotiations on the future of the industry post Brexit. To enter negotiations with the credentials that we represent the industry – rather than ‘a significant part’ of the industry – strengthens our right to be heard.”

The list of issues already identified is extensive. These include: the risk of trade barriers and tariffs; the threat of losing access to the single market; and the possibility of a return to border and customs controls.

“Already we have seen a devalued pound lead to raw material costs increasing by some 15%, which is bad news for the whole food chain,” said Mr Clark.

However, while Brexit negotiations will bring a whole new

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addressing.

“This is also relevant to our position on imports, whether for livestock feed or food more generally,” says Mr Moody. “In the UK, what are the politics of tariffs on imported food likely to be?”

Charges on grain imports were abolished in 1846 and with a cheap food policy, VAT has been kept off food.

“For both imports and exports, much will need clarification. Our future trade arrangements are key to the fortunes of UK agriculture post-Brexit. The Government has a lot to handle carefully in the coming months and years.”

Further to this, standards, tariffs and access to our market will be major points in future trade agreements, whether with the US and Australia, or with developing countries, adds Mr Moody.

“Negotiations with the EU will just be the first step, as the UK will have to adapt to agreeing trade deals as an independent state.

“Having accessible markets for produce is going to be even more important for farm businesses than issues over support payments.”

10 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

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workstream to AIC’s activities; there remains work to be done while the country remains part of the EU. The most important task being the continuing development of a new EU Fertilser Regulation. Mr Clark described this process as a ‘tortuous journey through the legislative process’.

“The most pressing matter is proposals to limit the levels of cadmium in phosphate fertilisers.

As ever, the EU has been draconian and proposed a phased reduction to just 20mg/kg of phosphate under the new regulation.

“To accept this proposal would mean a drastic reduction in potential sources of phosphate for the industry. Or a massive investment in a process called ‘decadmiation’ which remains unproven at commercial scale of operations,” said Mr Clark.

This is why AIC has committed considerable time to lobbying both in Brussels with MEPs and officials as well as with Defra and the devolved governments. The Confederation contends that an acceptable level of no less than 80mg/kg is acceptable.

“In addition, we are pressing for the right – at national level – for Member States to be able to operate independently of the Regulation and maintain their own national regulations.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Security

Farms protected as York rural security operation continues An operation to boost the security of rural premises in and around York has seen more than a dozen farms protected against criminals - with even more still to come. ubbed "Operation Woollen" for farms and "Operation Woodchip" for other rural businesses, the campaign is the biggest rural crime prevention drive the city has ever seen.

Officers identified hundreds of York business premises that are located on industrial estates or away from built-up areas, and have been sending every one of them a self-assessment questionnaire and information about crime prevention.

The crime prevention packs include a security survey and the offer of a visit from a ‘crime prevention champion’ – a PCSO from their local Neighbourhood Policing Team with specific training in business security.

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"The operation will continue over the Christmas period, and we'll be booking in further properties for visits as soon as we can" Since the campaign got underway at the end of September, 305 crime prevention packs have been sent out. 14 farm security visits have already taken place, with another 21 farms and seven businesses due to be booked in.

45 farms and 17 businesses have also signed up to the North Yorkshire Community Messaging

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(left to right) PCSO Daniel Stannard and PC Andrew Pearson, of the York North Neighbourhood Policing Team, and PC Neil Slater of the York Community Safety Hub, at one of the farm visits

service as a result of Woollen and Woodchip.

PC Neil Slater, of the York Community Safety Hub, said: "We have had really positive feedback from people we have visited.

Officers have been able to give useful advice on how to improve security, and many items of property have been securitymarked, from tractors to sit-on mowers, trailers and tools.

"The operation will continue over the Christmas period, and we'll be booking in further properties for visits as soon as we can."

The campaign received national coverage when it was featured on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today show on 20 October.

To find out more about Operations Woodchip and Woollen, contact PC Neil Slater or PCSO Melanie Parkin by calling North Yorkshire Police on the 101 nonemergency number.

North Yorkshire Community Messaging is a free system that lets people register to receive the latest crime notifications and community news in their neighbourhoods.

People can register or download the free app for Apple and Android devices via www.nycm.co.uk

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

Mustard farmers join forces to protect British honey bees A cooperative of 18 mustard farmers have joined forces to embark on the UK’s biggest ever project to protect and eventually boost pollinator populations.

he English Mustard Growers (EMG), a farm collective based in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk which supply seed to the Colman’s English Mustard brand, are working in partnership with crop production specialists, Hutchinsons, to map the availability of nectar and pollen throughout the year.

The aim of the project is to ensure pollinators, such a honey bees, receive a steady supply of food resources, which will in turn support crop yields. The ten year project, which began in 2014, is the biggest of its kind in the UK, covering a total of 10,000 hectares of land, and is fully supported by the British Beekeepers Association. (BBKA) Now two years into the project the EMG have been busy growing a variety of plant species, including bulbs, shrubs, hedges and wild flowers across their farmland, to ensure pollinators have enough nectar and pollen supply before hibernation at the end of autumn.

Autumn and spring months are crucial for the

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12 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

survival of honey bees as this is when nectar and pollen supply is at its lowest.

In a bid to enhance nectar and pollen supply, the farmers participating in the project have planted a total of 21,000 flowering bulbs within their hedgerows, ditches and field margins.

One of the participating farms has also planted over 500 native hedge species and plans to grow over 200 shrubs a year to re-generate the surrounding woodland.

This comes after survey results revealed the importance of hedges and shrubs to nectar and pollen supply as well as being safe places for bees to breed and escape predators. Over the autumn period, participating farms intend to grow over 13 hectares of flower rich margins and 3.5 hectares of pollen and nectar mix plants which will provide bees will a supply of food throughout next spring and summer.

The project has also importantly inspired farmers to work collectively to connect their land to create extensive wildlife corridors. To date, a total of 85 kilometres of hedgerows and just over 380 kilometres of grass margins, in

which many of the new plant varieties are being grown, have been established. This is the equivalent distance of over two laps on the M25. The longer term ambition of the project is to help protect pollinator populations and boost the broader biodiversity within the region.

In addition to maintaining and eventually improving pollinator populations, the project will also help protect crop yields and boost British agriculture. Michael Sly, Chairman of the English Mustard Growers explains: “One of our mustard varieties, White Mustard (Gedney), depends entirely on pollinators, such as bees, for its pollination during flowering time. This, coupled with the significant role bees play in our wider ecosystem, makes this a particularly important area for us to support.”

Delving further into the science behind the project, each of the participating farms underwent a detailed survey in which a botanist calculated the total amount of pollen and nectar available in crops, hedgerows, woodland and field margins. The data was then used to estimate the amount of pollen and nectar

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| On Topic

On Farm Practices to increase pollinator populations

produced by different types of plant species on a month by month basis.

Mike Hutchinson, director of Hutchinsons crop production specialists, who conducted and analysed the initial survey, and will continue to advise growers for the duration of the project said: “By mapping the availability of pollen and nectar on individual farms on a monthly basis, each farmer can identify where the availability gaps are - usually during early spring and late autumn - and can take measures to enhance supply during these times. Solutions can include changing cutting regimes on grass and flower margins or building diversity into crop production. The aspect which makes this project effective and unique is its scale and ability to monitor nectar and pollen supplies on a month-by-month basis.”

The collaborative project is an example of how agricultural suppliers, expert advisors and farmers can work together to benefit biodiversity and secure the continuous supply of vital crops.

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Many pollinating insects have become reliant on a narrow range of arable crops, notably oilseed rape and beans, for their nectar supply and it is crucial to build more diversity into this supply throughout the year, not just the main summer months through stewardship schemes and other measures – and this project is all about fine tuning and improving some of the things that are already in place.

Mr Hutchinson acknowledges that it may be difficult and potentially quite costly to establish purpose-bought herbaceous seed early in the season, so instead suggests trying to identify and encourage naturally-occurring beneficial plants on certain uncropped areas, field margins or awkward field corners.

“For example, ground ivy, white/ red deadnettle and dandelion are all useful species for extending insect food availability, while planting early flowering shrubby species such as goat willow and blackthorn can give longer-term benefits.”

“Changing cutting regimes on grass and flower margins to delay flowering is another relatively easy way to extend food supply for insects, while including lateflowering species like knapweed in any mix is a useful addition for boosting end of season food” he says. “There are also a number of other wild species that flower later in the year, such as field scabious and wild carrot.”

He adds that all of these measures are designed to be practical, achievable and fit in with the specific landscape of the farm. “We sometimes see land being taken out of food production with the noble intention of providing habitat for pollinators. However, it isn’t until one analyses the entire landscape that it becomes evident that the changes being made are not necessarily having the desired effects.”

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Three years without glyphosate AHDB’s Newark Monitor Farm is running an experiment to farm without glyphosate for three years. ost farmer John Miller will manage a 10ha field without using any glyphosate, at Manor Farm in Nottinghamshire.

The family has farmed this tenanted land since 1939, and Mr Miller said of the try-out: “This is how my father would have farmed.”

Mr Miller has been over the field with a rake and roll shortly after harvest to deal with any volunteers and weeds. Previously the field was in winter wheat, with a couple of black-grass plants causing some concern.

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“The ultimate aim is to move to a system that’s less reliant on herbicides” The field will be treated with diquat later in the autumn to kill surface weeds, and then will either be ploughed or direct drilled in the spring with beans.

Following this year, the rotation will be winter wheat and then sugar beet.

The field is relatively easy to work, said Mr Miller, with sandy clayey loam over a clay subsoil, although it does have the potential to get waterlogged.

“I don’t think it’ll cost a lot more or less than our other fields – the costs are likely to be

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comparable. However, we might have to revise our thinking a bit,” Mr Miller added.

Harry Henderson, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Knowledge Exchange Manager for the East Midlands, said: “This is an interesting experiment because we just don’t know if, when or how we could lose glyphosate. But as the industry moves towards less use of the plough we rely more heavily on glyphosate as the only alternative. It makes sense to look at ways around this potential issue from an early starting point. Monitor Farm attendees will help form a ‘farming without glyphosate’ plan for the next three years. Early thoughts are that the plough is far from redundant.

“Of course, the ultimate aim is to move to a system that’s less reliant on herbicides.”

Paul Gosling, AHDB Crop Protection Scientist, added: "It's important to bear in mind that diquat is just as at risk as glyphosate, if not more so. In addition, it does not kill black-grass, and can only be used once a year on stubbles."

John Miller is a third generation farmer at Manor Farm, Kelham, Newark on Trent. He farms 685ha on a mix of tenanted and owned land in the Trent valley. Soil type ranges from blowing sand, sharp gravels and silty clay loams to heavy clay with a rotation including winter wheat, oilseed rape, spring beans, sugar beet, forage maize, malting barley and winter oats, with the occasional field rented out for

potatoes. The farm is predominantly min-till with some ploughing as required. 5000 tonnes of farmyard manure comes onto farm from a local beef unit to help improve soil organic matter content. John has just become chairman of the Nottinghamshire Farm Business Group and is keen to get a better grasp of soil management and investigate cover crops with the intention of reducing costs of production.

AHDB glyphosate research Increasing resistance to selective herbicides and a reduction in available chemistry mean the pressure to use glyphosate as a stale seedbed management tool is increasing.

AHDB is funding a five-year programme of field and container-based trials to help refine glyphosate management. The work will focus on preventing resistance to glyphosate developing in UK weed populations. https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/press/2015/septe mber/24/glyphosate-resistance-potential-of-ukgrassweeds-focus-of-new-research.aspx Get involved Farmers interested in attending the next meeting at the Newark Monitor Farm should contact Harry Henderson, harry.henderson@ahdb.org.uk or 07964 974465

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

Farm trials support efficacy of ferric phosphate On-farm field trials, carried out to raise awareness of pesticides in water, have highlighted the efficacy of ferric phosphate as a viable alternative to managing slug populations. elly Hewson-Fisher, catchment advisor at Anglian Water, began the trials in the Louth Canal area in Lincolnshire – an important drinking water source for the county - just over one year ago, and she has since been raising awareness of the trial results.

“When I started with Anglian Water 18 months ago, there were no surface water catchment management trials being carried out in Lincolnshire.

“Awareness of sustainable metaldehyde usage was growing, but farmers still had concerns about the available alternatives,” explains Mrs Hewson-Fisher.

It was soon established that a major barrier to using ferric phosphate pellets, was the lack of knowledge surrounding efficacy.

This triggered the decision to undertake a very simple trial that would investigate overall slug control strategies, and close the knowledge gap.

“Over the past year at numerous

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collaborative events, I’ve been able to stand up in front of farmers and say with confidence that I was involved in the trial and monitored slug levels myself. I know how and why ferric phosphate works, and have seen first-hand the results in the field,” she says.

Three farms took part in the trials and all had similar soil types, which were under-drained.

This was a key factor, given 90% of the metaldehyde can be lost through field drainage systems.

Three fields of winter oilseed rape, across the three farms, were put to the test. In field one, half of the field was treated with metaldehyde pellets, and the other with Derrex, ferric phosphate pellets.

Field two was treated with the same 50:50 split, but with metaldehyde and Sluxx, ferric phosphate pellets.

The third field was not treated with pellets, but cultural controls such as drilling and rolling were used to consolidate the seedbed and reduce slug movements.

“The farmers each made their own decision

about timing and frequency of application,” explains Mrs Hewson-Fisher.

“Slug activity was then monitored using slug traps and we presented our findings back to the farmers.

“I also looked at ten, 1m2 plots to assess plant damage. This was a useful way to gather data on the differences between ferric phosphate pellets and metaldehyde. The results provided valuable evidence of the efficacy of ferric phosphate for Anglian Water’s own knowledge, and for us to be able to share with the wider agricultural community.

“We saw for ourselves that plant numbers were comparable in both treated fields, and there was no considerable variation in efficacy.

Through this we’ve driven a huge amount of awareness.

“It’s rewarding to be able to work with the farming community in this way, and share valuable information that will help them to make informed decisions in the future.”

Survey identifies extent of oilseed rape losses this autumn Establishing oilseed rape crops this autumn has been challenging; particularly in eastern counties where dry conditions have hampered germination and early growth and attack from flea beetle. he AICC (Association of Independent Crop Consultants) has conducted a survey amongst their members to ascertain the extent of damage to OSR crops this autumn.

Agronomists were asked to record the percentage of the crop under their control that had been written off as a result of dry conditions or flea beetle attack.

Over 70 AICC agronomists based in the eastern counties stretching from Northumberland to Kent, representing over 77,000 ha’s of OSR responded to the survey.

Dry weather takes its toll The survey identified a particular problem in five key counties where crop loss due to dry conditions represented over 10% of the cropped area. Hertfordshire and Essex were particularly badly hit with losses averaging 45%. Bedfordshire recorded 26% loss, Northants 19% and Suffolk 11%.

Cambridgeshire, Kent and West Sussex all recorded 10% losses.

The most severe losses were recorded from the counties in the south and east, namely Northants, Beds, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Herts and Kent where 9% of the crop in total has been written off due to lack of moisture.

Flea beetle losses too

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Flea beetle damage was less severe but no less important in Hertfordshire (33%) and Bedfordshire (29%). In Essex 16% of the crop has been written off due to flea beetle damage.

Cambridgeshire and Northants recorded 12% lost and in Hampshire and Oxfordshire losses were recorded at around 10%.

Overall the most flea beetle damage occurred in the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, where 7% of the OSR crop has been written off as a result of the pest.

Overall, it is estimated that as many as 40,000ha’s of OSR crops this autumn have been lost as a result of poor germination and crop establishment due to dry seedbeds and a

further 30,000 ha’s lost due to flea beetle damage.

Andrew Blazey of Prime Agriculture that covers the whole of East Anglia, notes that choosing a replacement crop for failed OSR is not easy. “It has been a tricky balancing act weighing up the need to maintain first wheats in the rotation, the combine capacity for the next harvest, how regularly pulses have been grown in the past, the soil type of the farm and the need to maximise profitability. The result being that no one crop has suited all situations, and must be looked at on an individual field and farm basis.”

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 15

| CropTec

CropTec 2016 – helping farmers remain competitive in a dynamic arable sector CropTec, the essential technical event for arable and mixed farmers, their advisers and associated industries, will be packed with innovative features and content when it returns this coming November. uilding on three very successful years, the show promises to be the biggest and most relevant yet. More than 100 exhibitors will display the latest science and technology across the trade stands, while CropTec’s well established seminars and hubs will feature the latest thinking on a range of key arable topics delivered by leading specialists.

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Group Head of Events at show organiser Briefing Media Agriculture, said: “CropTec provides farmers with a unique opportunity to find ideas, inspiration and answers on everything from crop protection and nutrition to plant breeding and soil management in one place.

“But it is very much a two-way process – CropTec is all about knowledge exchange, creating the ideal forum for visitors, exhibitors and researchers to exchange ideas and experiences for their mutual benefit.”

CropTec Development Director Stephen Howe said the content reflected the show’s principal aim, to help the combinable crop sector remain profitable, and had been modified following visitor feedback from last year’s event.

“Farmers face a roller coaster world of crop production. Our aim is to help them manage the current agronomic and business challenges and manage their unit costs of production so they remain

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competitive in an increasingly dynamic global market place.

“The visitor survey confirmed that the seminars formed a major part of the event. But farmers also want to drill down into key aspects of business and pressing agronomic topics such as blackgrass, soil health, OSR establishment and how the industry might practically address the loss of key crop protection chemistry.”

Seminar content will reflect this feedback, and two new knowledge hubs have been introduced, one covering grain marketing and storage and one on black-grass.

These topical 15-minute presentations will provide plenty of material for detailed follow-on discussions with experts at the event.

To encourage this knowledge exchange among the British farming community, the event remains free for farmers and agronomists to attend, provided tickets are booked in advance.

CropTec 2016 programme summary CropTec seminars The extensive seminar programme will feature over 20 leading speakers covering a wide range of technical cropping issues across four key areas – crop breeding, crop protection, crop nutrition and crop establishment.

Exhibition halls More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to discuss a wide range of developments across the arable

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sector.

Knowledge hubs Two new hubs feature this year, a grain marketing and storage hub and black-grass hub, augmenting the popular spraying technology and business hubs. These feature short, sharp presentations delivering key take-away messages.

Sprayer demonstration area Visitors have an exclusive oneto-one opportunity to test-drive the latest sprayers in the market from leading manufacturers.

Careers forum The perfect opportunity for students and others interested in a career in the arable industry to network and gain free advice from organisations, exhibitors and industry specialists.

Opportunities to collect BASIS and NRoSO points.

Adama Agricultural Solutions is pleased to announce that it has agreed a new two-year deal to remain as the headline sponsor of CropTec. First held in 2013, CropTec has rapidly become established as the arable sector’s key crop protection

and technical event.

“We are proud to be associated with such a focused, professional and well-targeted event,” explained Ali Bosher, Marketing Director for Adama.

“With a breadth of industryleading speakers covering a wide range of technical, practical and business issues, and an extensive seminar programme which provides various solutions to help increase yields and reduce costs of production, CropTec provides the perfect opportunity for farmers, agronomists and professional spray operators to learn more about the very latest developments in crop establishment, protection, nutrition, and yield enhancement.

“We look forward to another successful show in 2016 and are proud to be able to support such an influential event into 2017.”

The 2016 CropTec event will take place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th November.

For further information on CropTec 2016 and to book tickets go to www.croptecshow.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| CropTec

Griffith Elder to launch a bigger portable weighbridge At CropTec Griffith Elder will launch a new 6m long platform adding to the already popular family of portable weighbridges. ue to the increase in size of vehicles being weighed on farms today it has been noted that longer weighbeams are needed to take the modern larger vehicles. At the same time, research has shown that there is a requirement for a full size weighbridge that can easily be moved from one store to another for weighing tractors and trailers as well as articulated bulker

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lorries in one go, rather than stopping and moving forwards for each set of axles.

To satisfy these new parameters, Griffith Elder have designed a longer light-weight platform which has the modular capability of adding extra sections to make the length up to 15 metres. Each section weighs less than a tonne and can easily be moved using a forklift. Simple well proven plug-in cables together with digital technology means that

the weighbridge does not need to be re-calibrated each time it is moved.

The major benefits of the new portable weighbridge system are both the simplicity of use, with no need for complex instructions, and the ability to move the whole weigher to a new site with ease.

The new platforms will be compatible with the extensive range of Griffith Elder indicators, printers and software suitable for grain storage, bio-gas production

and straw handling. Every indicator today has a USB storage memory stick for downloading the weight results directly into a computer spread sheet.

Now farmers with outlying stores will be able to drop down a scale, weigh into or out of the store, then move on to the next store taking the weigh scale with them.

For more information go to www.griffith-elder.com or contact Peter King on 01284 719 619

See us on stand 101

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November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 17

| CropTec

Special Black-grass Management Clinic for CropTec The experience of more than 15 seasons of applied research from Agrii’s leading Stow Longa Black-grass Technology Centre will be transported from Huntingdon to Peterborough in a special management clinic at this year’s CropTec. grii head of agronomy, Colin Lloyd who has run the Stow Longa programme since 2000 and trials manager, Steve Corbett will be manning the ‘Colin’s Corner’ clinic on Stand 120 to bring their wealth of practical understanding to bear on visitors’ particular black-grass problems.

“If our work has taught us one thing it’s that there are no simple solutions to bad black-grass,” stressed Mr Lloyd. “Instead, success depends on stacking the most appropriate cultural and chemical controls for the farm and season.”

Over the years, Stow Longa research has identified more than a dozen important fundamentals of effective black-grass control, including: Using a rotational plough in the right way at the right time; Delaying wheat drilling until late October where possible; Moving to spring drilling if autumn conditions prevent late drilling; Employing two (or more) spring crops in a row, if necessary; Using cover crops to improve the chances of decent late autumn or spring seedbeds; Sowing the most competitive wheat varieties; Moving as little soil as possible at drilling to wake up the least amount of weed seed; Using barley rather than wheat for early autumn sowing; Sowing the most competitive barley varieties; Making the best use of glyphosate to eliminate weed flushes ahead of drilling; Creating firm and fine seedbeds that give the best pre-em herbicide activity; Stacking and sequencing residual pre-em and early post-em herbicides carefully; and, Maintaining the best possible weed control in all cereal breaks.

Even the worst infestations can be overcome with the correct management,” Colin Lloyd pointed out. “But only if the right techniques are applied in combinations matched to the

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individual farm challenge with enough flexibility to suit the conditions and, above all, sufficient patience and persistence.”

“Through our CropTec clinic we are setting out to help as many visitors as we can with individual guidance from our extensive cultivation systems, variety competitiveness, cover cropping, rotational and herbicide application research,” Steve Corbett explained.

“By bringing our Stow Longa research to Peterborough in this personal way, we look forward to sharing its findings directly with even more growers than we can accommodate at our extended series of Huntingdon open days.”

Win 10ha of New Very High Yielding Spring Barley in Agrii Stand Competition Visitors to the Agrii stand at CropTec will have the opportunity to win two tonnes of seed of new, very high yielding malting barley, Laureate for 2017 planting courtesy of Syngenta and MasterSeeds.

Yielding only fractionally behind RGT Planet in the latest five-year AHDB Recommended List trial data, Laureate has the advantage of being non-GN for the widest market suitability.

The Syngenta variety is being registered across Europe for the broadest market appeal and is currently under test by IBD for both brewing and malt distilling to give it significantly greater marketability than current malting standard, Propino.

“As well as all the right quality and yield characteristics, Laureate has the highest untreated grain yield on the RL courtesy of its very strong across-the-board disease resistance as part of an excellent agronomic package,” noted Agrii national seeds manager, Barry Barker.

“The two tonnes of seed we are offering in our free-to-enter CropTec competition will be sufficient for just over 10 ha of planting at normal rates, making it a very attractive prize for anyone planning to grow spring barley in 2017.”

18 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

Defy 3D Nozzle – a key component in your attack on blackgrass this autumn The unique Defy 3D inclined nozzle was developed by Pentair Hypro and Syngenta specifically for the application of preemergence black-grass herbicides. It has been tuned to eliminate the smallest driftable droplets, boosting performance whilst at the same time significantly reducing spray drift. uccessful application is a key component of achieving the critical 97% control that is needed to reduce the weed population and enhanced drift reduction really helps spray operators to manage their autumn workload when spraying days are scarce.

Syngenta trials using Defy+Liberator have showed that applications with the Defy 3D nozzle reduces drift by 60-75% as well as increasing black-grass control by 3-6% compared with a conventional flat fan nozzle.

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Performance has been excellent at 100 l/ha water, beating a conventional flat fan spray at 200 l/ha in trials For optimum efficacy Defy 3D nozzles should be sprayed at 2-3 bar pressure, alternatively, for optimum level of drift reduction, reduce the pressure down to 1 bar (classified as 2 star LERAP).

The nozzles are optimised for use at boom heights between 50cm and 75cm and the inclined spray should be alternated

backwards and forwards along the boom, treating targets from both sides, not just above, hence the 3D name.

Performance has been excellent at 100 l/ha water, beating a conventional flat fan spray at 200 l/ha in trials, further helping optimise spraying efficiency. It works most effectively at sprayer speeds between 12kph and 14kph.

The new Defy 3D nozzle • Engineered to deliver more even pre-em spray coverage • Black-grass control boosted by up to 6% compared with conventional nozzle • Environmental benefits from reduced drift • Helps spray more black-grass herbicides on time Defy 3D nozzle is available in sizes of 03, 035, 04, 05 and 06 through Pentair Hypro’s network of UK distributors this autumn.

For a full list see the contact page at www.hypro-eu.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| CropTec

Bauer features Rainstar irrigation and control developments at CropTec event New developments for the Bauer Rainstar heavy-duty reel irrigator range will feature at CropTec, including new control options and details of the biggest capacity Rainstar now heading the range. auer’s SmartRain online management, documentation and control App enables users of Centerstar pivot and Rainstar reel irrigators – as well as Bauer diesel irrigation pumps – to keep track of irrigators via an office computer, an Apple or Android mobile phone, or a tablet computer.

“By receiving information remotely about the progress of irrigation sessions and any problems that arise, managers can save a lot of time and focus on other tasks,” says Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland sales manager.

“SmartRain provides remote control access to irrigators and pumps, and receives SMS or email messages on designated mobile phones.”

Managers overseeing multiple irrigators can receive status reports from all machines but allocate status messaging from particular machines to the mobiles of individual team members looking after them. SmartRain also saves records of water usage and of individual irrigator operation to help optimise management and minimise costs.

The Bauer Ecostar 6000 electronic controller for Rainstar reel irrigators has a 4.3in LED

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touch-screen for entering and adjusting settings, although basic functions, such as ‘start’, ‘stop’ and reel-in speed or precipitation input can also be handled by dedicated buttons.

Users can store up to 12 different irrigation programmes and retrieve them at any time to save having to enter individual parameters for every irrigation session, while remote access via SMS on up to four mobile telephones enables irrigation managers to stop and start machines and check on their status, adjust retraction speed, and receive error ‘run finished’ notifications.

Thanks to a digital input on the irrigator’s water meter, the Ecostar 6000 controller also records the quantity of water used for transfer to farm records using a USB memory stick.

The new controller can be installed on Bauer Rainstar reel irrigators in the compact Rainstar T Series, which starts with the T32 handling Bauer PE pipe in 65-85mm diameters from 220350m in length, and the full-size E Series, which tops out with the E55 XL carrying pipe lengths of 560-740m in 125-140mm diameters.

Latest addition to the Rainstar range is the E55 XL available with 125mm or 140mm diameter high-quality PE pipe manufactured in

the Bauer factory in Austria. The E55 XL can cover up to 7.7ha per run and twice that area by performing two runs from a central position by rotating the turntable reel.

High pulling force – up to 40% greater than with some irrigation reels – is generated by Bauer’s top-of-the-range and highly-efficient TVR 60 radial water turbine, working in conjunction with a four-speed gearbox, a 1½ in drive chain and large diameter laser cut sprocket.

The turbine’s design and precision assembly ensures it operates with very little water pressure loss, while the unique Vario variable output nozzle exploits available pressure by delivering full stream flow over the turbine’s impeller at all settings and a constant hose retraction speed from the beginning to the end of the strip.

For highest volumes, the Rainstar E55 XL is available with 140mm Bauer PE pipe in 500m, 530m and 560m lengths, delivering up to 110cu m/hr and capable of irrigating more than 6ha per draw at a swath width of 110m. The 125mm hose is available in 680m, 710m and 740m lengths, delivering up to 70cu m/hr across irrigation swaths up to 100m wide.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Grain

Sukup stirring silos provide numerous benefits C H & F M Parkinson, based near Woodbridge, Suffolk, added a further Sukup Europe stirring drying silo to one of their systems for the 2016 season. ohn Parkinson says that he was first made aware of the Sukup system

by Stephen Dickons of Allfarm Installations Ltd and that with their reputation he had the confidence to proceed with the first installation in 2009. A further two 4808, 1000 tonne stirrer silos have been added at another site since in 2013 and 2016.

Mr Parkinson continues, “The Sukup system was financially more attractive than other systems and has more tax advantages than a building”.

“The first operating advantage that we have with the Sukup system is that less labour is required. The floor drying system and continuous flow dryer system which we also operate require 3 people at harvest time, 2 carting grain and 1 pushing up grain or operating the dryer. With the Sukup system we just require 2 carting and the silo looks after itself”.

“This season we were also able to mix 13% grain with 200 tonnes of 17% moisture content giving us a good average and saving the cost of drying that 200t. With the

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Sukup system you get complete mixing of the grain unlike our floor drying system with stirrers which requires much more management; with the silo it is like turning the whole floor store on its end and having one efficient drying zone”.

“The first operating advantage that we have with the Sukup system is that less labour is required” John Statt of Sukup Europe adds, “Mr Parkinson’s views echo those of our many UK and European customers. Stirring silos are a very efficient, positive drying system that not only require less labour when filling, they also eliminate the need and expense of a telehandler or similar when out loading. Add the fact that they have an excellent aeration system for cooling and aeration of the grain and that they are also vermin proof, this makes for a very safe environment for the long term storage of grain” Sukup Europe Ltd will be exhibiting at both the Midland Machinery Show and Croptec in November.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

The broom that goes against the grain BroomEx C-Max push brooms are different from other brooms. esigned with patented side retainers to hold bulk volumes of material in front of the brush, the C-Max avoids spillage at the sides. In itself that represents a major time-saving which, coupled with the ease and speed of mounting the brush to a telehandler, skidsteer, fork lift or category II three-point hitch, makes the C-Max the ideal broom for anything from large scale grain moving and clear up, to a whole range of uses around the farm, in landscape maintenance, warehouses and distribution sites, snow clearance and much more.

Because there’s no need to spend time going over swept areas to clear spill lines you can move swiftly though the work and the end brushes are also carefully twisted so they pull

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material away from a wall or curb, sweeping it into the main path of the broom. Add to this the fact that there are no belts, chains, pulleys or anything else to potentially create down time, and there’s no flying debris, you can see the CMax is safe and maintenance free.

Hard wearing polypropylene bristles with a high-tensile steel broom head and mounting hardware, in a heavy-duty powder coated finish, ensure the brooms are durable and designed for a long life. You can sweep up to 450 miles before changing bristles. Such is the versatility that BroomEx brooms will sweep small rocks, mud and snow as well as pushing grain in the grain store and you get the benefit of being able to use the squeegee effect on wet floors.

What’s also different is BroomEx brooms stand on their own weight and the bristles are

so rigid you could jump up and down on them without them giving way. Other brooms have the inconvenience of having to be placed in some sort of stand as the bristles will not support the weight when not in use.

There are no belts, chains, pulleys or anything else to potentially create down time, and there’s no flying debris: the C-Max is safe and maintenance free Available in 1.5m, 1.8m and 2.4m widths the BroomEx C-Max clearly demonstrates how you can be different and yet very, very effective.

Wessex International: 01264 345870 www.wessexintl.com

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Grain

Grain storage with the Agbag system The importance of short-term storage capacity for grain increases with the price fluctuations in the cereals market. he silage bag technology or ‘Agbag’ - provided in the UK by AB Systems (UK) Ltd – works on the principle of air exclusion and is characterised by low losses and high quality.

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Roughage and industrial byproducts (pressed pulp) can also be successfully stored in an Agbag.

Using this ensiling system, the material is put into a polythene

AB Systems (UK) Ltd have teams of contractors nationwide, to get your grain or forage into an Agbag bag with a diameter of 4.3m (length of up to 200m). Filling them with the help of a chaser bin, performances of up to 300 tons per hour can be achieved. Wheat can be stored in silage bags for up to 9 months without any losses to quality - with continuing improvements to the method of extraction, this period will almost certainly increase in the near future. With or without the capital investment to purchase your own farm bagging machine, AB Systems (UK) Ltd have teams of contractors nationwide, to get your grain or forage into an Agbag.

Prices start from £4 per ton for more information call David or Doug Wynne on 01363-82677

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New hi-tech service Gleadell launches hi-tech mobile grain cleaning and seed dressing service. leadell has launched a stateof-the-art mobile grain-cleaning service enabling farmers to improve the specification of stored grain or optimise the quality of home-saved seed quickly and cost effectively.

The multi-million-pound investment, which employs some of the most advanced equipment available, marks Gleadell’s first foray into the on-farm graincleaning market and will help satisfy increasing demand from existing and new customers, says Chris Guest, Gleadell’s seed manager.

“It’s evident that the presence of impurities such as ergot is increasing, due to rotations and rising grassweed pressure,” he explains. “The new service will enable customers to maximise grain-marketing options through removal of unwanted admixture such as ergot, as well as improving bushel weights and Hagbergs.

“From a seed perspective, about 40-50% of the market uses home-saved seed, depending on

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crop species. It is, therefore, very important to be able to offer such a service to our farmer customers.”

Initially one mobile cleaner, operating within a 50-mile radius of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, will be available, says Mr Guest. It is fitted with a range of hi-tech equipment, including the latest camera and software technology.

This includes an innovative SEA chrome optical colour sorter, equipped with high-resolution, fullcolour cameras, allowing 0.1mm optical resolution. Combined with advanced software this provides near human-eye vision that can identify precisely the smallest shade differences, even allowing separation of barley from wheat plus a wide range of other admixtures.

The sorter also boasts shapesizing integrated into the system.

“This equipment is the most innovative and flexible sorting solution available, and offers a real advance in terms of mobile grain cleaning,” says Mr Guest.

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| Grain

New grain dryer control system simplifies harvest management A new control system designed to provide reliable drying of grain and other combinable crops with minimal manual intervention will be launched at the CropTech event by Kentra, one of the UK’s leading crop dryer manufacturers. he Dryer Master DM510 control unit and software can be retrofitted to most continuous flow crop dryers or embedded into the control panel of a new Kentra dryer. Both installations use a pair of moisture sensors – one at the intake, one at the discharge point – to calculate and automatically adjust how long grain needs to spend passing through the dryer to achieve the target moisture level set by the operator.

Barry Higginbottom, Kentra managing director, says: “This proven technology from Canada can save valuable time otherwise spent monitoring and managing a dryer manually and can bring about significant savings in terms of energy use and unnecessary weight loss resulting from overdrying.”

The Dryer Master system comprises a highly accurate moisture sensor installed in the conveyor line taking grain from the dryer and an inlet sensor usually fitted at the top of a continuous flow dryer that detects changes in the moisture content of incoming

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grain. The control software uses the readings from these sensors to calculate the residence time needed to hit an average target moisture and adjust the discharge rate accordingly.

“The ability to predict when, say, wetter incoming grain will fill the dryer takes all the guesswork out of managing the system and results in more accurate and consistent drying,” says Mr Higginbottom.

“With manual monitoring and control, you’re always working behind the curve, altering settings after the event – when the combine opens up in damper crop around a field boundary, for example, or as crops lose moisture after a dewy morning,” he adds. “With intake moisture sensing and predictive software, grain drying becomes more accurate and consistent.”

Both sensors automatically compensate for grain temperature to ensure accurate readings and calibrating the post-drying sensor involves nothing more than pressing a ‘calibrate’ button on the control panel, putting a couple of samples through a moisture meter and entering the readings.

“We don’t advocate a ‘set and forget’ approach; it’s good practice to have someone supervising the drying operation and we recommend repeating the sensor calibration two or three times a day as a check,” says Barry Higginbottom. “But the accuracy of this automated control system will give the store supervisor confidence to attend to other aspects of harvest management without neglecting the dryer.”

Significant cost saving is the other potential attraction of the system, he adds: “Manual grain dryer management involves responding to samples taken after the grain has been dried and to avoid being caught out there is a tendency to err on the side of caution, which often results in a lot of grain being dried beyond the optimum.”

That is costly in energy – bearing in mind it takes more energy to move grain from 14% to 13% mc than from 15-14% – and also in weight loss.

“Assuming a grain price of £100/tonne, a farm drying 20,000 tonnes of grain has only to save 1% moisture in over-drying to

regain £20,000 in lost revenue,” Mr Higginbottom points out. “A farm drying 4-5000 tonnes of grain a year would recoup the £10,000£12,000 all-in purchase of a Dryer Master system in three years – a bigger operator even sooner – while also saving time and hassle at harvest.”

“This proven technology from Canada can save valuable time otherwise spent monitoring and managing a dryer manually” The Dryer Master display provides a quick view of drying status and settings, a manual option for operators who prefer to make their own discharge rate decisions, a number of alarm alerts and a print-out for records.

Where Internet access is available, the display is duplicated on a web browser accessible on a farm office computer or remotely via a smart phone or other mobile device.

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| Machinery

Over 225 stands and the Midlands Machinery show keeps on growing It’s full steam ahead for the 2016 Midlands Machinery Show. Adrian Johnston, CEO of Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, the show organisers and owners of Newark Showground, is eagerly looking forward to the event’s buzz on 23 and 24 November. e said: “This is a great B2B show. We are only 3 years old but last year over 7,000 visitors came. Interest just continues to grow. We have over 225 stands and are ahead of last year’s exhibitors’ total. We are confident of even more by show days.”

He continues: “All 6 halls are full and with the addition of the Farm Handling event brought by Farmers Weekly and there is even more to see.

Streets Chartered Accountants are principal sponsor of the show’s seminar programmes and their theatre will host a variety of seminars including one earning NRoSo points. Seminar details and registration for the breakfast are available on the MMS or Streets’ websites, www.midlandlandsmachineryshow.com or www.streetsweb.co.uk. Seminars are repeated each day.

On Wednesday Streets Chartered Accountants, along with partners NatWest,

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24 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

Brown & Co and Langleys Solicitors, are hosting a Breakfast meeting in the £1.3m newly-renovated Lady Eastwood Centre.

James Pinchbeck, marketing partner at Streets Chartered Accountants said: “We feel that the agricultural industry will be most affected by BREXIT. As a result, we felt that a breakfast seminar before the start of the Midlands Machinery Show would be a great opportunity to give farmers and those in the industry the chance to hear about what will affect them following the trigger of Article 50 and how they should prepare.”

Places are limited and booking is required early to attend the seminar. To register email Laura Butler lbutler@streetsweb.co.uk.

Seminar admittance is free with attendees receiving a hot breakfast roll and refreshments.

The Society is run by a team of volunteers and show staff, all of whom knit together to make the event a success. Johnston continues: “Our steering committee is led by

Chairman Bob Sheldon and our staff team by Show Manager George Taylor. You will see Bob and George and other members of the showground team at the event, listening to our crucially important exhibitors. We aim to speak to each exhibitor firm to retain our show’s agricultural machinery focus.

Another avid supporter is Society President Geoffrey Bond OBE DL who has driven the new Midlands Agricultural Engineering Traineeship and Apprenticeship Education Schemes. The show is matching Geoffrey’s generous contribution annually in direct support of the industry. Full details will be available at the show.

Parking and admission to the 3rd Midlands Machinery Show are free to visitors. Gates open at 8.00 a.m. on both 23rd and 24th November. For details visit www.midlandsmachineryshow.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Kubota extends its agricultural offering with the introduction of Kubota Farm Solutions Kubota, a market leader in the manufacturer of high performance agricultural solutions, has introduced Kubota Farm Solutions (KFS), a new concept from the Japanese machinery giant that is designed to increase and extend its product offering and add value to its service offering.

FS covers the company’s complete machinery and service portfolio in a smart and easy way. It’s specifically focused on delivering real customer benefits, for those who need more than a powerful tractor to succeed. This includes an integrated system of products and services to increase end-user competitiveness and preparation for the future.

Over the last years, Kubota has extended its Agricultural Product Portfolio beyond the tractor with new solutions for our customers. One key example of this is the introduction of Kubota implements. In addition, Kubota has also made developments in other areas like automatic steering for instance.

The introduction of KFS is another example of how Kubota is adding value to his first class service proposition. Kubota understand that the agricultural market is facing a much more complex and deep new product offering which requires an easy and smart approach on how to offer it. KFS does exactly that.”

KFS brings all Kubota’s solutions in one system. From intelligent technology to individual services, the KFS advantages complement each other with Kubota´s commitment to support customers a little better every time.

KFS can be divided in five important pillars.

Performance. Kubota offers a large portfolio of machine equipment that can best support the customer in their endeavour to get their work done productively

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and successfully while being relaxed whichever tractor or implements they decide on. This way, customers know they can always count on proven quality, excellent performance, coordinated features, and all of that for a reasonable price.

Control. The entry into the world of ISOBUS. The customer wants full control over what they are doing. Kubota provides customers with perfectly integrated systems to help them achieve that. From machine optimisation to implement monitoring, end-users can control the tractor and resources easily from a single terminal. This not only provides them with a better overview of all work processes, but also allows them to work without stress.

Optimisation. The customer knows exactly how they want to get their work done: efficiently, precisely, and most comfortably.

Kubota gives them everything they need to obtain optimal results while remaining at ease. With precision farming solutions on the tractors and implements, like automatic steering and GEOcontrol for instance. With these technologies, the customer can apply seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides with extreme precision.

This lowers their costs and reduces their workload while increasing the yield of their work.

And all that with perfect compatibilities.

Value protection. The customer knows what it takes to be commercially successful: top performance with every task and

top conditions over many years.

Once again, Kubota offers solutions that fulfil what they promise. Kubota tractors are already protected by more than the normal one year manufacturer warranty right from the start. The customer will get the possibility to even extend his warranty to protect the value of his investment, avoid expensive downtimes, and remain profitable over the long term.

Finance management. The customer wants to improve their productivity, but not at any cost.

With Kubota Finance, they can make their planned investment with ease, convenience, and safety. Whether financing or leasing, they will benefit from professional advice and attractive conditions.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Machinery

Latest EASY introductions complete the ISOBUS loop The latest introductions to the CLAAS EASY range of precision farming solutions mean that it is even quicker and easier for farmers to gather machine and crop data, and then interpret and utilise that data, for instance by being able to vary input application rates or to update farm management costings. t the heart of all this is the latest version of the CLAAS S10 terminal. Unlike the smaller S7 terminal that is primarily for GPS steering applications, the S10 offers the combination of being both a GPS steering, camera and an ISOBUS control terminal.

Using the AEF standard labelling that makes it easy to match ISOBUS implement to terminal, until now the S10 terminal has been ISO UT (Universal Terminal) and ISO AUX (ability to allocate actions to F keys in the tractor) compatible. For any other ISO functions, such as section boom control on a sprayer, this has required a separate screen in the tractor.

For 2017, the new S10 incorporates all the latest ISO functions, so doing away with the need for additional terminals.

Particularly useful will be the integration of task management using TC Basic, which will be standard on all S10 terminals, with TC Geo and TC SC functions being optional additions.

The screen layout has been redesigned so that multiple windows can be displayed simultaneously. Implements are identified automatically and field lists are sorted automatically (requires TC GEO) so that the current field is at the top with the next five closest fields listed after that.

TC Basic allows task data from ISOBUS machines to be stored on the S10 and then transferred to farm management software in the office (e.g. Gatekeeper) via a USB stick The TC Geo option allows the S10 to be used for Precision

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Farming applications and implements, such as CROP SENSOR. This enables variable rate applications to be carried out and allows a number of mapping options to be used.

The TC SC (section control) option allows the S10 to be used for section control with compatible ISOBUS devices. It can control multiple booms (up to 5 different booms / 50 sections on implements with multiple booms / up to 32 sections on a single boom eg sprayer) New RTK FIELD BASE For users looking to use RTK to achieve high levels of steering accuracy, until now this has meant having to either install their own static mast or source a signal from a 3rd party.

However, the new tripod mounted CLAAS RTK FIELD BASE now means that farmers and contractors no longer have to rely on picking up a consistent RTK signal from a static mast, but can take their own mast with them from field to field. But for complete flexibility, if required the transmitter can be detached and used as a static mast.

New RTK network for Ireland From the middle of 2017, farmers and contractors will be able to access a new RTK network established by CLAAS. This new network uses a dual SIM card mobile modem to receive a correction signal which has the benefit that the unit will always look for the strongest signal available in areas of poor network coverage. This means that the user will always have access to a consistent, strong signal so that steering accuracy is maintained.

Unlike some other providers, the CLAAS RTK network uses an open signal, so can be used with

26 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

any RTK steering system, regardless of manufacturer, making it extremely flexible.

Implement output data recording using iBeacons Originally introduced on the LEXION combine range, TELEMATICS is now available on all CLAAS combines, JAGUAR foragers and CLAAS tractors from the XERION down to the ARION 400 and the data accessed via computer or on a tablet or smart phone via the app.

While TELEMATICS provides a wealth of data on the power unit, the only implement data available has been from machines fitted with TONI (TELEMATICS on Implement), such as the QUADRANT baler.

Now, however, using the TELEMATICS App it’s possible to quickly and easily obtain information data from a whole range of non-ISOBUS implements and attachments using an iBeacon.New CLAAS specific Gatekeeper Gathering all this output data

using TELEMATICS, ISOBUS and iBeacons is only half the story, it’s what you then do with it and how you record, store and analyse that information.

For 2017, the new S10 incorporates all the latest ISO functions This is fine where the farmer carries out all field operations, but information can be missing from where a contractor is used for operations such as spraying or combining.

To get around this, FarmPlan has introduced a new CLAAS specific version of its popular Gatekeeper management software. Called Gatekeeper CLAAS Essentials, this is basically a cut-down version of Gatekeeper that, for instance a contractor can use in order to save field data, such as yield maps, etc from their CLAAS machines and then enable full transfer between them and the farmer.

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| Machinery

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November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Forestry

Dartmoor ‘Christmas Couple’ earn Downing Street spotlight for their trees & wreath A husband and wife team from Dartmoor have sensationally claimed a total of seven prizes in this year’s British Christmas Tree competition – earning themselves a very special trip to Downing Street. tuart and Jennie Kirkup, who have been running Dartmoor Christmas Trees since 2002, were yesterday selected as standout winners in the categories of Champion Christmas Tree and Champion Wreath, in the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association’s annual contest.

The competition saw growers travel from the farthest corners of the UK to Poundffald Farm in West Glamorgan, where they pitched their spruces and firs against those of their peers.

In an unprecedented sweep of the results, Stuart and Jennie, who have five children, claimed the top prize for Champion Tree, Champion Tree Runner Up, Best Fir ‘Other’, Best Spruce Norway, Best Decorated Wreath, Best Natural Wreath, and Champion Festive Wreath.

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The result means the couple will be responsible for supplying Number 10 Downing Street with TWO Christmas trees this year, and the wreath for the famous front door.

Stuart, who qualified in civil engineering before falling in love with the world of Christmas tree farming, said: “I just can’t believe it. For my wife or I to have come away with one prize between us would have been great, but for Jennie to win all three awards for her wreaths and for me to get so many for the trees – it’s just incredible, and not what I expected at all.

“Throughout the year I looked at the Spruce in the field in particular, and thought maybe that could be in with a chance for the annual BCTGA competition, but I never dared believe it might actual win the Champion spot. I’m delighted.”

Stuart’s trip to the Prime Minister’s residence will be

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particularly special this year, given that he previously had an opportunity to attend as a runnerup, but sadly lost his father just days before the event, and was forced to pull out of the occasion.

“That was five years ago now,” he said. “I never thought I would get a chance to be back again – but as a winner.

“I’m sure Dad will be looking down on me on the day and smiling.”

Stuart and Jennie employ around 25 staff at the peak of the festive season on their 35 acre farm. They admit it can be hard work, but insist it is a labour of love, and a joy shared by the many loyal workers who come back year after year.

“There are certainly some tough times in Christmas tree growing, because for 10 months of the year you’re not seeing anything for the efforts you’re putting in,” Stuart said. “But at the same time, it’s something I absolutely love doing and the sense of reward in the busier times is terrific.

“That’s why we have so many staff coming back year after year to help us at the peak season.

They love being involved with the trees. We have solicitors, accountants – all sorts. They can’t wait to get back in the field at Christmas time and help us.”

The British Christmas Tree

Growers Association contest is now in its 18th year. Each farmer, who will have spent around 10 years nurturing the tree to full ‘competition’ height, is able to enter categories including Best Nordman, Best Other Fir, Best Pine, Best Norway Spruce, Best Other Spruce, Best Container Grown, and Best Festive Wreath.

Finalists were permitted to submit only one tree into each category, and trees entered must be commercially cultivated and be 1.8 metres ( +/- 400mms) high from base to tip. Each is judged for foliage, colour, shape and marketability.

Harry Brightwell, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association, said: “Huge congratulations go to Stuart and Jennie. We’ve never seen a couple walk away with seven prizes in one go like that before, but they thoroughly deserved their awards.

“Yet again, all the entries were of a high standard. Every one of our members puts a great deal of commitment into a year-round process of farming Christmas trees, so this event is a valuable opportunity for us to applaud their efforts.

“Our message this year to all festive lovers is to make choosing a tree a special event for the household – and to ‘Buy Real, Buy British’.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Spaldings Limited Lincoln, Lincolnshire T: 01522 507500 www.spaldings.co.uk

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

Lakedale Power Tools Croydon, Dartford & London T: 020 8683 0550 www.lakedalepowertools.co.uk

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

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

Mawsley Machinery Brixworth, Northampton T: 01604 880621 https://mawsley.stihl-dealer.co.uk

DM Chainsaws Arundel, West Sussex T: 01243 554065 www.dmchainsaws.co.uk

Davenport Western Yeovil, Somerset T: 01935 425311 www.davenportsaws.co.uk

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November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Education

Access to HE Course expands at NSC A new cohort of Access to HE students is embarking on an intensive year course in preparation for Higher Education at North Shropshire College (NSC). n addition to the ever popular Health route for those wanting to enter Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, students are also aiming to progress to a wide variety of degrees through our new Science and Humanities Diplomas. Humanities students are applying for Primary Teaching, English, Creative Writing and Media whilst Science students are heading for courses as diverse as Physiotherapy, Biomedical Sciences, Astrophysics, Zoology and Environmental Sciences.

A new Access to HE qualification is now available at NSC’s Walford Campus, the LandBased Studies Access to HE Diploma is ideal for anyone wanting to do study Countryside Management, Land Management, Agriculture and Environmental

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studies.

Jill Cawthray Access Coordinator commented ‘the Access to HE course is a fantastic bridge to University for those who may not have got the necessary qualifications previously. The best part of my job is seeing the confidence and skills of our students grow with the support of their tutors and peers. We wish them a very successful year. If you want to apply to Access please see our college web-site for more details.’

There is an open evening at Oswestry Campus on Wednesday 19th October, 5pm until 8pm, open to all prospective students wishing to join in September 2017.

For more information about Access to HE qualifications please call Jill Cawthray on 01691 688051 or email j.cawthray@nsc.ac.uk, you can also go to www.nsc.ac.uk.

30 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

New postgraduate course to deliver high An innovative new postgraduate degree course is being launched tackle an emerging shortage of higher level skills facing the food he University of Lincoln’s new MSc in Agri-Food Technology, launching in September 2017, will educate a new generation of farmers, innovators, technicians, and business leaders by combining the management, science and technology associated with the modern food supply chain “from farm to fork”.

The new programme will be dedicated to educating the future workforce of the UK’s successful and growing agri-food sector.

Through its Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT), the University of Lincoln is working to tackle strategic challenges facing UK agriculture and food manufacturing, developing new practices and technologies that can improve efficiency, sustainability, and reduce waste throughout the value chain.

Students on the MSc in Agrifood Technology will benefit from LIAT’s existing expertise in agriculture, based at the University’s Riseholme Campus.

The course will also incorporate teaching in food manufacturing, life sciences and agri-robotics, and close working relationships with industry partners. The programme is specifically designed to educate students and help them succeed in a wide range of roles within the agri-food sector, from production

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management positions to research and development posts.

Professor Simon Pearson, Director of LIAT, said: “Increasingly farming and the food industries are becoming highly technical and automated sectors and the University of Lincoln is responding to the emerging skills gap to develop the highly skilled workforce that is needed. This has become even more urgent to enable the UK to lead the world in agri-food and agri-tech post-Brexit.

“The University has designed this new Master’s course in response to demands from the industry and in partnership with farmers and food manufacturing leaders. It will enable us to develop a new generation of highly skilled individuals through expert teaching and hands-on experience right here in Lincolnshire at the very heart of the UK’s agri-food sector.

“Students will be in a unique position to take advantage of our exceptional facilities, including our farmland and research field station at Riseholme, our food manufacturing centre at Holbeach and our world class science laboratories in Lincoln.”

At the main Brayford Pool Campus, the students will work with scientists, programmers and engineers from across the University to examine the science behind new agri-food developments. Just north of

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| Education

Students take part in beef feed trials with major retailer Fourteen first year, Level Three Extended Diploma in Agriculture students are taking on a trial with leading meat producer Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) Ltd; and the world’s biggest retailer, ASDA, with the aim of reducing the cost of beef production. he beef grower feeding trial, which is being supported by specialists from ABP Ltd., will last for 12 weeks, and is expected to identify efficiencies during the grower feeding phase.

Using 24 young cattle divided into three groups, comprising a mix of Herford, Brown Swiss, Limousin and Belgian Blue crosses the trial will see one group of cattle receiving an innovative supplement which is claimed to reduce feed intake without effecting weight gain. It is hoped the trial will reveal significant financial benefits to using the supplement during the grower phase.

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er level skills for UK’s agri-food sector in the heartland of the UK’s multi-billion pound agri-food sector to and farming industries.

Lincoln at the University’s Riseholme Campus, students will work on an agricultural field station for testing farm innovations, completing crop trials, and experimenting in agrirobotics, water management and agronomy.

The National Centre for Food Manufacturing at Holbeach in southern Lincolnshire will continue to serve as the University’s gateway to the global food manufacturing industry, providing critical expertise on industry needs and hosting projects at its model food manufacturing plant.

The Master’s programme will be led by Dr Ramana Sundara, who joined the University of Lincoln with more than two decades of industry experience after working with Nestle as Manager of External Research Collaborations.

“Our students will all undertake an individual research project, either in industry or in academia,” Dr Sundara explained. “This will give them a fantastic opportunity to specialise in their chosen field, apply new knowledge in a real-life setting, and make invaluable contacts with potential employers in the region’s agricultural and food processing industries.

“The food and farming sector is so important to the country, and to our county. It represents one of our largest and oldest

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industries and in the UK, it is currently bigger than the aerospace and automotive sectors put together. This new postgraduate programme is designed to educate the workforce of the future. It will provide a comprehensive insight into the agri-food value chain and address challenges on our doorstep which have a truly global significance. It is our aim to produce a fantastic pool of home-grown, skilled workers with innovative approaches, who can continue to drive the UK’s agrifood industries forward.”

The new MSc in Agri-food Technology builds on the extensive BASIS and Crop Science training provided by the University for the region’s agricultural community over many years at Riseholme. Teaching will be informed by food manufacturing research projects delivered at Holbeach, biodiversity modules in the School of Life Sciences, and the agri-robotics work of the School of Engineering and School of Computer Science. The programme will also feature a variety of guest lectures from key figures in the farming and food processing industries.

For more information on the MSc in Agri-Food Technology at the University of Lincoln, visit: www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/liat

The project will see the students take ownership of the trial, feeding the cattle seven days a week and weighing the stock at regular intervals to calculate weight gain against the amount of feed intake.

On the trial, Jeanette Dawson OBE, Chief Executive and Principal of Bishop Burton, said; “This trial will be incredibly interesting for both our students and our partners ASDA and ABP Ltd. Not only will the project allow our students to learn about the fundamentals of meat production, and then put them into practice, it will also enable us to work with ABP to trial new feed supplements.”

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 31

| UK Dairy Day

Pirtek Cambridge Tel: 01223 835222 Pirtek Derby Tel: 01332 205000 Pirtek Harlow Tel: 01279 427300 32 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

Pirtek Luton Pirtek Penrith Pirtek Preston

Tel: 01582 597050 Tel: 01768 210055 Tel: 01772 620111

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| Fencing

Rhino charges ahead with clear focus Based in the beating heart of British manufacturing, Black Country firm Rhino Gates is firmly focused on the future with plans for expansion. hino Gates started a new chapter recently when Nick Moran took over the business.

With a long track record within the gates and fencing sector, Nick has a clear vision of where he wants to take the business.

“I became owner of Rhino Gates in July 2016,” explained Nick “and I’ll be looking to build on the strong reputation that has been nurtured over the past 5 years by the previous owner.

“We are based in Wednesbury, close to the M5 and M6, giving us easy access to the national motorway network and we benefit from the manufacturing legacy that’s been built up in the Black Country.

“From Aberdeen down to Cornwall and right across the UK, we supply four different types of gate to both commercial contractors and end user customers,” added Nick.

Rhino manufactures both cantilever and tracked automated and manual gates. Security

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is a key consideration as is user safety with all of Rhino’s gates conforming to the latest gate legislation.

Nick went on: “We keep our offering simple and focused and I have no plans to change that. We are unique in the sense that we own around 90% of our supply chain with a steel stockholding firm and a powder coating operation. Which happens to be the second largest powder coating oven in the UK! “We currently have 8 employees but will be taking on two further fabricators before the end of the year. We have the capability to build three to four gates per week depending on size, with a delivery time of 3 to 4 weeks.

“That’s as good as anyone in the sector however our key selling point is value. Having kept our operations focused over the years, Rhino can manufacture and supply the same high quality gates at around 60/70% of the cost of leading competitors as we focus on a narrow niche product range only.

“We always aim to be completely transparent

on costs. There’s no nasty surprises for customers that you may well find with other gate suppliers.

“Another key advantage is that all of our gates are ‘plug and play’ and arrive on site in one piece on transport with HI AB off load.

They are then placed in position on the gate foundations. All that is needed then is to fix the gate to the foundations and an electrician to connect the electrical supply.” added Nick.

“We always aim to be completely transparent on costs” A cursory glance at Rhino Gates’ impressive website reflects the transparency that the business has become synonymous with.

Graded prices for gates ranging from 4m to 9m are clearly shown on the home page. Potential customers know exactly what they are getting.

“Rhino Gates is on the charge!” concluded Nick.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Fencing

Protect your investment 2Life® – the science Install secure fencing with a natural look. eading timber products manufacturer, M&M Timber is offering a natural long life fencing solution for solar farms with the addition of SolarGuard posts to their comprehensive timber range.

The posts have been designed to cater for the growing need for quality, durable fencing for solar installations with naturally sit within a rural environment.

The installation of solar energy is a huge capital investment and costly to repair – so methods to protect, strengthen and secure solar farm perimeters is fundamentally important. Often spread over very large areas of open land and located miles from any public areas, installations can be vulnerable to theft and vandalism, as well as to damage caused by incursions of wildlife such as deer. M&M Timber’s bespoke SolarGuard posts can help to deter trespassers and minimise the risk of damage. In addition the natural wood enables the fencing to ascetically complement the rural environment.

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Unique design for maximum security Each SolarGuard post features a scientifically designed incising process for increased protection a virtual 'zone of confidence' - at the critical area where the post is at most risk of decay. The incisions allow deeper penetration of the Tanalith E wood preservative to provide more effective and consistent defence.

ArcelorMittal Sheffield manufacture all of their agricultural fencing products from 2Life® wire - but what is 2Life®?

Three times the life-span of conventional fencing timbers M&M Timber offer a full 15 year warranty on SolarGuard posts and for extreme locations a 30 year in-service lifetime warranty is available. The 4 way pointed posts deliver ultimate stability, with each post tagged for traceability and their bulky specification helps to deter theft. With three times the life-span of conventional fencing timbers, the natural looking machined round SolarGuard posts offer real economy in terms of renewable fencing labour costs and materials.

For further information visit www.mmtimber.co.uk Life® is a coated wire with long life technology that gives a guaranteed longer lifespan compared to heavily galvanised wire to BS EN10244-2 Class A. 2Life® is coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminium instead of the zinc only coating of traditional heavily galvanised products.

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For more demanding environmental conditions (e.g coastal), ArcelorMittal Sheffield also offer fencing products made from their 4Life® wire.

Zinc provides an active, sacrificial and traditional anticorrosive coating while aluminium provides passive protection by slowing down the sacrificial reaction of the zinc coating and increasing the effective lifespan of the coating.

Under laboratory controlled Kersternich test conditions, after 20 cycles in an sulphuric atmosphere, heavily galvanised wire loses 96% of its original coating thickness with only 10g remaining compared to only 23% loss for 2Life® wire and 100g of coating still remaining. This is the

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proof that 2Life will last at least two times longer than heavily galvanised wire to BS EN10244-2 Class A. In addition to the corrosion benefits, 2Life® also offers a long lasting smooth finish, perfect adhesion of the coating with no peeling or cracking, excellent concentricity and extended product life time.

Add the 2Life coating to the other features on offer from the ArcelorMittal Sheffield fencing product, and you have an excellent quality, value for money range on offer.

The centreless core provides a snag free, easy to unroll product with no waste as the whole of the roll can be used.

The deep crimps provide a self draining feature that draws rain water along the wire away from the hinges and joints extending the life of them. The crimps also provides elasticity to reduce climatic stresses on fixings and joints.

For more demanding environmental conditions (e.g coastal), ArcelorMittal Sheffield also offer fencing products made from their 4Life® wire. This follows the same principle as 2Life® with a zinc and aluminium coating but is applied with a greater coating weight to last at least four times as long as heavily galvanised wire to BS EN10244-2 Class A.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

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November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Slurry

Vogelsang Compax2 18m Dribble Bar World market leaders in dribble bars Vogelsang have developed their Compax2 range of dribble bars by adding an 18m version. he Compax2 range designed around the self-propelled applicators, and as the name suggests, the compact design when in transport folds up completely behind the applicator, minimising the driver’s vision and keeping within the width of the applicator.

Compax2 dribble bars can also be fitted to conventional slurry tankers, and also importantly the umbilical cord market can be

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36 | Farming Monthly | November 2016

fore filled by adapting a pulling arm, which comes as an option by Vogelsang, making the Compax2 range an all-round option for all users.

Compax2 18m has as standard two of the company’s proven distribution range ExaCut 40 which can handle high demand flow rates, but importantly distributes evenly across the width of the dribble bar, securing even crop growth.

Vogelsang patented CFC section control, is also a standard feature on the 18m Compax2, it

acts as an anti-drip system, and also can bring in sections of the dribble bar to suite different tramline widths, as well as utilizing the liquid in short work.

The 18m also features the new in cab control panel which allows the driver full control of the dribble bar.

As pictured Compax2 18m can be fitted with Vogelsang base runner, allowing further use in different crops.

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| Slurry

Durable Bauer Magnum SX for reliable, low maintenance slurry and AD digestate pumping applications The ‘beating heart’ of many a contractor’s umbilical system for applying slurry and AD plant digestate to the land is a Bauer Magnum SX2000 centrifugal pump. owered by an auxiliary diesel engine or tractor pto, its role is to extract liquid from store and send it on its way to distant field application sites – with a booster pump installed part way along the supply pipe if necessary.

Having a reliable pump with plenty of capacity is essential to get the best performance out of an umbilical system, which has the big attraction of relieving fields of heavy tankers and the soil compaction that can be caused with even the biggest and best flotation tyres fitted.

Reliability is another key asset and contractors often say they are comfortable operating Magnum SX pumps remotely because they have been so reliable over the years – they are tough, hard-wearing and need very little routine attention or adjustment.

The Magnum SX series pumps have a

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number of significant improvements over the SM series they replaced. Back vanes on the cast impeller keep the enlarged seal area free of debris and turbulence inside the impeller housing has been reduced by eliminating internal bolt heads.

Four cast iron legs on the spur gear housing make it easier to mount the complete assembly securely in the correct location, while the increased number of splines on the 32mm drive shaft provides a high input power rating.

There are three models – SX1000 tractormounted, SX2000 engine-driven and SX2600 electric motor-driven – all capable of handling up to 12% solids thanks to an effective chopping action. Auto pressure regulation and self-priming are optional.

The self-priming system includes a small pump with mechanical, hydraulic or electric drive, and a syphon on the suction side protecting the vacuum pump. Any remaining

liquid automatically drains into the suction stream as soon as the pump starts to deliver.

On the delivery side, a non-return valve is closed during priming and opens automatically when the pump gets going.

Such is the output potential of Bauer Magnum SX pumps that contractors upgrading to these units may need to invest in bigger diameter hose to exploit the pumps’ performance potential in full For couplings, there is no better choice than Bauer HK, the original quick and secure connection system for rigid and flexible mobile pipes available in seven sizes for hoses or pipes of 49mm to 194mm diameter.

Manufactured from hot-dipped galvanized steel, the original Bauer coupling has no loose parts and needs no tools, and with up to 30deg articulation of the coupling joint, there is no need for perfect alignment.

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| Slurry

Covering nearly all applications...Greencrop Greencrop are the UK distributors for the unique Sepcom Horizontal and Vertical Rotary Separators for use in separation of all types of slurry, abattoir waste and digestate on Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Biogas Plants. he vertical units work very well in food waste and slurry that has little fibre. We have installed a large number of Sepcom Separators in the UK. The basic machines are used to separate animal slurry, but special units can be used in industrial waste applications.

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“We can offer six machines in different build specifications” The Bio Sepcom Separator is used to separate digested material, however, it can also be used to prepare the material before the digester as is commonly done throughout Europe.

The horizontal machines have several advantages, including a unique header tank to control the pressure of the digestate into the screw inlet, giving a constant force feed into the screen and screw.

Another advantage is the diaphragm outlet; this simple

device allows a backpressure to the separated material to increase separation.

The vertical unit construction means that the machine retains its ‘plug’, ensuring consistent quality of separation. The new quick release guards help its low maintenance requirement which is critical and what makes it different to previous models. This separator is designed for difficult waste (including human waste), and has two vertical polymer screws, allowing them to run at a tighter tolerance than a steel screw against the screens. The intermesh of the screws acts as self-cleaning, reducing maintenance and downtime further.

The polymer will withstand temperatures up to 100ºc and it can achieve similar dry matter content to conventional horizontal models. The power requirement is also low at only 4kW. Three sizes of screens are available to suit different digestant material and the separation chamber can be extended if needed.

We can offer six machines in

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different build specifications that will cover nearly all applications, including the Visscher Sepcom which produces green bedding from cow slurry. With its special automatic head and unique separation system, it removes more moisture without having to use large electric motors.

Greencrop also supply a full range of mixer pumps and shredder pumps which are used to handle liquid based materials. The pumps are of a very high quality,

require low maintenance and can be used to feed slurry or digestate to the Sepcom Separator. www.greencrop.co.uk | 01328 701992 | Howard Chantry, UK Sales Manager 07881 787997

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| Buildings

Wind loading on agricultural buildings Article from RIDBA Technical Consultant, Martin Heywood. ll buildings and other external structures are subjected to wind loading which, over the 20 to 50 year design life of the building, may on occasion be sufficiently strong to cause damage to the cladding and even the building structure. It is therefore essential that this loading is properly accounted for during the design and construction of the building. It is not uncommon to see news footage of roof and wall cladding being ripped off and blown about during severe winter storms and of structural damage to temporary structures and older buildings. It is thankfully rare for modern buildings to fail structurally due to wind loading alone, although this is no reason to be complacent. RIDBA is aware of several instances where buildings have swayed excessively during high winds, resulting in complaints from concerned building owners.

Excessive deflections can lead to damage to the building envelope and ancillary components attached to the frame, requiring costly remedial action that could have been prevented by proper consideration of the likely wind loading at the design stage.

Wind forces on buildings When the wind blows over or around a building, it is forced to change direction and either speed up or slow down depending on the shape and orientation of the obstruction.

This causes either an increase or decrease in the external air pressure. When combined with changes to the internal air pressure the result is either a net positive pressure (on windward facing walls and the windward slopes of steep roofs) or a net suction (on leeward facing walls, walls parallel to the direction of the wind and on roofs generally). Importantly, the magnitude of the pressure is proportional to the square of the wind speed, so doubling the wind speed will produce four times the wind loading on the building.

From a building design point of view, the most important point to understand is that wind speed varies enormously with location and building geometry, meaning that wind loading is site and building specific, so should be calculated for each and every building project.

Since the magnitude of the wind loading has a direct bearing on the design of the frame (e.g. column and rafter sizes), it follows that the design of every building is unique and should be calculated or at least regularly checked. It should come as no surprise that a 15m barn designed for a sheltered location in Oxfordshire may not be adequate if placed on a hilltop overlooking the coast of Cornwall.

Factors affecting the wind speed: Location Some parts of the country tend to experience higher wind speeds than others and this needs to be taken into account when calculating the wind loading on a building. To enable engineers without specialist meteorological expertise to judge the likely wind speed at a particular location, the available meteorological data has been analysed to produce a contoured “wind map” of the UK, which is published as part of the UK National Annex to BS EN 1991-1-4 and is reproduced below. The values shown on the map are magnitudes of the “basic wind speed” to which correction factors may be applied to take account of wind direction, altitude and

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exposure conditions.

Altitude Wind speed naturally increases with altitude and this is accounted for by a correction factor that is applied to the “basic wind speed”. This is especially important for agricultural buildings since many are constructed at altitudes greater than 200m above sea level, where wind speeds are significantly higher than those in low-lying locations.

Distance to sea The shorter the distance to the sea, the greater the wind speed, since the wind loses energy and speed as it blows across land.

The greatest reduction in wind speed occurs over the first few miles, meaning that locations on the coast experience much higher wind loading than sites only 1 or 2 miles inland.

Clearly, cliff top sites that combine a coastal location with altitude experience particularly high wind speeds.

Town or country Agricultural buildings are generally built in exposed locations that do not benefit from the shelter provided by a surrounding town or city.

This results in higher wind speeds than would be experienced by comparable buildings located on an urban site.

Topography Topographical features such as hills can increase wind speed as the air is forced over them. For this reason, it is important for the person calculating the wind loading to have some familiarity with the site and not simply rely on a postcode.

Wind direction Wind speed is dependent on direction, with the strongest winds generally blowing from the south west. For this reason, when considering other factors such as distance to the sea or to the edge of town, it is important to consider the direction in which this distance is measured. A common approach adopted by engineers is to consider the wind blowing from several points around the compass and to calculate the wind speed for each direction.

Martin Heywood, RIDBA Technical Consultant

Building height Taller buildings are exposed to stronger winds and this needs to be reflected in the wind loading calculations. For single storey buildings it is common practice to calculate the wind speed for the ridge height.

Standards and software Wind loading should be calculated using a recognised code of practice, which in the UK means BS EN 1991-1-4. This is one of the structural Eurocodes and is applicable across Europe, although each country has its own National Annex containing nationally determined parameters and specific national recommendations. The calculation method in BS EN 1991-1-4 is complex and requires specialist technical knowledge, so it is essential that wind loading calculations are undertaken by a qualified structural or civil engineer.

By far the simplest approach is to use one of the many software tools currently available.

These range from commercially available packages that take account of all of the factors noted above to free online tools that produce reasonable but conservative results with minimal input from the user. Several steel purlin manufacturers include wind loading tools as part of their specification software (free to customers). In many cases, the precise site location may be specified in the software by its postcode or grid reference. Alternatively, various online resources may be used to obtain the grid reference, altitude and other location data. Thanks to Google, even the local topography and surrounding terrain may be surveyed without leaving the office.

Concluding remarks The design of any steel or timber framed building is dependent on the magnitude of the wind loading acting on the building. Without knowledge of the wind loads, it is impossible to design the frame or to specify the fasteners for the roof and wall cladding. Since the wind loading depends on so many geographical factors in addition to the shape and size of the building, it should be calculated for each and every building project, since no two buildings will be identical. A Eurocode standard (BS EN 1991-1-4) provides recommendations for the calculation of wind loading on structures, but these calculations need to be performed by a qualified engineer. Alternatively, the wind loading may be calculated using software, including free online tools.

Permission to reproduce extracts from British Standards is granted by BSI Standards Limited (BSI). No other use of this material is permitted.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Energy

Battery Barns...a new dawn?

BCM, specialists in rural property operating throughout southern England, report considerable excitement in the rural world at the moment over the concept of battery storage and its potential to earn income for landowners and farmers. his has been widely covered in print, digital, TV and radio media. Through reviewing some of the proposals being put to our clients, we believe considerable caution needs to be exercised before committing to such schemes.

Some of the current proposals need further scrutiny in terms of the other opportunities that exist on potential sites. There can be an opportunity cost of signing with the wrong type of facility in comparison to others that are available.

Reasonably few sites are appropriate for grid-scale genset development. However, even fewer are suitable for battery storage.

Furthermore, the embryonic battery storage market is so immature even the world’s biggest battery storage operators are struggling to make the numbers work for standalone, gridscale schemes in the UK – even on the best possible sites.

BCM can access specialist, expert and independent advice on these proposals and that can give an accurate steer as to a site’s viability and the type of technology they should be implementing. Further advice can be provided in terms of delivery of any suggested scheme and payment for the service provided will be made by the chosen operator, with the client having entered into an option and lease.

For those with the right sites, properly handled, the potential rents can be substantial, £50,000

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per site is not unusual. Giving the rights to a developer without properly reviewing the market or agreement can lead to much poorer deals.

The important thing is for landowners and farmers to safeguard their grid rights and then seek competing offers with the most credible operators with proven track records. This should optimise ground rent and terms and

provide the greatest chance of achieving a successful scheme.

With grid capacity being limited, landowners and farmers should review this as soon as possible. Local grid capacity is issued on a first come first served basis, meaning that if someone locally avails themselves of any available grid capacity first, then you will not be able to.

Solar thermal in limbo as Government continues to delay decision Six months since the Renewable Heat Incentive consultation the industry needs certainty to invest.

1 organisations have backed a letter to Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property, urging her to retain solar thermal within the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The group, representing the solar industry, local government, manufacturers, housing providers, land owners, and environmental campaigners, argue that the internationally proven technology should not be unfairly disadvantaged by being removed from the scheme and that the diverse application of solar thermal should be fully recognised.

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“The UK currently lags well behind other countries in its use of solar thermal ranking 44th according to the IEA for installed capacity per capita” Paul Barwell, STA Chief Executive, commented: “The industry was shocked, in March, when the Government proposed removing solar thermal from the RHI, whilst retaining support

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for heat pumps and biomass. Now, six months later, the industry is still in limbo as it waits for the Government’s response. We are confident that the Solar Trade Association made a compelling case to support solar thermal and hope the Government rethinks their proposal.

However it is urgent that we get a decision quickly to end this uncertainty.”

Solar thermal is an internationally proven technology with the potential to play a major role in decarbonising the UK’s domestic and commercial sectors. Unlike other renewable heat technologies, solar has negligible running costs, and can be combined with existing heating systems, making it particularly well suited for homes in fuel poverty. It works effectively in built-up areas, on smaller roofs, and in areas where air quality is an issue. In London solar thermal is the dominant technology for RHI applications.

Instead of cutting solar thermal from the RHI the organisations signing the letter argue that the Government should expand the number of applications of solar thermal allowed. The letter reads: “The UK currently lags well behind other countries in its use of solar thermal - ranking

44th according to the IEA for installed capacity per capita. However, with continued support from government under the Renewable Heat Incentive solar thermal has the opportunity to contribute to ever-wider range of applications, including district heating, space heating, industrial process heating, and valuable integration with other renewable heating technologies. The scope for solar thermal to displace fossil heating in industrial process heating is remarkable. Analysis by IRENA (The International Renewable Energy Agency) shows that solar thermal technologies could technically provide nearly half of heat demand in the industrial sector, displacing large amounts of carbon.

If the proposal to remove solar thermal from the RHI is implemented there is every prospect that the current supply chain will atrophy, together with valuable UK skills and manufacturing capacity. Without this vital technology the Government will struggle to meet its dual targets of alleviating fuel poverty and reaching 12% renewable heat by 2020.

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| Energy

AD trials improve biogas plant performance

By Matt Hale, International Sales Manager, HRS Heat Exchangers. hen it comes to anaerobic digestion, trials can range from making minor changes with the feedstock mix or dwell time, to assessing the effects of major equipment upgrades such as new CHP units or digestate processing equipment.

The level of effort involved in setting up and running a trial can, in many cases, vary according to both the complexity of the subject being investigated and the potential benefits of the changes being made or proposed.

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A number of companies produce small and medium sized trial units of key technology For example, reducing the size of feedstock by chopping it into smaller pieces, or increasing the level of mixing feedstocks before the digester are relatively easy to implement, and may improve gas

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production or reduce processing times. As such it is fairly straightforward to see if such measures have had the desired effect. However, trying to test large equipment such as digestate treatment units, gas upgrade machinery or new generator sets is much more complicated, although the potential rewards can also be greater.

Trial considerations When looking to trial new addon or replacement equipment ahead of an investment decision, it is easy to become focused on the practicalities of a trial. The first consideration of course is whether or not a realistic trial can be conducted. A number of companies produce small and medium sized trial units of key technology. HRS has a trial version of its Digestate Concentration System (DCS) which allows potential purchasers the opportunity to test our unique system for reducing the amount of digestate produced while increasing its value.

Thinking about logistics: how will you get the trial unit to your site? Where can you locate it? Is

there a suitable power supply?

Who will manage the project?

These are all valid questions which will require answers, but equally important is the design of the trial itself. After all, there is no point in investing large amounts of time and effort if you fail to obtain answers to your main queries or, in the worst case, fail to even to know what you hope to find out.

Know your objectives The first step is to talk to the company involved. Make sure you know what the unit is designed to do and that it is suitable for what you want. There is no point testing something which reduces your electricity use by 10 per cent if you are really after something that exports heat for an outside process.

Having made sure that what you will be testing should do what you want it to, the next step is to work out what exactly you expect it to do and how you can measure it.

For example, the DCS provides a number of benefits including increasing the solids content of the digestate, reducing overall digestate volumes and improving nutrient content. In the case of a new radiator it may be that running temperatures at the CHP are reduced, improving generator efficiency and reducing the number of oil changes needed. It would therefore be more useful to measure exported power and the physical properties of the oil than to keep an eye on running hours.

Measure the results Once you know what you need to measure, you need to know how to do it, and also to measure what you have been doing to give you a suitable comparison. If you don’t know how much liquid digestate your plant currently produces in a given period, how will you know if it has been

reduced?

Most trials carried out in the industry will be comparison trials, such as ‘before’ and ‘after’ or, depending on plant configuration, perhaps trialling two different practices alongside each other or alternately over a period. While such a set up may not be ideal from a purely scientific or statistical point of view, in most cases they should be robust enough for practical purposes. When combined with regular monitoring or scientific analysis (for example a nutrient analysis on digestate produced with and without passing it through the DCS) they should provide sufficient confidence to tell you whether or not the changes you are proposing will work and to inform the appropriate investment decisions.

The level of effort involved in setting up and running a trial can, in many cases, vary according to both the complexity of the subject being investigated and the potential benefits of the changes being made or proposed

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the process of setting up trials but you will find that most manufacturers and suppliers are only too happy to help demonstrate the effectiveness of their equipment, subject to logistical constraints. As a first point of call, feel free to contact me for further information of how the HRS trial DCS unit has been used in the past and how it could help your own AD process.

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| Energy

Surplus farm food waste could help generate 124 MWe this Christmas No farming business deliberately creates unnecessary waste. However, the volume of food waste created over the festive period is typically 30 per cent higher than the rest of the year. Finding a cost-effective, speedy and green way of treating this additional waste can be a headache for farmers at a busy time of year. Fortunately, there is a solution. naerobic digestion (AD) is an increasingly popular food waste treatment option turning farming waste into renewable energy - biogas. The last seven years have seen an unprecedented growth in the number of AD plants throughout the UK, rising from less than 50 in 2009 to 381 today (excluding the water sector)*. A fifth of these plants (79) process food waste, turning this valuable resource into renewable energy and biofertiliser (digestate). In December, it is estimated that 230,000 tonnes of additional food waste is generated in the UK**. If this extra waste was sent to AD, it would create 124 MWe of energy*** – enough to

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power 220,000 homes throughout December, or a city the size of Southampton.

The price of food waste While the priority for farming businesses should always be food waste prevention and minimisation, the increased complexity and uncertainty around Christmas ordering and production schedules means that an increase in food waste at this time of year is inevitable. Each Christmas, two million turkeys, 11 million potatoes, 17 million sprouts, 12 million carrots and 7.5 million mince pies are wasted, as shopping habits change and consumption rises. The cost of this additional festive food waste to the UK economy is an eye-watering £64m per year*. But not only does this increase in food waste impact

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on farmers’ profit margins, there is also an environmental price to pay – leaving food waste to rot in landfill causes the release of methane into the atmosphere, a gas with 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.

Sending food waste to an anaerobic digestion plant (also knows as an AD plant or biogas plant) significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfill and incineration. A naturally occurring process of decomposition whereby organic material including crops, farm and food waste is broken down, anaerobic digestion is a waste treatment option that is quickly becoming a favourite of farmers and growers.

And it’s not solely down to the associated ‘green halo’ that comes from doing the right thing for the environment; today’s modern AD plants are also a flexible, costeffective and hassle-free way to treat waste food.

No room at the (b)inn As waste volumes increase during the festive period, waste hauliers’ capacity fills up fast.

Farming businesses can suddenly find themselves faced with a mountain of surplus Christmas food waste that their usual waste carrier is unable to take – or will only treat for a vastly inflated fee.

No company wants its waste hanging around for longer than is absolutely necessary, and some sites also have the additional issue of waste permits, which may

prohibit them from keeping their waste on site for any length of time. Farmers and growers should plan ahead for an alternative place to send their additional Christmas food waste and seek out their local AD plant.

Headache gone – waste collected within 24 hours Last Christmas, farming businesses based in London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire sent thousands of tonnes of mince pies, sprouts and turkeys to London-based AD plant Willen Biogas. “We helped a number of local farmers with their last-minute Christmas waste problems, arranging collection, transport, depackaging and treatment of their food waste at short notice,” says Willen Biogas Chairman, Adrian Williams. “Our costcompetitive waste treatment options can be used for one-off loads or we are happy to discuss longer term contracts depending on our client’s requirements.”

Located just off junction 25 of the M25, the state of the art, modern 1.5 MW AD plant processes around 60,000 tonnes of food waste every day – and has capacity to handle any local Christmas surplus. Fitted with sophisticated front-end depackaging equipment, it can handle all types of food waste, including packaged, (with the exception of palletised loads) and accepts deliveries with as little as 24 hours’ notice.

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| Slurry

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November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Smithfield

2016 Smithfield Festival appeals to all sectors With a wide range of technical seminars, trade stands, top class livestock and free entrance, this year’s Smithfield Festival on the 15 and 16 November in Peterborough, promises to offer something for everyone involved in the UK agricultural industry. estival show manager William Haire, is determined to add focus on the future issues within the industry, and says this year’s event is better than ever, having built on the success of last year’s festival.

“Visitors this year, will not only be able to see some of the best primestock in the country, but will also have the opportunity to gain valuable information on the latest technologies and developments in agriculture.”

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The 2016 festival will also see the introduction of three new livestock classes There will be plenty to see and do with an expanding industry tradestand area, along with a programme of seminars and a packed line-up of competitions.

“We have an incredible line up of speakers this year including Ed Reynolds from Sustainable Soil Management on soil health, Carolyn Hogan from Zoetis, on best practice for handling and administering vaccines and Mike Donovan from Practical Farm Ideas, on introducing grazing livestock onto an arable farm,” explains William.

“And to support the growing number of

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young attendees to this event, this year will also see a new ‘Careers in Agriculture’ workshop.

Individuals from a diverse range of agricultural companies will discuss the huge opportunities the livestock sector offers new graduates and young people interested in a career in agriculture.

Smithfield has always attracted the best livestock in the UK and this year is no exception, with renown judges keen to be involved. Andrew Mutch, director of Mutch Meats in Oxfordshire, will lead the sheep judging and the commercial cattle will be judged by Gavin Scott, from Gateside Farm, Linlithgow. Iain Green from the well-known Corskie Simmental herd in Scotland will be judging some of the pedigree cattle championships.

We are also delighted to have Martin Irvine, star of the BBC Two series, “This Farming Life”, in the judging hot seat for the Young Stockperson of the Year competition,” says William.

The 2016 festival will also see the introduction of three new livestock classes.

“This year’s event has an incredible line-up, and is packed with the best talent from the livestock industry,” enthuses William. “Entry is free and I believe anyone working in the livestock or related industries, will benefit from attending the event. I’m so proud of the

immense talent and enthusiasm we have coming into the industry, and I encourage anyone to come along and share the positives our industry has to offer,” he concludes.

Full details of all classes can be found at www.eoesmithfield.co.uk

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| Business Innovation

Farm Business Innovation 2016 Whether you are a farmer, landowner, or rural entrepreneur, finding the greatest opportunities to make more money from your land than ever before can only be found at Farm Business Innovation show – the UK’s best trade exhibition. eturning to NEC Birmingham on the 9th and 10th of November to continue its exponential growth, visitors will be presented with the event’s most diverse supply of content, interactivity, cutting edge exhibitors, and life changing opportunities.

Enjoy inspiring talks from the likes of Abbey Oladapo, lead trainer of Google’s Digital Garage, as he helps you reach more customers than ever before online; John and Felicity Richards of The Green Waste Company, who will open your mind to new avenues of diversification; LEAF’s Annabel Shackleton, who provides her expert insight into sustainable farming; plus many other outstanding speakers.

The amazing schedule of seminars throughout the show covers a variety of topics, including leisure activities, glamping, renewable energy, farm shops, micro-breweries, and more. The conference will also explore the latest trends in diversification that farmers and rural entrepreneurs will look towards next year.

Farm Business Innovation 2016 will involve the industry’s most progressive and influential suppliers, who will use the show as a platform to showcase their innovative and leading products, services, concepts, and equipment.

Amongst the show’s 300 suppliers will be the CLA – official partners of Farm Business

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Innovation 2016 - who will be providing their specialist advice on every aspect of landownership, from law, taxation, and environment, to planning, and land use. There’s The Camping and Caravan Club, the world's oldest club for all forms of camping, and which currently holds 500,000 members; Clear Sky Safari Tents, specialists in supplying the very highest quality safari and bell tents; and the British Alpaca Society, who will provide all the education and information you need in this rapidly growing industry.

Gain the opportunity to give your business an even greater chance of success by boosting your digital expertise with Google and their Digital Garage. Their special training sessions will help you improve your digital presence by optimising your website, social media, and online video, and ensure you’re more visible than ever through their expert-led session on search optimisation, local listings, and search engine marketing.

Having always been highly regarded for education, creativity, trade opportunities, and dynamic atmosphere, Farm Business Innovation was officially recognised as the country’s best trade show at the 2016 Exhibition News Awards, winning the ceremony’s most competitive category, the Trade Show of the Year Award.

Running side-by-side with FBI is the Country House Business Innovation show, the most

comprehensive event for country estate owners and entrepreneurs looking to transform their business, and Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, an entirely unique event for entrepreneurs looking for the inspiration, advice, and resources they need to put their holiday park business on the map.

Farm Business Innovation returns on the 9th and 10th of November at the NEC Birmingham and is absolutely free to attend. To book your ticket simply visit www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk.

November 2016 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Business Innovation

If you’ve got the land, then we’ve got the brand !

As the one of the nation’s best-known glamping accommodation providers, Wigwam® Holidays! can help turn your land into a profit-making venture. e know farming is a challenging yet rewarding way of life … and there’s always the chance to earn more from your farming business.

Developing part of your farm to welcome glamping guests is one way to make an income all year round, in tandem with your existing agricultural commitments.

Wigwam® Holidays has been at the forefront of the UK glamping revolution since 1994, and has over 70 sites across the British Isles which include our innovative timber Wigwam cabins.

Wigwam cabins are constructed in the UK from sustainable timber, and are fully insulated, heated, with lighting, double glazed windows and a lockable front door as standard.

As Wigwam® Holidays has grown, so has our choice of cabins. With four models to choose from: Wee Brave (sleeping three persons); Big Chief (sleeping up to five persons); Running Water (sleeping four people with a en-suite shower and toilet); and the Running Water Deluxe (sleeping four people, and including a shower, toilet, kitchenette and dining area), you can choose which would be best for your particular requirements.

Wigwam cabins can provide year-round income at an affordable price for your guests and with the staycation set to become even more popular, we think you’re onto a winner !

Whether it’s a solo traveller, a couple or a multigenerational family, Wigwams are ideal and

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there’s a huge market out there !

So stop by and see us on stand 310 at this year’s Farm Business Innovation Show, 9th and 10th November at the Birmingham NEC, and learn more about joining a proven and successful franchise which has the flexibility to work alongside your farming business and generate additional revenue streams.

Our experts are on hand to help you make

your dream come true, providing business plan support, asset finance, assistance with planning, IT development, website help and much more on an as-needed basis.

So if you have a dream of diversifying and making your land work for you, think Wigwam Visit our website www.wigwamholidays.com

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| Animal Health

Collaboration and planning is answer to improving dairy cow health and profitability, says panel of experts Dairy farmers should work collaboratively with vets, animal health advisers and nutritionists to take a planned, holistic approach to improving dairy cow health, and help dramatically improve productivity and profitability, says a panel of experts brought together by Merial Animal Health at the Welsh Dairy Show. he panel of experts are members of Merial’s Eprinex Elite Team promoting best practice for healthy and productive dairy cows and included: Chris Watson, MA VetMB MRCVS, Veterinary Consultant at The Wood Veterinary Group; Rob Watkins, Ruminant Specialist at Advanced Ruminant Nutrition Ltd., and two of Merial’s Area Business Development Managers (ABDMs) Gemma Webster, who is also a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) and Rob Howells, who manages the Merial business in South Wales and has spent many years running his own farm.

Veterinary Consultant Chris Watson was clear that the dairy industry has a big problem with medicine wastage. Treating the wrong animals, treating at the wrong time, and using the wrong product not only costs more, but won’t give the expected results

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Transition is a period that requires particular attention “Around 20% of a vet bill will be for treating diseases that could have been better controlled via good farm protocols and processes,” says Chris. “Often medicines are prescribed when a problem is apparent, rather than at the optimal time to prevent clinical disease and production loss.

Prevention is almost always cheaper than the cure!”

Farmer, and Merial ABDM Rob Howells agrees, and adds: “The cost of a vet’s services can seem high, but in reality the cost per litre of milk is very low. It is a false economy to wait until there is a serious problem before involving your vet – speak to them early or better still, involve them in designing a farm-specific proactive health plan that protects herd health and optimises each individual cow’s potential.”

Efficient and cost-effective heifer performance is the next biggest challenge. “There are multiple

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opportunities throughout the calfrearing phase to give heifers the best chance of efficiently reaching the milking herd at 24 months,” says Chris. “Proactive management can prevent neonatal scours, pneumonia, parasites and promote a lifetime of good fertility.

“The cost benefits of producing heifers that calve at 24 months are significant, and include reduced culling and increased lifetime profitability. Lifetime production can increase by an extra quarter to half a lactation, which could amount to £400 and significantly reduces lifetime cost, while increasing profitability. Retain only the most efficient heifers on farm, those calving at 30 months will never recoup the yield from those lost months of production and will ultimately cost more per litre over their lifetime.”

Ruminant Nutritionist Rob Watkin’s approach involves identifying the most profitable animals and managing them for peak performance. “Your highest yielding cows are not always the most profitable, but if you don’t measure their productivity you won’t know,” says Rob. “We advocate using a ‘Performance Platform’ which records the performance of individual cows against targets for yield, lameness, mastitis and fertility.”

Getting nutrition right is a vital part of this process. Ageappropriate nutrition for growing calves and heifers will prevent growth checks, and simple, inexpensive changes can dramatically improve production without adding cost. Rob says: “We look at what could be achieved for under £10. Small things like ensuring feed rails are at the correct height, promptly removing stale feed, ensuring water troughs are scrupulously clean and providing a consistent total mixed ration (TMR) according to performance needs – no matter who fills the feed wagon.”

Transition is a period that requires particular attention. Rob says: “The dry period is critical for setting a cow up for her next lactation and pregnancy so it pays

to get it right. The nutritional aim should be to keep cows full, with a high fibre, low energy ration that will help promote good rumen health while preventing excessive weight gain from fat. Trimming feet, implementing appropriate dry cow therapy, and controlling parasites are also vital in setting up for a good production period.”

And Rob Howells from Merial agrees, He says: “Getting the ration right is one thing, but cows have to eat the full amount to realise the benefit. Cows which carry parasites eat less forage and those at grass will graze for less time than wormed cows, so it’s really important to treat for gutworm and fluke. In heifers this is vital, since reduced feed intake slows growth and reduces the likelihood of calving at 24 months.

In trials, heifers that had been treated to remove gutworm gained 0.8kg/day compared to untreated heifers which gained only 0.65 kg/day1.”

At grass, cows that have been wormed to remove gutworm will graze for an additional 47 to 50 minutes, 7.5% more than untreated cattle. In heifers this can result in additional growth of 15.5kg over a 28 day period2.

Worming can also improve fertility by improving the conception rate

and reducing the number of services required3.

When it comes to accessing the right advice from the right place, farmers can forget that their local farm store often employs an SQP. These people are trained animal health advisers that can provide free advice, and offer services above and beyond prescribing a wormer and selling farm supplies.

Gemma Webster says that having a conversation with your local SQP and involving them in conversations with the vet, and the nutritionist, can help provide the best overall advice and service for the farm: “SQPs are ideally placed to work with other advisors to help find the right solution, especially when it comes to putting day-today management protocols in place. We are on hand to protect farmers’ interests by providing best practice advice and ensuring they use the correct medicines, both from an animal health and a regulatory perspective. We know that any herd health plan needs to be easily understood and used by everyone on the farm, and we can help farmers make practical changes that result in real improvements.”

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| ATV

John Deere expands its use of CESAR on the Gator range Mud soaked trails, impossibly steep inclines, freezing cold starts, John Deere Gators have proved themselves year after year as go-anywhere, dependable and reliable work vehicles. ith more than 500,000 built, they’ve earned a reputation for durability and quality like no other. Unfortunately, their positive attributes have made Gators a popular target for professional and opportunistic thieves.

Reacting to this, and following the success of CESAR in reducing tractor theft from John Deere customers and dealers, John Deere has announced that from the 1st November 2016, all XUV & HPX Gator utility vehicle models sold in the UK & Ireland will be factory fitted with the CESAR security marking and registration scheme.

According to the Metropolitan Police’s PANIU team around 200 Utility Trucks are stolen each year in the UK with approximately half being John Deere Gators. Many machines are ‘stolento-order’ and shipped abroad within hours of being stolen.

The official CESAR Scheme, which is widely supported by trade bodies including the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), uses a range of security marking technology supplied by Datatag ID, including tamper evident plates, with a unique registration number for each piece of equipment, RFID tags, forensic DNA and Datadots to give each machine a unique fingerprint that thieves cannot remove.

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CESAR is widely recognised to have contributed to an overall drop in equipment theft of over 60% since its introduction in 2007 Datatag ID Managing Director Kevin Howells commenting on John Deere’s announcement said, “I’m delighted that John Deere has decided to expand its support of CESAR and introduce it as a standard fit for its Gator range.

I’ve every confidence that this move will be as successful for Gators as it has been for John Deere tractors in reducing theft.”

During the LAMMA 2015 exhibition, John Deere’s Marketing Manager, Chris Wiltshire, proudly unveiled an XUV 855D model as the 200,000th machine to be fitted with the CESAR Scheme. Nearly two years later the 225,000th CESAR plate was fitted to BBC’s Countryfile presenter Adam Henson’s combine harvester at his home in the Cotswold’s.

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Chris Wiltshire had this to say, "As leaders in the tractor and utility vehicle markets, we have an ongoing responsibility to address the concerns of our customers over the security of their machinery. The CESAR system is a proven method of protecting against theft, successfully recovering stolen equipment and reducing insurance premiums. With this announcement, we are very happy to demonstrate our continued support of the system by fitting CESAR as standard from now on to our bestselling Gator UTV range."

CESAR is widely recognised to have contributed to an overall drop in equipment theft of over 60% since its introduction in 2007.

Many leading insurers offer discounts for all CESAR marked equipment including NFU Mutual who offer up to 12.5% insurance discounts.

At LAMMA 2017 the latest CESAR marked Gators will be showcased on the John Deere stand. Datatag will also be exhibiting at LAMMA, which will take place on January 18th & 19th at the East of England Showground.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Storm-tec weathers it with

Polaris

Storm-tec has been appointed an authorised Polaris dealer for the Republic of Ireland.

he Wexford-based dealership has built an exceptional reputation supplying clients in the marine industry, including the Irish Coast Guard, Community Rescue Service, the Rivers Agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Northern Ireland Fire Service. With a policy of working only with premium world class brands (they are Northern Ireland’s only Helly Hansen

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workwear provider), the Wexford branch has an in-house marine service centre, alongside which they run a Managed Service solution in servicing and storing life jackets, dry suits and other marine wear.

“With Wexford as the base, Storm-tec is now expanding its farming and countryside business,” says Dealer Principal Conor Gribbon “and as authorised Polaris dealers we’re very confident we are supplying all our clients with top of

the range and competitively priced 4x4 vehicles to suit our terrain and climate.”

Conor cites the Polaris Ranger Diesel as the ideal UTV for the Irish Coast Guard, while the Polaris Sportsman ATVs are highly popular with the farmers. This was well demonstrated at the recent National Ploughing Championships in County Offaly where Storm-tec exhibited for the first time. Braving the weather, with a large stand, they put on display the full range of

“With Wexford as the base, Storm-tec is now expanding its farming and countryside business” Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles.

Attracting a great deal of interest from many of the 283,000 people who had donned wellies and visited the event, the successful leads they took prompted a definite return to www.stalhameng.co.uk the show with Polaris in 2017.

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| ATV

Honda ATV

Still ideal for slug pellet application Slug pellet application was one of the first main uses of Honda ATVs on UK arable farms. ith large flotation tyres exerting less ground pressure than a person walking, and capable of travelling over uneven ground at speeds faster than most other vehicles, Honda ATVs proved ideal for the task with high output alternators providing power for the electric-driven applicators and heavy duty suspension supporting the load, while ensuring a smooth ride for the operator.

Even during the mid-1980s using pelleters capable of spread widths up to just 12m, the ATVs’ high operating speeds enabled large areas to be treated quickly, saving crops from expensive slug damage in wet, muddy conditions when other farm vehicles would have been unable to travel.

In recent years slug populations have increased, and the ability to apply pellets when and where needed is more important than ever. The latest Honda ATVs feature many improvements over earlier models, including the most efficient range of engines and transmissions ever, better

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suspension and greater operator comfort during long working days.

Most slug pellet applicators use a spinning disc to spread pellets

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from the hopper, and modern pelleters offer wider spread widths (some exceeding 30m), more even application, improved calibration and metering, and the ability to adjust spread settings to maintain accuracy with different types of pellet.

Many applicators are designed for rear-rack mounting but, where weight is an issue, there is often the option to tow the applicator behind on a purpose designed chassis, equipped with low ground pressure tyres to match the ATV. Trailed pneumatic boom-type applicators offer more precise spreading, especially in windy conditions, and their popularity is growing. However, their higher cost means they are usually bought primarily to apply granular herbicides such as Avadex, while their additional use for slug pellets helps justify the investment.

Whatever the application system, slug pellet use is coming under increased scrutiny. From this November, all applicators in use must be tested by their fifth anniversary and then at regular intervals, but annual testing is strongly recommended. In addition, spreader operators should have had appropriate training and certification.

Most Honda ATV main dealers offer a range of applicators and will be delighted to provide guidance as to which spreader and ATV will best suit your situation. They will also be able to put you in contact with training and testing organisations to help you meet the latest regulations and, of course, all new Honda ATVs come with free of charge operator training through the European ATV Safety Institute (EASI) scheme.

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| ATV

I own one…

Kawasaki MULE Find out more about the Kawasaki MULE from someone who has one. David McCallum owns four, Farming Monthly chatted to him in the McCallums Farm Shop in Yorkshire… et on 30 acres of Yorkshire countryside, Bank End Coarse Fishery and the McCallums Farm Shop are popular with fisherman as well as those looking to buy local produce and try out the famous farm shop breakfasts – helping David and the team look after the site are three MULE machines.

“My father Andrew calls them a ‘spare pair of legs’, they help us carry out everyday tasks more efficiently. Here at Bank End there is over 1800m of banking around the lakes, so to physically walk that two or three times a day would take its toll. We couldn’t operate without it. We have another site – Hayton Lakes at Retford which is even larger than this one, it sits on around 100 acres, so they’re vital for us.”, said David “The gentleman who looks after the Hayton site does around 20 miles a day in the 4010, it’s been faultless since we got it – he likes it too as it has a heater, which comes in handy as it starts getting colder.

“We use the MULE’s in most aspects of the business. For the farm shop, we use it to bring back the fruit from the fields, we stick a generator on the back and it enables us to weld the rails for the strawberries easily. For the fishery, I use it for collecting money from

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the pegs, taking pellets and bait and maintenance around the lakes. In the harsh weather, we use it for spreading rock salt on the car park too – the uses for them are endless.”

As most owners, David has added accessories to make the machine even more suitable for his needs.

“We’ve fashioned a tripod for the front, it allows us to hang the fish on to weigh, we throw the keep nets in the back and do the weighing at the front – it saves us so much time. We’ve also added a winch which has proved invaluable – we’ve pulled numerous cars off the grass when they’re parked where they shouldn’t and get stuck! It’s great as well because of the low ground pressure of the machine, we can go over the grass and make no marks.”

It’s the strong reputation of the MULE range which played a vital role in David’s buying decision.

“We’ve always had them; we’ve looked at other models from different manufacturers but have always stuck with Kawasaki. Our local dealer – Wadsworth at Malton – are absolutely fantastic and extremely helpful so we always go back to them. We’re looking to add to our fleet with a model with more seats to use when we go shooting in North Yorkshire.”

To view the full range of Kawasaki Utility Vehicles – visit www.kawasaki.co.uk Find out more about McCallums

The importance of a handbrake

Farm Shop and Bank End Coarse Fishery here: www.mccallumsfarmshop.co.uk

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

Contact your nearest dealer

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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

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

Kings Worthy Garden Machinery Ltd Winchester, Hampshire SO23 0LF 01962 870 254 www.kgmltd.co.uk

The Tractor Shop Louth: LN11 0WA Skegness: PE24 5AA 01507 600051 www.thetractorshop.org.uk

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

NICHOLSONS Stalham Eng Co Ltd Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9QG 01692 580513 www.stalhameng.co.uk

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| Motors

Agile, versatile, electrifying: The new Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid Hallmark MINI driving experience with zero tailpipe emissions, the new MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the first plug-in hybrid model offered by the premium British brand. his new Countryman model provides the option of purely electric and therefore emissions-free mobility.

Propulsion is shared between a 3cylinder petrol engine and a

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synchronous electric motor.

Together they produce a system output of 224 hp. Equally impressive is the average fuel consumption of 134.5 mpg and the CO2 emissions figure of 49 grams per kilometre (EU test cycle figures for plug-in hybrid vehicles), yet also enabling a 0-62 mph time

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of just 6.9 seconds.

The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the perfect vehicle for those who wish to enjoy the benefits of purely electric mobility when commuting between home and work every day for example, while at the same time benefiting from unlimited longdistance suitability at the weekend.

MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 combines the space and practicality of the largest model in the MINI range with the sustainability of BMW Group eDrive technology and an electrified all-wheel drive system.

The front wheels are powered by the combustion engine, the rear wheels by the electric motor.

MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is able to run on electricity alone not just in urban traffic, but for long distances too – at a top speed of 78 mph and with a range of up to 25 miles. Drawing on the power of both drive forms, it offers driving fun away from surfaced roads as well.

“The plug-in hybrid concept perfectly matches the new MINI Countryman because it offers intelligent all-wheel drive as well as being able to run on electricity alone both in urban areas and over longer distances, too. This is unique in the segment,” says Uwe Seitz, MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 project manager.

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| Motors

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| Motors

Upwardly mobile Ford SUV models Upscale new Ford Kuga Vignale and Ford Edge Vignale meet growing consumer demand for more luxurious SUVs. he new Ford Kuga Vignale and Ford Edge Vignale are the first sport utility vehicles (SUVs) introduced as part of the Ford Vignale upscale product and ownership experience – and meet growing consumer demand for more luxurious SUV models.

Both the Ford Kuga Vignale mid-size SUV and Ford Edge large SUV deliver exclusive specification and high-quality materials including tuxedo-stitched Windsor leather interiors, unique Vignale colours, and detailing including the signature Ford Vignale hexagonal grille design.

Cutting-edge technologies include Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System that adjusts the headlight beam angle and intensity to match the driving environment, and Ford’s SYNC 3 communication and entertainment system that delivers faster performance and an 8-inch touch screen that enables pinch and swipe gestures.

Powerful, fuel-efficient and refined powertrains include Ford’s 210PS bi-turbo TDCi diesel for the Ford Edge Vignale, and 182PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine for the Ford Kuga Vignale. Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive (AWD) is delivered as standard for the Ford Edge Vignale and is offered for the Ford Kuga Vignale, delivering a seamless transition of torque between all four wheels to provide a more secure footing on the road.

Refinement is further enhanced for the Ford Edge Vignale with Ford Active Noise Control, which directs opposing sound waves through the audio system to cancel out engine noise

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and improve cabin ambience.

“Our Ford Vignale range speaks directly to the growing trend for upmarket SUVs and represents the very best of Ford with luxurious design, materials and craftsmanship,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “We see great potential to extend the top end of our Ford product range and offer a special experience

that meets the growing expectations of our customers.”

The percentage of SUVs sold in the UK in 2015 rose over 25 per cent to 642,194 compared with 2014 sales. Over 80 per cent of the 32,944 Kugas sold in 2015 were highspecification Titanium models, indicating high demand for luxury variants in the SUV segment.

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| Motors

Subaru EyeSight highly commended at awards Subaru’s EyeSight collision avoidance technology has been singled out for praise in the inaugural Car Tech Awards established by expert automotive and technology reviewers from Carbuyer and Alphr. The awards judges gave the safety system on the Subaru Outback a 'Highly Commended' accolade in the 'Best Safety Innovation - over £25,000' category. yeSight is a camera-based driver assistance system that acts as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for drivers, employing stereo camera technology to monitor the road and traffic ahead for potential hazards. The judging panel rated the Outback's EyeSight system ahead of safety technologies from a number of more expensive models from other brands.

Stuart Milne, Carbuyer editor said: “The brilliance of EyeSight is that its systems are very effective and well packaged, and it goes about its business with the minimum of fuss.

Features like Lead Vehicle Start Alert and PreCollision Throttle Management are two exceptional features that are of real benefit. The Outback’s EyeSight system really impressed us, and it beat some very big names in its class.”

The Car Tech Awards have been established to celebrate the best in-car technology currently available to motorists. The awards follow months of testing every major new car on the market today, in order to find the most effective technologies available to buyers.

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Paul Tunnicliffe, Managing Director of Subaru UK, said: “We are delighted EyeSight has been Highly Commended by Carbuyer and Alphr.

Our customers rate EyeSight very highly and love that the camera-based technology offers peace of mind, in a completely unobtrusive way.”

Subaru EyeSight Fitted as standard to every Subaru Outback sold in the UK with a Lineartronic (CVT) transmission, EyeSight contributed to the Outback’s maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating. It features six technologies to maximise safety: Pre-Collision Braking, PreCollision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure & Sway Warning, PreCollision Steering Assist, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

EyeSight's two colour cameras are located either side of the rear view mirror, and detect the presence of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other potential hazards up to 110 metres in front.

In 2015, Subaru released data from a survey of traffic accidents involving Subaru vehicles in Japan from 2010 to 2014. The data revealed a

61% reduction in crashes for vehicles equipped with EyeSight, compared to those without.

“The Outback’s EyeSight system really impressed us” About the Car Tech Awards The Car Tech Awards, a collaboration between leading car review and technology websites Carbuyer and Alphr, delivers the definitive verdict on in-car technology. Entrants were split into two price categories – under £25,000 and over £25,000 – with expert testers examining audio, connectivity, driver assistance systems, satellite navigation systems, selfparking technology, autonomous driving systems, and safety innovations.

The Subaru Outback is priced from £30,995 (on-the-road). To find out more about the Subaru Outback and its advanced EyeSight collision avoidance technology, visit www.subaru.co.uk

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| Motors

Revised Mitsubishi ASX Crossover arrives in UK The revised Mitsubishi ASX crossover made an entrance into Mitsubishi showrooms across the UK from November 1st. he design of the Mitsubishi ASX gets a sleek new look courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s (MMC) new “Dynamic Shield” visual identity, refreshing the vehicle and bringing it in line with other models in the range such as the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander PHEV. The “Dynamic Shield” symbolises functionality and reassuring safety with bold chromed streaks sitting either side of the grille, shielding the three diamond mark.

The updated ASX not only welcomes the introduction of MMC’s “Dynamic Shield”, there is also a shark-fin antenna, revised seat cushions, new seat upholstery across the range and a new “Lightning Blue” colour option.

Variant names in the new ASX range have also been changed, returning to the straightforward ASX 2, ASX 3, ASX 4 and ASX 5 format, and there have been changes to the trim levels too.

The versatile and efficient engine range is carried over from the outgoing ASX, with a 117hp, 154Nm 1.6-litre MIVEC petrol engine driving the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox; a 114hp, 270Nm 1.6-litre DI-D turbo diesel engine with a six-speed manual gearbox (front-wheel drive on ASX 3 / on-demand fourwheel drive on ASX 4) and a 150hp, 260Nm 2.2-litre DI-D turbo diesel combined with ondemand four-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard.

In terms of fuel economy and emissions, the 1.6 turbo diesel with front-wheel drive produces CO2 emission of just 119g/km and is capable of 61.4 mpg on the official combined fuel economy cycle, while 4WD versions produce 132g/km and return 56.5 mpg. The 1.6-litre petrol engine produces emissions of 135g/km and is capable of 48.7 mpg on the official combined fuel economy cycle, while the 2.2litre turbo diesel has emissions of 152g/km and returns 48.7 mpg.

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Renegade triumphs at awards Jeep Renegade’s successful partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and this year’s blockbuster movie: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, has resulted in top awards for the 4x4 brand from two different industries. irst Jeep collected the Winner of Digital Experience accolade at the recent Events Awards 2016 at the Eventim Apollo, London. Then the SUV brand followed up with the Winner, Most Effective Integration/Amplification title at the Brand Experience Awards, held at London’s Troxy.

Both awards come as a result of this year’s fruitful partnership between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Warner Bros. – who worked together to develop and create not only the co-branded experience around the Batman v Superman film but also the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition, offering unique features such as a Batman v Superman badge.

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“It’s been a great year for Jeep Renegade already and one of the highlights of 2016 was the Battle of the Renegades campaign” Just 500 examples of the Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition were made available, with a choice of either the 1.6-litre E-torQ 110hp petrol, or 1.6-litre MultiJet II 120hp diesel engine.

Both the industry awards recognised Jeep’s Battle of the Renegades campaign –

an interactive film and digital lead generation platform from Initials Marketing social and digital creative agency – which leveraged Jeep’s partnership on the film.

“It’s been a great year for Jeep Renegade already and one of the highlights of 2016 was the Battle of the Renegades campaign,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK. “As part of a hugely successful movie, it put Jeep in front of a whole new audience who we thought would be interested in learning more about Renegade. It did that – and also caught the imagination of two important awards juries, for which I am delighted.”

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| Motors

Get behind the wheel of the Discovery Sport and discover our most versatile compact SUV to date. Intelligent technology including class-leading Terrain Response makes it perfect for the great outdoors. With a generous loadspace of up to 1,698 litres and the clever option of 5+2 seating, call us to book a test drive and experience the great indoors.

Stratstone Land Rover Gwent 01633 271888, www.stratstone.newport.landrover.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Staffordshire 01782 219500, www.stratstone.stoke.landrover.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Tyne and Wear 0191 512 3500, www.stratstone.houghtonlespring.landrover.co.uk

Stratstone Land Rover Buckinghamshire 01296 610061, www.stratstone.aylesbury.landrover.co.uk

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Discovery Sport range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 5.6-6.4 (50.4 - 44.1); Extra Urban 4.5 - 4.7 (62.8 - 61.4); Combined 4.9 - 5.3(57.7 - 53.3). CO2 Emissions 139-129 g/km.

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Guy Salmon Knutsford

Duckworth Land Rover, Boston

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

01205 449758, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Ashford

Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen

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

01673 799393, www.duckworthlandrover.co.uk

Barretts Canterbury

Conwy Land Rover

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

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

Rybrook Huddersfield Land Rover

Stafford Land Rover

01484 516016, www.rybrook.huddersfield.landrover.co.uk

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

Rybrook Copley Land Rover

Yeovil Land Rover

01422 363340, www.rybrook.halifax.landrover.co.uk

01935 426600, www.yeovil.landrover.co.uk

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

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

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| Motors

World premiere of the Volkswagen Atlas - All new seven-seater SUV for America World premiere of the Volkswagen Atlas in California! The new seven-seater SUV for the US market was unveiled recently on Santa Monica Pier at the end of historic Route 66. The Atlas launches a new chapter in the company's American history. The new model will be built in Chattanooga (Tennessee) for the North American market and offers innovative technology and spaciousness. In addition, the new Atlas thrills with hallmark Volkswagen driving dynamics and attention to detail. his is the biggest and boldest Volkswagen we have ever built in the United States, delivering the distinctive design and craftsmanship we’re known for, now with room for seven,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, Volkswagen CEO of North America Region.

The Volkswagen Atlas opens up an important segment for the brand: midsize SUVs formed a tenth of all new registrations in the USA in 2015. For the first time, Volkswagen’s Atlas now offers a model in this high-volume class in the category between the Tiguan and the Touareg that is fully tailored to American needs.

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From the end of 2017 this large SUV will be offered in the Russian and Middle Eastern markets Building on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) from Volkswagen, the Atlas is born with the latest Volkswagen design DNA. Classic proportions and clean lines that create a sense of timelessness and precision. Up front, standard LED headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights combine for a unique visual signature, with optional LED taillights to completethe look. With a length of 5,037 mm, a width of 1,979 mm and a height of 1,768 mm

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the Atlas is larger than any other Volkswagen on sale in the USA. Inside,the Atlas makes maximum use of its dimensions to offer space for seven adults and their luggage.The third row can be easily reached by an innovative folding seat solution.

Clear, driver-centric displays enhance the driving experience. In addition, the optional Active Info Display (called the "Volkswagen Digital Cockpit" in the USA) allows drivers extensive options for configuring the display.

Volkswagen Car-Net offers a wide range of online services, including standard AppConnect technology that offers integration with the three major smartphone platforms – Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®.

The new Atlas model also features a Fender® Premium AudioSystem offering a sophisticated sound experience with twelve speakers and a 480 Watt amplifier.

The Atlas offers a selection of premium SUV driver assistance features. Depending on the equipment line, these include: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist).

The Atlas is also the only vehicle in its class to offer the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This automatically initiates a deceleration of the vehicle when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus

helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

The new Volkswagen Atlas arrives with a choice of two powertrains: a 2.0- liter fourcylinder TSI with gasoline direct injection and turbo charging with 175 kW / 238 PS and the already available 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 206 kW / 280 PS. Both engines route power through an eight-speed transmission.

The Atlas can be configured either as frontwheel-drive or with 4Motion all- wheel-drive in combination with the VR6 engine.The 4Motion system has a Driving Mode Selection feature that allows the driver to select specific parameters based on driving conditions. US Environmental Protection Agency EPA fuel economy estimates will be released ahead of the launch in Spring of 2017.

The Atlas will be built alongside the Passat for North America at the Volkswagen Chattanooga assembly plant (Tennessee).

Volkswagen has invested an additional €900 million in the facility. The Chattanooga plant is the only automotive manufacturing facility in the world to receive Platinum certification for its environmental excellence by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program.

From the end of 2017 this large SUV will be offered in the Russian and Middle Eastern markets.

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