September 2021 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: Pent up demand for the Potato catch up! page 20-21

Farming MONTHLY National

September 2021

| Simple yet smart security for farm owners. page 44

I Get up close to the latest crop establishment machinery and thinking – Tillage-Live 2021 Also inside this month..

page 64

Women in Farming

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 3

CONTENTS A u g u s t 2021

FEATURES 12

14 18 26 32 44 46 50

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16

Arable BYDV-resistant wheats deliver outstanding control and yields

Potatoes & Root Crops Tong’s new MonstaFill transforms box filling worldwide

47

52 60

Livestock Importance of body scoring in suckler cows

Muck and Slurry Mixing slurry safely, the rule of 30 minutes.

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64 74

70

Tillage Get up close to the latest crop establishment machinery and thinking.

Tyres Tyre competition breaks world record

Grain Weetabix Celebrates Successful Wheat Harvest Despite Unreliable Weather

FM REGULARS

Women in farming

National

Hampshire born and bred, who loves tractors, cars, dirt bike and trucks.

Security Celebrating two new CESAR Champions

Education & Training LEARNERS ploughed ahead in completing an innovative agriculture…

Fencing Virtual grazing technology claims its space and brings new options…

Farming Monthly | September 2021

6 34 42

News Farming SMEs bouncing back from pandemic but cash reserves is a concern

Buildings Proposal to help more people build their own homes.

Menal Health RABI aims to quadruple support to farming people by 2024

70 76 84

Machinery Exclusive John Deere factory tour at Midlands Machinery Show

ATV Using customers real-life scenarios to develop the Polaris Ranger diesel

Motors Huntsman Accessory Pack Launched at Midland Game Fair

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New Kuga Plug-In Hybrid September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 5

| News

24-year-old Rural2Kitchen founder wins highly commended award after sharing field to fork knowledge allace Currie, 24-year-old founder of Rural2Kitchen, which brings the field to fork journey to a wider audience, has received national recognition for his achievements.

Wallace, who set up his venture from the Isle of Arran, was awarded highly commended in NFU Mutual’s Inspirational Young Person Awards.

Wallace is the mastermind behind Rural2Kitchen (R2K), an educational Facebook page sharing information around the field to fork journey. He has also launched and hosts a podcast, R2Kast, featuring different people from the food and farming industry on each episode.

The Inspirational Young Person Awards, which are in their third year, were launched by commercial insurer NFU Mutual in partnership with industry body Scotland Food and Drink. They seek to uncover inspirational examples of talented 16 to 26 year-olds who own, work or study in the food and drink sector - highlighting not only the enormous contribution that young people make to Scotland’s food and drink businesses, but also the importance of the sector to the wider economy.

Having originally intended to select a top three, the judges found the quality of this year’s applications so outstanding, they ultimately decided to recognise first and second prizes, along with four highly commended winners. Wallace will receive a trophy and a £200 cash prize for his highly commended entry.

Despite finishing an Honours Degree in Agriculture at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and a Masters in Food Security at Glasgow University, Wallace took a job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car after

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graduation. Although he enjoyed the job, when he was furloughed during lockdown Wallace took the opportunity to go back to his roots and key interests in farming.

He returned home to the Isle of Arran to help lamb on the farm and quickly realised that farming was the industry he wanted to build a career in. He started posting about farming on Facebook, discussing topics like the importance of sourcing local food, grass reared stock and grain supply. Wanting to show the whole process from farm to fork, Wallace kept sharing information: grass information, lambing data, recipes, polytunnel content – things he felt reflected the realities of farming.

Noticing that people valued the content, Wallace developed the podcast R2Kast, with nine episodes now live - available on Spotify, YouTube, Google Podcasts Apple Podcasts and many others - and a further eight upcoming in the series.

Having raised his profile in the industry, R2K also led to Wallace being offered his dream job as an SRUC lecturer in Agriculture at the Barony campus.

Wallace Currie, highly commended winner, said: "When I was originally contacted about the award I misunderstood and tried to think of people that deserved nominations, before I re-read the message and realised I was being nominated! Fast forward four months and finding out I have been highly commended in a world of phenomenally inspirational young people in this industry - I couldn't be more elated.

“In April 2020 I started posting online about the importance of sourcing British and all things sustainable food production. I was lucky enough that this was noticed by SRUC and I managed to secure an absolute dream job teaching

Farming Monthly | September 2021

agriculture to the future of our industry.

“I will probably spend the cash prize on a better mic, camera and intro video for my people in farming podcast, the R2Kast."

Mark McBrearty, NFU Mutual Regional Manager: “Selecting a winner and two runners up from a record-breaking number of entries this year was too difficult, which is why we decided on an additional three awards. I am delighted to be congratulating Wallace! All our awardwinners have not only done themselves proud, but they are also wonderful ambassadors for our world-famous food and drink industry.

“I was particularly impressed by how each of them has not only coped, but thrived throughout the pandemic, a time when the industry has truly suffered. I feel confident that the sector is in safe hands if they are just some examples of the young people coming forward within the wonderful range of food and drink firms in Scotland.

“A huge congratulations to our fantastic winners and a big thank you to everyone involved!”

James Withers, Chief Executive at Scotland Food and Drink, said: “Scotland’s food and drink industry is full of talented youngsters who are going to be driving our sector forward in the coming years and all the finalists are a great example of the enormous contribution that young people make to Scotland’s food, drink and hospitality businesses.

“The field of entries was incredibly strong this year, from entrepreneurs starting up their own businesses to young people already making a huge difference inside big companies. It gives us huge optimism for the future of our sector.”

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| News

AGROMOMISTS SOUGHT FOR BIOSTIMULANT FEEDBACK gronomists interested in finding out more about biostimulants and the effect they can have on UK crops are being encouraged to contact one of Europe's leading brands of natural fertilisers.

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The UK importer of seaweed-based biostimulant, Algifol, wants to establish a network of regional agronomists to receive insights and feedback from them and their clients.

Algifol is manufactured in Germany by NeoMed-Pharma. The biostimulant has been distributed in the UK by Marcus since 2005. In that time, Marcus and his customers have applied it to a wide range of crops, including combining peas, potatoes and other vegetables as well as sugar beet, oilseed rape and cereals.

Now, Marcus is keen to hear the views of agronomists and their clients as he looks to build the brand's profile in the UK. "Last year, we worked with the Processors and Growers Research Organisation and their field trials on Combining Peas proved that the use of Algifol increases yields and reduced foot rot infection," says Marcus. "We have also worked with several universities and academics who have said Algifol has a positive effect on root establishment, disease resistance and yields.

Marcus Palmer, the UK importer of Algifol, is offering free product to those that get involved.

"Since distributing Algifol in the UK, I have received lots of feedback from customers who are delighted with the results of using it. They say they like it because it is entirely natural, improves yields, reduces the stress caused by droughts, heat and heavy rainfall. It is also cost-effective, with just one litre being enough to spray one hectare.

agronomists and gain their feedback on the product as we look to broaden our knowledge and develop our proposition.

Most big brands have their in-house agronomists, but we'd like to take a different approach and work with independent agronomists."

Algifol is a concentrated brown algae gathered from the North Atlantic, dried and refined to maximise its wealth of trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones.

NeoMed-Pharma recommends four applications of one litre of Algifol diluted at a ratio of up to 1:1,000, which can be applied by knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers or planes.

Algifol wants to work with one agronomist in the South East, South West, East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the North East and North West of England, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Agronomists wanting to take part or needing further information should contact Marcus on 07702 293 727 or email marcus@mjpsupplies.co.uk

"Now, though, I'd like to work with

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| News

Precision where it counts? hether you are bale silage, haylage, hay or straw understanding the conditions are vital.

ThirtyPlus lead the way in forage management equipment.

Offering precision moisture sensors for all balers with systems fully integrated or smart device controlled.

For square balers, ThirtyPlus use market leading precision star-wheels measuring up to 70% moisture, while utilising twin disc technology for round balers up to 60% moisture reading with accuracy at +/-1%. The system measures through the bale pulsing from side to side up to 9 reading per second to give real time actual moisture. ThirtyPlus offer baler integrated systems and smart phone systems suitable for all baler operators.

Once you have an understanding about the actual moisture there are then options to manage the bales quality. Utilising the wet bale marker will identify bales which exceed the

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safe moisture baling limit and allow separation in the stack. Square bales will have high moisture flaked marked while round balers will have the left and right sides marked as the bales are ejected if they exceed moisture alarm set by the operator.

For the ultimate quality using the baler safe ThirtyPlus buffered acid preservative will open the baling widow in hay and straw by up to 30%. The application systems will monitor the balers performance, crop moisture and adjust the application rate automatically, updating the rate every second in real time. Utilising the large square internal weight an length sensors to monitor the baling performance. As output changes in real time the applicator will adjust to maintain application rates. The moisture parameters can be set to apply 3 rates which will automatically adjust as the moisture sensor provides precision readings. If a single fixed rate is required, this is achieved by simply adjusting the

Farming Monthly | September 2021

application parameters.

The ThirtyPlus preservative is pH6.0, making it baler safe and safe for all livestock, including horses. It is the strongest preservative on the market for hay and straw. ThirtyPlus have real world proven test results for the application rates recommended.

There is no substitute for reliability and repeatability of the ThirtyPlus product.

Using the ThirtyPlus market leading application equipment and preservative will improve efficiency and forage quality while reducing production cost. The key to making high quality forage is a full understanding of the process from growing the crop to harvesting and storing the crop. Attempting to cut corners and save money usually has the unwanted outcome of actually costing more in the long run.

ThirtyPlus specialists can advise the optimum products to suit your budget and requirements.

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| News

Adaptive Control system

Equipment for: Large Square / Round / Conventional

✓ Precision moisture sensor ✓ Auto Rate Control ✓ Baler intuitive ✓ Auto Pause ✓ Job records ✓ Animal / Baler safe preservative

HayBoss baler accessories designed for Massey and Fendt balers www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 9

| News

Farming SMEs bouncing back from pandemic but cash reserves remain a concern arming SMEs are bouncing back from the pandemic nearly twice as fast as other industries, with 96% of business owners reporting that their turnover now either matches or exceeds pre-COVID levels against a cross-industry average of 54%.

New research from Paragon Bank also revealed that SME owners within the agricultural sector hold the highest levels of optimism, with 94% of business owners believing they will be stronger than before the pandemic, against an overall average of 65%.

Despite the rapid pace of recovery, SMEs within the agricultural sector had lower cash reserves than the crossindustry average, holding around £658,000 against an average of £718,000. They were also one of the sectors most likely to report being dissatisfied with their levels of cash reserves.

Farming SMEs were also the industry most likely to use Government support schemes, with only 99% of the industry using at least one scheme (against an average of 82%) – however 85% felt that Government support could have stretched further.

More than four in ten businesses (41%)

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surveyed would have liked to see further educational and non-financial support from the Government around issues such as managing the aftermath of Brexit. This is against a cross-industry average of just 17%.

Commenting on the findings, John Phillipou, Head of SME Lending at Paragon Bank, said: “The agricultural sector has not been immune to challenges throughout the pandemic, and this is reflected in the lower than average levels of cash reserves held by SMEs. Challenges will have included labour shortage, transport and logistics disruptions, equipment shortages, manufacturing delays and shifts in consumer demand, to name a few. The pandemic also compounded many challenges brought on by Brexit.

“However, a key driver of the industry’s positive outlook will likely be that while a high number of SMEs struggled with lockdowns and saw activity grind to a halt, agricultural businesses often saw a significant boost in food supply demand.

This was further driven by an increasing consumer focus on the ‘farm to fork’ journey and on food provenance.

“It’s also interesting to see that many SMEs within the sector would have liked to see more Government support – with

85% of businesses calling for more support against an average of 67%. It’s clear the sector would have benefited from clearer guidance, advice and nonfinancial support around how to navigate recent changes, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit.”

Innovation a key priority for agriculture Innovation was named as a leading priority for agricultural SMEs postpandemic both on an industry level (important to 94% of industry business owners vs 79% average) and on a business level (93% vs 77%).

This commitment was reflected in the fact that 90% of agricultural business owners planned on increasing their innovation budget, against an average of 61% across the overall UK SME landscape. The average budget increased planned by agricultural SMEs was 29%, from a pre- pandemic budget of £77,686 to £100,324.

John Phillipou added: “The agricultural sector is clearly committed to innovation, which is reflective of the industry going through a particularly transformative period. There are plenty of opportunities within the industry, including the emergence of green technology, digital innovation and diversification.”

The agricultural industry is on the verge of a farming crisis unless more young people can be encouraged to work the land he agricultural industry is on the verge of a farming crisis unless more young people can be encouraged to work the land, a farming expert has said.

Oliver Scott, who is the farming manager at Shropshire-based Bradford Estates, said the lack of new blood coming into the industry was continuing, with the last year being the “worst I have ever known” at the same time more farming businesses are been let down last minute by seasonal staff.

“There are simply not enough people coming into the industry, especially amongst the younger generation,” said Mr Scott, 39, who has worked in farming in both the UK and abroad since he was at school.

In the UK, the average age of a farmer is 58. That means there are many people working the land who are way past the age of retirement. Young people are increasingly looking for jobs in major towns and cities.

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Mr Scott said: “Farming has something of an image problem at the moment. It is seen as hard work, with long hours and much less opportunity for a good work/life balance.

“The advent of more and more larger machinery has meant that fewer staff are needed and, subsequently, working hours are increasing.”

Mr Scott said that he thought regulations needed to be looked at to try and prevent these long working hours.

“There are laws around how long you can drive a HGV for without a break, but there is nothing like that for driving a tractor or a harvester, which can be just as heavy and every bit as dangerous.”

Mr Scott says changes are afoot in the industry and he wants young people to get a foot in the door at the start.

“Regenerative farming is definitely hold the key for UK farming - for me, that’s sustainable farming with less artificial fertilisers and less fossil fuels.

“Throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s farming was dominated by the artificial

Farming Monthly | September 2021

fertiliser and chemical industry; the solution to everything was in a can.

Evidence now shows that the side effects of this mean that within the next 50-100 years, our soils will no longer be fertile enough for the growth of crops.

“We need to take farming back 100 years and learn from previous generations about how to work the land while still caring for it.

“There is a growing movement behind regenerative agriculture and it is important that young people are in the vanguard. The industry needs to be working more closely with schools and colleges. We need to be getting young people onto farms and show them that the way they operate has changed and that farming is not a boring job.

“Farming is anything but boring. Today, farmers need to innovate and diversify.

There are aspects of science, ecology, engineering and marketing in running a successful farm. No two days are ever the same.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Personal development opportunities for Women in Agriculture n expansion of a personal development programme for women in agriculture has been launched this month, with participation commencing in October 2021.

A new delivery team has been appointed to deliver the Scottish Governmentfunded 'Be Your Best Self' programme, whose membership includes experts in personal development facilitation, mental fitness coaching and agricultural expertise, to offer a creative and impactful experience for participants.

The delivery team consists of Morna Ronnie and Helen Hubbard of The People Portfolio, Louise Scott and Kirsty Ritchie of Mind & Mission Limited, Nikki Tierney of Leeway and Anna Davies of

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Scene & Herd PR and Marketing.

The programme is an integral part of the Scottish Government's vision to make Scottish agriculture a fairer, more inclusive industry, where farm succession is not determined by gender, training is accessible to everyone, and more women take on senior roles in agricultural organisations.

Be Your Best Self aims to support women living or working in agriculture in Scotland to build their confidence, enhance their skills, and develop their leadership abilities.

Morna Ronnie, speaking of the programme, said: "We are excited to be able to support

women, and the sector as a whole, in this way.

"By ensuring equality of opportunity and the merger of talents, the delivery team will help to make Scottish agriculture a more resilient and economically sustainable industry.

"We are really looking forward to helping to facilitate change and give more rural women the skills and confidence to take their lives forward in the direction of their choosing."

Agroecological and local producers crucial for delivering future Scottish policies, say key stakeholders The Scottish Government has announced a new Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), established with the intention of guiding Scotland's post-Brexit agricultural transition.

The Scottish Government has also launched two new consultations. The first is to help inform future agricultural policy and the replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the second is intended to help guide policy in supporting access to high quality food and local food systems.

The Landworkers' Alliance, the CSA Network UK and the Highland Good Food Partnership have welcomed the new Board and the consultations, but emphasise the need to integrate the views and interests of agroecological and genuinely local producers at every step of the way.

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abinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Island, Mairi Gougeon has said:

"The establishment of the board will help us to make early progress in delivering emissions reductions and I look forward to working with the board members closely to deliver the change and the outcomes urgently required. [...]

By working together I am confident that we will be able to support Scottish farming to maintain its world leading credentials in an ever-changing environment."

The Cabinet Secretary's recent actions follow SNP manifesto commitments to create a board that would represent "all farming sectors and types, to support farmers to produce more of our own food needs sustainably and to farm and croft with nature".

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Additionally, the SNP-Greens coalition has committed to making Scotland a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture and the new Programme for Government, which was launched earlier this week, has promised to seek opportunities to prioritise local and organic produce and bring forward the Good Food Nation Bill.

To deliver on Scotland's ambitions, the personal appointment to the new ARIOB of Pete Ritchie (from Nourish Scotland and Scottish Environment LINK), Donald MacKinnon (Chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation), Mike Robinson (CoChair of Farming 1.5) and Nikki Yoxall (from the Pasture Fed Livestock Association, the Landworkers' Alliance and NatureScot), and other progressive farmers and stakeholders, should be welcomed.

Miranda Geelhoed, Scotland Policy and Campaigns Coordinator for the Landworkers' Alliance, - a union of farmers, growers, crofts and foresters has said: "We are delighted to see the Scottish Government taking action to deliver important policies on agriculture and food. We welcome the diversity, expertise and geographical spread of members on the new ARIOB and we are looking forward to working with them and the Scottish Government."

"We do, however, believe that an independent chair would have strengthened a more balanced approach.

It is important that previously overlooked stakeholders who are crucial for delivering an agroecological future for Scotland - such as those working in small-scale or community supported horticulture - are given an equal voice and are listened to."

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 11

| News

NFU begins search for new Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors he NFU is once again on the hunt for young people passionate about agriculture to join its successful Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Programme and is calling on 18–26-year-olds from across England and Wales to apply for the scheme, now in its third year.

Being an ambassador is a fantastic opportunity to represent the future of farming and the NFU at events, including the Lord Mayor’s Show and the NFU’s annual conference, network with likeminded people and experience new aspects of agriculture, from the supply chain to politics.

New to the scheme this year is the introduction of an Inclusivity Pledge.

Applicants who feel their community has

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been underrepresented in agriculture, whether that is race, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, are particularly encouraged to apply.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “The Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors are some of the most integral people to the NFU, helping to tell the fantastic story of British farming and share their own inspiring journeys’ so that we can improve our industry together.

“That is why this year we have introduced the Inclusivity Pledge this year to ensure the ambassador scheme is the most representative and diverse it can possibly be. We want to hear from anyone who feels passionately about agriculture and wants to champion the future of faming.

“It’s always an exciting moment when the first applications come in and we get to see just how many enthusiastic young people there are in our industry, I can’t wait to see what mark this cohort will make.”

Katie Smith, a 2020/21 ambassador from the West Midlands said: “The NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Programme is a fabulous opportunity for young people interested in the future of British agriculture. As someone who is really keen to get involved in the industry but doesn’t come from a farming background, it has given me so many opportunities to speak to industry experts, receive invaluable training and give my opinions on projects that will help shape the future of agriculture.”

Gladis Campaign hails success as new Government Bill clamps down on livestock worrying he Dorset farmer campaigning to change the law following the death of his now famous Highland cow, Gladis, is one step closer to ensuring the safety of livestock across the country. After his pregnant Highland cow Gladis died due to a dog attack in May this year, Farquharson began campaigning to make it a legal requirement for dogs to be on leads around livestock.

Victoria Prentis, the Gladis’ Law Campaign has been successful in driving livestock worrying to the forefront of upcoming legislation and seen extra protections for livestock included within the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The Bill passed its first reading in the House of Commons this summer but many more stages remain in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords until Royal Assent is given and the Bill becomes law.

With the backing of West Dorset MP Chris Loder and Farming Minister

Under the proposed changes, dog walkers will now face criminal prosecution if their dog chases any livestock to the point of causing harm or abortion and will also be prosecuted if their dogs is off their lead or out of control in a field of sheep, poultry, or enclosed game birds.

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“We’re over the moon with the result’ says Farquharson ‘but we’re not counting our chickens until the dotted line is signed!

“We’ve been overwhelmed with donations from people all over the country, we’ve now had over £40,000 donated which is just incredible! We want to create a Charity in Gladis’s name where these funds will go to help and support farming families who are struggling. We also want to open our gates and allow people to spend time with our fold at Eggardon Hill and stay at Redlands Coppice. The support from others really helped my family get through these difficult months, and it’s important for us that we can do the same for others when they need that support.”

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

The team behind the Gladis campaign has been working tirelessly since May petitioning the government and getting as many people behind the campaign as possible, Farquharson continues: “We would like to thank the media for covering the campaign, and we’d also like to thank the farming community and every single person that has supported us in changing the law to keep our livestock safe. Together we’ve done it!”

To support the campaign visit www.gladis-law.com and add your signature to the petition.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

Tackling on-farm food waste key to increasing profits by a fifth RAP identifies a 20% potential increase in profits for UK farms through minimising food surplus and waste.

Collaboration with Ribena and their growers unearths much higher levels of blackcurrant waste than previously thought, and opportunities to tackle this.

An estimated 3.6 million tonnes of food goes to surplus and waste in UK agriculture, worth £1.2 billion.

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A new report from leading sustainability charity, WRAP, reveals farmers could achieve a potential 20% increase in profits by reducing surplus and wasted food.

Field studies conducted by WRAP across a range of products demonstrated that improvements in data and measurement are key to waste reduction. Levels of food surplus and waste on-farm were often higher than expected, with significant variability observed between farms, which suggests potential to improve performance within existing practices.

Financial analysis of five classic British foods showed the following potential profit gains if all farmers achieved best in class performance: • • • • •

Carrots – 33% Eggs – 24% Potatoes – 23% Strawberries – 19% Apples – 15%

Key findings from WRAP's work: Engaging the whole supply chain is fundamental. Factors elsewhere in the supply chain, such as lack of viable secondary markets, customer specifications, and supply and demand imbalances were identified as major drivers of surplus and waste on farm, and many of these cannot be addressed by growers alone.

To encourage engagement with the issue, it is important to communicate the benefits to monitoring on-farm, in particular the financial ones.

Measurement and data are central to reducing on farm food surplus and waste,

and engagement with farmers and sector specialists through field trials such as these helps raise the profile of data collection.

There is a need for data collection on a much larger scale and WRAP is working to upskill the sector so they can recreate the success of the pilots.

Tackling waste in primary production is a crucial element of transforming our entire supply chain so that we can build a food system which supports healthy citizens, a healthy economy and a healthy planet, as outlined in July's National Food Strategy. Reducing food waste, from farm to fork, is imperative to achieving Net Zero – and the goals of COP26 this November.

The work with farmers also showed that collaboration is essential to help them benchmark and learn from each other – and ground-breaking research with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I and their blackcurrant suppliers to address onfarm food surplus and waste is an excellent example of this.

Approximately 2,000 hectares of blackcurrants are grown in the UK and 90% of the crop goes directly to Ribena.

In a study conducted in July 2020, WRAP worked with Ribena's blackcurrant growers to unearth practical ways of measuring waste pre-farm gate and find opportunities to reduce it.

Blackcurrants are machine-harvested but in-field losses from this process had not previously been quantified for modern varieties of harvesters – the research aimed to address this. A week prior to harvest, growers used sheeting to collect and weigh berries which fell prematurely.

After the harvester had travelled through, berries remaining on the blackcurrant bushes or on the ground were also weighed.

The results showed that most waste arises specifically at the point of harvest, with berries left on the bush or on the ground. Overall, data collection indicated much higher levels of waste than previously estimated, underlining the power of food waste measurement.

The blackcurrant growers are now assessing the efficacy of the harvesting machinery, exploring ways to ensure optimal machine design, operation and speed.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

A new video illustrates WRAP's collaboration with Ribena, filmed on location and featuring head blackcurrant grower, Rosie Begg from Gorgate Farm, Norfolk. View it here.

This case study illustrates that gathering evidence helps businesses take targeted action to combat food surplus and waste on farms. WRAP's resources help farmers, growers and farm advisors to deliver on-farm food surplus and waste measurement and reduction and ultimately increased profits.

Will McManus – Sector Specialist at WRAP: "The financial analysis highlights that measuring food surplus and waste on-farms provides important business benefits. After two years of collaboration with farmers and growers, we have a robust approach for supporting measurement. Now we really need businesses and policy makers to back this approach and help upskill the sector as a whole."

Harriet Prosser, Blackcurrant Agronomist for Ribena at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I: "As a business Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is always working to tackle waste and work more sustainably as part of our Growing for Good company vision.

It is my role to support our contracted blackcurrant growers for Ribena and promote best practice. This project was a great opportunity to explore losses at harvest, and support growers to identify areas for improvement."

Rosie Begg, Blackcurrant Grower at Gorgate Farm, Norfolk: "WRAP has been so helpful linking us up with other blackcurrant growers and helping to design the experiments for this investigation. We were really surprised by the results, we felt harvest losses were minimal, so this project has really focused the mind and helped us to target those key losses and direct ongoing research."

Ben Elliot, Government Food Waste and Surplus Champion: "This illuminating research shows that food waste not only harms our environment but is also bad for business. It is abundantly clear that we must look across the entire food chain to reduce surplus and wasted food – from the farmyard to the kitchen – to build a prosperous and sustainable food system."

Policy makers and funders are encouraged to contact WRAP at FWIPP@wrap.org.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

BYDV-resistant wheats deliver outstanding control and yields heat varieties with resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus have delivered outstanding control of the disease and have gone on to produce exceptional yields, according to latest RAGT trial results.

symptoms from mid-April to produce a visual assessment score (see graph).

W

ahead of Siskin.

The results reinforce last year’s findings when eight out of 10 popular conventional varieties yielded between 5% and 18% less than the Bdv2 lines,

Tom Dummett, RAGT’s cereal and OSR product manager, says: “The Bdv2 material, which included RGT Wolverine, Europe’s first winter wheat with resistance to BYDV, and three pipeline varieties, showed no symptoms, apart from a few isolated traces of yellowing, which can occur under high pressure.

“All the commercial winter wheats exhibited severe symptoms, including multiple infection sites, multiple red leaves and stunted growth – up to 50% in the worst cases.”

Pre-harvest viral load assessments backed up the visual scores. No detectable viral load was found across the RGT Wolverine plots, but both the commercial varieties tested contained a high viral load.

All plots were taken to yield. Two of RAGT’s pipeline feed varieties, RW42046 and RW42047, currently in NL1 trials, took first and second place respectively, producing yield equivalents around 10.5t/ha (see graph).

Tom Dummett, RAGT’s cereal and OSR product manager The fully replicated trials tested several RAGT varieties containing the Bdv2 resistance gene and a range of widely grown commercial varieties under the toughest conditions.

RGT Wolverine came third, at 10t.1t/ha, nudging ahead of its nearest conventional competitor and leaving other feed types struggling at 8.8 to 9.2t/ha.

Plots were sown in early September 2020 and inoculated with virus-laden aphids, four times in the autumn and four times in the spring. No aphicide was used.

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14 |

Yield t/ha

Visual assesment score (average of 3 plot)

Farming Monthly | September 2021

Visual assesment score (average 3 plots)

Yield t/ha

The picture was repeated among Bdv2 line (left) versus the quality wheats. RAGT’s coded non-Bdv2 line under high BYDV pressure variety 20E0S303, which has breadmaking potential, produced a yield equivalent of 9.3t/ha, Plots were scored weekly for disease 0.25t/ha ahead of Extase and over 1t/ha none of which lost yield.

A further trial examining a range of wheats, each split into two near-isogenic lines, one Bdv2 trials - visual scores and yield results with the Bdv2 gene and one without, confirmed the gene’s effectiveness.

11 6 The yield advantage of the Bdv2 lines ranged from 0.97 to 10.5 5 2.18t/ha and averaged 1.57t/ha.

10 4 “Anyone sowing wheat early this autumn in a BYDV-prone 9.5 3 area should seriously consider growing RGT Wolverine to 9 2 manage risk,” says Mr Dummett.

8.5 1 “RGT Wolverine is now widely available and is among the highest yielding varieties on the Recommended List, so it will deliver excellent returns even in the absence of BYDV.”

*Quality wheats

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

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

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Arable

Wolds collaboration aims to improve so FIVE-year collaboration between utility company Yorkshire Water and a group of innovative farmers on the Yorkshire Wolds has got underway.

The Sustainable Landscapes Wolds Programme includes 17 farm businesses covering 10,000 hectares in and around Kilham, near Driffield, East Yorkshire, and is aimed at improving soil health and water quality in the area.

The programme involves each farmer growing a minimum of 10 hectares of cover crops – dubbed ‘pop up rain forests’ – each year between food crop rotations to sequester atmospheric carbon, increase soil organic matter (SOM), and improve the land’s capacity to hold water.

This means crop inputs, particularly nitrogen, are held on the fields rather than leaching off into local aquifers and water courses before needing to be removed in costly treatments by Yorkshire Water.

The project is being funded by Yorkshire Water and has been organised by Future Food Solutions, a consultancy specialising in making food supply chains more sustainable, from farmer through to consumer.

It builds on the Sustainable Landscapes Humber Project which last year saw Yorkshire Water and Future Food Solutions collaborate with another cohort of farmers to improve soil health and water quality around the Humber estuary.

Andrew Walker, Asset Strategy Manager

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16 |

at Yorkshire Water, said: “Soil and water are inextricably linked, and healthy soils are the start of the water purification processes. Tackling the causes of a problem rather than treating the symptoms makes good sense and is likely to be more sustainable. Through our work with Future Food Solutions, it has become very clear that activities to improve water quality also have wider environment and societal benefits but are also more profitable for the farmer vs more traditional farming techniques.

“By moving away from farming with chemicals and horsepower and embracing techniques that improve the biological functionality of soils, we can deliver more resilient, nutritious and sustainable food; improved biodiversity and pollinators; flood mitigation as well as improved water quality.

More recently we have been able to demonstrate that growing cover crops and ensuring there is always something growing in our fields, we can sequester significant volumes of carbon at the same time.

“We have helped Future Food Solutions develop and Pilot Europe’s first accredited arable soil carbon credit this

Farming Monthly | September 2021

year; it has the potential to revolutionise farming in a way that recognises that regenerative farming can be the solution to climate issues rather than the cause.

“This latest Sustainable Landscapes initiative shows that there is an appetite within the farming community to embrace collaborative change, but also has the

support of some of the largest food and drink companies in the world, as they look to improve environmental performance and implement more holistic and sustainable ways of reducing their carbon footprint. There is no reason why this approach could not be rolled out more widely.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Arable

oil and water quality in East Yorkshire The cover crops are made up of a diverse range of plant species chosen for their ability to capture huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and, via their roots, nutrients from previous crops.

Previous trials also funded by Yorkshire Water show that growing them can increase above ground biomass by up to 40 tonnes per hectare and that just a one per cent rise in SOM enables a hectare of land to absorb an extra 240 tonnes of water.

As the trials achieved significantly more than this – doubling SOM from 3.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent over five years – the Sustainable Landscapes Wolds Programme is the potential to significantly improve local soil and water quality.

The programme is being led by farming couple Liz Sellers and Jeremy Harrison who run Harrison Farms (Kilham) Ltd, a 4,000-acre arable enterprise spread across three farms in Kilham and nearby Sledmere.

A small amount of their land is contract farmed, but the rest is managed by the Harrison family who grow malting barley, wheat, OSR, seed potatoes and vining peas.

The couple have opted for a post-pea cover crop as this best suits their harvest schedule.

Liz said: “Farmers have always worked with sustainability in mind because we have to look after our soils. But there is more impetus now than ever to take part in this trial.

“With basic payments tailing off and a www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

drive to be more efficient, we need to reconsider everything – soil health, water, the nutrients we apply, machinery use – and how these fit into running a sustainable, profitable farming enterprise.

“The great thing about this trial is everything is measurable. We can measure the improvement in soil health and how that improves yield and Yorkshire Water can measure the improvement in the water. If we get this right, everyone wins.”

Liz added that Yorkshire Water had been flexible in how farmers participating in the trial could use the 10 hectares of cover crop seed provided, enabling them to sow where and when they wanted and encouraging research, collaboration, and group learning.

“For this to work, it needs to fit into our harvest schedule, and that is the same for all the farmers in the group,” she said.

“For us, the best time to drill is post pea, but for others it will be different. The point is, we have to remain a profitable business and this needs to be a part of that. Sustainability is about the environment, of course, but it is also about the long-term future of farming as well. That too, must be sustainable whilst maximising yield and enabling us to deliver great British food production.

“Yorkshire Water see that and with the help of Future Food Solutions, are helping devise strategies which deliver for farming and the environment.”

Paul Rhodes, director of Future Food Solutions, said growing cover crops delivers a host of other valued-added

ecological benefits.

He said: “We have supported farmers in growing many thousands of hectares of cover crops and one thing we always say is that you hear them before you see them. The amount of insect and pollinator life they support is phenomenal and that is an increasingly important issue to address.

“The plants’ root structure also holds the topsoil in place reducing erosion, which is another incredibly valuable effect of growing them in scale.”

Fellow Future Food Solutions director Steve Cann added the collaboration with Yorkshire Water was generating environmental solutions with a global impact.

He said: “By devising practical solutions to the environmental issues the world is facing while at the same time facilitating sustainable food production, Yorkshire Water, ourselves and the farmers we work with are pioneering some truly profound environmental solutions.

“We know we can significantly increase organic matter in soil by growing cover crops, our trials prove that, and what our data tells us is if we could increase SOM by just one per cent in global soils, that would take enough carbon out of the atmosphere to return it to pre-industrial levels.

“What has started out as farm trials in Yorkshire is offering a genuine solution to the issue of climate change around the world.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Potatoes

Sustainable Sprout Control • Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry; • Is approved for use on organic potato crops; • Has no harvest interval or MRL; • Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage, • And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes;

iox-M is a wellestablished and highly effective treatment to control sprouting in potatoes in store and is in widespread use in the UK and on the continent on crops destined for both fresh and processing markets.

B

Although approved for use in the UK in 2012, the 2020 harvest season was the first to have seen widespread adoption of Biox-M as the principal product available for sprout control in this country.

Many store managers used BioxM for the first time in 2020/21 and all have made great strides in understanding and implementing best practice in store management. The industry goes into the new season much better prepared and with much greater familiarity than a year ago.

Every store is different. That seems like an obvious statement but is hugely relevant when dealing with an unfamiliar

18 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

• Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development on processing; • Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated; • And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.

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

product, which behaves very differently to the “old chemistry” being replaced. Understanding the distribution of the fog and then vapour in store is essential to achieving excellent sprout control. Much has also been learned about the best use of fans to ensure an even distribution in store during application (find and address the ‘dead’ spots in store, and don’t run the fans too fast), and then the appropriate use of fans to maintain an even distribution of vapour during the closed period.

Fans should not be run too fast or too often during the closed period following treatment. Treatment of bulk stores has been particularly effective.

The first application of Biox-M should be made when eyes are merely ‘blinking’. There is no advantage in delaying until sprouts are well-established. And then getting the fog distribution and air circulation right in store has seen increases in the interval between treatments and crops

treated with Biox-M were successfully stored through to the end of June.

Biox-M is very much part of the wider sustainability tool-box, which customers and consumers increasingly expect growers to consider. Biox-M comes from a naturally occurring perennial crop, spearmint (mentha spicata), grown in a number of countries around the world – India, China and the US are large exporters.

Carbon is sequestered in the crop and in the soil (perennial crops sequester carbon in soil much more effectively than annual crops). Spearmint oil is extracted by a simple process of steam distillation. To deliver a uniform product with a minimum level of carvone, the oil is blended to produce Biox-M. No synthetic, persistent or harmful chemistry is involved.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

BIOX-M

| Potatoes

Exceptional sprout control in fresh and processing crops

Contact:

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Peter Hall peter@junopp.com 07973 172722 Nick Tapp nick@junopp.com 07775 785748 www.junopp.com September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Potatoes

Pent up demand for potato catch-up

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes hones and emails have been vital to keeping potato businesses moving during the pandemic, but there’s now huge pent-up demand to see new developments at first hand, say organisers for this November’s British Potato Event.

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Participants certainly won’t be disappointed with the range of new things to see and assess, says show director Steve Wellbeloved. “The loss of other events over the last 18 months means there’s a backlog of product launches, so many of these are being scheduled for the event. Plus there’s an excellent range of completely new exhibitors showcasing their products and services for the first time.

“As well as catching up on technological advances, many also see the event as important for keeping abreast of business developments and for striking deals. People have had no choice but to conduct business online, but many also recognise that better deals are often sealed in person.

the event is that a number of major exhibitors are significantly increasing the size of their stands, demonstrating both their confidence and the number of things they are wanting to discuss with visitors.

particularly in relation to seed and ware movements across borders. It’s certainly not all resolved yet, but there’s a lot more hard information available and they’ll be plenty of expert advice on offer.

Among the many industry topics in the spotlight, sustainability is likely to be a common theme, predicts Wellbeloved.

“The event will be following hard on the heels of the UN’s major COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. 200 miles further south in Harrogate there won’t be the political posturing and security circus, but there will definitely be a focus on the very practical steps that potato businesses can explore.”

“All in all, there’s so much to see and discuss that we expect to see a continuation of two trends,” he suggests. “Firstly, more and more people opting to stay over and attend both days. And, secondly, more businesses bringing a wider cross section of staff, each of whom concentrates on mini-shows in their own area of expertise, for example crop protection, storage, machinery or marketing.”

Of course, all this comes on top of the subject that took the headlines the last time the event was staged – Brexit. “At that point there was still a year of transition ahead and a lot was unclear,

More information about all aspects of the show and pre-registration to achieve fast, free access is available at www.bp2021.co.uk

“In short, ‘virtual reality’ is all well and good, but now many in the industry are now keen to drop the ‘virtual’ and concentrate on the ‘reality’,” he says.

A sure sign of the strong appetite for

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Potatoes

ince its launch in 2019, the MonstaFill box filler from Tong Engineering has proved invaluable in transforming post-harvest box filling for growers worldwide, from the UK and Ireland, to Australia and the USA. And now several new models of the MonstaFill twin-head box filler are in production at Tong’s new purpose-built manufacturing facility, demonstrating its role in bringing real benefits to growers both in reducing labour requirements and increasing throughput.

S

Built to combine high capacity and gentle box filling, with reduced forklift 22 |

movements, the MonstaFill box filler ensures a continuous box filling process. Featuring a rubber-lined holding hopper at each end of the machine’s main crop conveyor; once one hopper is full the machine automatically begins to fill the second hopper. Linear actuator-controlled crop lowering chutes ensure careful handling of crop, and when an empty box is presented under the hopper, the MonstaFill detects the box and gently discharges crop to the box.

“The success of the original models of the MonstaFill in our home and export markets has seen further design

Farming Monthly | September 2021

developments to suit different box sizes and specific customer requirements,” says Richard Knighton, Sales Manager at Tong Engineering. “The MonstaFill can now be specified to suit 1 and 2 ton boxes, as well as a new Dolav bin model.”

The simple in and out forklift action to remove full boxes and subsequently present empty ones makes for a seamless process; there is no waiting for the forklift and the machine can be easily operated by one forklift.

The MonstaFill can fill boxes to level or weight. Integrated loadcells in the www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Potatoes

THE COMPLETE HANDLING SOLUTION

Designed with you in mind INNOVATIVE DESIGN FROM FARM TO PACK

machine’s hopper tanks allow boxes to be quickly and accurately filled to a pre-determined weight, with the latest models featuring a new large digital display for enhanced visibility of the weight in each box.

“We are delighted at how the MonstaFill is performing and its global popularity,” says Richard, “it is always great to see a new product come into its own. One customer in the UK is achieving throughputs of up to 90 tons per hour when using the MonstaFill with our latest FieldLoad PRO fieldloading machine. The MonstaFill has transformed their daily throughput capabilities so much that we have just completed manufacture on a further two MonstaFill machines to advance their potato handling operations even further.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.tongengineering.com e: sales@tongengineering.com September t: +44 (0)1790 7527712021 | Farming Monthly

| 23

| Potatoes

EW BUTTON & SON PUT THEIR TRUST IN HAITH

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ne of Cornwall's leading potato growers has become the latest producer to put its trust in Haith Group.

series of eight Haith Supa-Flow screen graders.

The screen graders feature three fullwidth agitators that can run at various speeds and feature dual roller screen drives and a crop unplugging roller in a maintenance-friendly yet robust construction.

Once size graded, the potatoes are filled into boxes via SupaFill 400 box fillers.

Controlled by a touchscreen HMI, these fillers are gentle on the crop and feature rubber door stop belts multi box height filling functionality.

As a result of the new grading line, Joe and his team have seen throughput speeds

In 2020, with demand for homegrown produce soaring, E W Button & Son decided to invest in a brand new, purposebuilt grading facility for its early season and ware potatoes.

The Cornish potatoes are tipped directly from the tractor-trailer into a Haith SupaFlow Bulker. The 2.4m wide bulker features dual direct drive, double incline belt for easy loading, and a crop flow control unit where sensors control the speed of the bulker.

The crop passes through a Haith Evolution Multi-Separator and into a Tomra 3A Optical Sorter, which removes stone, clod and green potatoes from the dirty crop before entering a

The Button family has been growing potatoes, blueberries and cereals at Tregawn Farm since they bought it in 1939. Benefitting from the coastal climate, EW Button & Sons supplies its salad, main crop and processing potatoes to major supermarkets, processors and exporters.

"Cornish potatoes are delicious, and it's fantastic that they are growing in popularity," says Duane Hill, sales director at Haith. "We have several customers in Cornwall, and this latest project further strengthens our presence in the county. This line has been designed to meet Joe's precise needs, and we are delighted that he has continued to trust Haith to handle his exceptional produce."

To find out more about Haith and its range of vegetable handing machines, please visit www.haith.co.uk, email sales@haith.co.uk or call 01302 831 911.

Following a recommendation from a neighbour, Joe Button decided to engage Haith to design and install his new potato grading system.

Commissioned last month, the line, which can handle 30 tonnes per hour, features Haith's latest innovations.

the box fillers that we bought from them last year, so it was an easy decision to put our trust in the Haith team. We're really pleased with the new line, and it's made a real difference in just a few weeks of running it."

increase by 35% and a significant improvement in crop quality with no mechanical damage and the majority of stone and clod removed. "Our old line was starting to show its age and was nowhere near as effective as this new Haith line," says Joe. "Demand for homegrown produce has rocketed in the last couple of years, and we needed to invest in a new line to keep up. Haith has an excellent reputation, and we've never had a problem with

From single machines through to complete turnkey installations, Haith has unrivalled experience and expertise in designing and installing vegetable handling solutions.

IN-FIELD

24(0) | 1302 Farming | September 2021 +44 831911Monthly sales@haith.co.uk

IN-TAKE

BOX TIPPLERS

WASHERS & DESTONERS

POLISHERS

GRADERS

OPTICAL SORTERS

TURNKEY SOLUTIONS

INNOVATION COMBINED

www.haith.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk Strategic Partner

| Potatoes

Evolution Separators sales see a boost in an uncertain year he beginning of 2021 has been an unusual time for Scotts Precision Manufacturing ltd, reports Derek Scott Managing Director “usually we are busy tying up deals on new machinery off the back of the perennial winter agricultural shows.

With no such events taking place, most of our business is coming from word of mouth and by social media.

This year more than any has focused growers minds on labour reduction, partly down to Brexit but in equal terms, a core drive towards efficiency around harvest. Whilst

T

we’ve always enjoyed strong sales of our separator in new Graders and processing lines, this year particularly has seen a stepped increase in retro-fitted units. There are still a large number of older grading lines out there running a variety of Star roller cleaners and coil units, generally these are often past their wear life and offer poor cleaning in comparison to the latest generation of the Evolution separator. We are already into double figures of these upgrades www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

ranging from 3ft wide machines approaching 30 years old to very modern high capacity 8ft mobile graders. We offer a price point to suit most pockets but really its all about the performance.

The largest version (2.9m wide by 10 pairs of rollers can process a crop containing 50% or more soil and clod up to 80 even 90 tonnes per hour. Most of this work in done at our premises at Boston but over time more and more of our dealers are taking on this work and supporting the product throughout the harvesting season, It’s important for us to spread our knowledge towards our dealers and their staff and especially the end user. With this in mind we are working hard to produce a series of tutorial video’s which will be made freely available on line to help not only the operator but service technicians and salesman alike.

We find if we can get good and easy to understand information to anyone involved in the sales chain then we stand the best chance in getting a

satisfied customer. With the limited interaction we have endured over the last 15 months there is no better reason to share our knowledge in this way.

• UK Growers are looking to upgrade their current farm graders with better cleaning.

• Evolution separator tutorials are going on line!

www.scottsuk.com

Evolution Separators, labour saving at its best!

Now available up to 2.9 metres wide from 1 to 10 pairs of extracting rollers. Direct drive electric or hydraulic drive for minimal maintenance.

Proudly built in the UK. Call Derek on mobile 07831 757283 or office 01205 270128 Email: sales@scottsuk.com September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Grain

Your Grain Handling, Drying & Storage Partner s harvest 2021 draws to a close, now is the time to take control and let preparation begin for next season’s harvest. With long-established reliable machinery, Perry of Oakley Ltd. are the perfect choice to help you with any handling, drying & storage upgrades.

A

Perry, a 3rd generation family business established in 1947, have supplied over 11,000 chain & flight conveyors in over 25 countries, across 4 continents. Perry agricultural chain & flight conveyors are ideal for handling cereals, pulses & granular products.

The three-piece trough design and durable galvanised steel construction provides outstanding lifespan, backed up by the Perry 10-year guarantee. * As standard, Perry chain & flight conveyors come with 3mm thick bases and 2mm thick sides (thicker options available on request), supplied in modular lengths with loose inlets & outlets allowing easy future modifications if required.

To support the chain & flight conveyors, Perry manufacture a range of other handling equipment, including belt conveyors, mechanical reception hoppers, trench intake conveyors, twin

26 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

trace conveyors, levelling & travelling conveyors and screw conveyors. The conveyor range can be supplied as horizontal or inclined, available in painted, galvanised or stainless-steel construction. Not only excellent for grain, Perry machinery can also handle products that include minerals, plastics, sugar, grass, biomass, SRF/ RDF & many more.

Further to the full conveyor range, Perry produce an agricultural & industrial selection of belt & bucket elevators – both single and double lift.

These come in a variety of speeds to suit each application: centrifugal, slow centrifugal and gravity discharge.

Painted, galvanised or stainless steel construction, with the head and boot shells manufactured from 3mm to 5mm steel. Mild steel, plastic or stainless steel buckets optional, depending on product.

To complement the wide range of handling equipment, Perry specialise in manufacturing continuous mixed flow grain driers. Two models are available: the entry level “Mistral” and the top specification “Savannah” series. The two drier ranges provide driers to fit requirements and budgets from commercial grain stores to farms.

Savannah Series driers have Perry’s own advanced touch screen PLC panel, which can be linked to any smart phone for full control of the drier from any location. This technology is designed and programmed in house allowing UK engineers remote access for diagnostics and adjustments. The auto control uses both the exhaust air temperature and hot grain temperature to give advanced control of the drier, to maintain a consistent moisture content of the discharged grain. The Mistral series drier is controlled via a hardwired control panel, though this is easily upgradable to the Perry PLC touch screen control panel.

Further to this, Perry can provide a range of silos, designed using high grade steel, giving superior strength to weight characteristics and exceptional long-life service. The range includes both flat bottom & hopper bottom silos, which are calculated according to EUROCODE. To find out more about the Perry range of products & services, contact Perry of Oakley Ltd. on +44 (0)1404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk. *Terms & conditions apply.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Grain

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Grain

Weetabix Celebrates Successful Wheat Harvest Despite Unreliable Weather N

ation’s favourite breakfast is once again 100% British grown following difficult weather conditions

Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire Weetabix is today celebrating that once again it is able to meet its commitment to sourcing every grain of its Weetabix wheat from within 50 miles of its factory in Burton Latimer.

Following this summer’s temperamental weather conditions, there were worries amongst farmers about a restricted crop growth and a repeat of last year’s disappointing harvest. Thanks to the tireless work of farmers in Weetabix’s Growers Group based in Northamptonshire, this year’s harvest will once again provide the highest quality British wheat for the nation’s favourite cereal.

The Growers Group is a collective of farmers who are proud to grow the best quality wheat for Weetabix. It was established in 2010 as part of the company’s commitment to source the wheat for Weetabix exclusively from farms within a 50-mile radius of its mills. Over 350 local farmers have participated in the scheme, growing approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat each year across more than 4 million acres, equivalent to almost 3,000 football pitches, in fields that protect natural wildlife.

Since it began in 1932, the Weetabix Food Company has been rooted in sustainable practices. The Growers Group has been a key part of the company’s sustainable sourcing policy and is made up of environmentally aware farmers who Weetabix trust to grow, harvest, store and deliver the finest quality wheat. The Group helps to keep food miles low and aims to www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

establish sustainable farming practices too.

Weetabix has proudly produced Britain’s favourite breakfast cereal from its Burton Latimer factory in Northamptonshire for nearly 90 years.

Made from 100 percent wholegrain, a serving of Weetabix is high in fibre as well as being low in fat, sugar and salt; making it the perfect way to start the day.

Fay Johnson, Partner at Rectory Farm in Leicestershire which supplies wheat to Weetabix through the Growers Group said: “Each year, harvest for farmers is an incredibly pressured time, especially when you rely on something like the weather. After concerns about crops, it’s great to be able to deliver such a good quality harvest for Weetabix and to do it in a sustainable way. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Growers Group, working closely with the company to make sure the very best of British wheat makes it from the field to the breakfast bowl.”

John Petre, Head of Supply Chain and Technical at Weetabix said: “Our relationship with local farmers goes back to the beginnings of the company and we’re incredibly proud of the work they do each and every harvest for us.

The past year has refocused lots of minds on the importance of buying and eating local to support communities and to reduce food miles. We’re only as good as the wheat we buy, so working with our Growers Group in partnership on sustainability means we can make a bigger impact together than we could have done apart.”

Jonathan Lane, Head of Grain Trading at ADM Agriculture Ltd, added: “After last year’s unusually small harvest return, we’ve returned to

more normal production levels this year, with an estimated crop of approx.

15 – 15.5 million tonnes. It’s a later harvest than usual and the wheat is of more variable quality due to the temperamental weather we’ve had this year, but all very usable.

“The solidarity of our relationship and open communication with Weetabix is really important, especially as we enter a period of uncertainty with the upcoming changes in the agriculture policy. This understanding with Weetabix puts us in a strong place and will allow us to develop other opportunities across sustainability and carbon-retention in the future.”

Jonni Henson, Grain Trader at Frontier Agriculture Ltd, said: “It’s our role to facilitate the supply chain, working closely with the growers and Weetabix. There have been challenges this season but the flexibility shown by all involved has ensured it’s also been a successful one. Our grower customers appreciate the transparency of the Growers’ Group and the flow of information.

“For example, part of the protocol is to send text or email notifications after each load and at the end of the year each grower gets a scorecard summarising how their deliveries have performed throughout the year.

“In addition, Weetabix provides a guaranteed premium to all their protocol growers. This transparency and certainty means the Growers Group is going from strength to strength. We’re looking forward to working on new initiatives such as sustainability; helping Weetabix growers to record and manage their environmental impact better. We’re proud to be part of the team that supplies Weetabix.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Grain

BDC Systems Ltd and Nash Grain Services successfully meet J A & D Cottrell’s requirements for new grain drying and storage plant nowing that its existing grain drying and storage plant was outdated and would halt plans for future expansion, J A & D Cottrell worked closely with Nash Grain Services and BDC Systems Ltd, to design a state-of-the-art plant. The new plant, with an increased capacity of nearly 16,000t, enables the Cottrells to store their own grain and contract store for Frontier Agriculture.

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“Trevor Nash suggested that we talk to BDC as he knew it had a proven track record of successfully designing new plants and delivering high-quality and reliable grain handling equipment,” explained Alan Cottrell of J A & D Cottrell, which farms 866ha at Priors Court Farm, near Wantage in Oxfordshire.

“With an eye on continued expansion, it was important that the first phase of development enabled us to increase our drying capacity to 60tph,” continued Mr Cottrell. “We needed to store our own grain plus have the capacity to dry and store grain for large grain merchants, such as Frontier, to provide us with an additional revenue stream.”

The first phase consisted of the machinery building which holds a large volume intake pit, a Skandia Elevator 120tph intake conveyor with self-regulating inlets, additional Skandia conveyors and elevators, and an Aagaard 120tph heavy duty aspiration precleaner, linked to an outside located Svegma SVC9/6 60tph continuous flow grain dryer.

“Skandia conveyors are the only conveyors with self-regulating inlets. With other conveyors you have to regulate the amount of grain entering the conveyor, Skandia’s conveyors have been designed so that whatever amount of grain comes through, they can handle it!” said Andrew Head, BDC’s MD. A 120tph Skandia belt and bucket elevator and 120tph chain and flight top conveyor transport the incoming grain into a 160t capacity hopper bottom wet holding silo.

From the silo, the grain is transported on demand through the Aagaard aspiration pre-cleaner, to remove any light impurities, into the Svegma continuous flow grain dryer. If the grain comes in dry there is an option to bypass the dryer. From the drier outlet the grain can then be transported to various storage areas or bunkers.

“All of the machinery is easily accessible and blockage sensors has been fitted so if there is a problem, everything shuts down until it’s fixed,” said Mr Cottrell.

“An important reason for suggesting that the Cottrells talked to BDC was that it is has an extremely well stocked warehouse so, if necessary, we can quickly and easily obtain spares to keep all of our customers up and running during harvest,” added Mr Nash.

The first phase also included a floor store which is linked via Skandia conveyors to the machinery building.

“To reduce the initial build cost, we chose to install above floor BDC corraduct laterals with mobile ventilation fans,” added Mr Cottrell.

The second phase of development allowed additional grain storage and was designed with bunkers to enable the storage of different varieties of crops. This grain store houses Skandia 120tph belt conveyors and Skandia 120tph chain and flight store levelling conveyors to ensure maximum fill of the building.

“Listening to advice from BDC and after weighing up the 30 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

advantages of significantly improving the ventilation of the stored crop against the increased cost, we took the decision to install below floor aeration laterals,” explained Mr Cottrell. “There is no question that below floor aeration laterals provide a much more even ventilation across each bunker, helping to ensure that grain remains in the best possible condition.

“Plus, there is the added advantage that a below floor solution makes it much easier to transfer the crop from the bunkers using a telescopic fork lift fitted with a bucket onto the lorry when it leaves the plant – there are no above floor obstructions which the vehicle can damage!” added Mr Cottrell.

The levelling conveyors are suspended on steel rails in the roof of the building and automatically move along the building as it’s being loaded with grain from the belt conveyor to fill the storage bunkers.

The third phase of development provides additional large floor storage with two equal sized bunkers, and is fitted with below floor aeration laterals.

Currently, the stored grain’s moisture content (mc) and temperature are monitored manually and the fans are turned off and on as necessary.

“We are now taking a close look at BDC’s Moisture Monitoring

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| Grain Systems (MMS) which takes grain samples from both the incoming and outcoming elevators. If the predefined temperature falls or rises a text message alert is sent, allowing us to remotely change the control on the dryer,” said Mr Cottrell. “There would be no need for anyone to be on hand at the plant to manually check levels and make any necessary adjustments.”

The Cottrells have future proofed the new plant, in the event that the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) reduces the amount of grain being grown by ensuring that the plants’ buildings, subject to the necessary planning consent, could be converted into industrial units.

Working closely with Nash Grain Services and BDC the grain handling equipment supplied remained within budget.

“You can’t ask for anything more than that can you?” said Mr Cottrell.

“The new plant does exactly what we want. We can tip at 100tph, the turn-around is very quick and efficient and importantly, the plant is TASCC and Red Tractor compliant so not only meets our drying and storage requirements, but those of Frontier.”

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 31

This month we would like to introduce Laura, a Hampshire born and bred farming girl who is also a John Deere Parts Advisor

Photo by Guy Mitchell

have always been from a farming background after growing up on the family farm in Hampshire spend‐ ing most of my spare time out in the tractors with dad or grandad. I am sure my first word even turned out to be tractor so it was no surprise that I would end up working in ag‐ 32 |

riculture. I got my first tractor at 2 albeit a toy one but I pedalled it everywhere even making trailers for it out of old parts dad had ly‐ ing around the workshop.

Aged 15 I started driving the tractors carrying out field opera‐ tions including ploughing without a GPS. Dad used to set me up

Farming Monthly | September 2021

and away I went whilst he popped off to our local tractor dealer for some parts. I was later told that the staff couldn’t believe he had left me ploughing on my own. I knew no different and carried on trying to keep it as straight as possible.

Aged 21 after a few career changes already, I got my first www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

farm job just down the road from the family farm, which sadly was too small to warrant me joining the team. I joined as an Assistant Farm Manager for Apsley Farms which only had a small farm team back then. My main jobs were the day to day running of the farm and carrying out field operations.

Whilst working at Apsley I gained my telehandler and loading shovel licence. I spent many hours driving both machines on the sugar beet washing plant they ran. Very repetitive and filthy but it got the job done. Whilst the sugar beet plant was running many lorries would arrive on site so I would weigh them in at the weighbridge.

I had parked the loading shovel up in the yard when a lorry ar‐ rived. The driver asked me to get one of the guys to move the shovel. He couldn’t believe it when I said I can move it for him as didn’t realise I could drive ma‐ chinery of that size. I didn’t take offence to this as I was the only female on the farm so almost ex‐ pected a reaction somewhere along the line. I did end up getting a bit of respect from the drivers after they realised what machines I was driving including the 7310r John Deere with the beet chaser trailer on the back which always looks big.

At 24 I left Apsley and went and got a place on an Engineering ap‐ prenticeship within Rolls Royce Motor Cars in Chichester. I en‐ joyed the practical side of it such as the welding, machining and lathe work. I completed my 2 years but decided I missed agri‐ culture so didn’t renew my con‐ tract after Covid furloughed me for 4 months.

way of the barn with centimetres on either side of the tractor. It was never designed for the big tractors we have today in farming. I have re‐ versed into this barn for a few years now but every year I al‐ ways seem to get an audience. To me, it's second nature but to pass‐ ers-by such as the fishermen, they cannot believe that a female is revers‐ ing the trailer into such a tight spot. I remember I was busy concentrating away when I looked over to see dad stood with an‐ other five people all watching me, no pressure!

Thankfully I got it in first time and I even had one of them come up to me saying wow you can drive.

They had asked dad who I was and he replied ‘that’s my daugh‐ ter!”

In October 2020 I started my cur‐ rent job which is working for Hunt Forest Group as a Parts Advisor.

It really is great working in an in‐ dustry you enjoy and thankfully my mechanical and farming back‐ ground and knowledge is really helping to locate parts for cus‐

tomers. Funnily enough, this is the dealership where my first tractor came from 24 years earlier. Hunt Forest Group have just celebrated their 50th an‐ niversary as a John Deere dealer and I look forward to seeing where I can go with my career over the next few years.

Follow Laura on Instagram: B hcto i ktnancwtc and on [ qwVwdg NNF /VX

During the summer of 2020, I went back and worked on dads farm for a few months assisting with many jobs on the farm such as building work, more welding, a bit of gamekeeping and of course tractor driving. I was able to carry out the full harvest with him. We would use both the tractors and trail‐ ers and I would alternate taking them back to the barn to tip them. To tip the trailer I would have to drive down the single lane with cars parked on either side of us due to it being a car‐ park for the fishing lakes. This is when I would then have to reverse into the very tight door‐ www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Buildings

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| Buildings

Marshalls and SigmaRoc announce strategic collaboration to deliver new ultra-low carbon product portfolio arshalls PLC and SigmaRoc PLC have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop ultra-low carbon technology within the concrete building materials sector. The aims of this collaboration are to share learnings in the application of current technologies while working together to develop new low carbon methods of production.

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The collaboration enables Marshalls to develop lowcarbon alternatives to its existing range of products in an increasingly environmentally conscious market. It also represents a further step in SigmaRoc’s journey to increase access to ultra-low carbon construction products following the launch of the world’s first ce‐ ment-free block in 2021 and a commitment to manu‐ facturing a cement-free alternative to every product within its precast product group from January 2022.

Nick Jowett, Technical Director at Marshalls PLC, adds: “Marshalls has long fostered a culture of pro‐ gressive innovation combined with a commitment to not only meet the urban environment challenges of today’s generation, but to build a better world for the next.

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“By entering into a collaboration with SigmaRoc we envisage being able to give our customers the oppor‐ tunity to use an ultra-low carbon alternative to a vari‐ ety of traditional hard landscaping and construction products. We aim to significantly lessen the longterm environmental impact of hard landscaping solu‐ tions in alignment with our ambitious ESG targets” Michael Roddy, Managing Director of SigmaRoc, comments: “With the construction industry increas‐ ingly recognising the importance of integrating lowcarbon alternatives into future ways of working, we are delighted to begin our strategic collaboration Marshalls.

“To date SigmaRoc has focussed on developing scalable, low-carbon solutions for major infrastruc‐ ture work. However we recognise that residential and urban environment projects represent a significant portion of UK construction activity so we are excited at the prospect of working alongside Marshalls to help develop these solutions. Ultimately we see the collaboration as another stepping stone in our com‐ mitment to invest, improve, integrate and create a sustainable future for construction.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Buildings

Proposals to help more people build their own homes have been warmly welcomed

by Roger Parry & Partners

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oger Parry & Partners have warmly welcomed proposals for the govern‐ ment to help more people build their own homes.

The proposals have been put forward

by Richard Bacon MP following his review of ‘Cus‐ tom and Self Build house-building’ which was com‐ missioned by the Prime Minister. The review has found huge potential in the sector which could de‐ liver 30-40,000 more homes every year.

The review has also recommended a major ‘scaling up’ of self-built homes to boost the overall housing supply. This could see homes which can be built in weeks that are better designed, built to the highest environmental standards, and with cheaper household bills.

•

Support community, diversity and levelling up - and crucially by re‐ igniting the Community Housing Fund and creating more opportunit‐ ies for communities to build.

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Promote greener homes and increased use of Modern Methods of Manufacturing (MMC) - custom and self-build is a leading innovator in these areas and could be used to signpost the future for govern‐ ment’s MMC and Net Zero Housing ambitions.

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Align custom and self-build changes with planning reforms - in partic‐ ular through maximising opportunities for permissioned land for cus‐ tom and self-build, across all tenures.

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Iron out tax issues to create a level playing field between this type of homes and speculatively built homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will publish more detail on Help to Build shortly followed by its official response to the Bacon Review in the Autumn, including reviewing options on how best to support Custom and Self-build (CSB) housebuilding.

Richard Corbett, Partner with Roger Parry & Part ners, has welcomed the review’s findings. He said, “The positive messages we are getting out of Westmin‐ ster are very much welcomed.

This news comes on top of the government’s commitment of £150 mil‐ lion for the Help to Build scheme which will allow home builders to borrow money with lower deposits and also the news that funding is being provided for local councils to create high quality serviced plots that are ready to go, stepping up self and custom build housing projects across the UK.” The ‘Custom and Self Build’ review was commis‐ sioned to improve the housebuilding industry by giv‐ ing customers more choice, and to make home building a mainstream, realistic and affordable op‐ tion for people across the country.

The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP has wel‐ comed Richard Bacon’s report and in response he said, “As we build back better we want to help more people build their own home, making it an option for thousands who’ve not considered it or ruled it out before. This will help get more people on to the housing ladder, ensure homes suit people’s needs whilst providing an important boost to small builders and businesses too.”

The Bacon Review puts forward six recommenda‐ tions: •

A greater role for Homes England, with the cre‐ ation of a new Custom and Self Build Housing Delivery Unit supporting the creation of serviced plots on small and large sites and delivery at scale.

•

Raise awareness and show by ‘doing’, including with a custom and self-build ‘Show Park’ and a more robust approach to legislation.

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| Buildings

Protection and longevity for agricultural steel

Shot Blasting | Galvanizing | Powder Coating | Duplex Coatings With eight strategically located plants, a large transport fleet, and superior metal finishing services, Joseph Ash Galvanizing is proud to provide the agricultural industry with technical expertise, premium quality and a first-class service when galvanizing, shot blasting and powder coating steel fabrications.

Joseph Ash Galvanizing is proud to be a Premium Sponsor at the RIDBA 2021 Awards

Contact us today: Joseph Ash Ltd The Alcora Building 2 Mucklow Hill Halesowen, B62 8DG www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

+44 (0)121 504 2573 sales@josephash.co.uk www.josephash.co.uk September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Buildings

Cost-effective, bespoke structural solutions C. Bacon Engineering Ltd, based in Hingham, Norfolk, have been providing cus‐ tomers with cost-effective, bespoke structural solu‐ tions within the Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial sectors throughout East Anglia and surrounding counties since its establishment in 1961.

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Extensive in-house production facilities and a wealth of experience has earned the trust of farmers, private business owners and contractors, resulting in a highly valued customer and project port‐ folio.

Having earned previous award recogni‐ tion from the RIDBA in 2015, 2017 &

2019, A. C Bacon Engineering Ltd entered Dick White Referrals New Veterinary Centre into the RIDBA Awards 2022, with the entry being short‐ listed for an award in the ‘Public Ser‐ vices’ category.

A C Bacon Engineering Ltd proudly worked alongside SEH French, to de‐ liver the new Specialist Veterinary Centre at Six Mile Bottom, Cambridge.

The planning design brief for a basic portal frame ‘barn’ concept was en‐ hanced by simple recessed/protruding features. These features, combined with careful use of contrasting cladding ma‐ terials and colours, provides the struc‐ ture with depth and a distinctive charac‐ ter.

High level ‘penthouses’ adorning the ridge of each portal frame help enhance the ‘barn’ appearance, as homage to penthouses found on traditional grain store buildings with dryers & conveyors.

These are also func‐ tional, as the louvred panels provide the ventilation require‐ ments for the build‐ ing.

Sustainabil‐ ity was also a key con‐ sideration with this development, incorporating a duel solar panel array on each south fa‐ cing roof slope.

The successful delivery of the project has resulted in the new clinic doubling

Jo Caulfield to host RIDBA Building Awards 38 |

its in-patient capacity from 5 wards to 10 wards, allowing for additional consulting rooms, medicine procedure and treat‐ ment facilities; a significantly enlarged laboratory, an integrated imaging suite complete with new MRI and CT units, extensive oncological facilities, an outpatient facility to complement the exist‐ ing in-patient physiotherapy unit and water treadmill; and an enhanced and expanded intensive care unit to include an emergency triage area.

Farming Monthly | September 2021

IDBA is delighted an‐ nounce that comedian and writer, Jo Caulfield, will host this year’s RIDBA Building Awards.

RIDBA's flagship event will take place at the Macdonald Hotel, in Manchester, on Thursday, September 30. Please click here to view the shortlisted com‐ panies.

Jo has worked on some of the biggest shows, and with some of the biggest names in British comedy. She has ap‐ peared on programmes such as Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

RIDBA would like to take this opportun‐ ity to thanks its event sponsors AJN Steelstock, Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Kingspan, Steadmans, Hadley Group, Eternit, STRUMIS and our media part‐ ner, Farming Monthly.

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| Buildings

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Buildings

Steel yourself for the future of farm buildings dvances in machinery have seen the agriculture industry transform radically in recent years, enabling even the most traditional of facilities to achieve greater efficiencies. But demand is increasing

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inability to stock shelves for weeks on end. And while other industries have already taken the bold step into smart working, agriculture is at the tip of digital tidal wave which will put data and connectivity at the centre of the sector.

cows thrive in natural light and clean air flow, so we installed vast roof light windows to a steep pitch roof, designed to provide proficient and clean ventilation. These conditions will play a vital role in increasing milk yield, while having the cows homed together in one

To accommodate these trends, premises need to be both fit for purpose today, but also ready to take on the demands of the future, able to scale at pace. As such, many farmers are considering their existing estates and employing experts to undertake major refurbishments – and in some cases, complete rebuilds – of livestock housing to improve efficiency on site, increase their yields and ensure they’re part of a revolution which will see farming firmly cemented as operating within the modern era.

We’ve long been seen as consultants on the design, delivery and installation of farming buildings. The 70s was the era of the kit building; we’d liaise with a farm owner about their requirements, manufacture the entire solution on site in Preston and courier it to anywhere in the country. A local tradesperson would then be tasked with erecting the building using our drawings and written guidance.

This forged our reputation as the national experts in steel framed farm buildings, and formed the basis of the bespoke design and build service we now offer – a ‘hand in hand’, partnership-led consultancy. Today, our buildings must be more intricate in their design, able to balance the need to improve animal welfare, increase efficiency, meet UK farming regulations and make cost savings.

Case in point is our recent work with the owners of Pemberton Farm, Andrew and Tom Pemberton, the latter of which is making a name for himself as the ‘influencer’ of farming, using vlogging to raise awareness of the complexities you must overcome, and the commitments you must make to run a successful farm.

for output, so many previously smaller sites are increasing their footprint to offer more intensive delivery of their products to remain profitable. Teamed with this, many are taking steps now to prepare for a future that will be littered with – mostly positive – disruption.

Hopes are that UK food retailers will rely more on local and home-based food suppliers to mass produce and mitigate the varying impacts of Brexit, which is already causing delays in food deliveries and in some cases, an 40 |

Home to over 120 cows, Pemberton Farm’s former multiple cow sheds no longer offered the levels of comfort or quality the owners sought for their livestock. They required a single, more fit for purpose replacement, which had to be located on a specific part of the farm with exceptionally tight parameters.

We were employed to design a solution which would satisfy both criteria, and prepare the site for an anticipated increase in demand for dairy output in coming years.

Despite global materials shortages and an upfront project to stabilise the groundworks with bespoke foundations, we’ve been able to deliver a cow shed which gives Pemberton Farm a competitive edge. Centre to our finished solution is the wellbeing of the cattle;

Farming Monthly | September 2021

building will reduce labour time on site, running costs and waste.

The farming sector is taking itself more seriously than ever before because of the way the world is changing around it.

It’s our responsibility as experts in the field to inform customers about what will make a building work for them, based on their individual circumstances today and what they want to achieve in the future, so they’re armed for the challenge.

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| Buildings

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Mental Health

RABI aims to quadruple support to farming people by 2024 RABI’s strategic evolution includes implementing the following: •

Introducing a 24/7 helpline

•

Collaborating with partners to offer consistent, targeted support across England and Wales

•

Supporting best practice through volunteer network

•

Launching preliminary peer-to-peer pilot schemes at a regional and national level

•

Developing holistic support packages with specialist and sector providers

ABI has confirmed the charity’s ambitious goal to reach even more farming people over the next three years.

Providing services and support to the farming community across England and Wales, RABI aims to increase the level of available support fourfold by the end of its 5year strategic period in 2024.

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“The Council of Trustees has a clear and simple vision for RABI,” says RABI chief executive, Alicia Chivers.

“The need for the charity to ensure services and support are available consistently across England and Wales to a greater number of farming people over the coming years, is clear-cut and of paramount importance to all at RABI. “Delivering positive outcomes to four times as many farming people and families across England and Wales by the end of 2024 is an aspirational 42 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

goal. We believe this is achievable through the expansion of RABI’s existing partnership programmes, forging a more holistic approach that will benefit our farming communities.”

Looking ahead, RABI will continue to provide support to those who are no longer farming due to ill health or age. Supplementing these existing programmes, the charity will additionally be increasing its focus on pre-emptive and proactive support services to farming people working in the sector. This is, in part, a response to the growing levels of farming families living on a relative low income.

“Looking to the future, RABI’s longterm intent is to work in partnerships to provide support for up to 25,000 farming people annually, as a more collaborative approach with partner organisations is developed,” Mrs Chivers concludes. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Security

Simple yet smart security for farm owners he surge in rural crime is showing no signs of slow‐ ing down. A 2020 NFU re‐ port reveals that rural crime in the UK cost £54.3 million in 2019 which is an in‐ crease of nearly 9% on the previous year, making it the highest cost recor‐ ded in eight years. According to its Rural Crime Survey 2020, the Coun‐ tryside Alliance reported that 38% people had a crime committed against them in the last 12 months, ranging from fly-tipping and poaching to theft from outbuildings.

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day. This poses problems when someone forgets their keys and can’t access a building, particularly on lar‐ ger farms where the nearest colleague with the correct key may be some dis‐ tance away. Similarly, a farm worker might leave the business but still hold keys to buildings which contain high value assets. Farm owners need to be sure that only authorised people can access farm technology, machinery, and vehicles, but it’s all too easy to lose track of who has keys to the buildings where equipment is stored.

The best way to make sure farm build‐ ings are easily accessible is to fit out‐ buildings with keyless access solu‐ tions. Code operated locks eliminate the need to carry large sets of keys, and there is no danger of a lost key and all the inconvenience that can cause. With keyless access solutions, farmworkers can be much more pro‐ ductive as it removes the need to search through bunches of keys or trek across the farm to ask someone to unlock a building.

The continuing rural crime wave has prompted many farm owners to consider upgrading the security measures they have in place to protect their farm build‐ ings. However, on a busy farm where farmworkers need easy access to build‐ ings, the traditional lock and key ap‐ proach is not always up to the job.

Farm operations run to tight schedules, and workers have to be able to obtain tools and equipment at all times of the

44 |

Another great advantage of modern keyless access solutions is their func‐ tionality. Even with a simple mechan‐ ical coded lock, the code can be shared with anyone who requires ac‐ cess, avoiding the need to meet in person when staff need to hand over keys. Smart access control solutions offer even greater flexibility and en‐ able managers to generate and send time-sensitive codes for use within a specified time frame, view the lock’s usage history, control and restrict ac‐ cess plus many more features and be‐ nefits.

Smart locks are particularly suited to farm offices, as they contain confidential

Farming Monthly | September 2021

information and valuable and easily portable equipment, such as laptops and mobile devices. By allocating staff with individual codes, farm managers can track who has accessed the office

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| Security

at given times, helping to improve secur‐ ity. By generating and sending singleuse, time-specific codes, farm managers can also provide access to delivery people, even when they are out and about on the farm, without having to compromise security.

Codelocks offers a range of keyless ac‐ cess solutions, from mechanical coded locks to advanced smart lock solutions.

The Marine by Codelocks range is spe‐ cially designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, ideal for agricultural applications, and many Codelocks products can also be fitted with a PIN‐

Guard™ by Codelocks cover, providing additional PIN security and protection from adverse weather conditions. Se‐ curity solutions like these are affordable, easy to use and can be fitted anywhere without the need for hardwiring – mak‐ ing them perfect for busy farms with as‐ sets kept in multiple outbuildings.

With a modern approach to security, farmers will have the peace of mind that their workforce can access the tools to keep the farm running smoothly. www.codelocks.co.uk

Datatag's Peter Wilson presents PC Daniel Haworth with a CESAR Champion award

Celebrating two new CESAR Champions

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wo Lancashire police officers have been awarded the CESAR champion badge after they success‐ fully identified a stolen telehandler using the CESAR scheme.

PC Daniel Haworth and PC Peter Mather, mem‐ bers of the Rossendale's Rural Taskforce, Lancashire Con‐ stabulary, attended a location in Burnley where there had been a large piece of plant machinery left parked overnight. PC Haworth and PC Mather attended the location in support of Im‐ mediate Response. Through the Rossendale Rural Taskforce's knowledge of Datatag and the CESAR Scheme, officers were able to use their scanning device and quickly identify the Man‐ itou Telehandler as stolen. This vehicle alone is valued at ap‐ proximately £40,000 resulting in one very relieved owner upon its discovery. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Peter Wilson of Datatag's Police Liaison Team presented the award to the officers in July. "This type of crime impacts com‐ munities and business owners significantly. Through the Rural Taskforce teams, Lancashire Constabulary is committed to proactively tackling this problem" said PC Haworth on receiving the award.

CESAR, powered by Datatag, can be fitted to any construction or agriculture machine that is at risk of theft. The tamper-evid‐ ent label acts as an initial deterrent and the multiple layers of technology help to identify the machine. All the owner and ma‐ chine details are stored on the CESAR secure database for po‐ lice to double-check any machine quickly and easily. For more information visit https://www.cesarscheme.org/index.php

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Education & Training

A student inspired to develop her skills as a livestock geneticist after success at the Welsh Winter Fair has been named as Harper Cymry/Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Student of the Year 2021

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uned Jones, a final year BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science student from Llan‐ wnnen in West Wales, was chosen as this year's recip‐ ient of the award.

She said: "I feel ex‐ tremely honored and privileged to have been chosen as the winner of the Harper Cymry/Royal Welsh Agricul‐ tural Society Student of the year 2021. "I am humbled that my achievements to date have been recognised in this way and I couldn't think of a better ending to my five years at Harper Adams."

The Harper Cymry/Royal Welsh Agricul‐ tural Society Student of the Year award has been running for more than two decades, after being established in 1999 by the late Bill Ratcliffe, a Harper Adams Fellow and founder of the Harper Cymry alumni association.

The award is open to final year under‐ graduates who have lived in Wales for at least the past five years, who have contributed to the Harper Cymru student society and also to the broader Harper Adams University student community – and who are deemed a promising future ambassador for Harper Adams Uni‐ versity.

proven, practical young famers whose discussions and views help to shape the future of farming in Wales.

This year's Student of the Year award is the second time Luned's achievements have been marked by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society – as her family's breeding of the Welsh Winter Fair su‐ preme champion, back in 2015, set her on the path to her current degree – the first step towards a career as an live‐ stock geneticist.

She added: "I am a keen livestock breeder and enjoy taking part in various competitions and events such as the Welsh Winter Fair. In 2015, we as a family were fortunate enough to breed the Welsh Winter Fair supreme cham‐ pion, which is by far one of my proudest and fondest achievements.

"I would consider this moment as the turning point in my career aspirations, and such success, coupled with my farming upbringing, is where my interest in genetics and breeding stems from.

"I chose to study BSc Bioveterinary Sci‐ ence as I have had my focus from day one on working within the scientific side of the rural sector, giving me the oppor‐ tunity to give back to the sector which

The recipient is also eligible for Future Famers of Wales membership, joining an elite club of 46 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

plays a fundamental part in my day-today life."

Luned and her sister are the ninth gen‐ eration of farmers on her family's beef and sheep farm, and she has recently established a herd of Limousin cattle on the site.

She now hopes to combine her work on the farm with postgraduate study in ge‐ netics – and to apply that knowledge to help improve farm profitability, as well as to add to the skills she has learnt over the past five years, She added: "During my time at Harper Adams I have grasped every arising op‐ portunity, obtaining numerous certific‐ ates including first aid, tractor driving, and basic business management, and recently completed my AMTRA qualific‐ ation. "I have gained invaluable oppor‐ tunities - such as the year I spent in New Zealand on placement - as well as establishing vital industry connections. I have also made lifelong friends along the way of which I will forever be grate‐ ful to Harper for.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Development Trust for all their hard work and dedication in en‐ couraging students like myself to apply for scholarships.

Their guidance has undoubtedly helped me gain a number of scholarships throughout my time at Harper."

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is proud to support this Award which re‐ cognises the out‐ standing potential of the next generation.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Education & Training

Government ministers visit to mark completion of £9million redevelopment of College’s Lackham campus wo Government ministers were amongst a list of VIP visitors to Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Lack‐ ham campus to mark the completion of a project to create new state-of-the-art agriculture facilities at the site.

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Thanks to funding through an invest‐ ment from the SWLEP, the new facilities include a cutting-edge AgriTech Centre and Robotic Dairy. The refurbished site will welcome students for the first time when the 2021-22 academic year be‐ gins in September before being offi‐ cially launched at a special ceremony next Spring.

equipment.

The new facilities at Lackham form part of a £24million redevelopment project across multiple sites at the College, which also includes renovation of the

Michelle Donelan MP said: “It’s absolutely incredible to see the transformation here at Lack‐ ham – it really is a Centre of Excellence of AgriTech. I am sure that many thousands of students are going to enjoy this for many years to come.”

Michelle Donelan, MP for Chippenham and Minister of State for Universities, and Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, vis‐ ited the campus on Friday 9th July fol‐ lowing the completion of £9million worth of redevelopment work at Lackham, which is home to the College’s award-

Gillian Keegan MP said: “It has been fantastic to come to Wilt‐ shire College & University Centre’s Lackham campus and see their new state-of-the-art Ag‐ riTech facilities. The cutting-edge equipment will prepare students for the future of agriculture, while also making the industry more efficient and more en‐ vironmentally friendly.”

Hosted by College Principal and CEO Amanda Burnside, the tour started with an inspection of the ArgiTech Centre, which will now form the centrepiece of the Lackham campus. Sitting directly across from the Manor House, the facil‐ ity blends heritage with modern in‐ dustry requirements.

Salisbury campus.

Through investment from SWLEP, £15‐ million worth of work to upgrade the Salisbury campus has recently been completed and will also welcome new students for the first time in September.

The building is home to state-of-the-art technology and science teaching facilit‐ ies and features a media display wall with a live feed of data, statistics and visuals from the new Robotic Dairy at Home Farm.

winning vocational teaching in landbased industries.

Representatives from the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Coun‐ tryside Landowners’ Association (CSA) were also in attendance on a tour of the renovated campus. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

This bespoke robotic milking parlour joins an existing 140-cow dairy unit at Home Farm and will become the classroom for the College’s new Higher National Diploma in Dairy Engineering.

The course has been developed in part‐ nership with Wiltshire-based agriculture engineering experts T H WHITE and will utilise market-leading DeLaval robotics and software to transform students’ learning with cutting-edge industry

SWLEP CEO Paddy Bradley said: “It has been great to see that public money has been used to create facilities that are cutting edge so that students can be fully skilled to go out into the workplace straight after their courses.”

To find out more about the College’s re‐ development projects or to enrol on a course, visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk.

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Education & Training

LEARNERS ploughed ahead in completing a despite the challenges of Covid-19

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| Education & Training

an innovative agriculture training scheme

he first ever cohort of AGCO apprentices at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi have completed the threeyear Technical Advanced Extended Diploma in Agricultural Engin‐ eering.

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The north east Wales college teamed up with AGCO, a worldwide manufac‐ turer and distributor of agricultural equipment, to train the next generation of machinery technicians.

“Our partnership offers a dedicated training programme giving candidates an underpinning knowledge of agricul‐ tural engineering principles and tech‐ niques leading up to dedicated manu‐ facturer training on the cutting-edge technology AGCO products offer to the industry.

“This gives the successful candidates a lead into a truly exciting job with their re‐ spective dealers, earning while they are learning and offering the potential for a lifelong career.

Richard Charles, AGCO Manager for Af‐ tersales Customer Care and Training, praised the group – who work for deal‐ erships which sell the Massey Fer‐ guson, Fendt and Valtra brands - for their focus and dedication.

“Together with Llysfasi we are striving to give our students and dealers the best possible apprenticeships in our industry - this result is testament to the quality of the training given.”

“We are delighted to congratulate the first cohort of students to have gradu‐ ated from Coleg Cambria Llysfasi,” he said.

Elin Roberts. Assistant Principal and Site Lead at Llysfasi echoed those words and said: “The AGCO appren‐ tices brought a real vibrancy to the col‐

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

lege and it was fantastic to have them with us.

“We look forward to the positive results from their final exams and wish them all the best in their future careers.”

Gareth Williams, Lead lecturer for the AGCO Apprenticeship Programme and Agricultural Engineering at Llysfasi, ad‐ ded: “I am delighted that AGCO’s dealer apprentices have become the first-ever cohort to complete the scheme with us.

“They achieved fantastic results across all elements of the programme and are a credit to their employers. I wish them a successful career working within the ag‐ ricultural engineering sector.”

For more information, email agco.train‐ ing@cambria.ac.uk or call 01978 267912. Alternatively, visit www.cambri‐ a.ac.uk/agco or email UKEIRE.Trainin‐ g@agcocorp.com.

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 49

| Fencing

Nofence virtual grazing technology claims its space and brings new options to UK livestock producers

echnology advancements are providing new oppor‐ tunities for beef, dairy and sheep producers as Nofence virtual grazing technology becomes widely available in the UK.

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Established in Norway in 2011 with more than two years of testing on UK farms, Nofence uses a combination of GPS, mobile data network, audio sig‐ nals and solar power to work with an‐ imal behaviour and create a “virtual pas‐ ture” that can be monitored and moved with a smartphone app.

The Nofence app allows farmers to set virtual pasture boundaries that can be moved within a matter of a few seconds.

Livestock wearing Nofence collars can then be turned out into the area to graze with no physical fencing,” explains Synne Foss Budal, General Manager for Nofence UK.

Weighing 0.7kg for the sheep collar and 1.4kg for the cattle collar, Nofence collars have integrated solar panels to ensure long-lasting battery life throughout the grazing season.

When an animal crosses the Nofence boundary, a three-stage audio warning will sound. If the animal does not turn around when cued with the third stage of audio, it will receive an electric pulse equivalent to 18% of power from stand‐ ard electrical fencing. When a collar is‐ sues a pulse it immediately sends a pop-up notification to the farmer via the Nofence app with the location of the an‐ imal. If the animal continues to move in the wrong direction, it will only receive a maximum of three pulses before it is classed as escaped. Again, the farmer is notified, and the location of the animal is tracked. When the animal crosses back through the boundary to return to the herd, it does not receive a pulse, with animals typically going back on their own in the rare case of an escape.

“Instead of cows using their sense of

sight to see a physical fence to keep them in, they use their sense of hearing.

And it has proven to be very effective,” explains Miss Budal. “Through observa‐ tions of herd behaviour on more than 30,000 head of livestock logging more than 75 million grazing hours, a typical farm will have just one pulse per every 30 audio cues. The app allows farmers to track the number and location of au‐ dio signals and pulses given to indi‐ vidual animals to allow them to adjust pasture design if required.

Economic and environmental bene fits of managed grazing According to farm consultant James Daniel, Managing Director for Precision Grazing Ltd, virtual fencing is a gamechanging tool that will help to enable wide-scale adoption of managed graz‐ ing techniques. In 2020, Mr Daniel tri‐ alled the Nofence system to validate its suitability for the UK where stocking rates on managed grazing systems of‐ ten exceed 100 head/ha and animals are moved regularly to new pasture.

Since then, he has been working with five different UK livestock farmers on a pilot project to integrate Nofence into a variety of managed grazing systems.

“Managed grazing increases the pro‐ ductivity of pastures and livestock by working with the plant’s natural growth pattern. If animals are left on a paddock for too long (set stocked), plants are ‘over grazed’ which leads to low pro‐ ductivity, bare soil, pasture degenera‐ tion and reduced forage production

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| Fencing which ultimately leads to more expense for the farmer,” explains Mr Daniel.

The best way to maximise forage pro‐ duction is to give pasture adequate rest periods (21-60 days) in between short grazing events (1-3 days) during the growing season. This need to move an‐ imals often whilst having a flexible rota‐ tion length is something virtual fencing can easily enable.

Done correctly, managing grass comes with huge benefits. Work from AHDB has found set stocking to have an an‐ nual yield of 6 tonnes DM/ha with 60% utilisation for a total of 3.6 tonnes

“It isn’t unheard of for farmers to unlock the equivalent of an additional 30-50% area on their farm by increasing pro‐ ductivity,” says Mr Daniel. “There is no more cost-effective way to expand your land availability than improving your grazing management.”

From an environmental standpoint, managed grazing is a powerhouse, be‐ nefiting wildlife habitats, rainfall absorp‐ tion, microbial diversity and carbon se‐ questration.

“Perennial plants like grasses and herbs are putting 40-50% of the energy they generate from photosynthesis into the soil. Some of that en‐ ables root growth and some of that is directly feeding the bacteria and fungi that live in the soil in exchange for nutrients.

This process is funda‐ mental to carbon sequest‐ ration,” explains Mr Daniel.

“Plants are most efficient at this when kept in their vegetative stage. The most effective and benefi‐ cial way to do this is with grazing animals that are being managed properly.”

Opportunities for UK producers Two of the biggest barriers farmers face when capital‐ ising on managed grazing opportunities are access to skilled labour and fencing infrastructure.

“While Nofence doesn’t 100% remove those two factors from the equation, it significantly reduces the impact allowing for minimal fencing based on areas of risk identified by the farmer and freeing up hours of their day that can be spent on planning their grazing strategy and other areas of their business,” says Miss Budal.

DM/ha utilised. When cattle are moved every 2-3 days, utilisation goes up to 75% for a total of 9 tonnes DM/ha.

“There are two ways to look at produc‐ tion increase potential. We can keep more animals in the same area which might allow an increase in stock or en‐ able parts of the farm less suitable for grazing to be used for environmental benefit. Or we can reduce inputs, like nitrogen fertiliser or purchased feed, and maintain the same output with a lower variable cost,” adds Mr Daniel.

When looking at the value of one addi‐ tional tonne of DM per ha, this equates to an additional 100kg liveweight gain/ha valued at £200, 50kg carcass weight/ha valued at £200, or an addi‐ tional 0.3 acres valued at £2000. Altern‐ atively, it could enable input savings equivalent to £100 on nitrogen fertiliser, £120 on silage or £280 on concentrate feed. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Last year, Miss Budal helped a Northumberland beef farmer convert his electric grazing system to Nofence. Be‐ fore, it was taking him five hours a day to move fences, leaving him with no flexibility on taking time off. Once his system was transitioned, it only took him a few minutes a day to move his virtual fences.

“Through the pilot project with Precision Grazing, we’ve seen farmers that were already good grassland managers take things a step further because time is no longer a constrain,” adds Miss Budal.

“But across the board, we’ve seen a huge improvement in the quality of life of Nofence users due to the amount of time they are saving and the real-time data allowing them to make fast judg‐ ment calls.”

The future of Nofence While virtual technology like Nofence is going to change the future grazing land‐ scape – both from a physical and busi‐ ness point of view, the quick adaptabil‐ ity of the product and data analysis will see it changing to a multi-faceted man‐ agement tool in the future.

“Nofence is constantly analysing data and data capturing opportunities to see what other functions can be integrated into the product. We also firmly believe that in order for it to serve farmers best, it must have their input, so we are regu‐ larly working with Nofence customers on what features will best benefit their businesses,” explains Miss Budal.

Future developments the company is working on include an optional auto‐ matic paddock movement timer based on key data such as pasture cover, crop growth rate, soil type, weather condi‐ tions, livestock age and weight.

Nofence is also exploring how animal activity data, such as grazing duration, resting and socialising can be used to improve animal health as early indicat‐ ors of illness or serve as a heat detec‐ tion tool.

Ultimately, Nofence is heading in the direction of being an on-demand pocket-sized grazing manager that will give users real-time advice based on their herd’s needs and unique environ‐ ment and access to managed grazing education.

“Since its inception, the goal of Nofence has been to support farmers by giving them an effective way to improve busi‐ ness efficiency and animal welfare while supporting the environment. But ultimately, to improve their quality of life,” concludes Miss Budal. “The future of grazing is here, and it is only going to continue to get better.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Livestock

Calf viability and growth are improved by a moderate condition score in pregnant suckler cows

Importance of body condition scoring in suckler cows voiding obesity, excessive lean‐ ness or large changes in condition in pregnant suckler cows could avoid unnecessary winter feed use and lead to healthier fast-growing calves, new research has found.

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Body condition scoring is a rapid way to assess fat coverage of livestock, and in cattle it is scored on a 1 (lean) to 5 (obese) scale.

The recommended target is for spring-calving cows to be at a score of approx‐ imately 3 in early to midpregnancy and to calve at a score of 2.5.

However, researchers from Scotland’s Rural Col‐ lege (SRUC) found there is currently a large variation within and between Scot‐ tish beef farms in the man‐ agement of body condition in pregnant suckler cows.

In the first study to exam‐ ine the effect of cow body condition and its change over pregnancy on calf de‐ velopment, they scored the 52 |

condition of 2366 cows from 21 farms – the major‐ ity in Scotland along with some from the north of England.

Cows from a range of breeds were conditionscored during mid-preg‐ nancy as they were moved from grazing to winter housing, and again in late pregnancy in early spring.

The researchers then col‐ lected data on the calving event - including the calf size, vigour and need for assistance, and checked calf growth rate at three different stages between birth to slaughter, before evaluating the calf carcass grade.

This information was used to create the largest ever dataset on beef cow condi‐ tion The research found only 41 per cent of cows were within +/- 0.5 condition points of the recommen‐ ded targets, with cows showing wide variation in condition gain and loss over pregnancy.

Farming Monthly | September 2021

Cows that lost more than 0.5 condition points between mid and late pregnancy had calves that were 5 per cent smaller at birth than cows that stayed within 0.5 points, and 13 per cent smaller than cows that gained more than 0.5 points.

Cows that were lean in late pregnancy also had calves that were 7 per cent less vigorous at birth than calves of other cows.

Meanwhile calf weight gain to weaning was around 1.5 per cent better if the mother had stayed within 0.5 condition points between mid and late pregnancy as compared to gaining or losing condition.

The research shows there is considerable scope to more closely manage body condition in pregnant suck‐ ler cows, leading to more vigorous calves that grow faster for many months after birth.

ing, it requires minimal time, no additional equip‐ ment, little training and can be performed during routine handling.

Simon Turner, senior re‐ searcher in SRUC’s An‐ imal and Veterinary Sci‐ ences Department, said: “The results indicate that obesity during the earlier stages of pregnancy is likely to be damaging, par‐ ticularly if followed by sub‐ stantial condition loss as pregnancy progresses.

“There is much scope to better manage body condi‐ tion. Calf viability and growth are improved by a moderate condition score and avoiding large swings in condition over time.”

The research was funded under the Scottish Govern‐ ment Rural Affairs and the Environment Portfolio Stra‐ tegic Research Pro‐ gramme 2016-2021.

While some effort is re‐ quired to encourage adop‐ tion of the long-established method of condition scor‐ www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

All English Farmers Now Eligible for Free TB Advice and Trained Vet Visits

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ll English farmers can now access free TB advice regardless of their risk status following the awarding of a new contract.

Defra granted the TB Advisory Service (TBAS) Successor Contract to Farmcare Solutions, an entirely vet-led team. The joint venture company is made up of VetPartners, Independent Vet Care (IVC), UK Farmcare and Obligace.

The new contract introduces some fundamental changes to TBAS including: •

Being available to any farm in England that keeps livestock susceptible to TB, not just those in high risk and edge areas.

•

Being available to keepers of not just cattle but farmed sheep, pigs, deer and camelids.

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An increase in the number of free visits. Now an initial visit will be carried out by a veterinary surgeon and a second follow up visit six months later (both are free to the farmer). Previously a highly skilled independent non- veterinary TBAS advisor and a private veterinary surgeon would carry out just one visit.

All farmers who have already accessed the service will be

eligible for the new funding.

The changes mean even more farmers can receive the tools and know-how to assess what can be controlled on-farm to reduce the risk and length of a TB breakdown.

Sarah Tomlinson, technical director at TBAS said: "The expansion to TBAS means we can help farmers do everything within their power to prevent the spread of TB into previously unaffected locations.

"At VetPartners we witness the devastation caused by TB first-hand, both for farm businesses and the mental health of people affected by an outbreak. This is why it's crucial for farmers to get independent veterinary advice, bespoke to their farm, free of charge."

Mrs Tomlinson explains that pigs, sheep, goats, deer and camelids can all be infected with TB, so it makes complete sense to extend the service to all livestock sectors, giving farmers more control over TB through simple cost-effective changes to farm biosecurity measures.

How to use the service To use the service, the first step is for farmers to get in touch with TBAS directly by calling 01306 779410 or emailing info@tbas.org.uk. TBAS offers over-thephone advice on how to stop infected livestock coming on-farm, reduce the risk

from other livestock, minimise infection from manure and restrict contact between badgers and livestock by managing access to feed and water.

What the service offers The main part of the service offers free farm visits, in which a TBAS-trained vet comes out to the farm to provide tailored advice focused on TB biosecurity and how to reduce the impact reactors can have on a farm business.

"A visit from a TBAS advisor, who is often a vet from their local practice, can provide reassurance for a farmer who may be worried about the risk of TB to their farm.

Working together with a TBAS advisor will help them to understand what they can control on-farm to reduce risk of disease or the impact of an outbreak," said Mrs Tomlinson.

The TBAS service fits into the wider strategies in place to get a handle on the disease, which include testing, badger culling and vaccinations.

To deliver the extended nationwide support, Farmcare Solutions will draw on the existing network of vets who are trained to offer bespoke advice on biosecurity measures to reduce the spread of TB and will also upskill additional vets in areas where more TBAS-trained vets are needed.

Dairy Farmers Abstracting Water May see Changes to Cost as 12-Week Consultation is Launched airy farmers abstracting wa‐ ter from the environment, in‐ cluding boreholes, could face changes to the amount they are charged after the Environment Agency launched a consultation today (18 Au‐ gust).

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The consultation will review and update the way businesses are charged for water abstraction licences with the aim to help manage and protect water resources.

Under the proposals, around 45% of ab‐ stractors will see their annual charges de‐ crease and 55% will see an increase.

Overall, three quarters (75%) of all ab‐ stractors will see either a decrease or an increase of less than £100 in their charges.

New applicants will also see a higher ini‐ tial application fee, in line with those charged for other permitting regimes.

Currently, all businesses are required to have an abstraction licence to take more than 20 cubic metres a day from a river, stream, canal or groundwater.

The Environment Agency says the changes will allow them to invest more in upgrading infrastructure assets to move water around the country, using data to improve local management of water re‐ sources and protecting water-stressed catchments such as chalk streams.

The new proposed charges – which have not changed for the past 10 years – will be based on:

Farmers affected should receive a letter from the Environment Agency this week.

•

The volume of water taken from the environment

•

Where the water is taken from

•

How much of that water is returned to the environment

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Commenting on the consultation, Cumbria dairy farmer and Vice-Chairman at RABDF Robert Craig said: "Many dairy farmers will have a borehole or a private water supply, so if they are abstracting more than 20 cubic metres they will be af‐ fected.

"The changes being proposed look to make things fairer by making the cost pro‐ portionate to the amount being abstrac‐ ted. This could see the cost for some farmers dropping, whilst for others, it may increase depending on the amount being taken. However, from the details we have, it doesn't look like the increased costs will be vast."

Environment Agency Chief Executive Sir James Bevan added: "In the face of the climate emergency, population growth and rising demand for water, we need to protect our rivers, aquifers and the envir‐ onment; and ensure that those who rely on water for their business or public sup‐ ply can continue to do so into the future.

"The proposed changes to the Environ‐ ment Agency's water abstraction licence charges are designed to do that. They will allow the EA to do more to protect our rivers and chalk streams; to manage our water resources better for the public, busi‐ nesses and the environment; and to sus‐ tain supplies into the future, helping us secure long term water resilience.

The consultation runs until 10 November with the new charging scheme implemen‐ ted from 1 April 2022.

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 53

| Livestock

Digester temperature – to heat or to cool?

By Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers aintaining an optimal di‐ gester temperature is a key aspect of maximising biogas production and overall process efficiency in anaerobic digestion. Not only is temperature essential to maintain a healthy colony of bacteria, but it can reduce retention times and improve material circulation – thereby helping to increase the production capacity of the whole process.

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In terms of temperature regime, an‐ aerobic digestion can be divided into mesophilic or thermophilic systems.

Mesophilic digesters are the most common type worldwide, and operate at between 35 °C and 40 °C, typically around 37 °C. In contrast, thermo‐ philic digesters operate at temperat‐ ures above 50 °C, with shorter reten‐ tion times but higher operating en‐ ergy requirements and are therefore less common.

Such an indirect system also has ad‐ vantages in terms of servicing over older style heating systems which may have a system of pipes in the floor or lower walls of the digestion tank. These systems are being phased out as the pipework is in an aggressive environment so often has a shorter lifespan. It also has the dis‐ advantage that if embedded pipes spring a leak, the digester has to be drained in order to access the pipe‐ work, leading to considerable delays and costs.

It is when you consider potential sources of heat that things become most interesting. Obviously generat‐ ing heat specifically for the purposes of heating the digester is expensive, inefficient, and in some cases will lead to carbon emissions. But in most anaerobic digestion plants there are sources of existing heat which can be

running time with high levels of heat transfer.

Conversely, where cooling is required, it can easily be supplied via a heat exchanger using a medium such as water, and where AD plants are located in re‐ gions with wide variations between winter and summer temperature, it may be that both heating and cooling is required. While such a situation will inevitably add complexity to the sys‐ tem design, it is also perfectly feas‐ ible to meet such a brief.

So, to return to the question posed in the title, whether you should be heat‐ ing or cooling your digester – the an‐

The methanogenic bacteria in the di‐ gester are very sensitive to temperat‐ ure change, and thermal shocks will reduce the level of methane produc‐ tion. Therefore, it is essential to mon‐ itor digester temperature and retain the correct temperature window using heating in order to prevent reduced digester performance. Heating is also required to compensate for heat losses from the digester to the atmo‐ sphere and to compensate for the thermal loads which occur when new feedstock is added to the digester.

In some cases, cooling may also be required, for example where the feed‐ stock coming into the digester comes from a higher temperature pre-treat‐ ment system such as a pasteuriser or hydrolysis tank. Cooling can also be required in regions with very high am‐ bient temperatures.

Indirect heating (or cooling) based on heat exchangers involves taking sludge from the digester, pumping it through a heat exchanger, and then returning it to the digester at the re‐ quired temperature. The heat ex‐ changer control system considers variable heat loads from different feedstocks and seasonal changes in ambient temperature.

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

utilised, in particular heat from the combined heat and power (CHP) en‐ gine, which may otherwise be wasted. Using a heat exchanger, such as the HRS DTI Series, means that this source of heat can be util‐ ised effectively thanks to their corrug‐ ated tube design which reduces foul‐ ing and blocking, resulting in long

swer is that it all depends on the ac‐ tual temperatures you are faced with and the optimum operating temperat‐ ure of your particular digester. The good news is that whether you need to heat or cool, corrugated tube heat exchangers represent the most en‐ ergy efficient way to achieve this.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Optimise forage utilisation by stimulating rumen activity with forage supplements ivestock producers look‐ ing to make the most of grazed forage can in‐ crease intake and diges‐ tion by 10 percent when supplementing pastures with a nutri‐ ent-rich forage supplement, says Dr Alison Bond, nutritionist for Rumenco.

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“Supplying a balanced combination of nutrient-rich ingredients, forage sup‐ plement blocks stimulate the rumen to work harder by fuelling and increasing the rumen bug population. This res‐ ults in up to a 10 percent improve‐ ment in forage intake and digestion,” explains Dr Bond. “As we navigate a time of record high concentrate prices, improving forage utilisation will have a significant impact on the total feed budget.”

Livestock performance increases In multiple trials, Rumenco’s Rumevite forage supplements show an increase in intake and digestion which has been proven to have significant im‐ pacts on livestock performance.

In a study of 156 head of store cattle on five different farms, livestock sup‐ plemented with Rumevite Cattle Booster had a 25kg liveweight gain advantage over 105 days compared to the control group. Performance ad‐ vantages carried through into the fin‐ ishing period, with supplemented cattle maintaining the 25kg weight in‐ crease and therefore finishing 28 days ahead of the control group.

“When valuing liveweight gain at £2.00/kg, the margin over feed cost for supplementing grazing stock with Rumevite Cattle Booster was £137.36 /head, compared to £109.00/head for the group that did not receive supple‐ mentation. The un-supplemented cattle required feed for an additional 28 days, costing an additional £36.55/ head in extra concentrate and silage costs,” explains Dr Bond.

Similar results have been seen in fin‐ ishing lambs in a study at Plumpton College in Sussex. Despite having a 300g disadvantage to the control www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

group at the start of the study, lambs supplemented with Rumevite Quality Lamb had a daily liveweight gain of 189g, which resulted in a 36.7kg live‐ weight at 45 days to slaughter. The control group only gained 94.3g/day, finishing in 83 days at 36.3kgs.

“Not only did supplemented lambs have greater daily liveweight gains at grass and finish 38 days sooner, but they also achieved greater carcase grades than the control group,” says Dr Bond.

For producers looking to improve ewe fertility, trials have found Rumevite Sheep Super, which contains fish oil, can increase the lambing percentage by up to 22% when fed in the eight week period around tupping.

“The supplement block formulation helps ewes reach optimal body condi‐ tion ahead of tupping, supporting ovu‐ lation – which can lead to more ewes holding service in the first cycle,” says Dr Bond.

According to Dr Bond, Rumevite is a multipurpose product, with high en‐ ergy and protein options to meet live‐ stock nutrient requirements and daily requirements of minerals, vitamins and trace elements to boost livestock performance while supporting im‐ munity, health and fertility.

How to supplement Unlike concentrates, forage supple‐ ments allow for little and often feed‐ ing, which results in less pH variation in the rumen. Because stock can have 24/7 access to feed blocks, it is a great way to reduce bullying at the trough, adds Dr Bond. They are also convenient, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to feed.

With a product range consisting of eight different feed blocks, Rumevite supplementation can be tailored to suit livestock nutrition requirements at any point during the grazing or hous‐ ing period.

To budget for intakes, cattle will con‐

sume 300-500g/head/day and grow‐ ing cattle will consume 200-300g/he‐ ad/day. Ewes can be expected to take 100-250g/head/day while lambs will consume 100-150g/head/day. While feed blocks are weatherproof, they should be supplemented in a con‐ tainer with drainage to avoid wastage.

They should also be placed away from any waterways.

Rumevite gets a new look Available in a circular block form, Ru‐ menco has recently updated the product line to include a new shape block, which maintains the same 22.5kg volume as the original block.

“Along with helping to meet livestock energy requirements and increasing forage utilisation, feeding Rumevite has other additional benefits. The in‐ clusion of a full range of minerals, vit‐ amins and trace elements further sup‐ ports overall animal health and per‐ formance,” explains Dr Bond. “The new shape feed blocks will also con‐ tain Phytotec, an all-natural blend of plant extracts and fermentation products to support feed conversion, robust rumen health and production.”

The Rumevite brand has also had a refresh, with farmers able to find their trusted grazing supplements in a new bag design that features silhouettes of colour coded livestock based on product purpose.

As the new bags hit feed merchant shelves, Rumenco is hosting an on‐ line spot the difference competition, with one winner receiving a Tru-Test weighing package sponsored by Wise Agriculture with a value of more than £4,000. The competition can be ac‐ cessed at https://bit.ly/newrumevite.

“For more than 60 years, Rumevite has been allowing UK livestock farm‐ ers to maximise their forage utilisation while providing stock with essential nutrients for improved performance,” says Dr Bond. “As we go into this next generation of farming, we will go for‐ ward with the right tools to continue to support farming businesses.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 55

| Livestock

GEA’s new rotary parlour improves herd environment and boosts milk yield

A

n expanding family farm has more than halved milking time for its 600-strong Pedigree Holstein herd, improving the working conditions at the farm for both cows and staff as well as increasing milk yield, after investing in a GEA T8900 rotary milk‐ ing parlour.

Before making a decision the Icke family – father Martyn and sons Richard and Simon – embarked on a rigorous selection process for their Wheatlands Farm in Pershore. They visited many dairy sites and installations before travelling with GEA to see a farm in the Netherlands and becoming the first farmers in the UK to order the new T8900 parlour, which ticked all their boxes.

Milking three times a day was taking its toll on the farm’s infra‐ structure, staff and cows. However, since the installation of the new GEA rotary parlour milking time has been significantly re‐ duced from 15 hours to just over seven. This is a saving which is also hugely beneficial to the comfort of the cows, leaving them more time to ruminate resulting in increased yield, as well as releasing staff to work on other areas of the farm.

The new layout, with a larger collecting yard and a redesigned shed has also visibly reduced herd stress levels, and vastly im‐ proved cow flow. On top of this the farm’s Bactoscan level has dropped from somewhere between 25 and 30, to now between 6 and 10. This reduction is attributed to the new GEA glycol cooling system, meaning the milk is cooled quickly and hits the tank at four degrees.

Another huge advantage is that the rotary provides scope for future expansion at the farm without a significant increase in waiting times, as Richard Icke explained: “Time saving is the main benefit of the GEA rotary parlour, with each session re‐ duced from five hours to two hours 20 minutes – that’s a lot of extra time for the herd to produce milk without disruption. The staff are happier too as they can spend more time developing other skill sets and varying the day’s work. As a farm, we’ve 56 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

now got the potential opportunity to get more land and more cows but no need for more staff, which is a really great situ‐ ation to be in.”

GEA and the local GEA dealer - Kristal D & D - supported the farm throughout this project although it was not without its chal‐ lenges, including the original builder of the shed pulling out at last minute, a flooded underpass hampering work, and the lo‐ gistical knock-ons of a global pandemic – all to overcome be‐ fore the farm’s owners were able to enjoy the benefits of the new parlour Designed especially for mid-sized to large dairy herds, the GEA T8900 is a high-performance rotary milking parlour, which can be custom-built to suit a farm’s needs and budget. The milking cluster with the Posi arm is perfectly positioned to en‐ able swift and comfortable operation and minimising physical strain on the cows. GEA’s herd management software Dairy Plan is linked to the cows’ ID and ensures that each cow is milked out quickly, gently and completely Other key features that improve cow flow and cow comfort in‐ clude smooth, stainless steel surfaces; stalls that are lower which are better for reversing the animals off the rotary, as they can swing their heads around; and a fully automated CIP pro‐ cess.

The Icke family has been milking Pedigree Holstein at Wheat‐ lands Farm for 30 years. They have successfully grown the herd from 80 cows to 600 during that time and are now well placed for further expansion with GEA’s equipment and sup‐ port helping to boost milk yield without incurring extra staff time and costs.

More information from: gea.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

Increase lambs sold per ewe next year by investing €4k bounty for +0.2 lambs sold per ewe higher productivity in 200-ewe flock now in flock fertility

R

ecent experience of buoyant finished lamb prices will prompt wily Irish farmers to recall, "this won't last forever and may not even last long," suggests Animax sheep spe‐ cialist Flor Ryan.

"Of course, better prices are only what our lamb produ‐ cers de‐ serve," he adds.

Planning ahead, he reminds farmers that, whatever price levels are for finished lambs this time next year, the main driver of sheep profitability in all systems and all locations remains productivity, in particular lambs sold per ewe.

With good pre-breeding preparation over the coming weeks, he calculates that in‐ creasing this from 1.6 to 1.8, for example, is worth about €4,000 in a 200-ewe flock

at a typical 2020 price (c.€5.00/kg DW).

"Clearly, this kind of result depends on im‐ provements wherever they can be found and many easy wins from the past are already standard practice today," Mr Ryan says. "On some Irish farms, however, this does not yet include providing assured daily trace element supplementation in the important run up to breeding.

"Much of the pasture in Ireland is up to 50% deficient in critical trace elements. On most farms, the essentials for high con‐ ception rates are selenium, cobalt and iod‐ ine, plus optional copper depending on breed, management, and where soil types have a known deficiency. Although some supplements also contain zinc, this is largely unnecessary because sheep are very rarely deficient in this mineral.

"One of the easiest and most reliable method of supplementation is a 180-day Allsure bolus," he suggests. "This provides consistent daily release of trace elements.

To reduce workload, boluses can be given at the same time as other tasks including worming, vaccinations and foot checks.

"Six weeks before breeding begins is the

best timing for supplementation. It's worth noting that effectiveness and convenience make Allsure Sheep & Lamb the most used sheep bolus in Ireland."

Farmer-to-farmer: "Fitter ewes, compact lambing and lots of lively lambs at birth are reported by Cathal Joyce, Tuam, Co Gal‐ way (photo attached). He boluses ewes with Allsure four to six weeks before ram turnout to cover the full pregnancy. Cathal also boluses bought-in store lambs for maximum thrive on kale grown for finishing lambs.

Benefits of an Allsure bolus: •

Stronger ovulation, higher embryo survival

•

Higher lambing %, fewer barren ewes

•

Minimal handling, 'give and forget' for 180 days

•

Easy copper option if required (e.g. prevention of swayback in lambs)

•

Easy to give, no risk (to ewe or you)

Food Safety Program Roadshow set to empower egg producers gg producers are being urged to register for Elanco’s Food Safety Program (FSP) Roadshow, set to take place in Scotland, Yorkshire and Shropshire throughout September, to support the industry in maintaining food safety standards.

It is important to be realistic with the re‐ commendations and timescales for change.

The FSP Roadshow agenda: •

11am – Coffee reception

“The FSP provides guidance on where to start, with a plan to tackle the biggest factors first and gradually reduce the risk over time,” she adds.

•

11.15am – Opening from Nigel Barden, food and drink broadcaster

•

Rosie Booth, technical consultant at El‐ anco says, food safety standards in the egg supply chain start on-farm and attend‐ ing this event will enable producers to un‐ derstand how the FSP can help them min‐ imise the risk of Salmonella.

A number of industry experts will be speaking at the roadshow to discuss the key areas of focus within the FSP and elaborate on how this can benefit produ‐ cers. This includes seminars on biosecur‐ ity, Salmonella genome sequencing and prevalence, pest and rodent control as well as a practical Code of Practice update from the BEIC.

11.30am – Code of Practice Practical Updates from the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC)

•

12.15pm – Lunch and cooking demonstration from Nigel Barden

•

1:15pm – Producers will rotate around the following four sessions:

E

“The FSP is a farmer-facing program which is designed to help producers main‐ tain food safety standards. We’ve worked in collaboration with Noble Foods, egg producers and vets to develop the FSP to benefit producers and ensure the UK’s high reputation remains,” she says.

The FSP takes producers on a journey which will enable them to maintain food safety standards by encouraging them to challenge their current practices, stay alert to any changes on-farm and keep improv‐ ing food safety.

“Initially, producers will review what they’re doing on-farm so they can identify and pri‐ oritise risk factors. Then the producer’s packer, if they are aligned to one, Elanco and the farm vet can benchmark the res‐ ults and help come up with a plan to fur‐ ther reduce risks or keep their risk low,” says Rosie.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

There are limited spaces for this farmer event, so register now to attend. Sign up for your nearest roadshow here: https:// www.myelanco.co.uk/pub/fsp-roadshowregistration FSP roadshow details: There are three FSP roadshows taking place across the UK from 11am to approx‐ imately 3:30pm, including lunch: •

The Royal Highland Centre in Scot‐ land on 15 September

•

The Great Yorkshire Showground in Yorkshire on 21 September

•

Oswestry Showground in Shropshire on 23 September

•

•

Biosecurity and Salmonella Vac‐ cination Immune Response from a local specialist poultry vet and technical consultant Rosie Booth from Elanco

•

Salmonella Prevalence and Gen‐ ome Sequencing Advances from Becky Gosling from the APHA

•

Optimising Pest and Rodent Con‐ trol from Brady Hughes, business development manager at Killgerm

•

How FSP can benefit your farm from a local packer’s perspective and Jeremy Marsh from Elanco

3:15pm – Closing discussions hosted

by Nigel Barden

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 57

| Livestock

New service available for she T

hree of the largest farm veterinary practices in the UK have collaborated to be able to offer an exciting new service to sheep own‐ ers.

Scarsdale Vets, McMurtry & Harding, and Glenthorne Vets have come to‐ gether to offer sheep breeders, in the Midlands and beyond, a bespoke breed‐ ing service. The new service, called Midlands Advanced Breeding Service (MABS), offers: •

Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination

58 |

•

Ram pre-breeding exams

tice between them.

•

Semen collection and evaluation

•

Vasectomies and advice on teaser ram use

•

Synchronisation protocol advice tailored to individual flocks

The team at MABS is made up of exper‐ ienced sheep vets across the three practices. Utilising a wealth of experi‐ ence within the team, they offer advice and input to help sheep breeders and farmers improve the reproductive per‐ formance and profitability of their flock, regardless of size or system.

Co-ordinated by David Charles Cer‐ tHE(Biol.) BVSc MRCVS of Scarsdale Vets, Midlands Advanced Breeding Ser‐ vices draws upon the experience of a collective team of more than 25 vets with over 150 years of farm animal prac‐

Farming Monthly | September 2021

•

Ram pre-breeding exams

•

Semen collection and evaluation

•

Vasectomies and teaser ram advice

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Livestock

eep breeders in the Midlands •

Synchronisation protocols

•

Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination (available late Autumn 2021)

across the Midlands, making it more ac‐ cessible and affordable for all flock sizes.

any practices who may have clients that wish to use our services, but retain their own regular vets.”

He went on to say,

MABS was officially launched last week during a client evening held at Scarsdale Vets with Dewi Jones, CEO of Innovis, as a guest speaker. Further client events are planned for the coming months to help them become aware of the new service that MABS offers.

David Charles said, “Midlands Advanced Breeding Services arose off the back of several conversa‐ tions I had with members of Scarsdale’s Flock Health Club about advanced breeding and the desire for a service that could be tailored to their specific needs. MABS will allow us to enhance the service provided to sheep breeders

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

“Working in partnership with McMurtry & Harding, and Glenthorne Vets is particu‐ larly exciting, and hopefully will allow MABS to benefit more clients. The op‐ portunity to collaborate and offer the ad‐ vanced breeding services to practices, beyond the three already involved, and their sheep flocks, is also now a real possibility. I welcome conversations with

For further information please contact 01332 294929 or email MABS@scarsdalevets.com

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Muck & Slurry

Mixing Slurry Safely A

s soon as slurry mixing starts, the gas is released very quickly and in large quantities (just like

a shaken fizzy drink bottle being opened) – that’s why you must get out of the shed immediately.

The first 30 minutes are the most dangerous. This is why it is so important for farmers to leave the shed as soon as mixing starts and stay out for at least 30 minutes.

As mixing continues, the quantity of slurry gas released reduces. The concentration decreases as it mixes with the air. That’s why it is important to ensure good ventilation, especially at slat level and to try to mix on a windy day. Even at low concentrations, the gas can knock out your sense of smell adding to the danger.

60 |

DO NOT stay in the shed to check if the mixing is happening properly, you may have got away with this in the past, but you are putting your life at risk. Instead, follow the code, get out and only go back after at least 30 minutes.

Tragically, over the past few years, incidents involving slurry have claimed the lives of a number of people in Northern Ireland, including a child.

Don’t let it happen on your farm!

This gas is heavier than air so: •

It will settle over the slats–therefore it’s important to have good ventilation at slat level.

•

Try to mix the tank when there is at least 30 cm (1 foot) of space between the top of the slurry and the slats.

•

The more poisonous gas in this space, the less there will be in the shed.

•

Bending down into the invisible gas cloud for even a few moments can cause unconsciousness.

•

Slurry gas can linger in low lying areas, e.g. milking parlour pits, so you may need to stay out of these areas for longer than 30 minutes.

Slurry Gas Kills!

Slurry gas is a mixture of gases - the most dangerous gas is hydrogen sulphide which is extremely poisonous.

A low concentration knocks out your sense of smell so you don’t know it’s there. At higher concentrations you will rapidly find it harder to breathe and become confused. At certain concentrations ONE BREATH CAN KILL.

Farming Monthly | September 2021

If outside mixing points are fitted at each end of the house, it’s a good idea to

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry remove lids at both ends during mixing to reduce gas build-up in the house. But remember - keep the secondary grids in place.

suppliers and manufacturers regarding personal gas detection monitors before you purchase or hire them.

Remember! - Every time the pump is moved or the direction changed to mix another part of the tank, gas will be given off again. Stay out of the building for at least another 30 minutes.

Questions:

Gas Monitors

Will a facemask help?

Gas monitors can provide an additional safety precaution but they must be properly maintained, checked and calibrated.

Monitors should only be regarded as

They may be appropriate if you need

a back-up to the Slurry Mixing Code, never a substitute. When a tank is first mixed, gas levels can rise so quickly that an alarm may not give you time to get out.

to get someone out of a shed who has collapsed on the slats, but not someone who has fallen into the tank. They are only safe to use if you know how to use the hood properly!

Monitors can be useful when you want to go back into the shed to check it is safe to do so. Nearly all monitors require some level of calibration or “bump”

When is it safe to enter the tank?

Visit www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafe

•

Keep children away from the area at all times when working with slurry.

•

If possible, mix on a windy day. 3 Open all doors and windows.

•

Take all animals out of the building before starting to mix slurry.

•

Use outside mixing points first.

•

If slats are removed, cover exposed areas of the tank beside the pump/ mixer to stop anything falling in.

•

Start the pump/mixer - then get out and stay out of the building for as long as possible - at least 30 minutes.

•

Any time you have to go into the building, try to make sure that another adult knows what you are doing and can get help if necessary.

•

If you have to re-enter to move the pump, or change the direction of the pump, leave the building as soon as this is done. Do not go back in for as long as possible – at least another 30 minutes.

A mask will not help during mixing.

However, there are some devices that can be used in an emergency, e.g.

Escape Hoods. Many of them are designed for a single use over a short time but they are not designed for use during normal slurry mixing operations.

test with a gas sample to check they are working correctly.

Follow the SLURRY MIXING CODE to stay out of trouble.

NEVER! There is always a risk of gas when entering a tank. Only people who have the proper training and equipment should enter a tank. In an emergency, contact Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue who have the right equipment and training to deal with the situation.

for questions that you should ask

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Muck & Slurry

62 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

NEVER •

Rely on filter type facemasks.

•

Use gas monitors as a substitute for working safely.

•

Have naked flames near slurry as slurry gas mixture is flammable.

•

Stand close to the exhaust of a vacuum tanker when it is being filled.

IN AN EMERGENCY •

Call 999 and tell them slurry gas may be present.

•

If possible stop the pump and get the person to fresh air.

•

Don’t put yourself at risk-people have died trying to save others.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 63

| Tillage

Get up close to the latest crop establishment machinery and thinking – Tillage-Live 2021 ow in its 30th year Tillage-Live, the national crop establishment demonstration, returns to the west this autumn.

Organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) on behalf of the industry, the event is heading back to Cirencester in 2021 with the event being held at Down Ampney after a year break in 2020.

N

The event, which is being held on Thursday 16th September, will showcase leading machinery manufacturers with demonstrations of crop establishment technology including ploughs, cultivators, sprayers, conventional, strip tillage and direct drills.

In the live demonstration arena there will be an opportunity to see machinery working not only in

64 |

stubble but manufacturers will also get the chance to show off their machinery in several different cover crops. Once again, this area will also give visitors the chance to get up close and a see a selection of sprayers which will also be running in this area throughout the day.

thank Farmcare for hosting the event. Visitors and exhibitors can be confident that every step is being taken to ensure that the event is run to the highest stand and is COVID secure’.

Tillage-Live remains the sole national annual working crop establishment event, and this year’s demo at Down Ampney will be the first chance for growers to see many of this year’s new machines in action, in real post-harvest conditions.

With working demonstrations from manufacturers including: John Deere, New Holland, Kverneland, Amazone, Horsch, Kuhn, Lemken, Mzuri, Pottinger, Vaderstad and Opico the day promises a real insight into professional crop establishment techniques.

The event also includes a static exhibition area which provides an opportunity to discuss new ideas with industry-leading experts. This year’s knowledge trail includes a look at soils and cover crops as well as tyres and soil protection.

Kayleigh Holden, event organiser, explained ‘the AEA are extremely pleased that Tillage-Live will be taking place at Down Ampney in 2021. The site near Cirencester offers excellent facilities for manufacturers to showcase their machinery to potential customers and visitors and we would like to

Farming Monthly | September 2021

This year’s Tillage-Live takes place on Thursday 16th September at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire.

The site is close by the A419; please follow the road signs to the visitor's entrance to the event. More information can be found at www.tillage-live.com. You can keep up to date with the event and the latest news on social media using #tillgrowspray.

Tillage-Live is organised by the AEA on behalf of industry exhibitors and has been held since 1992.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

CrossCutter

by Väderstad Ultra-shallow tillage Ultra-shallow tillage by Väderstad CrossCutter Disc provides full cut at only 0-3cm working depth. The unique cutting profile crushes, chops and mulches in one single pass. It is excellent in oilseed rape stubble, cover crops and grain stubble.

Learn how ultra-shallow tillage by Väderstad CrossCutter Disc will help give a perfect start to your next crop at vaderstad.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 65

| Tillage

New Optum AFS Connect: comfort and connectivity enhanced to ease workload for both owner and operator ew cab, controls and connectivity among key areas of enhancement / Allnew interior with the new Multicontroller armrest, configurable controls, AFS Pro 1200 monitor, tablet instrumentation / Instant data transfer and remote monitoring courtesy of AFS Connect /

N

The Case IH Optum CVXDrive tractor range – a strong seller for the brand since its 2015 introduction, on the back of its compact yet high-horsepower and high-specification design – has been reengineered to create the new Optum AFS Connect range, with a new cab, interior and connectivity package designed to benefit both the operator and the owner.

Key among the changes, the new cab brings with it more space, lower noise levels and improved vision. There is a new Multicontroller armrest, configurable controls to allow the tractor and its implement to be adapted to the operator and the task, and upgraded luxurious interior materials. All of the changes have been designed to ease the operator’s workload, enhance efficiency, raise productivity and ultimately boost the bottom line of the business running the tractor.

250hp, 270hp and 300hp, all featuring the Case IH CVXDrive continuously-variable transmission. However, many of the rest of the tractors’ key design points are new. At their heart is a new cab in which a number of key areas of the interior have been completely redesigned. Many of these features are inherited from those established on the Optum AFS Connect’s larger Magnum cousins, which were upgraded to AFS Connect specification in 2019. They include the Multicontroller armrest and its multifunction lever, larger AFS Pro 1200 touchscreen monitor with greater functionality, and A-pillar tablet instrumentation for engine/transmission information read-outs. Meanwhile, the new tractors are now equipped as standard with the Case IH AFS Connect telematics package, for instant-two-way data transfer between tractor and online management portal, real-time machine monitoring and much more.

Primary principles retained but refined

Key controls re-thought and redesigned: more intuitive and individual operation

The Optum AFS Connect range, like the line-up it succeeds, contains three models, with rated power outputs of

One of the most prominent features of the new Optum AFS Connect range is the cab. Here, operators will find a

66 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

larger interior with a volume increase of 7.5%, enhanced vision, courtesy of 11% more glass, and a noise level of just 66 decibels, helped in part by the premium materials in which the cab is now trimmed. All of this is designed for even safer, simpler and more enjoyable operation.

Inside, a prominent new feature is the all-new Multicontroller armrest, incorporating a new Multicontroller lever with configurable buttons. Via the new, larger AFS Pro 1200 monitor at the armrest’s front, key controls on the Multicontroller and armrest can be customised to suit operator preference and the job in hand, including the function buttons and remote valve paddle switches. The new ISOBUScompatible AFS Pro 1200 touchscreen www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tillage monitor has a high-resolution screen that not only allows the operator to monitor all primary tractor functions, but can also show front and rear camera feeds and is the key control gateway to operating and optimising the engine, the CVXDrive transmission and the tractor’s hydraulics and PTO. There are also short-cut keys and a new encoder turnand-press dial on the new armrest, as established on the Magnum AFS Connect models.

Via the AFS Pro 1200 terminal, users can manage the tractor’s AccuGuide automated steering system and – for the first time in this Case IH tractor class – full AFS Connect telematics capabilities, technology which is well established on Case IH Magnum, Steiger and Quadtrac AFS Connect tractors. With this system of wireless two-way data transfer between the tractor and the AFS Connect online management portal, tractor owners and farm managers have complete control over farm, fleet and data management, to help minimise costs, enhance efficiency and maximise performance. Tractor performance and implement operating data are immediately, securely and continuously sent to the online portal for access by the tractor owner/manager. This allows them to make management decisions more precisely and with greater speed, supported by instantlyavailable and accurate data, both current and historical. They can also monitor real-time information such as the location of their tractors, their fuel levels and other key management and performance data. In this way it is possible to, for example, deliver diesel to a tractor as required, improve machine logistics or see if a job has been completed. As data transfer is possible both ways, job instructions, application maps and other data can also be sent remotely to the tractor from the farm office PC, using the ‘Farm’ tab in the AFS Connect web portal.

Farmers and – with permission – dealers can use AFS Connect Display Viewing to view the AFS screen display in real time as the driver is seeing it. For farmers/managers, this allows operating data to be checked and, if required, suggestions for adjustments to be made. Owners can choose to allow their Case IH dealer to remotely monitor their tractor’s AFS Pro 1200 terminal screen via AFS Connect, if they so wish.

Potential advantages include dealer notification of early warning signs of a tractor fault or issue, remote service access, and the opportunity to provide operating advice based on machine data. Under this AFS Connect Support PRO package, firmware over the air capability means dealers can wirelessly update the operating firmware of Optum www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

AFS Connect tractors, meaning owners and operators can then immediately benefit from new features, functionality and enhancements.

More comfort, enhanced control To aid servicing before entering the new cab, the operator benefits from new integrated service aids including an air line at the rear. New step arrangement lead the way to a lighter and brighter cab interior, with more internal space and upgraded premium materials.

Many of the key controls with which the operator comes into regular contact have been completely re-thought. This includes a new Multicontroller armrest, complete with the redesigned Multicontroller multifunction lever and featuring remote valve switches incorporating pressure release for easier coupling. Among the other innovations incorporated into the new armrest and multifunction lever are buttons and hydraulic remote switches that are configurable according to operator preference and the requirements of the task. Via the AFS Pro 1200 terminal, each driver can set

ingress, aids vision and a new lowmounted wiper design provides a 27% increase in cleared area. Night visibility can be enhanced by LED road and work light packages with up to 14 lights in the roof, four in the front of the cab, two on the rear fenders and six in the bonnet Keeping the operator cool and refreshed For winter warmth and summer cooling, operators now benefit from a new pressurised climate control package, with more outlets for enhanced air distribution, aided by auto-zone control.

The use of premium soft interior automotive-style materials not only gives the inside of the cab a luxurious feel, but also plays a part in a reduction of noise levels down to an extremely low 66 decibels.

A high-specification seat incorporating lateral suspension features full cooling and heating capabilities, and has an upper swivelling backrest for easy and comfortable turning in the seat to monitor implements behind and when reversing. Meanwhile, the operating experience is further upgraded by a new drive pedal, which provides enhanced precision and control for slow-speed inching, field work with headland turns, and high-speed travel out on the road.

The greater cab volume and interior redesign also means Case IH designers have been able to incorporate more storage. To keep the driver refreshed on long days there is an integral coolbox under the passenger seat, with sufficient space not only for a lunchbox but also for a pair of two-litre bottles.

up the tractor exactly as desired, offering a personalised Optum AFS Connect operating experience.

That theme continues with the new AFS Pro 1200 terminal itself, which has a larger touchscreen than the former AFS Pro 700 unit, but is still sited within comfortable reach and sight at the head of the armrest. The terminal also incorporates more configurable settings, including a camera feed for front and rear cameras as specified. Many functions can be operated either via the touchscreen or via a new turn-and-press encoder dial on the armrest, for the same personalised operation.

From the operator’s seat, new external styling front and rear – such as lowered rear fenders – brings visibility benefits, while the four-pillar design of the cab, with full-length doors, also aids sight lines. The upper curved edge to the windscreen helps maximise natural light

The need for any modern tractor to be able to support in-cab monitors and provide power for mobile phones and smart devices is met by a number of USB sockets, to ensure implement operation and connectivity is uncompromised.

New Optum AFS Connect: the next generation “The first generation Optum CVX took Case IH into a whole new category when it was launched in 2015,” notes Dan Stuart, product marketing director Europe.

“The new generation Optum AFS Connect takes its capabilities another leap forward. It gives users a versatile 250-300hp tractor with continuouslyvariable transmission that offers even more in terms of comfort, capability and connectivity.”

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 67

| Tillage

New Kverneland kit on verneland will be showing several new machines at next month’s Tillage Live event in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. The line-up will include a new generation five-furrow 2300S reversible plough; a 6m u-drill complete with minimum disturbance MD disc; a new range of front presses; a six-row Kultistrip for strip tillage; CTC trailed cultivator; plus trailed and mounted models of Kverneland sprayer.

K

The 2300S is a new addition to the plough range, replacing the popular EG200. In three-, four- and five-furrow builds, the 2300S can be specified with 85cm or 100cm point-to-point clearance. Underbeam clearance is increased from 70 to 80cm, compared to its predecessor.

Receiving features found on much larger ploughs, the 2300S can be equipped with the optional trailer-transport headstock, allowing the plough to be towed - but following the tractor like any other trailed implement.

A heavier range of front press (FP) options will also be introduced by Kverneland and will be

68 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

shown in combination with an e-drill. These latest FP models benefit from a 90cm diameter press ring – up from 70cm. The larger diameter contributes to a weight increase of around 50%, while reducing rolling resistance. Working widths are 3m, 4m, 4.5m and 6m, with models 4m and wider using hydraulic folding. All include passive steering and damping, and depending on ring profile, can be used with leading tines.

The MD disc is the latest design of cultivation disc for the u-drill, aimed at those looking to minimise soil disturbance. MD disc is an alternative to the u-drill’s short disc harrow element and is intended to work as part of a conservation tillage system; to work within cover crop systems; or within a conventional crop establishment process.

Using a 430mm diameter straight disc with a fluted profile around its circumference to assist with removing surface trash, the disc profile reduces the risk of hair-pinning. Disc flutes lightly prepare soil in a narrow 30-50mm strip, with each disc aligned with the seeding zone of the u-drill’s CD coulters, sowing seeds into the soil strip at a row spacing of 16.7cm.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Tillage

n show at Tillage Live

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 69

| Machinery

KENT FARM SPRAYER COMMEMORATES OLYMPIC GOLD

A

Kent farmer and contractor has named his new Fendt Rogator 665 sprayer ‘Tokyo’ – to commemorate a Gold Medal win by his daughter at this year’s Olympics.

The self-propelled sprayer was supplied by main dealer RW Crawford Agricultural Machinery Ltd, and is the fourth Rogator to be operated by farmers and contractors M & M F French, based at Meopham, near Gravesend.

Approximately 2,500ha is farmed stubble-to-stubble within 10 miles of the base, including owned, rented and contract-farmed land. Cropping is mainly cereals with oilseed rape, peas, beans and linseed included as break-crops.

Soils vary, but most are chalk loams, or flint and clay. Group 1 wheats are grown for milling, and most of the grain is sold to commercial mills at Tilbury just a few miles away.

Large work load The farm’s sprayer works more than 1,000 hours each year and the total sprayed area has increased as extra applications are needed to tackle blackgrass. It also applies liquid fertiliser at variable rates based on soil surveys and yield map data. “We have used liquid fertilisers since 2002, and variable-rate applications since 2005,” explained owner Fred French. “The technique is particularly effective for maintaining P & K indices, and we sample and compare the same locations every few years to ensure application rates are managed correctly.”

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to Covid-19 restrictions we couldn’t be in Japan to support Kate, so we watched at home,” he explained. “The sprayer arrived within an hour of Kate’s win. It’s the most important machine on our farm and a significant investment, so it seemed appropriate to name it ‘Tokyo’, after the Olympics host city on such a momentous day.”

Superb service The new Fendt Rogator 665 with a 6,300-litre tank and 36m boom is the fourth Rogator operated by the farm since 2010, and it replaced a Challenger Rogator 655D. “I really like the design,” he commented. “The front-mounted cab is excellent, the ride quality is secondto-none, and the boom stability and spray accuracy are superb, but a major factor in our loyalty to the brand is the back-up from Crawfords. We are looked after by the Ashford depot now, but even when the dealer’s nearest depot was in Essex we could always rely on the service.

“We operate three combines but only one sprayer which covers a lot of ground, so if the Rogator has a problem it has to be rectified quickly.”

Olympic Gold The Fendt sprayer arrived on Friday 6th August, and its delivery coincided with Fred’s daughter, Kate French winning the Gold Medal in the Modern Pentathlon at the Olympic Games. “Due

Farming Monthly | September 2021

The Modern Pentathlon includes fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running. “I was very lucky,” explained Kate. “Growing up on the farm meant I spent a lot of time outside. We had horses, and I was always horse riding and running around the fields. I live in Bath now with my husband Leo as the training base is there, but love coming back to the farm.”

Asked about having the sprayer named to commemorate her win, Kate said that she was pleased when her dad told her his idea. “It’s typical of him to do something like that - I like the name plate, he will have to keep that sprayer now. I enjoy riding the horses and running when I am back on the farm, but in future I will want to drive the Rogator too!”

Delighted to help Carl Goff, Fendt Brand Specialist from Crawfords Ashford depot said that he was excited to be asked to add the name plate and Olympic rings. “We get on very well with Fred and he is a good customer, so we were delighted when he asked us to help him celebrate Kate’s Gold Medal win in this way.”

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| Machinery

Exclusive John Deere factory tour at MMS

odern tractors have incredible capabilities – self-steering, adaptable to any farm implement, and extremely robust. But have you ever wondered how they are put together?

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Visitors to the Midlands Machinery Show will get an exclusive insight into the entire production line at John Deere’s renowned Mannheim factory in Germany, thanks to a live streamed tour of the facility on both days of the show.

“Building a modern tractor is extremely complex,” explains Chris Wiltshire, marketing manager at John Deere UK & Ireland. “We have just-in-time production; the cabs and engines are made elsewhere so are scheduled to arrive on the day of build.”

About a third of the production line is automated, with robots building the transmissions and people doing the rest, including assembling the chassis and adding the engine, transmission and cab. “Visitors will be able to see how we build and test our tractors, with commentary and close-up views which you wouldn’t even get at an in-person visit,” says Mr Wiltshire. “We will demonstrate everything from the making of bare components to building the transmission, final assembly, testing, and rolling off the production line.”

Visitors will also be able to ask questions, and of course can see the final results in person by dropping in on John Deere dealers Ben Burgess, Ripon Farm Services, Farol Ltd and Doubleday, which will be exhibiting at the event. There will also be live demonstrations of large agricultural equipment, ground care machinery and – new this year – green power.

“We are so looking forward to holding a physical event,” says show organiser Elizabeth Halsall. “There is sure to be a great vibe, with so many live demonstrations of cutting-edge tractors and equipment, as well as drones, robots and electric vehicles.”

The seminar programme is set to inspire, with technical talks from experts in farm efficiencies, new technology and future farming systems. The NFU will also be holding its Environment Conference at the show, tying in with the UN Climate Change Conference and featuring live streams from Glasgow.

“Farming is facing a time of significant

change, and we are here to help all farmers and contractors to adapt and thrive,” says Mrs Halsall. “With 300 exhibitors, live demonstrations and a packed seminar programme, visitors are sure to go home with plenty of fresh ideas and kit to improve farm efficiencies.”

•

The Midlands Machinery Show will be held on 9-10 November 2021 at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. Entry is free but advanced registration is essential.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.

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ed@tractortuninguk.co.uk www.tractortuninguk.co.uk September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 71

| Machinery

KUHN opens new baler and baler-wrapper finance scheme UHN Farm Machinery is offering a new 0% finance deal on its range of balers and baler-wrapper combinations with a scheme running from September through to the end of December 2021.

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The finance scheme can operate either as 1+4 annual payments, or on a 4+44 monthly payments basis. KUHN Finance can also offer tailored finance plans, making KUHN equipment affordable for any farming cashflow.

The 4-year 0% offer can be used against 50% of the list price of all KUHN variable and fixed chamber balers and baler-wrapper combinations including the FB, FBP, VB, VBP and i-BIO machines.

KUHN Finance is a partnership between KUHN Farm Machinery and De Lage Landen Leasing Limited. Further details are available from KUHN dealers or by calling 0845 366 KUHN or 0845 3665846. Details can also be found on the KUHN Finance page at www.kuhn.co.uk.

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| Machinery

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KUHN Finance can offer tailored finance plans to suit any farming cashflow*. Ask your dealer for details or ring KUHN Finance on 0845 366 KUHN (5846). Visit us on   

*All finance available on 50% of the list prices unless otherwise noted. Credit promotions are available subject to status and credit acceptance. Offers subject to documentation fees. All applicants must be 18 or over, and credit is for business purposes only. KUHN Finance is a trading style of De Lage Landen Leasing Limited. All offers are only available in the UK. Please note a limited number of machines do www.farmingmonthly.co.uk September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 73 not qualify for finance, speak to your dealer for details.

*

| Tyres

Case IH approves Continental TractorMaster Tyres Case IH tractor series Vestrum, Maxxum and Puma available with TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster Case IH tractors can now be ordered from the factory with Continental tyres ase IH Vestrum, Maxxum and Puma tractor series are now available with Continental TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster tyres. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnership is the fourth Continental has secured since relaunching its agricultural tyre range in 2017. “It started with approvals from John Deere and Fendt, then Valtra and now Case,” says agricultural tyre specialist Richard Hutchins.

C

The OEM approval means Continental TractorMaster tyres are indicated in the price lists enabling customers to specify Continental tyres for their Case IH tractor.

“TractorMaster tyres feature unique N.flex technology 74 |

Farming Monthly | September 2021

and have d.fine lug design which both help to provide greater resilience in the field and improved ride comfort on the road,” he says.

VF technology is growing in popularirty because the tyre enables the vehicle to carry forty percent more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure. Alternatively, in the field, the pressure of VF tyres can be lowered by forty percent compared to standard tyres, even when carrying the same load. “TractorMaster VF tyres offer operational efficiencies, reduce fuel consumption, and spread the weight of the vehicle over a larger surface area to help reduce soil compaction,” says Mr Hutchins.

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| Tyres

Tyre competition breaks world record tyre flipping contest in Newcastle has achieved a new Guiness world record.

The event which took place in Blackett Street, Newcastle city centre, on August 14th and 15th was sponsored by Continental agricultural tyres and featured a Tractor70 tyre weighing 100 kilos for the men and a 70 kilo

A

CompactMaster AG telehandler tyre for women.

A new world record was recorded for the men’s 100 kilo 12 hour tyre flip with a distance of 10.725 kilometres becoming the new benchmark.

“This was a brilliant event organised

by Philip Pugh in aid of the Tiny Lives charity which helps support the Royal Victoria Infirmary Neonatal

unit and Grace House, a children’s hospice,” says Continental agricultural specialist Richard Hutchins.

The Continental tyres were supplied by dealer New Bridgegate Tyres with eight tyres being used across seven different tyre flipping events.

A new world record was recorded for the men’s 100 kilo 12 hour tyre flip with a distance of 10.725 kilometres.

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Continental generated sales of €37.7 billion in 2020 and currently employs around 233,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 75

| ATV

ince its founding in 1954, Polaris has been inviting people to Think Outside and discover the joy of being outdoors. The innovation, performance and growth that has allowed Polaris to become a global leader in off-road vehicles have been driven by the diversity and passion of its customers, staff, dealers and stakeholders across the world. To celebrate the people behind the brand, Polaris has launched a new initiative, called Polaris People, to showcase how, for many people, Polaris isn’t just a brand but a life choice.

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Polaris People is a video series documenting the stories of individuals across Europe, Middle East and Africa, where Polaris plays an essential role in their lives, all united by a thirst for the outdoors.

EPISODE 2: Rhys Thomas, Hill Farmer in Wales For more than 20 years, Polaris has been building off-road vehicles that represent years of research and development, allowing them to perform better, work harder and ride

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

smoother.

The launch of the new Ranger Diesel in 2019 was no exception: Inspired by its users, Polaris saw the opportunity to develop the Ranger Diesel into something specifically adapted to its European market. To do this, Polaris enlisted the help of existing customers to drive improvements in line with real-life requirements.

The second episode of Polaris People introduces Rhys

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Thomas – a hill farmer in Wales, UK, and a longstanding Polaris customer. Living in Wales - a country known for its rugged coastline, contrasting valleys and mountains and temperamental weather conditions - Pen Isa Dre Farm boasts endless rolling hills in a secluded area of Abergele, making it the perfect destination for testing the capabilities of the pre-production Ranger Diesel.

Rhys was one of four UK farmers selected to test the Ranger Diesel before it was launched. Being a hill farmer, he relies on his Polaris machines to reach all areas of his land, as well as making his daily tasks more efficient, like fencing, rounding up and moving around the animals with a trailer, towing the animal feeders, and even as a means of transport in snowy and adverse conditions when other vehicles cannot access the farm.

THE WORLD LEADER IN OFF-ROAD

“We were big fans of the previous diesel model, so we were a little cautious trying the new one,” said Rhys. “But we soon realised that it was indeed a much better, improved machine. My son summed the model up by calling it ‘The Beast’.”

Improved reliability, durability, performance and refinement were all key objectives for the project, and Polaris was keen to ensure the product had delivered on these before it made the final call to release the product into production.

With its new, powerful and durable diesel engine and lower cost of ownership thanks to an increased engine service interval to over 200 hours, plus a host of other design, capability and ergonomic enhancements, the satisfaction from the customer trials was overwhelming, leading to the launch of the Ranger Diesel as we now know it in April 2019.

“The Ranger Diesel is a godsend for us, and we were happy to be a part of its initial trial in the UK. Tried, tested and approved by us.”

THE BEST MEMORIES ARE MADE OFF-ROAD Never at rest, we are always moving, searching and pushing beyond. Our shared passion for the outdoors is what drives us, and determination and inventiveness are what defines us as we pursue new off-road experiences.

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Check out the second episode of Polaris People to join Rhys and his son on their family farm in Wales, as they give you an inside look at the beautiful Welsh countryside and how the Ranger Diesel helps their everyday life. Available to watch on the Polaris Off-Road International YouTube channel.

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Keep up-todate on our socials 0330 041 5141 www.polarisbritain.com

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 77

| ATV

What’s on your UTV ‘wants’ list? alancing loads on front and rear racks, sitting astride a saddle, having no room for a passenger and being fully exposed to the elements – while the ordinary ATV also has its benefits, there are plenty of downsides to the ‘quad bike’ design. So the side-by-side utility vehicle (UTV) alternative, with its full load bed, conventional seating for more than just the driver, and either cab frame or full cab, offers many advantages. But with a number of machines on the market from which to choose, selecting the right UTV for farm use can be a difficult task.

Separating out the models with design features clearly built to withstand the rigours of agriculture is a worthwhile exercise.

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A diesel engine that offers both power and economy is a given on most lists of ‘wants’, saving trips to the fuel station for petrol and providing the torque needed to climb hills and clamber over tough going. With Kioti’s K9, the successor to the popular Mechron, a three-cylinder powerplant, built by the same manufacturer as the machine itself, provides efficiency and energy in equal measure, along with the reliability for which South Korean engineering has become synonymous. Minimal fuel stops are another prerequisite for any agricultural vehicle, and with 37 litres of diesel capacity, the K9 is capable of long days without refuelling.

Surefooted traction and a decent turn of speed with a comfortable ride are also on the agricultural ‘wants’ list, and the K9 meets the bill here with a twin-range CVT transmission that provides smooth take-off and slow-down. There is also quickly-selectable 2/4wd and a locking rear diff, plus a helical spring/stabiliser arm suspension arrangement that cushions the driver/passengers and the load in rough going. And for smoother terrain, the K9’s top speed is a rapid 40km/hr (25mph).

A UTV engine also needs to provide the guts to shift a full payload with ease,

and the K9 doesn’t disappoint here. The 1.0-litre powerplant produces 24hp, more than enough to shift the machine’s 0.5-tonne load capacity with ease, meaning it is competent and capable of handling typical agricultural loads of fencing stakes, spare parts, slug pellet bags and more. A urethane coating ensures long-term bed protection, while options include hydraulic tipping – mechanical tipping is standard. For additional items there’s an optional storage box under the hood.

Of course, one of the most important features of a UTV is its ability to carry more than one person legally, safely and in comfort. The Kioti K9 features two full seats with an optional smaller mid-seat, all with safety belts. A full rollover frame with roof is standard, while options include a windscreen, half-doors and, for maximum weather protection, a full cab package with heating. Full road lighting and mirrors are standard, as is front bull-bar protection to guard against the knocks and scrapes that are unavoidable in agriculture.

A vehicle aimed at satisfying the demands of agricultural buyers needs to be universal in what it can carry, and to this end the K9 is available with a wide range of rear fitments, such as a

Think carefully about what’s on your ‘wants’ list before choosing a UTV, suggests Kioti.

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

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| ATV

galvanised livestock canopy ideal for transporting lambs. There are also hitch hooks at both the rear and the front of the machine, making it possible to not only pull a variety of trailed implements, but also manoeuvre equipment around the yard. Meanwhile, on the options list is an external hydraulic outlet, for even greater versatility – powering a tipping trailer, for example. The K9 has a maximum towing load of 590kg, helping to more than double its carrying capacity.

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Stability and manoeuvrability are also essential factors for an agriculturallytargeted UTV. With a width of 1,590mm, the K9 can squeeze through tight door-, passage- and gateways, while ground clearance of 304mm ensures it rides over rough terrain with ease.

For all their uses off-road, UTVs are often also called upon to travel on the road between tasks in different fields, and for this, of course, road homologation is a must. With the Kioti K9, that’s not an issue, as the machine

is fully homologated for road use. And like every machine on the farm, reliability is critical to ensure uninterrupted work. Kioti UK, which recently moved to brand new premises in a central and accessible location close to Huntingdon, and has a dealer network of more than 80 outlets, now provides a full two years’ warranty for the K9, with unlimited hours. Along with a specification that more than matches agricultural needs, that’s another factor in favour of the K9 on many farmers’ UTV ‘wants’ lists.

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 79

05/06/2019 12:17:17

| ATV

Kawasaki announce complete he 2022 utility range will feature the popular Kawasaki MULE Pro DX, Mule Pro DXT, Mule SX 4×4, and Pro-MX vehicles.

Also included in the range is the BRUTE FORCE 4x4i EPS ATV, which will be available in two colours.

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The MULE Pro DX and MULE Pro DXT remain the flagship vehicles in the range, with both machines retaining their current specification for 2022. At the core of each machine lays a 3cylinder, OHV water-cooled, 993cm3 Bosch fuel injected diesel engine; a feature of particular interest to multivehicle users pursuing a “single fuel” policy. Driving through a dual range CVT, both vehicles offer selectable 2WD and 4WD delivering 17.8 kW @

For more information

80 |

3600rpm and 52.1 Nm of maximum torque at 2,400rpm.

For the MULE Pro DX, a spacious tipping load bed and impressive towing ability mean that almost no task is too big to ask of it. The MULE Pro DXT helps to push the range into new customer bases, thanks to the additional ability to move work crews into difficult or environmentally sensitive locations with minimal impact.

Featuring such user-friendly features as tilt adjustable steering wheels and speed sensitive electronic power steering plus front and rear independent suspension, both these sturdy vehicles certainly make light of heavy work and leave their operators fresh at the end of

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

each demanding day.

The entry-level MULE range will again be comprised of the MULE SX 4×4 and Pro-MX. Both models offer outstanding value for money and boast selectable 2WD and 4WD with Hi-Lo dual-range transfer case and a rear differential lock.

The MULE SX 4×4 relies on a sturdy and ultra-reliable OHV 410cm3 petrol engine delivering 9.9kW (13.5 PS) of motive power. Its 500kg towing capacity and 181kg load bed maximum are more than enough for many users while such “creature comforts” as a tilting steering wheel and Independent MacPherson strut front suspension, the SX faithfully delivers all day, every day.

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

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| ATV

e 2022 MULE and ATV line up

Its range partner, the MULE Pro MX cuts a real dash, not simply due to its sprightly turn of speed but, equally, an automotive styling approach redolent of a sturdy pickup truck. The singlecylinder CVT transmission equipped 695cm3 engine delivers 32.8kW (45 PS) for year-round working in even the harshest conditions with the added benefit of electronic power steering as standard fitment.

default option when value, reliability and rugged build quality are required.

The 2022 range will be available from August and will cost:

Completing the 2022 range is the 749cm3 Brute Force ATV models.

Featuring the powerful 37.3 kW {51 PS} @ 6,750 rpm water-cooled fuel-injected V-Twin engines, a 4×4 drive train and Electronic Power Steering (EPS), the ATVs will be available in Super Black or Camouflage Real Tree Xtra Green.

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MULE Pro-DX – £11,999

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MULE Pro-DXT – £13,199

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MULE SX 4×4 – £7,299

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MULE Pro-MX – £9,199

With disc brakes both front and rear plus the luxury of double wishbone suspension at both ends, the MULE Pro MX is both work and price friendly.

Offered in traditional Kawasaki Timberline Green, the MULE SX 4×4 and MULE Pro MX are, for many, the

The variable speed EPS, carefully considered ergonomics and vast spread of smooth all-conquering power make the Brute Force a logical number one choice when rugged power combined with a small vehicle footprint are required.

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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS – £7,799

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Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS Camo – £8,099

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September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 81

| ATV

Enjoy fast, smooth gear changes with Dual Clutch Transmission NEW

4WD

FOURTRAX

420 DCT

THE ADVANCED MID-SIZE ATV For simple usabilityand a rewardingride, the Fourtrax DCT 4wdmodels reallyset the standard withgreater fuelefficiency and automatic shifting.

With new levels of rider centred technology, and a powerful yet frugal fuel injected, liquid cooled 420cc OHV engine – the Fourtrax 420 DCT offers outstanding levels of performance, handling and durability. Yet it also ensures exceptional economy, responsive power and easy starts that you can count on in any weather. Our fuel efficient, advanced Dual Clutch Transmission(DCT) has been tried and tested on Honda’s market leading motorcycles for many years, allowing riders to quickly shift between gears with smooth ESP control, or opt for an auto-shiftingmode.

Either way, the Fourtrax 420 DCT delivers fast, efficient transmission to cover even the most challenging land with ease. An axle mounted heavy duty trailer hitch provides an impressive 385kg towing capacity*.

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

NEW Features • Forward/Reverse Skip Switch (DCT & ES) Bypass neutral when reversing • Redesigned front and rear racks Providing a better surface area • 1.9L water resistant utility box Providing useful storage • New shift map Monitors RPM in real time shifting • Manual override Override for added control • New protecting guards For the lower suspension & driveshaft

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| ATV

Fourtrax 420DCT PS 4wd.

Traxlok® allows you to quickly switch between the ʻgo-anywhereʼ traction of 4wd and the increased manoeuvrability and lighter steering of 2wd.

Choose between push button ESP or our unique five-speed Dual Clutch auto-transmission for seamless acceleration over any terrain.

AP Suretrac™ torque-sensitive limited-slip differential for extra grip in slippery conditions.

Power Steering (PS) to greatly reduce steering effort and kickback through the handlebar.

Fourtrax420DCT IRS PS 4wd.As Fourtrax420DCT PS+ IndependentRear Suspension (IRS) for improved comfort and traction.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 83

| Motors

suzu have announced the launch of their new Huntsman Accessory Pack. With features that perfectly cater to the professional huntsman and countryman, the pack is available on all DMax Double Cab models.

The Huntsman Package is available to purchase from 23rd of July. Standard specification includes: •

Aeroklas Commercial Canopy

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Bed Draw System

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Under Rail Bed Liner

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Towbar with 13-Pin Electrics

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Side Steps

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Tailgate Locking Kit

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Tailgate Assist

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Rubber Floor Trays

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18" Alloy Wheels x 4

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18" Pirelli A/T Tyers x 4

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

Each detail of the Huntsman Package has been added with the hardworking huntsman/countryman in mind. While the Bed Draw System provides easy organization, the Towbar with 13-Pin Electrics allows users to tow up to 3.5 tonnes safely with help from the D-Maxes sway-detection system on all 4x4 vehicles. The Huntsman Accessory Pack is purposeful in its design. Rubber Floor Trays ensure for easy cleaning, while the Aeroklas canopy makes storage safe and easy. With reliable and hardwearing Pirelli Tyres, the D-Max can navigate various terrains with ease.

Isuzu understands that efficiency and practicality are important to their customers. William Brown, Isuzu UK’s Managing Director, commented “We are delighted to be the automotive sponsor at the Midland Game Fair while launching our new model range and updated accessory pack. Providing high-quality accessories is essential in instilling customers with confidence that they can rely on our brand to produce trustworthy, resilient products. We are excited to launch the Huntsman Accessory Pack as it will mean our customers can make the most of their D-Max. Expanding our business through selling accessory packs is important to us since we are constantly making efforts to understand the market and our customers.”

To aid convenience, the Huntsman Pack can be bought at the same time as purchasing the D-Max, allowing for customers to have the accessory pack fixed onto the vehicle upon receiving it.

The Huntsman Pack is available to purchase for £5825 (excl. VAT) when purchased as a package with the D-Max.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 85

| Motors

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he Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) was the best-selling PHEV across all segments in Europe during the first half of 2021,1 and customers are making the most of their vehicles’ 35 miles WLTP pure-electric driving range, new data shows.

According to anonymised real-world data from Ford, Kuga Plug-In Hybrid drivers across Europe have so far this year covered 49 per cent of their distance travelled using externallycharged battery power alone.

With 3,628 plug-in Kuga registrations in the UK this year to June, versus 960 in the same 2020 six-month period, the

Ford hybrid’s 380 per cent sales growth is almost double that of the UK plug-in market – which is up 200 per cent yearon-year.

Across Europe, the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid achieved more sales in June than any previous month – with more than 6,300 models sold – and now outsells all other models in the Kuga range put together.

Through April, May and June this year, Ford sold close to 16,000 Kuga Plug-In Hybrids, over a third more than the next best-selling competitor during the same period. 1 Sales of PHEV and all-electric passenger vehicles are surging across Europe as growing numbers of customers discover how their driving needs can be comfortably and cost-effectively managed – particularly using at-home charging. PHEV models accounted for 8.4 per cent of all new cars sold in Europe during the second quarter of this year, an increase of more than 255 per cent compared with the same period last year. 2 “We firmly believe that our customers buy hybrid vehicles to benefit from the advantages of driving on electric power, and this data shows that Kuga Plug-In

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Farming Monthly | September 2021

Hybrid customers are keen to use their cars in EV mode as much as possible,” said Roelant de Waard, general manager, Passenger Vehicles, Ford of Europe. “We are committed to an electrified future for Ford, and the fact that Kuga is the best-selling PHEV shows that our customers want to join us on this exciting journey.”

Kuga Plug-In Hybrid customer usage Anonymised real-world data collected

by Ford to help understand and optimise the PHEV ownership experience provided insights including: •

Drivers are utilising the batteryelectric driving capability of their Kuga Plug-In Hybrid to a significant degree. Almost half (49 per cent) of the collective distance travelled this year has been covered using externally-charged battery power alone.

•

More than two-thirds of Kuga PlugIn Hybrid customers’ journeys are shorter, local trips of 35 miles or less that could be completed using just externally-charged battery power. From more than 633,000 drive days this year, the vehicle made possible more than 420,000 drive days with zero tailpipe emissions. The average daily www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Motors

driving distance was 32 miles, which is less than the vehicle’s 35mile WLTP pure-electric driving range.

•

•

Customers are confident when it comes to using battery technology and are routinely able to access charging points. For every 100 drive days in a Kuga Plug-In Hybrid there were 89 charging events.

Customers are taking advantage of overnight charging and cheaper night-time domestic electricity rates to reduce their motoring costs.

Thirty-five per cent of charging events took place overnight with a plug-in time of 12 hours or more – twice the six hours required to charge the battery fully from a conventional domestic 230-volt supply. In total, 45 per cent of all charging events took place overnight, demonstrating that customer car charging habits are similar to how they would charge their smartphone or tablet.

Maximising the amount of time spent driving on externally-charged battery power can provide significant financial benefits for drivers. Based on average petrol and domestic electricity prices, 3 a Kuga Plug-In Hybrid driver with an annual mileage of 12,000 miles, could www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

expect to save more than £700 per year.

Ford earlier this year announced that 100 per cent of its passenger vehicle range in Europe will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or PHEV by mid-2026; moving to all-electric by 2030. Earlier this month, the all-new, allelectric Ford Mustang Mach-E GT SUV went on sale for the first time, while more than 5,300 Mustang Mach-E vehicles have been delivered to customers in Europe in the second quarter of 2021.

The company’s range of electrified passenger vehicles also includes both mild hybrid and full hybrid versions of the Kuga SUV as well as full hybrid powertrains for the Mondeo Hybrid, SMAX Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid; the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid; and mild hybrid powertrains for the Puma, Fiesta and Focus EcoBoost Hybrid models.

WLTP pure-electric driving range, fuel efficiency 201.8 mpg WLTP and CO2 emissions from 32 g/km WLTP. The vehicle can be charged using an external power supply via a sidemounted charging port in the left front fender.

Drivers can choose how and when to deploy battery power using EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge modes.

In addition to charging from an external power supply, the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid can automatically replenish its battery on the move using regenerative charging technology that captures kinetic energy normally lost during braking.

Powered by a 2.5-litre, fourcylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and an electric motor generator with a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid offers up to 35 miles September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 87

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rders are now open for the New Dacia Duster, as pricing, technical details and launch offers are confirmed. The latest version of the robust SUV offers a great deal more in every sense.

Having been comprehensively updated with refreshed design elements, advanced features and technology, the New Dacia Duster remains true to its roots by continuing to offer the same versatility and value-for-money it is acclaimed for.

The latest generation version is priced from only £13,995 OTR, while a host of enticing finance offers available across the new and improved range allow drivers to enjoy the New Duster for much less than they may imagine. For example, the Comfort TCe 100 Bi-Fuel can be purchased for £164 per month on a four-year Dacia Dimension PCP scheme with an interest rate at 6.9 per cent APR representative with a £500 deposit contribution and £2,590 customer deposit.

The New Duster is available to order now with the first customers due to take delivery in September. The TCe 130 engine will be available to order later in the year.

Launched in the UK in 2013, and available across Europe since 2010, the Duster quickly earned a reputation for delivering all the benefits of an SUV at city car price. With shockingly affordable value, the Duster has shaken-up the SUV segment, having broken the rules to become a unique offering for consumers. With more than 1.9 million 90 |

vehicles sold, the Duster has been the number one car for retail sales in its class in Europe’s SUV market since 2019.

Following on from earlier generations, the New Duster is aimed both at customers who are looking for a comfortable, attractive SUV and those who want a robust, versatile 4x4.

True to its heritage, the New Duster is still a family SUV that is ideal for everyday use and also for adventures in nature. Its distinctive design has evolved, especially in respect of its new lights and grille, which give it an even stronger character, and improved CO2 efficiency.

exterior design The New Duster introduces a more contemporary design, which is not only more stylish, but also works to optimise its aerodynamics for greater efficiency.

At the front end, the New Duster adopts the style features of Dacia’s refreshed visual identity first seen on the New Sandero and Sandero Stepway. New light units include Y-shaped daytime running lights, a new shape that also inspired the new 3D chromed radiator grille. The bolder, more purposeful frontend styling ensures that the Duster is now even more striking.

Inside, it is fitted with a high centre console with a retracting armrest, offers two multimedia systems with a new 8inch screen and is available with a dualclutch automatic EDC gearbox. As versatile to drive as ever, the New Duster is available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions. The latest version also boasts an enhanced 4x4 Monitor system.

The always-on lighting at the front and rear incorporates the new Dacia light signature, while the Duster is the first Dacia model to be equipped with front LED direction indicators. This technology is also used for the dipped headlights (with automatic main beam activation as standard), and the number plate lights. As well as lower electricity consumption, the LEDs offer brighter lighting, day and night, providing greater visibility for both the driver and other road users.

For greater simplicity, the New Duster is available in three trim levels – Essential, Comfort and Prestige – and with a choice of efficient engines, including a TCe 100 Bi-Fuel. The top-of-the-range TCe 150 engine is now paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

There are also new body-coloured front rear bumpers (lower section), tinted windows and a bold new tailgate trim with ‘Duster’ inscription.

For even more ease, New Duster comes with just two options to choose from depending on the specification – metallic paint and a spare wheel.

Farming Monthly | September 2021

Thanks to the expertise of Dacia’s innovative designers and engineers, the New Duster’s aerodynamic performance has been improved. The design of the new rear spoiler and new 16 and 17inch alloy rims (16-inch on the Comfort and 17-inch on Prestige versions) have been put to the test in a wind tunnel. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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The set of CO2 optimisations (new wheel bearings and tyres, LED lighting) including the drag area (SCx) allows a reduction of up to 5.8g of CO2 on the 4x4 version of the New Duster. The New Duster features a new type of tyre, no matter which version a customer opts for. The two-wheel drive version is fitted with ‘green’ CO2-optimised tyres as standard, giving a 10 per cent reduction in rolling resistance.

As well as the CO2 reduction, these features have also helped to deliver lower fuel consumption, providing another welcome benefit for customers.

The versatility of the New Duster, for both every day and off-road use, is evident by its high ground clearance of 217 mm on the two-wheel drive version and 214 mm on the 4x4.

INTERIOR The New Duster improves the comfort of its occupants with a more inviting cabin.

It is equipped with new upholstery, new headrests, and a high centre console with a wide retracting armrest. The New Duster also offers two multimedia systems with a new 8-inch touchscreen.

The upholstery for the seats on the New Duster is 100 per cent new, and the fabric and shape of the enhanced headrests offer improved comfort and support. The new, slim profile of the headrests improves the visibility in the passenger compartment for rear passengers looking to the front and vice versa.

A notable new feature is the inclusion of www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

a high centre console with a wide armrest that retracts 70mm. Available on selected models, it houses a closable, 1.1-litre storage compartment and two USB charging sockets for the rear passengers.

The comprehensive standard equipment includes an onboard computer screen, automatic main beam activation and cruise control and speed limiter with backlit controls on the steering wheel.

Automatic climate control with a digital display, heated front seats and a handsfree card are available on higher specification versions.

TECHNOLOGIES AND SAFETY The New Duster is available with a choice of two new user-friendly multimedia systems, in addition to Dacia’s Plug & Radio audio system that incorporates MP3, USB, Bluetooth® and DAB capability, accessible through the Duster’s full complement of backlit steering wheel controls.

Media Display, offered as standard on Comfort models, comprises an 8-inch colour touchscreen mounted within easy reach of the driver, through which can be accessed a host of features including both Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®. The system also adds a pair of USB ports and six speakers, including two ‘boomer’ speakers and a pair of front-mounted tweeters.

Prestige models, meanwhile, see a further upgrade to the new Media Nav system. With a full-featured on-board navigation function, the system also

offers wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® over Wi-Fi. Both systems feature an innovative Vehicle tab that can be used to access driving and economy information, while four-wheel-drive versions also offer a 4x4 Monitor to display an altimeter, inclinometer, and a compass. The monitor is also able to display the pitch angle, Hill Start Assist and Adaptive Hill Descent Control data to keep the driver informed during steep descents and climbs. After driving off-road or in the mountains, the 4x4 Monitor displays a summary log of the journey.

The New Duster extends the use of technology to make drivers’ lives easier with a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). All models are fitted with tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control, and Emergency Brake Assist, while Blind Spot Warning – standard on Prestige – warns the driver of a risk of collision during lane changing by flashing a warning light within the door mirror if another vehicle is detected.

Hill Start Assist prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when pulling away on a hill, while Park Assist uses ultrasonic sensors mounted in the rear bumper to detect obstacles while reversing before warning the driver with an audible signal. On selected models, this is joined by a rear camera that displays its output on the central touchscreen, complete with useful guidelines.

Adaptive Hill Descent Control on 4x4 models uses the brakes to automatically

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| Motors regulate the vehicle’s speed and prevent it from running away, even in low-traction environments. Operating in first and reverse gears, the system can maintain a driver-configurable speed of between 3mph and 18mph.

Range-topping Prestige models are equipped as standard with Dacia’s Multiview camera system. Activated instantly when reverse is engaged or manually via the MVC button, the system uses four cameras mounted around the vehicle to help the driver identify obstacles during parking or in tricky off-road situations.

ENGINES The New Duster’s engine line-up has been comprehensively renewed and now offers a wide range of petrol, diesel, and even Bi-Fuel versions – which features a 50 percent larger LPG tank – plus the choice of an innovative new six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with the TCe 150 engine.

The EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) gearbox delivers the comfort and ease-of-driving of a traditional automatic transmission, combined with the superior fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions associated with a manual gearbox.

By using a pair of clutches, one for the odd gears and another for the even gears, the EDC gearbox can pre-select the next likely ratio and imperceptibly switch between them when the time comes. With no interruption to the flow of power, the result is a smooth and seamless ride for the passengers. In addition, the EDC system constantly ensures the optimal gear for the prevailing conditions has been selected, leading to improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.

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The New Duster’s range of Euro 6D Full-compliant engines comprises three TCe petrol units of 90, 130, and 150hp outputs, all driving the front wheels through either a six-speed manual gearbox or, in the case of the TCe 150, Dacia’s new EDC six-speed automatic.

The torquey and efficient Blue dCi 115 diesel, meanwhile, is available with a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive, while the six-speed manual gearbox enables precise control in off-road situations.

The TCe 100 Bi-Fuel features Dacia’s proven factory-fitted LPG technology to offer a CO2 reduction of up to 9.5 percent when running on gas, as well as a combined petrol and LPG range of up to 767 miles thanks to its larger tank.

Dacia is the only manufacturer to offer the Bi-Fuel (petrol-LPG) option across its entire range of internal combustion engine models. The length of the manufacturer’s warranty, the service intervals, and boot capacity are identical to the petrol-only version. The LPG tank is fitted beneath the floor of the boot, in place of the spare wheel.

Behind the wheel, the switch between fuels is immediate and imperceptible.

The new petrol-LPG switch, which is more ergonomic and better integrated, can be operated manually by the driver at any time. The switch to petrol occurs automatically if the LPG tank is empty.

Stop&Start, which automatically turns the engine off when the vehicle is stationary, is standard on all New Duster models and delivers both improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.

Farming Monthly | September 2021

UK SPECIFICATIONS AND PRICING The New Duster range epitomises Dacia’s no-nonsense approach to delivering quality for the best value, with a straightforward, simple-to-understand model line-up of three trims – Essential, Comfort, and Prestige.

Just two options are available across the range, honouring Dacia’s promise to keep things simple: a spare wheel can be added to all Dusters except Bi-Fuel models for £250, while metallic paint – including the striking new Desert Orange – is available across the range for only £595.

Kicking off the range at just £13,995 OTR, the New Duster Essential wears durable 16-inch steel wheels, new Yshaped LED daytime running lights, automatic headlights, and black roof bars, while inside there’s a height and reach-adjustable steering column, cruise control with speed limiter, sevenfunction on-board computer, DAB Radio and manual air conditioning.

Available from £15,495 OTR, Comfort adds 16-inch alloy wheels, blackpainted heated and electricallyadjustable door mirrors, body-coloured door handles, front fog lights, and hill descent control. The interior, meanwhile, gains upgraded upholstery, height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, leather steering wheel, electric rear windows, rear parking sensors with rear camera, and an 8-inch Media Display infotainment system complete with Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®.

At the top of the range, from £16,695 OTR, the Prestige only adds to New Duster’s already generous value-formoney proposition with 17-inch alloy wheels, Grey Quartz door mirrors and roof bars, darktinted rear windows, and an acoustic windshield. Building on the Comfort specification, the Prestige goes further with automatic air conditioning, keyless entry, Multiview camera, front parking sensors, blind spot warning system, heated seats, and an 8-inch Media Nav on-board navigation system with wireless smartphone connectivity for Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®.

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HONDA CONFIRMS PRICING FOR ALL-NEW HR-V e:HEV

onda has confirmed pricing details for its all-new HR-V compact SUV. Starting from £26,960, all variants of this latest generation HR-V are equipped as standard with Honda’s advanced twomotor e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain technology, representing the latest step in the brand’s commitment to electrify all of its mainstream models in Europe by 2022.

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The range consists of the Elegance grade, starting at £26,960 which features LED headlights, heated front seats, 18” alloy wheels and seamless smartphone connectivity as standard.

Sitting above this is the Advance, which starts from £29,210 and adds a power tailgate with ‘Walk Away Close and Handsfree access’, heated steering wheel, and a synthetic leather and fabric interior trim. The Advance Style derivative is available from £31,660, and adds premium audio, unique details and stand-out design elements such as a two-tone exterior paint finish and orange detailing to the cabin. The car will be available through Honda Finance Europe Plc, starting at £269* per month. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Honda’s proven e:HEV hybrid technology, available in a HR-V for the first time, delivers CO2 emissions from 122g/km (WLTP combined cycle) and fuel economy of 52mpg / 5.4L/100km.

The e:HEV set-up includes three interchangeable drive modes that are selected automatically according to the prevailing driving conditions. The technology delivers an enjoyable and responsive EV-like driving experience and maximises efficiency at all times.

The all-new HR-V has a bold, coupeSUV silhouette that is sleeker than its predecessor, and its modern design is in keeping with other recent Honda models. The spacious and versatile interior is designed to reflect the lifestyle of the owner with vibrant, high-quality materials and trim elements used throughout the cabin.

As with all new Honda models, the allnew HR-V is equipped with Honda SensingTM, which includes a comprehensive range of class-leading safety technologies and driver aids. The new model also introduces Hill Descent Control functionality for greater control

on steep slopes and low-grip surfaces.

HR-V owners additionally benefit from seamless in-car connectivity, with a 9inch touchscreen interface enabling smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay (through Bluetooth, WiFi or cable) and Android Auto (cable).

Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe Ltd, said: “The launch of the all-new HR-V is a major milestone for Honda in Europe, setting new benchmarks for interior space, versatility and comfort in the compact SUV market. Available later this year, the next generation of hybrid-only HR-V will appeal to modern consumers, reflecting their active and connected lifestyles, with a desirable blend of efficiency and responsive performance."

Order books for the all-new Honda HRV open tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd August 2021, with first deliveries commencing in the UK from late 2021. Customers can now order the all-new HR-V e:HEV from their local dealer, www.honda.co.uk/ cars/find-a-dealer.html#search.

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SsangYong showcases vehicle range at the British Motor Show 2021

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sangYong Motors UK is delighted to confirm its presence at this year’s British Motor Show, which takes place from 19th to 22nd August.

After a 13-year absence and with a new organiser, Automotion Events, the British Motor Show is being held at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre and promises to be a fun family day out. Described as “a show like no other motor show ever seen”, attendees can explore a wide variety of transport options from the past, present and future.

As well as displaying its multi-award winning vehicles on its stand, SsangYong Motors, along with new dealer Normandy Garage of Guildford, will host a test-drive area within the show grounds where visitors will be able to experience driving the newly94 |

launched facelifted Musso, Rexton and Korando first-hand.

The show stand will feature the brands flagship, Rexton – the powerful 7-seat SUV; the Korando, the family SUV built with adventure in mind; Tivoli, the small SUV that doesn’t compromise on space; and new Musso, the bold, hardworking pick-up that is unmatched in towing and weight-carrying, which also boasts the longest load area in the UK market.

Details will also be available on the brand’s first pure-electric vehicle, Korando e-Motion at the event which is set to launch in November this year.

SsangYong’s brand ambassador, Fuzz Townshend, will take to the stage where Car SOS Live will deliver an interactive experience with demonstration areas showcasing several of the workshop crew and artisans that appear on the show, chatting to the public and displaying their skills. Fuzz will also be

Farming Monthly | September 2021

present on the SsangYong stand on varying occasions throughout the event to sign autographs and meet with fans personally. In addition, the new Musso will be star of the show on the live stage with Wheeler Dealer, Mike Brewer, at intervals throughout the event.

Kevin Griffin, managing director at SsangYong Motors UK, said: “We’re delighted to have a presence at this year’s British Motor Show and to be able to showcase our award-winning range of vehicles. The new facelifted Musso with make its debut at the event and will also be available for visitors to take on a test drive which is exciting. It will be a great opportunity for Car SOS fans to meet personally with Fuzz on our stand too. To have new Musso on the live stage with Mike Brewer is a great opportunity too. It’s set to be a great event and we are looking forward to a busy few days.”

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WATT ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY’S PACES PLATFORM TO SPRINGBOARD UK PRODUCTION OF NEXT-GEN ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

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att Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) today announces a major milestone in the continued strategic growth of its unique EV offering, outlining plans to build up to 5,000 new electric commercial vehicles per annum under its own brand and on behalf of third-party manufacturers at an all-new facility in the Midlands, all of which will be based on its new state-of-the-art EV platform.

Called Passenger And Commercial EV Skateboard (PACES), the innovative and highly flexible architecture allows the niche vehicle industry to meet the considerable challenges of transitioning to an electric future by providing a sophisticated, yet cost-effective EV platform “off-the-shelf”.

by WEVC is scheduled to start in the Midlands in Q3 2023.

Watt EV Company will reveal a first prototype electric commercial vehicle, based on PACES, by end of Q1 2022, a project that is supported by Innovate UK through its Transitioning To Zero Emission Vehicles Collaborative Research and Development competition.

Neil Yates, founder and owner of Watt Electric Vehicle Company, said: “Our PACES architecture and manufacturing processes are flexible and scale-able, a first “off-the-shelf” product specifically targeted for the low-to-medium volume industry capable of supporting any type of EV, with a cell-to-chassis structural battery system that optimises chassis stiffness and minimises vehicle weight.

“With ever-increasing pressure on urban emissions, coupled with the growth in home delivery, we have been approached by multiple commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators, who are in desperate need of developing the next generation of electric vans, trucks and buses.

Highly customisable for different body styles, sizes and configurations, PACES can support any low-to-medium volume manufacturer, specialist vehicle converter or start-up, and complies with ISO regulations and European Small Series Type Approval safety standards.

Its cell-to-chassis system means batteries are fitted directly to the primary structure (rather than having a separate pack), optimising stiffness and minimising weight.

Fully supported by a leading UKbased EV technology supply chain, WEVC has undergone a comprehensive development process with PACES over the last two years and is market-ready.

Capable of providing the basis for a whole new range of bespoke electric last mile, vans, trucks and buses – in fact, any type of commercial vehicle – production manufacturing of PACES-based all-new EV commercial vehicles www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

“As electrification of the sector only accelerates, what these companies need is a ready-to-go, sophisticated yet cost-effective EV platform on which to build their vehicles – that is Watt Electric Vehicle Company’s PACES architecture.

“Thanks to the support of Innovate UK grant funding, we will reveal our first prototype electric commercial vehicle, based on PACES, by end of Q1 2022.

Production of a new range of

PACES-based electric commercials by WEVC is then scheduled to begin in our new Midlands facility in Q3 2023.

Through this facility, we will have the capacity to build 2,500-5,000 units a year.”

WEVC is also a manufacturer of premium sports EVs, producing its own Porsche 356-inspired Coupe from its bespoke facility in St Columb Major/near to Newquay Airport. The first production car to use PACES, the Coupe is a sub-1,000kg rear wheel drive fixed-head sports car that combines retro looks with state-of-the-art EV technology, featuring a 40kWh battery structurally integrated into the chassis.

Ride, handling and steering have been honed for driver engagement and realworld enjoyment, while the weight distribution is near 50:50 weight with a mid-mounted 120kW electric motor.

WEVC has already completed more than 12-months of testing and development, with a WTLP range of up to 230 miles and a 0-62mph time of just over five seconds. 21 Launch Edition Coupes available to order now priced from £81,250; customer deliveries commence early 2022.

Neil Yates, founder and owner of Watt Electric Vehicle Company, added: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to our launch of the WEVC Coupe with very few Limited Edition cars remaining available. Alongside the production of this new EV at our existing factory, WEVC will also establish another facility in Cornwall in 2023, an all-new facility that will focus on the lowvolume manufacturing of sports cars and passenger EVs, at volumes of around 150 units per year. Together with manufacturing in the Midlands of electric commercial vehicles, my vision is for Watt Electric Vehicle Company to lead the production of tomorrow’s low volume electric vehicles.”

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Tiguan Allspace: family-friendly seven-seater on sale from £32,135 OTR with package of new tech

mong the technological highlights brought by this enhancement are new assistance systems for the model. These include Travel Assist, which allows Level 2 assisted driving at speeds of up to 130 mph (where permitted) supporting the braking, steering and acceleration, and IQ.Light – 1LED Matrix headlights which feature numerous different modes to automatically suit the driving conditions and environment, including settings for motorway, poor weather, reducing glare from signs, and more.

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The Tiguan Allspace comes equipped with seven seats as standard for UK customers, and represents familyfriendly practicality as a spacious and

flexible three-row SUV. Up to 1,755 litres of luggage space is available with the two rear rows of seats folded, or an impressive 700 litres with only the rearmost two seats flat. In addition, the Tiguan Allspace has a number of interior upgrades to bring it in line with the latest generation of its Volkswagen stablemates, including touch panels and sliders for the model’s standard-fit 3zone climate control, along with controls at the back of the centre console for rear-seat passengers, and a new multifunction leather steering wheel.

The enhanced Tiguan Allspace simplifies the SUV’s price list by providing three well-equipped trim levels, with diverse engines and powertrains offering the breadth of appeal with which Volkswagen has

become synonymous. These three trim levels are entry-level Life, comfortoriented Elegance, and R-Line, which continues its sportier perspective on the Tiguan Allspace formula. Three petrol and two diesel engines offer a range of power outputs between 150 and 245 PS, while 7-speed DSG transmissions are available across the engine options.

A 6-speed manual gearbox is offered on the two entry-level, 150 PS powerplants (one 1.5-litre TSI and one 2.0-litre TDI), while four separate derivatives benefit from Volkswagen’s acclaimed 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, including the top model from the petrol and diesel engine ranges, as well as other variants in the Tiguan Allspace family. The full list of available models and combinations is at the bottom of this release.

A selection of diesel engines new to the Tiguan Allspace bring twin-dosing technology, with dual-injected AdBlue, to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, while the 1.5-litre petrol engines feature cylinder deactivation technology (ACT) to boost fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 output by allowing the car to run on only two cylinders under certain loads. The entrylevel Tiguan Allspace model is the Life, equipped with a 1.5-litre TSI, 150 PS engine, coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. In this specification, the Tiguan Allspace can achieve up to 41.5 mpg (WLTP, combined), with WLTP-certified CO2 emissions of 154 g/km, a top speed of 125 mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 10.3 seconds. Please see the table below for more details on these engine, specification and drivetrain combinations.

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The range of factory-fit equipment across the three Tiguan Allspace specifications is generous, with Life trim featuring LED headlights and daytime running lights; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); 3-zone climate control; front and rear parking sensors and an 8.0-inch Discover navigation system with AppConnect as standard, allowing mirroring of compatible smartphones on the infotainment display via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This system is the latest, third-generation modular infotainment matrix (MIB3), providing optimum connectivity and a comprehensive range of online services.

The Tiguan Allspace Life also introduces the Digital Cockpit Pro to the model’s standard equipment list across all three specifications. The Tiguan Allspace Life starts at £32,135 OTR.

priced from £36,740 OTR. Finally, R-Line specification, as with other R-Line models across the Volkswagen range, provides a sporting focus to the Tiguan Allspace. In addition to 20-inch 'Misano' alloy wheels, the Tiguan Allspace R-Line features bespoke bumpers and a rear spoiler, while on the interior, a sporting black roof-liner complements the velour and ‘ArtVelours’ microfibre-trimmed comfort sports seats; stainless steel pedals; and R-badging stitched into the seat backrests. The R-Line, like the Elegance, also benefits from a bolstered package of assistance systems, including Travel Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert, and Park Assist.

Progressive steering and sports

suspension add another layer of driver focus to the personality of the R-Line, which starts at £36,710 OTR. Sarah Cox, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “The Tiguan Allspace is another practicality-packed SUV from Volkswagen, continuing the model’s goal of providing enough room for all the family, and their luggage. On top of this, it has the connectivity, technology and quality to face up to every challenge a family could throw at it.

“With this enhancement, it has even more convenience, safety and assistance features, while maintaining the practicality and Volkswagen quality that families love.”

Elegance cars are identifiable from the outside by their distinct bumpers, a light strip in the front grille between the headlights and Volkswagen badge (also standard on the Tiguan Allspace R-Line), and a set of 19-inch 'Auckland' Dark Graphite alloy wheels, alongside IQ.Light LED Matrix headlights. Inside, the seats are finished in ‘Art Velours’ microfleece, and the cabin is bathed in light via a panoramic sunroof by day, and ambient lighting with 30 colour options by night. The driver is assisted by a reversing camera, Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and Park Assist systems, while convenience is boosted with a keyless entry feature, and sensor control function for the tailgate to aid when carrying items to the load area with both hands full.

The Tiguan Allspace Elegance is www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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MG MOTOR CONTINUES RAPID GROWTH AND AFFORDABLE EV LEADERSHIP WITH BIGGEST SHIPMENT EVER TO ARRIVE IN THE UK

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G Motor has seen its biggest ever shipment of new cars arrive in the UK at Bristol’s Portbury Docks, eclipsing the shipment of 2,000 vehicles which arrived in October 2020 A total of 2,892 new MGs arrived at the port this week as the rapidly growing brand gears up for a busy September, with the new car market preparing for the new ‘71’- registration plate.

Over a quarter of the cars contained in

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the shipment (26.2%) were the new long range MG5 EV Long Range, which made its debut last month, underlining its increasing popularity.

MG Motor Commercial Director, Guy Pigounakis, said: “This is the biggest single shipment of MGs to arrive in the UK and positions us strongly for September, There have been stock challenges across the car industry in recent months due to a number of external forces, so it’s reassuring for both our customers and our dealer network to know that MG is in a strong position, with a wide mix of vehicles

Farming Monthly | September 2021

available to meet market demand.”

MG currently offers six models in the UK including three plug-in cars – the established MG ZS EV, the gamechanging All New MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, all backed up by MG’s comprehensive manufacturer’s 7 year warranty and fast-developing dealer network.

To find your local dealer, or to discover the high-tech, value-for-money range of cars on offer, please visit MG.CO.UK.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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ia has launched a series of exclusive nationwide ‘EV6 Electric Experience’ events to offer an early opportunity for customers to get up close and personal with Kia’s ground breaking electric car, the EV6.

The events include an exciting car reveal and an interactive walk-around the EV6, with EV experts available to answer all questions. Customers will walk away with first-hand knowledge about the new electric car, as well as the wider Kia EV range and supporting technologies including Kia’s proprietary charging app, Kia Charge.

One of eleven Kia electric cars to be launched by 2026 as part of its ‘Plan S’ global strategy, the EV6 is the first of seven dedicated EV models and is built on the Electric-Global Modular Platform. This was developed for electric vehicles alone and features 400/800-volt charging for next-generation ultrafast charging, with 10-80 per cent charge taking as little as 18 minutes for the EV6.

Technology features as standard across the EV6 range, with impressive equipment including a curved panoramic display with twin 12.3-inch touchscreens; Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; UVO Connect for remote telematics; LED lighting all around; vegan leather upholstery; rear parking sensors; rainsensing front wipers; engine Start/Stop button with Smart Entry System; navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go; Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with city, pedestrian, cyclist and junction-turning functionality; Highway Driving Assist; and Drive Mode Select to name but a few.

The events run dealer-by-dealer until early November, and are available to all members of the public who book a place via the website: www.kiaev6experience.co.uk. Space is limited and available on a first come first served basis, so customers are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

Alongside its charging capabilities, the EV6 has an impressive WLTPcombined cycle range of up to 328 miles from its standard long-range 77.4kWh battery pack. That’s more than enough to cover a return trip from London to Cardiff, on just one charge.

The EV6 will be available in four distinct grades in the UK, including entry-level ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’, ‘GT-Line S’, and a performance-focused ‘GT’ version set to arrive next year. The electric car is powered by either a single motor rear-wheel drive or twin motor all-wheel drive powertrain, depending on grade and customer preference. Prices start from £40,895 for the realwheel drive entry grade. www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

September 2021 | Farming Monthly | 99

THE ALL-NEW ISUZU D -MAX

WORK LOADS FOR LESS BUSINESS CONTRACT HIRE FROM ONLY

£249

† MONTHLY RENTAL PLUS VAT INITIAL RENTAL £2,241.00 PLUS VAT Followed by 35 Monthly Rentals.

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.

Model pictured is a DL20 including optional special paint finish from £260.91 +VAT a month plus Initial Rental of £2,348.19 +VAT

SMARTER. STRONGER. SAFER.

DRIVEN TO DO

Jeffries Of Bacton Stowmarket, Suffolk Tel: 01449 781131

jeffriesofbacton-isuzu.co.uk

Startin Tractors Ashby Road, Twycross Tel: 01827 880088

startintractors-isuzu.co.uk

Culverwell Cars Robertsbridge, East Sussex Tel: 01580 880567 culverwell-isuzu.co.uk

All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1 – 27.6 (10.2 – 11.2). Mid 31.4 – 36.4 (7.8 – 9.0). High 36.0 – 39.4 (7.2 – 7.8). Extra-High 29.0 – 30.8 (9.2 – 9.7). Combined 30.7 – 33.6 (8.4 – 9.2). CO2 emissions 220 – 241g/km. †Example based on 8,000 miles per annum, non-maintained. Subject to status. UK residents 18+. Rental amounts shown are on the specific model stated plus VAT @ 20%. This offer excludes fleet and Members Affinity scheme sales, is only available through participating Isuzu dealers and is not available in conjunction with any other offers or with BASC, NGO or NFU member discounts. This offer is only available through Lex Autolease Ltd trading as Isuzu Contract Hire, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Offer ends 30.09.2021. Vehicle must be returned in a good condition to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. If the vehicle has exceeded the maximum permitted mileage then a charge of 10.40p plus VAT @20% per excess mile will apply. The All-New Isuzu D-Max is Smarter Stronger Safer compared to previous model. Terms and conditions apply.