farmingscotland.com Issue 149

C on te nt s

First my condolences must go to our on farm columnist Katie Brisbane of Westwoodlane Farm, Stirling and her family who recently lost her beloved husband in tragic circumstances

Hard to believe that it is 20 years this month since the first issue of farmingscotland.com hit the press at Highland Printers in Inverness!

I’ve met many amazing farmers and crofters across the country and overseas in that time I must admit it is the farm tours that I enjoy most

Incidentally it was the iconic Sir

David Fagan, winning the World Sheep Shearing Championships in Edinburgh 2003 that was on the first cover Twenty years on the RHS hosted the event again Read about the Welsh and their winning ways from page 20

Talking of sheep shearing, Scotland’s Una Cameron is going for a World Record. I’ve been taken on board as PR, photographer and helping out with sponsorship. So far we have secured Shearwell, NFU Mutual, Clipfitter and Oatridge College/SRUC as sponsors

We wish Una every success in her endeavour

Photos

Tiree T V S tars

by Eilidh MacPherson

by Eilidh MacPherson

Tiree TV Stars

Tiree TV Stars, farmers Alastair and Iain MacInnes, who recently starred in the Caledonian McBrayne “Island Crossings” documentary, certainly don’t let living on an island and distance from markets define them

This father and son team, who farm Ruaig (250ha including common grazing) on the Island of Tiree, sold a bull to 12 000gns, the fourth top of the sale at Carlisle in February this year

They also sold a Limousin calf in Oban, which had been Champion of Champions at Tiree Show and Lorn Show to a Young Farmer for the Over Wintering Competition

With a four-hour ferry crossing to Oban, haulage and the transport cost is the biggest handicap to the islanders

“We pay an extra £70-£100 a tonne for feeding and fertiliser to be delivered, which puts us at a huge disadvantage financially to our counterparts on the mainland We try to buy a full load at a

time to reduce the cost,” said Alastair, who worked for two decades for the Milk Marketing board out of Glasgow before he returned to the family croft and took up a position at the Tiree airport

Alastair now ‘retired’ works in partnership with his son Iain (in his late thirties) running pedigree and commercial sheep and cattle on Ruaig, which has been in the family for more generations than he can remember Iain, like many other island crofters has had a supplementary income over the years Apart from a stint as a student at Oatridge College in West Lothian, he has worked on the Tiree pier for Calmac since he left school “I’ve recently cut my hours back and now only do one shift a week ”

The MacInneses run 75 head of pedigree and commercial cattle on the sandy machair, which lies just above sea level “We have a high water table and the hollows fill up with in the winter, so

the cattle are housed in cubicles and bedded on sand,” said Alastair, who introduced pedigree Belgian Blues to Tiree back in 1988

“We buy bulls on looks not figures,” added Iain, who has had success in both show and sale rings “Figures force people to feed to the hilt and greatly reduces the mobility and lifespan – over cooking the beasts We do follow the myostatin genes however using F94 genetics on the Blue cross cattle for easier calving ”

“We had pedigree Simmental cattle but realised that they were not the breed for us as we couldn’t get them strong enough against the Aberdeenshire guys, who are farming on much better ground,” shared Iain. “We kept the cows and they are run with the British Blue bull. We have kept all females out of that cross and they are crossed with the Limousin, which have been producing our show calves ”

Aberdeen Angus crosses and Saler

FARM FACTS

Farmers: Alastair & Iain MacInnes

Crofting/ Farming:Ruaig

Location: Isle of Tiree

Area: 618acres / 250ha

Cattle: 75 cows some pedigree British Blue and Limousin cattle commercial Simmental x Blues, AA X and Saler X covered byCharolais bull

Sheep: 400 ewes, mainly Mules

Other: Iain works part time for Calmac

Sell beef & lamb Campsites for tourists Static caravan

THE BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY

OCTOBER 2023 SALES

PRE SALE VET INSPECTION

DNA SIRE VERIFIED

HERD HEALTH STATUS DECLARED

CARLISLE BULL SALE

Saturday 14 October

Pre Sale Show Friday 13 October

BALLYMENA BULL & FEMALE SALE

Friday 20 October

STIRLING BULL SALE

Monday 23 October

Pre Sale Show Sunday 22 October

crosses are mated with a Charolais, while pedigree British Blues and a few pedigree Limousins make up the herd

All stock at Ruaig is bolused with cobalt and selenium as it is lacking in the machair ground The cattle are accredited in the Biobest health scheme

The cross Charolais calves are sold locally on Tiree, while the Limousin sired calves head to the UA ring at Oban. “The best year was during covid – the power of Facebook is amazing. We sold 10 calves averaging £1470, with a top of £2100 from Sutherland to Dumfries with a lot going to Aberdeenshire,” stated Iain

Historically the Duke of Argyll owned the whole island, but over the years the majority of Islanders have bought their own crofts The common grazing however is still owned by the Duke It is overseen by, what was once called (and many Islanders still call) the Department of Agriculture

Luckily for the MacInneses, only another two crofters out of the fifteen shareholders in the township are actively utilizing the common grazing, at the picturesque Gott Bay.

The sheep at Ruaig are a mix of Scotch Mules, Texel Mules and Shetland

Mules, with some pedigree Texel and Blue Texel too boot The Texel Mules are put back to a Beltex

The ewes scan at 172-175% and are lambed over a period of three weeks indoors as there is little, if any shelter on the island

“For the past six years between 30-35 lambs a year are sent to Mull or Paisley abattoirs and returned butchered, vac-packed, priced and frozen. It is all stored loose in the freezer – the only way to sell it here. It mainly sells to tourists,” shared Iain

Fifteen lambs headed to Mull in August and the ‘ wee ones ’ are kept back and then killed in the New Year

Twin ewe lambs are kept as replacements, while all other lambs are sold in one day –“everything from fat to third draw stores! A lot are sold to repeat buyers with many heading with the McTaggarts as long keep to Dumfriesshire ”

The covered yards at Ruaig are one of a kind – a recycled ferry terminal waiting room “It was lying down at the pier for long enough and I thought it would make an ideal cover for the handling facilities,” smiled Iain.

“It’s a lot heavier than it looks. They

loaded it with a crane at the port and I struggled to unload it with the tractor and front end loader ”

The MacInneses used to sell pork as well “The pigs were great at cleaning the ground before we planted the tatties, but latterly we found it harder to get them fat if it was a wet year The taste was unbelievable compared to shop bought!”

The fertile Isle of Tiree, which from the Gaelic translates to ‘Island of Corn,’ was once the breadbasket for the monastery on Iona

“We used to grow grain crops, but the Greylag geese put a stop to that and now we grow some arable silage, which can be cut and baled if the geese go at it,” said Alastair “The Greylags breed here They fly off to the islands when they are moulting and come back in July ”

As there are no badgers or foxes on the island, the geese have no predators

The pair grow as much fodder as they can to feed the animals over the winter and avoid astronomical haulage costs Iain purchased a new McHale Fusion 4 Integrated Baler and Wrapper to speed up silage operations. Now that he has more time on the land he intends to increase his tractor contracting work.

Award-winning Scottish Gin, Vodka and Rum, crafted in small batches from locally foraged botanicals on on the Hebridean Isle of Coll.

As an added income stream the McInneses along with other crofters have opted to fence off small corners of their fields so ‘wild campers ’ can camp safely away from roaming livestock. The croft sites are numbered (above) and Visit Tiree, who employs a ranger, take the bookings and a percentage of the takings The system has been in operation for eight years and works well for the crofters and campers alike Bird

twitchers and Sassenachs have been the main visitors

Alastair has recently added a static caravan to his portfolio and so far it has been booked solidly.

Tiree, the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides is well worth a visit, with white sandy beaches and machair lands The low-lying island, south west of the Isle of Coll, measures about twelve miles by three miles and covers some 7834ha

Take the four-hour ferry trip from Oban or hop on a plane, you can fly from Coll, Oban or Glasgow.

Whether you seek solitude, surf or sun – apparently the sunniest place in the UK – check out www visittiree com –you won’t be disappointed With two hotels, numerous holiday homes, glamping pods or campsites there is something for everyone

Go try some Ruaig beef or lamb!

“Wherever

with this.”

- Adam Quinney, Reins Farm, Warwickshire

by Eilidh MacPherson

Scottish sheep shearing guru Una Cameron from St Boswells in the Scottish Borders has thrown her moccasins in the catching pen for a crack at the world sheep shearing record

Una, who is now 50, has been working as a professional sheep shearer on the world circuit for 28 years, shearing in sheds across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

Having lodged her bid for a record attempt with the World Sheep Shearing Records Society Inc. – the 7th August has been confirmed as D-Day!

“I thought that a chance at a record was a ship that had long sailed But this summer I hosted Kiwis Matt and Rowland Smith prior to the World Shearing Championships and they ensured me that I was good enough,” commented Una, who is the only woman to have made the coveted Top 30 at the Golden Shears in New Zealand

Back in the day very few women pushed a hand piece and treaded the boards in the shearing sheds and at the competitions, but there has been a wave of femininity over the past decade and three other females are tackling solo records on the run up to Una’s:

Una, who took out the Scottish Speed Shear title last weekend at Strathaven Show, blasted her ovine out in 32 seconds She qualified for the Scottish final with a speed of 23 seconds in second place at Bonchester Bridge

Her record attempt will be staged at Matt and Pip Smith’s Trefranck Farm in Cornwall on full wool Romney ewes Following Sacha Bond’s record in, Una will decide whether she is going for 8 or 9 hours

Anyone interested in sponsoring the record please contact Eilidh MacPherson at editor@farmingscotland com or Marie Prebble at marie@kentshepherd.co.uk

Goes for World Record

Adopting a min-till approach for arable crops is one of the major changes at the South Ayrshire Monitor Farm, while a move to rotational grazing has been affected by this spring’s dry weather However, it has been a great season for the farm’s red clover swards, as visitors at a recent Monitor Farm meeting discovered Monitor Farmers John and Allison Andrew and their son David (above) farm 1770 acres in total, with 150 hill suckler cows and 1000 breeding ewes –550 hill and 450 lowground - with all progeny finished, as well as buying-in 200 store cattle They also grow 100 acres of crops; winter and spring barley, spring oats, wholecrop spring wheat, swedes and fodder beet

The Andrews, who are based at Rowanston near Maybole, are one of nine Monitor Farms across Scotland taking part in the programme run by Quality Meat Scotland and AHDB, and funded by Scottish Government This aims to help to farms reach full economic, social and environmental sustainability by optimising production Over the next four years, other farmers and experts will help the business assess farm performance, explore opportunities, and develop solutions to challenges they face

Among the work in progress, the family is waiting for the results of an Integrated Land Management Plan being done by SAC Consulting, while SoilEssentials has carried out soil sampling and analysis, including precision P and K samples for one of the fields destined for spring barley.

Visitors heard that the most significant change so far has been to

Ayrshire Monitor Farm

look at min-till as an option for establishing arable crops This followed the first Management Group meeting where local arable farmer Lord David Kennedy from Morriston Farm discussed the approach.

After borrowing some discs, the min-till approach has been tried alongside the farm’s conventional establishment methods for spring barley this year There was little difference between the two, with good germination

in both cases, said John Direct drilled swedes have also been trialled and have germinated well after a slow start due to dry conditions. Weed burdens are considerably less than in previous years when the farm has relied on ploughing and power harrowing, he added.

Savings in time, diesel and plough metal have been the other noticeable benefits of changing approach, inspiring others in the Management Group to give min-till a go

The dry spring affected plans for introducing rotational grazing for sheep A plan was drawn up by grazing specialist Rhidian Jones, but was put on hold until next year However, he explained that the Andrews should start planning for 2024 grazing now and get ahead of the curve, anticipating availability of rented grass and stock numbers and type

Attendees discovered that one crop on farm – red clover – had thrived in the dry conditions. The Andrews have been able to take one silage cut from it in May and a second in mid-July, while grass silage work had been postponed due to poor growth and having extra cattle on-farm after losing some rented grazing

Speaking at the event, seed specialist Paddy Jack of DLF-Trifolium said that red clover could also help reduce dependence on bought-on nitrogen

fertiliser and bagged feed “There is a real place for red clover in the West of Scotland that we are not taking the opportunity with

“Red clover brings in a lot of protein and a yield similar to perennial ryegrass, at 16t DM/ha, but when you combine that with a first cut of maybe 16% protein and a second cut a lot higher, maybe as high as 19-20% protein, we see that farms need less purchased feed The more you can grow at home, the less you have to write cheques for something, the better your farm business is going to be ”

Visitors also heard from The Sheep Game’s Cammy Wilson, who demonstrated the benefits of automated sheep handling facilities and digital technology from New Zealand company Te Pari He highlighted how investing in a handling system that was ‘right for you and your farm’ could reduce handling stress on sheep and people, as well as allowing more accurate flock dosing and treatment.

Speaking after the meeting, Monitor Farmer David Andrew said: “I think a lot of folk took away ideas, in particular the red clover and were thinking about what could work on their farms to meet the challenges that we are all facing ”

Monitor Farm regional adviser Christine Cuthbertson added: “It was fantastic to see almost a hundred folk discussing things at the meeting and afterwards with the BBQ and ice cream, which was sponsored by Dunbia and SoilEssentials, as well as with the team from RSABI

“There was great engagement today and that’s down to the Andrew family being so open and honest about their challenges and sharing in their solutions as the farming climate continues to change.”

For more information about future meetings and to join the South Ayrshire Monitor Farm Community Group, visit www monitorfarms co uk or contact regional adviser Christine Cuthbertson at ccuthbertson@qmscotland co uk tel 07769 366671

AYR - THURSDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2023

Sale of 860 Store Cattle and Second Sale of Blackface Ewes and All Classes of Store and Breeding Sheep at 1pm

NEWTON STEWART – FRIDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2023 at 11am

Special Sale of 650 Big Store Cattle

AYR – TUESDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2023

Monthly Sale of Beef Breeding Cattle

AYR - SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER 2023

Annual Sale of Newton Stewart Blackface Shearlings and Ram Lambs

AYR & NEWTON STEWART

Annual Sale of Suckled Calves

Ayr – Thursday 12th October 2023 at 11 00am

Newton Stewart – Friday 13th & Saturday 14th October 2023 at 11.00am

Entries for all 3 days close on Wed 4th October at 12 Noon

Early Identifier of Mastitis

The developers behind the smaXtec advanced health system have identified a new early standard for mastitis detection – Level Zero –which will enhance the welfare of dairy cows and reduce economic losses of the disease for farmers.

This scientific advancement is a major step in proactively tackling one of the costliest diseases impacting the dairy sector Industry reports estimate that the loss of milk production, associated veterinary costs and premature culling costs £334[1] per case of mastitis

This new early diagnostic standard has identified a specific temperature pattern that indicates the early onset of mastitis through in-depth analysis of data collected through smaXtec’s continuous monitoring This sets a new Level Zero standard for the detection and proactive prevention of the disease

Based on the highly accurate measurements of inner body temperature generated by its health monitoring boluses, smaXtec has identified three rapid temperature increases over a short period as the trigger for mastitis

The Level Zero classification, the lowest in severity, is described as inflammation already being present but with a normal-appearing mammary gland and visibly normal milk

Data also shows that a cow ’ s inner body temperature increases up to four days before clinical symptoms of mastitis become visible[2]

Until now, it’s been considered good practice to detect and treat mastitis from Level One But, if you can identify mastitis at Level Zero before the somatic cell count (SCC) reaches pathological levels, it gives producers the ability to administer a preventative treatment.

“By detecting mastitis at Level Zero using our award-winning technology, dairy farmers will experience routinely healthier cows, consistently higher milk yields, less antibiotic usage and ultimately, less dumped milk – saving both time and money It’s win win,” says the company ’ s global sales director, Chris Howarth

SmaXtec customers typically report a 55% reduction in antibiotic usage for mastitis cases in the first few months of using the bolus technology, with longer-term customers reporting antibiotic reduction by up to 70% This is encouraging data for an industry focused on reducing antibiotic usage.

Managing a herd of 650 cows, Cornish farmer, Bill Jewell introduced the health system in 2021 and says that mastitis outcomes have improved significantly

“Since installing smaXtex, I honestly can’t say that we ’ ve had any prequartered cows from having mastitis There has not been a case that we ’ ve missed,” he says

The new level of detection for mastitis is just one example of smaXtec’s ongoing efforts to develop innovative solutions that improve the health and productivity of dairy herds worldwide

Anew apprenticeship is being offered by Scotland's Rural College to prepare farmers for the fourth industrial revolution (4iR), with rapid technological growth and interconnectivity changing the way we live and work

As part of the 4iR, agriculture is facing both challenges and opportunities, including a need for higher level training and continuing professional development (CPD)

The first of its kind for the land-based sector in Scotland, the technical apprenticeship for rural land use and management will equip farm workers with the relevant high-level core skills required to become competent in leadership roles

The two-year HND and Degree-level programme is aimed at people aged 18 and over who are already employed in the industry. It includes both online and in-person learning and offers two specialist pathways – Agricultural Livestock and Crops

It allows them to upskill at any point in their career, gain hands-on industry experience and improve their career prospects and employability

Mary Thomson, Vice Principal for Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: "The

New Apprenticeship to Upskill Farmers

technical apprenticeship has been developed alongside industry, for industry We are excited to see it come to fruition as well as the opportunities and growth that will come for both the apprentices and the employers, who will benefit from the strategic partnerships and world leading research, which informs all our educational programmes at SRUC."

Penny Montgomerie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, said: "The launch of the new SRUC technical apprenticeship is an exciting development for agriculture in Scotland, enabling those in the industry to continue working while gaining a higher education qualification

"It is the perfect partnership for farms looking to keep the expertise and knowledge of their employees up to date It will also enable career progression for those who have to date had a more hands-on role in farming

"We look forward to some of our members participating and seeing how this enhances both their skillset and their employers' business "

For further information email: apprenticeships@sruc.ac.uk or visit: www sruc ac uk/apprenticeships

Milking It!

British farmer-owned dairy co-operative, First Milk, has announced that it has agreed a new partnership with dairy manufacturer Yeo Valley Production, which will see it create a new regenerative milk pool

The 'Naturally Better Dairy Group' is a collaboration between the two organisations that will see First Milk establish a new conventional regenerative milk pool in the Southwest of England. Founded on the principles of nature-positive farming, this group will supply Yeo Valley Production with milk for manufacturing great dairy products, with farmers committing to delivering ever better outcomes in terms of animal welfare, climate, biodiversity and local community

Recruitment for the new group will commence immediately and First Milk members within the catchment area will also be invited to join Interested farmers can find out more by visiting the First Milk stand at the Down to Earth South event on Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Commenting on the development, Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive, First

Milk, said: "As the Regenerative co-op, we firmly believe that this approach to farming is the way to continue to produce affordable, nutritious food whilst addressing the growing climate and nature challenges we face We currently operate the largest regenerative farming programme in the UK dairy sector and we're delighted to have agreed this exciting partnership with Yeo Valley Production, which will see us broaden this activity further, demonstrating that great tasting dairy can be a force for good "

Rob Sexton, CEO, Yeo Valley Production added: "We're excited to be working with the First Milk team and bringing our experience to this forward thinking and nature positive conventional milk partnership We are passionate about producing nutritious, affordable foods that are farmed in harmony with nature This partnership will ensure great farming, producing natural, healthy food, is both affordable and scalable We look forward to working closely with First Milk and their amazing farmers to nurture and nourish both people and the planet "

World Shearing Champ 2023 –Gwion Evans Wales

by Eilidh MacPherson

It was a day the Welsh will never forget – a World Champion and runner-up and two team wins at the World Sheep Shearing Championships, Scotland 2023.

Since its inception in 1977, the Welsh first had a finalist in the World Machine final in Perth, Western Australia in 1986 – the fourth World Champs – in the shape of John Davies in fourth place He was sixth at the next event in 1988 in New Zealand

Wyn Jones took fifth in the Bath & West Worlds in 1992, but it is ‘The Power from Gower ’ – Nicky Benyon –who has tallied the most finalist placings for Wales over the last forty six years and nineteen championships making the cut on five occasions

Nicky was third, behind Kiwi greats, Allan MacDonald and David Fagan on home turf, when the Royal Welsh hosted the event for the first time in 1994.

He slipped to fifth place in 1996 at Masterton, NZ behind David Fagan (his third win) and left-handed shearer Colin King Scots Tom Wilson and Geordie Bayne took out third and sixth respectively, while Englishman Alan Derryman was fourth

The 1998 Kiwi team of David Fagan and Paul Avery took out the top two spots in Gorey, Ireland with Steven Lloyd of England in third Nicky secured fourth that year with Irish Willie Jones sandwiched in fifth between the Welshmen – Benyon and Pugh

Wales White Washed at Worlds

Only southern hemisphere shearers made the grade for the 2000 World Machine final in Bloemfontein, South Africa. But Nicky was back in the mix when the Royal Highland Show staged the shears in 2003. David Fagan topped the billboard for a fifth time, while Nicky settled for fourth behind local Tom Wilson and Kiwi Dean Ball Steven Lloyd (Eng) and Kieran McCullough, Northern Ireland were fifth and sixth

Toowoomba, Australia heralded only Gavin Mutch from the northern hemisphere in fifth in 2005 and the Welsh also failed to cut the mustard in Norway 2008

Back on Welsh soil at Buith Wells in 2010 the Kiwi contingent of Cam Ferguson and David Fagan took champion and reserve with a new burst of Welsh blood in the form of Gareth Daniel and Gareth Evans in third and fourth respectively. Mutch and McCullough had to settle for fifth and sixth.

Gareth Daniel secured fifth place in Masterton, NZ, 2012, the year Mutch was crowned World Champion for Scotland and Gareth was then fourth in Gorey, Ireland 2014, where Mutch was bridesmaid

The Welsh were missing from the line up in Invercargill, NZ, 2017 but certainly made up for it in Le Dorat, France in 2019 Richard Jones of Llangollen blew the competition away, taking out the silverware and sought

after title for the Welsh for the first time

This year teamed with Gwion Evans, of Grugor Isa Farm, Denbighshire, the pair made history taking out the World Machine Shearing title for Wales for the first time. The English came second and the Scots in third,

The New Zealanders have won the teams event thirteen times, the Scots three times and the Australians twice

While the Welsh wool handlers missed out on individual titles to Scots Rosie Kennan (champion) and Audrey Aitken (reserve), as a team Ffion Jones (wife to Richard) and Sarah-Jane Rees swept their way to victory An event usually dominated by the Kiwis, Wales previously won the title in 2014 in Ireland – Menir Evans and Aled Jones

The World Individual Machine title is probably the most coveted shearing award apart from possibly the NZ Golden Shears.

On the day Gwion Evans found form and powered through his score of Cheviot hoggs, leading the all UK line up with Calum Shaw in hot pursuit Once the points were tallied it was the two Welshmen, Evans and Jones who came out on top, with Shaw, O’Sullivan, Scott and Berry behind in that order

While the press mingled on stage with the Welsh winners, Sir David Fagan came over to congratulate Evans and told him that he too had shorn on stand one when he took out the title twenty years prior, in Scotland, 2003!

Congratulations to Gwion on his fantastic achievements at the World Champioships. We are very proud to be working with him here at Heiniger UK.

Gwion Evans World individual Machine Shearing Champion

It has been great to be a part of the Heiniger UK8 team this year. The comb of choice for me at the world championships was the Heiniger Chargers used along with my Heiniger Cyclone handpieces.

Australian shearer Ethan Harder has set the pace for a new world record season by adding 20 to a Merino lamb record set less than a year ago

Eathan, who is from Bruce Rock, inland West Australia, shore 624 lambs in eight hours at Woolakabin, about 160km southeast of Perth

He was always ahead of the target of 604 – the record shorn by Kiwi, Keon Black who is based in Australia last October.

Ethan had to overcome a knee injury over the last hour, completing the day from the 7 30 am start with successive two-hour runs of 160, 156, 153 and 155

It was done under the rules of the World Sheep Shearing Records Society overseen by four judges, convened by New Zealander Johnny Fraser and assisted by Australian judges Mike

Latest World and UK Records

by Doug Laing

Southland, and Elton Hokianga, from Hawke’s Bay

Another big part of the team was Harder ’ s parents Suzie and Boof, present in the woolshed throughout a day where supporters and spectators grew to over 150 people

Henderson, Ralph Blue and David Brooker

At the wool weigh before the judges on Sunday, 20 sample sheep from the flock were shorn at an average of 1 062kg of wool per lamb, just edging over the minimum required for the record attempt to go ahead Thus, more than 660kg of fine wool was shorn during the day

Ethan is no stranger to world records, having missed a ewe shearing record bid at the age of 20 in February 2020.

Observer and shearer Rocky Wegner, who spoke with Harder afterwards, said the outstanding feature – apart from Harder ’ s obsession – was the teamwork behind him

This comprised of his family, including brother Gage, friends and workmates, including woolhandler Janelle Hauiti, originally from Ohai, in

Harder has been a goal-setter in the woolshed since he first picked up a handpiece He shore 100 lambs in a day for the first time when he was 7 years old, 200 at the age of 12, 300 at the age of 14, 400 at 16, 500 at 17, 600 at the age of 18 and 700 at 19

His record is one of eight notified to the records society for the 2023-2024 year, the first, in the UK last month.

Steve Rowberry (34), who farms in Shropshire attemped a world shearing record at the beginning of August

His aim was to set a new British 8 hour lamb record and try to beat the World record of 754 lambs held by New Zealander Jack Fagan His attempt was at Abbeydore in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley on August 4

Steve managed 181 lambs in the first run, 180 in the second, 176 in the third, and 169 in the fourth, totalling 706 lambs He fell 48 lambs short of the 754 needed to take the world title from Jack Fagan, but as he was first to ever tackle that particular record in the UK he is now the British record holder.

Photos

Page 3 – top left Petra Jacob

Page 12 – provided

Page 16 – provided

Page 17 – provided

Page 24 – Doug Laing

Page 26 – top Katie Reid

Page 28 – Katie Reid

Page 36/37 – Provided

Page 39 – Lemken

Page 40/41 – JCB

Page 42/44 – Fendt

Page 45 – HE-VA

Page 46 – Kuhn

Page 48 – Mitchelin

Page 49 – Bunning

Page 50/51 – Claas

Page 52 – Petra Jacob

Arecord 90 shearers competed in 16 heats in the Senior sheep shearing section at the Royal Highland Show

Kiwi shearer Adam Gordon, from the home of the Golden Shears, Masterton, New Zealand pumped his 4 ovines down the porthole in a speedy 4 minutes and 45 seconds Teamed with the cleanest pen (22), Gordon qualified in top spot into the four heat semi finals

Frenchman Juliean Sureau clocked off on 4m 44s, 1 second before Gordon and slipped into 24th place – last man into the semi-finals The other speedster Jacob Taylor (4m 43s) was 74th, with a cricket score out the back!

Another two shearers Ellis Rees from Wales and Northern Irish farmer Russell Smyth, punted out their quota in under five minutes – 4m 44s and 4m 45 sec respectively They both kept a check on quality control on the boards and out the back and Smyth was second top qualifier with Rees in third

Englishman Henry Cornthwaite, Frenchman Felix Cesbron, Canadian Team member Donald Metheral, Northern Irishman Ryan Adams, Scot, Stuart Robson and Polish Machine Team member Krystian Jarosz made the top 10 into the 24-strong semi-finals

From the five ladies shearing in the Senior event Scottish lass Emily Te Kapa was 14th and Irishwoman Joanne Devaney came 16th.

by Eilidh MacPherson

The heat was turned up in the six Suffolk x Mules sheep semis and speed cranked up from an average 1m 27s per sheep in the heats to 1m 15s in the semis

In the first heat Aaron Magee (NI) was motoring, but it was Sassenach Henry Cornthwaite, on stand number 2, who was in for his second at the 54 second mark He had a sheep round Joe Boylan of Cavan, Ireland and two round Joanne Devaney as he went in for his fourth and by the time sheep number five was on the board he was in a class of his own Second cuts may have been flying but with the cleanest pen over the four semis and second fastest time he secured himself sixth place into the final, slipping two places from the heats Magee punched his red stop button 24s later and qualified fifth into the final

Heat two was a race between Russell Smyth and compatriot Sam McConnell, who was also representing Northern Ireland in the Blade shearing Smyth was in first for his fourth even although he had a wriggler on the board, Lewis Harkness was still in the mix at this juncture By number six McConnell had the catch, completing his six in 6m 16s, with Smyth 16s behind Russell Smyth, moved from second place to top spot, into the final, with the tidiest job on the board, while Sam McConnell, moved up from mid-field to second.

They were joined in the final showdown by Andrew Rea and Ryan Adams in third and fourth places

The Senior final was pretty much an all Irish event with five Irishmen and one lonesome Englishman – Henry Cornthwaite! They were faced with 10 Scottish Blackface hoggs

Ryan Adams took an early lead and was in for number four at 3m 10s By number five Smyth was in second and Rea third Adams struggled on six with a kicker and the Pom popped in for number seven just before him Smyth and Magee followed suite

Smyth kept quality to the fore and took out the Senior title. Andrew Rea and Ryan Adams were second and third. Aaron Magee came fourth with Cornthwaite in fifth and McConnell in sixth

Senior Shearing Royal Highland

Cheviot S heviot Sheep heviot Soci Society heviot Sheep

Sou South Co Country C uth Cheviots

Sale of Ewes Ewes, Gimmers Gimmers & Ewe & Ewe Lambs Lambs

25th Sep Septembe September 2023 ptember 2023 a at Longtown t Mart

Sale of Rams at Locke at Lockerbie Mart on 9 9th th O October ctober 202 2023

For more infor information c contact Rob McTurk

01848 3 1848 331 7 758 / 1848 331 07 0771 07715 40 7715 409 1 170 secretary@cheviotsheep.org www.cheviotsheep.org

The World Sheep Shearing Championships staged at the Royal Highland Show kicked off in blazing sunshine on the first day of the four-day extravaganza

With an influx of overseas competitors having travelled for the Golden Shears, an encouraging thirty-nine Junior shearers took to the boards for the chance of a stand in the 12-man or woman semi finals

The past decade has seen a huge increase in the number of female shearers and the Junior section reflected this with an amazing 11 out of the 39 competitors – 28% of the field – being of the fairer sex

Welshman Harvey Samuel led the way in both the heats and the semi finals with top quality work on the boards and out the back. Teamed with a steady 6mins 38 seconds over the three sheep in the heats he upped the ante to secure his pole position in the semi-finals by whacking over two minutes off his time in the three sheep semi

Irishman Frazer Caldwell was second qualifier into the semis followed by Welsh man Iwan Robert Ellis, Ulsterman

Steven Wilson of Ballyclare, Northern Ireland in fourth and Peter Losly in fifth.

First of the ladies to make the cut was Kiwi based German shearer Robin Krause who works for Pleasant Point shearing contractor Ant Frew Perthshire lad Callum Simpson, whose father and uncle Mark and Brian Simpson have both travelled the world shearing was seventh followed by two lassies: Sassenach Chloe Lund and Eilidh Little of Callendar Southern Irishman Paddy Dunne, John Jenkinson from the North of England and Highlander Ewan Bennett took up the remaining slots

Steven Wilson sharpened his gear for the semis and cleaned up his board work, zipping his trio out a speedy 3 minutes 58 secs, 7 seconds slower than John Jenkinson. He pushed Caldwell and Ellis into third and fourth places respectively.

The only lady to make the final –Robin Krause – came fifth and Paddy Dunne, whose grandfather Tom Dunne was five times All Ireland Champion –no pressure – was sixth Chloe Lund missed out on a final shear

by Eilidh MacPherson

In the final, Paddy Dunne, who shore for a season in New Zealand with 2017 World Champion Johnny Kirkpatrick blasted his four ovines out in 5 mins 40 sec Having been only a point out from missing a shear in the NZ Golden Shears Junior final earlier this year he had top quality work on the boards Steven Wilson finished some 42 seconds later but had by far the tidiest job out the back and took the Royal Highland Show Junior title, by over three full points

Paddy Dunne was runner-up and Frazer Caldwell came third followed by Samuel, Krause and Ellis

Junior Shearing Royal Highland

Sixty-one hopeful Intermediate shearers with an International flavour vied for prime position and a place in the three heat semi finals recently at the Royal Highland Show

Nine ladies graced the boards with Stirling University Law graduate, Katie Reid, of Crieff, first into the semis. Her attention to detail on the board (13) and out the back (17) teamed with a below average time gave her a total score of 26 850 Matthew Cowan, a member of Gleno Young Farmers in Northern Ireland was 1 15 points in her shadow

Borderer Steven Anderson, who lifted the Young Farmer silver mounted Lister hand-piece earlier in the day whizzed his four out in 5 minutes and 8 seconds, to secure the lowest time score and third place into the semi finals Welshman Jack Samuel, Irishman Luke Magee and another Welsh dragon – Dewi Jones were fourth, fifth and sixth in

Another three lassies made it through to semi-final stage: Lizzie Thompson, Ayrshire, in 13th slot, Kiwi, Cushla Abraham in 16th place and Kate Donald, Stirling was last in – 18th position.

Lizzie Thompson set the pace in the first semi-final, first in for her second sheep, followed by Delo Williams Lizzie had two blows left on the hind leg when Delo fired in for his third, followed by Lizzie, then Ian Wilson and Matthew Cowan in hot pursuit

Delo was managing to maintain a quarter sheep lead on Lizzie until she had a wriggler on the last shoulder of her third Ian Wilson by-passed in for his fourth with Cowan and Thompson slamming catching pen doors simultaneously, in his wake.

Delo completed his five and clocked off at 6mins 6secs, with Kiwi, Dalton Dillon Tangiwai, coming from nowhere to finish second Lizzie was just turning onto the last side of her fourth, with one still in the pen

In the second semi New Zealand lass Cushla Abraham struggled with the big North Country hoggs from Northhouse, having to turn her hand-piece off at one point

It was a two-man race with Border man Anderson and Ayrshire bred Clarke Hibbard, who farms in Aberdeenshire battle it out Anderson timed out at 6 mins 12 seconds, with Hibbard 10 seconds later, while Cushla and Southlander Kiwi Jimmy Johnston went in for their last.

Kate Donald reigned supreme in the third semi. From a spectators viewpoint she had a great shear, leading the way with a speedy time of 6m 30s, well under the 7m 1s average

Delo Williams from Bala, Wales topped the board into the final with Samuel, Jones, Hibberd, Anderson and Magee in tow

The pace stepped up a notch for the

by Eilidh MacPherson

final, with the average sheep shooting down the porthole in 1m 12s It was 1m 44s in the heats and 1m 24s in the semis

Jack Samuel and Steven Anderson duelled for the time points, with Samuel taking a seven second lead – 7m 54s over his seven sheep Dewi Jones from Buith Wells, Wales, was some 17 seconds slower, heavy on the second cuts on the board but his polished job earned him the red sash and the silverware.

Top qualifier into the final – Delo Williams, may have been fourth to finish but kept a tidy job and took the blue sash and cash home to Wales Samuel and Anderson were third and fourth respectively Northern Irelander Luke Magee who had the fewest second cuts but time was not on his side, came fifth and Aberdeenshire farmer Clarke Hibbard was sixth

Royal Higland Young Farmer Shearing

The fifteen Young Farmers who had qualified from East, West and North regions shore a pen of three hoggs in the straight to final heats The Young Farmers Machine shearing event was introduced at the Royal Highland Show in 1959.

Four lassies – Eilidh Little, Callander, Kirsty Findlay, Glasgow, Kate Donald, Stirling and Jane Donald, Biggar YFC unfortunately failed to make the final, with 21 year-old Eilidh just missing out in seventh place

Perthshire lad Jack Simpson, made quality count with the lowest board score and second lowest pen mark to gain top spot into the six-man final

Cameron Armstrong, Biggar YFC, teamed the fastest time – 4 mins 28secs –with the cleanest pen to qualify second Ben Wight of Midlock, Crawford, whose father Alan took out the title in 1988, made sure of his place in the final with the second best board score and third top pen marks

Steven Anderson, form Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, Murray McHarg from Crosshill, Ayrshire and Highlander Lewis MacKay came in fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively

Four flighty North Country Cheviot hoggs faced the Young Farmer competitors in the six-man final, on what must be one of the hottest Highland Show days in years

Cameron Armstrong, son of Lance Armstrong, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire, who has one of the biggest shearing runs in the country, blasted his four out in 5 mins 30 secs to avoid any time penalties

Intermediate shearer, Steven Anderson, who tallied his first 400 on lambs in New Zealand, earlier this year,

by Eilidh

hit his red ‘stop’ button 7 seconds later He maintained a polished job on the board and pushed pinked sheep down the porthole to lift the Young Farmer title and the Lister Silver hand-piece His total score was 32 600 – 11 2 points clear of his nearest rival.

Blackface sheep breeder, Ben Wight, took his time, ensuring each blow was accurate, avoiding second cuts. His tactics paid off with low board and pen scores, landing him second place and the blue sash

Lewis MacKay from Sutherland in the North of Scotland pumped his flock out quicker than the average time of 6 minutes 22 seconds but accrued marks from second cutting on the board He took out third place

Armstrong, McHarg and Simpson were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively

MacPherson

LEGEND IN THE MAKING.

For over 100 years, we have been leading way in high performance shearing equipment.

It’s what you do with it tomorrow.

What will you do next? Lister. Make your mark.

Lister Skorpion

Novice Wool Handling Royal Highland

by Eilidh MacPherson

Astrong International field of 24 from as far as Chile to Norway took their brooms and sweeps to the stage to battle for a straight three place final.

Nineteen year Sonya Fagan, one of the famous Fagan shearing fraternity from Te Kuiti, New Zealand rolled, sorted and swept her wool and her way into top qualifying spot in the Royal Highland Show Novice Wool handling event

Argyllshire lass Sarah Bateman, who first worked for Willie Skilling and is currently wool-handling for Scottish machine team member and current team World Champion, Calum Shaw, swept her boards in under a minute to secure second place

Chilean team member Archie Sepulveda qualified in third place

Time was of the essence once more in the final and Sarah Bateman, who was brought up in Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula, famed for the Paul McCartney song “Mull of Kintyre” went all out for the time points, sweeping up in 1 minute 1 second

The girls tied on 106 points a piece on the table and Sonya had the edge on the board, but securing the time by 40 seconds gave the Scottish lass a one point lead over her Kiwi rival

The South American, who is undoubtedly new to Scottish wool rolling, had the best table mark and took third place

A New Model

We believe there is a simpler and fairer way to work together with wool farmers, and that’s why we are challenging the traditional UK wool sourcing systems.

15th June through to the 28th of July

18th June through to the 25th September 07836 547987

1st July through till end of

4th August through to the 18th August through to the

Please phone to book your wool in to each depot.

If you would like to supply Brannach Olann with your wool please contact Alan Walsh: (+44) 7836 547987 (Scotland, Ireland & Wales) Tom Watson (+44) 7950 314319 (England)

Golden Shears World Champions

World Sheep Shearing Champions

1977 Bath & West, England

1980 Masterton, New Zealand

1984 Bath & West, England

1986 Perth, Western Australia

1988 Masterton, New Zealand

1992 Bath & West, England

1994 Buith Wells, Wales

1996 Masterton, New Zealand

1998 Gorey, Ireland

2000 Bloemfontein, South Africa

2003 Edinburgh, Scotland

2005 Toowoomba, Australia

2008 Bierkrein, Norway

2010 Buith Wells

2012 Masterton, New Zealand

2014 Gorey, Ireland

2017 Invercargill, New Zealand

2019 Le Dorat, France

2023 Edinburgh, Scotland

Roger Cox (NZ)

Brian Quinn (NZ)

Tom Wilson, (Scotland)

Mark Conlan (Australia)

David Fagan (NZ)

David Fagan (NZ)

Alan MacDonald, (NZ)

David Fagan (NZ)

David Fagan (NZ)

Shannon Warnest, (Aus)

David Fagan (NZ)

Shannon Warnest, (Aus)

Paul Avery (NZ)

Cam Ferguson (NZ)

Gavin Mutch (Scotland)

Rowland Smith (NZ)

Johnny Kirkpatrick (NZ)

Richard Jones (Wales)

Gwion Evans (Wales)

World Sheep Shearing Teams

1977 Bath & West, England

1980 Masterton, New Zealand

1984 Bath & West, England

1986 Perth, Western Australia

1988 Masterton, New Zealand

1992 Bath & West, England

1994 Buith Wells, Wales

1996 Masterton, New Zealand

1998 Gorey, Ireland

2000 Bloemfontein, South Africa

2003 Edinburgh, Scotland

2005 Toowoomba, Australia

2008 Bierkrein, Norway

2010 Buith Wells

2012 Masterton, New Zealand

2014 Gorey, Ireland

2017 Invercargill, New Zealand

2019 Le Dorat, France

2023 Edinburgh, Scotland

New Zealand: Roger Cox and Godfery Bowen

New Zealand: Brian Quinn and Martin Ngataki

New Zealand: John Fagan and Colin King

New Zealand: Rikki Pivac and David Fagan

New Zealand: David Fagan and Stephen Dodds

New Zealand: David Fagan and Kevin Walsh

New Zealand: David Fagan and Alan MacDonald

Scotland: Geordie Bayne and Tom Wilson

New Zealand: David Fagan and Paul Avery

Australia: Shannon Warnest and Ross Thompson

New Zealand: Dean Ball and David Fagan

Australia: Shannon Warnest and Daniel McIntyre

New Zealand: Paul Avery and Johnny Kirkpatrick

New Zealand: Cam Ferguson and David Fagan

New Zealand: Cam Ferguson & Johny Kirkpatrick

Scotland: Gavin Mutch and Hamish Mitchell

New Zealand:John Kirkpatrick & Nathan Stratford

Scotland: Gavin Mutch and Calum Shaw

Wales: Richard Jones & Gwion Evans

World Wool Handling Champions

1996 Masterton, New Zealand Patrick Shelford (NZ)

1998 Gorey, Ireland Angharad Lewis (Wales)

2000 Bloemfontein, South Africa Aroha Garvin, (Aus)

2003 Edinburgh, Scotland Joanne Kumeroa (NZ)

2005 Toowoomba, Australia Joanne Kumeroa (NZ)

2008 Bierkrein, Norway Sheree Alabaster (NZ)

2010 Buith Wells Bronwyn Tango (Wales)

2012 Masterton, New Zealand Joel Henare (NZ)

2014 Gorey, Ireland Hilary Bond (England)

2017 Invercargill, New Zealand Joel Henare (NZ)

2019 Le Dorat, France Aled Jones (Wales)

2023 Edinburgh, Scotland Rosie Keenan (Scotland)

World Wool Handling Teams

2000 Bloemfontein, South Africa New Zealand: Tina Rimene & Leanne Peeti

2003 Edinburgh, Scotland

2005 Toowoomba, Australia New Zealand: Tina Rimene & Joanne Kumeroa

2008 Bierkrein, Norway New Zealand: Joanne Kumeroa & Sheree Alabaster

2010 Buith Wells New Zealand: Sheree Alabaster & Keryn Herbert

2012 Masterton, New Zealand New Zealand: Joanne Kumeroa & Joel Henare

2014 Gorey, Ireland Wales: Meinir Evans & Aled Jones

2017 Invercargill, New Zealand New Zealand:Joel Henare & Mary Anne Batty

2019 Le Dorat, France New Zealand: Sheree Alabaster & Pagan Karauria

2023 Edinburgh, Scotland Wales: Ffion Jones & Sarah Rees

World Blade Shearing Champions

1992 Bath & West, England Tony Dobbs (NZ)

1994 Buith Wells, Wales Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo (Lesotho)

1996 Masterton, New Zealand Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo (Lesotho)

1998 Gorey, Ireland Ziewilelle Hans (South Africa)

2000 Bloemfontein, South Africa Ziewilelle Hans (South Africa)

2003 Edinburgh, Scotland Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo (Lesotho)

2005 Toowoomba, Australia Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo (Lesotho)

2008 Bierkrein, Norway Ziewilelle Hans (South Africa)

2010 Buith Wells Zingesele Elliot Ntsombo (Lesotho)

2012 Masterton, New Zealand Ziewilelle Hans (South Africa)

2014 Gorey, Ireland Mayenzeke Shweni (South Africa)

2017 Invercargill, New Zealand Mayenzeke Shweni (South Africa)

2019 Le Dorat, France Allan Oldfield (NZ)

2023 Edinburgh, Scotland Bonile Rabela (South Africa)

Fit Clips not rings

M O V E R S & S H A K E R S

As the team continues to grow, Elanco’s monogastric division has appointed Josie Troop as a new strategic account manager

Having previously worked at 2 Sisters Food Group and holding experience in a food buying role for Prestige Hampers, Ms Troop brings knowledge from across the supply chain

She says: “I’m excited to work closely with the team and build strong relationships with my customers across the broiler, layer, and swine industry, sharing knowledge of how our added value services and portfolio of products can support their needs

“I’m pleased to say the monogastric industry has welcomed me with open

arms, which is a good indication of how positive the industry is as a whole While each sector faces challenges, gaining exposure to these on farm and at company level is vital,” says Ms Troop.

She explains that she is excited to be joining Elanco, with its longstanding credibility, personal development and driven culture There is great scope for progression

“I hope my broad knowledge and understanding of the supply chain will allow me to provide added value to my customers, enabling them to further optimise animal performance through optimal intestinal health,” says Ms Troop

Scottish agricultural charity RSABI has announced the appointment of Shirley Hastings as its new Case Officer for the Highlands and Islands

The charity, which provides financial, practical, and emotional support to those involved in Scottish agriculture, received a remarkable 649 applications for the role, developed in response to growing demand for the charity's services

Shirley will play a key role in RSABI's welfare team, delivering a wide range of services and also serving as a member of the team responding to calls to the charity's 24-hour freephone Helpline, 0808 1234 555 She will also

engage with local organisations and stakeholders to increase awareness of the support RSABI offers, while staying closely connected to the issues people in agriculture are facing in the region

Shirley joins RSABI with a decade of experience working for Police Scotland, including five years serving as a front-line Detective Constable within the Public Protection Unit and overseeing Fort William's first Public Protection Unit Her experience of a wide range of welfare issues will be valuable for her role, along with her background in farming, having grown up on a family farm in Dumfries and Galloway

Scottish agricultural charity RSABI is delighted to announce the appointment of Gregor Wilson as its new Communications, Marketing and Events Executive and Stephanie Lawler as Finance Administrator

Joining RSABI with a strong design background, Gregor's experience in digital, interactive and environmental design will prove valuable in his new role with the charity, which provides emotional, practical and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture

Gregor's role with RSABI will focus on driving awareness of the wide range of services offered by the organisation,

ranging from emotional support via free counselling to practical support such as mediation, Help for Heating grants and a range of other financial support.

The role will also involve taking a lead in organising RSABI's presence at events around the country and establishing and growing strong relationships with local organisations and stakeholders

Based in Ayrshire, Gregor is not from a farming background but enjoys helping out on a local livestock farm at the weekends He is very much looking forward to working with the RSABI team

As part of its long-term succession plan, John Deere is appointing Deanna M Kovar as the future president of its Agricultural Machinery business, effective Nov 1st, 2023, beginning in fiscal 2024

Kovar will oversee Regions 1 (Africa, Middle East and Asia) and 2 (Europe and CIS), the presidency for the Agricultural Equipment business and the Turf businesses. She previously led the Precision Agriculture business unit.

Kovar will spend the remainder of this year familiarizing herself with the new role in addition to her existing responsibilities As of Nov 1st, she will then be given full responsibility for this post On that date, Markwart von Pentz will assume an advisory role to CEO John C May before his retirement in 2024

“I’m proud of what we ’ ve accomplished with John Deere in Europe, Africa and Asia over the past years Now is a perfect moment to pass on the baton and I can think of no better successor than Deanna″ , summarized von Pentz

Von Pentz, a native of southern Lower Saxony, has been one of two global presidents of the Agricultural Machinery business since 2007 In his long period as a board member, even for John Deere, he has played a major role in shaping and significantly strengthening the company's position and economic power, particularly in South America, Europe and Asia, over a period of 16 years.

Von Pentz also set in motion the company's realignment toward the digitization of agriculture

It is precisely in the digitalization of agriculture that Kovar is a proven expert: In her previous position, she was responsible for the area of Precision Agriculture and was instrumental in the company's transformation into a "Smart Industrial Company″ and in the introduction of the "John Deere Production Systems ″

“For me, it was exciting to observe Mark's early commitment to digitalization and our common goal was always to meet the complex and digital

demands of farmers,″ Kovar described her cooperation with her predecessor In the transition phase to the new position as Head of Europe, she will be trained by von Pentz in the Small and Medium-Sized Agricultural Machinery and Turf divisions

Fife based Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge to her role with extensive experience as Regional Administrator for Hook2sisters' Scottish operation. She has a background in HR, finance, payroll and health & safety, making her a valuable addition to the team

Stephanie is passionate about providing a high level of customer service and excited about joining the RSABI team "We are delighted to welcome Gregor and Stephanie on board to deliver such important roles for RSABI

It is vital that awareness of our services continues to grow and that people in difficulty know we are here for them 24 hours a day, every day," said Carol

McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI

"Too often we hear from people who have been thinking about contacting us for weeks or even months. The sooner people get in touch, the sooner we can start helping them get back on track."

RSABI's freephone Helpline - 0808 1234 555 - is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and calls won't show up on phone bills All enquires are treated as confidential by the organisation's friendly, professional team

You can also reach RSABI via the webchat function on its website www.rsabi.org.uk, 24 hours a day or by emailing helpline@rsabi.org.uk

Lemken offers New Versatile Karat Cultivator

LEMKEN’S Karat 10 three-beam cultivator is now entering the market in extensive mounted and semi-mounted versions.

From the first glance, it appears clearer than previous models as the tines are arranged symmetrically around the tensile axis, making the machine extremely low-draught and avoiding side draft

This is particularly important when using the cultivator with track guidance systems At the same time, it ensures intensive mixing

The tine arrangement is just one of the core areas that Lemken has improved even further in its Karat cultivator, which has been incredibly successful for many years

Also, the wing shares for shallow cultivation have been widened

Alternatively, narrow shares can be

used for deep cultivation All shares are optionally available in carbide

DeltaCut shares can be used for ultra-shallow cultivation. The standard quick-change system allows the shares to be changed quickly and easily for working depths of up to 30cm.

Centrally adjustable levelling tines ensure even levelling Specially shaped levelling discs, which provide good working results on heavy soils are optionally available

Also newly available are boundary discs and tines that can be folded up mechanically or hydraulically

Drawbars in a range of types and lengths open up even more versatile applications in professional crop production and allow it to be used with tractors with twin tyres

The cultivator can be equipped optionally with a hydraulically

adjustable leading disc section This ensures that large volumes of organic matter can be incorporated even better into the soil.

The discs, which are individually suspended on leaf springs, chop organic matter and break up coarse soil clumps so that the machine can mix soil intensively and work without clogging

The new Karat 10 cultivator is available in mounted and semi-mounted versions, with working widths between three and seven metres

A traction booster and the ContourTrack system, which ensures an even working depth in hilly terrain are available for the semi-mounted models

Customers can choose from the full range of Lemken rollers, if required A following harrow for removing soil from roots can also be optionally mounted

JCB LAUNCHES ZERO EMISSION 403E COMPACT ELECTRIC LOADER

JCB is introducing its first full electric wheeled loader, delivering best in-class performance and full working day use, with low noise and zero-emission operation being ideal for work in livestock buildings, glasshouses and alongside farm and horticultural staff

The machine boasts the largest standard battery pack in its class, with 20kWh capacity, providing productivity that matches the popular 403 diesel model

Features include:

• 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack is largest capacity in the class

• 33 4kW drive motor (peak power) with three driving modes

• 20kW hydraulic pump motor (peak power) with shovel and fork modes

• ZF axles with an integrated drop-box for permanent four-wheel drive

• Digital dashboard and rotary controller for precision operation

MACHINERY

JCB is expanding its full electric equipment line-up, with the launch of the 403E wheeled loader, helping farms and horticultural businesses meet the challenge of carbon reduction The machine is powered by a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack, assembled from proven JCB modules, as pioneered in the company ’ s existing range of electric equipment These batteries, coupled with high efficiency electric motors, optimised traction and hydraulic systems, deliver class-leading performance, with the loader capable of completing a full working day, or 4-5 hours of continuous use in a mixed duty cycle

In common with the JCB E-Tech range, the 403E has a built-in charger that allows connection to a range of on-site power sources. A 110V socket will fully charge the batteries in 12 hours, while a 230V industrial or

RING BENEFITS!

domestic plug will charge the battery pack in just 8 hours. JCB’s off-board rapid charger delivers a full charge from a three-phase supply in just 2 hours.

The machine is equipped with two independent electric motors, one for the driveline and one for the hydraulics

The drive motor offers 33 4kW of power and comes with three driving modes, that the operator can toggle between using two buttons on top of the joystick

Hare Mode has a maximum drive speed of 20kph for the most dynamic performance and productivity

Tortoise Mode is limited to 8kph for improved speed modulation This contributes to increased battery life with no compromise to lifting performance

Snail Mode has a 5kph maximum speed, that can be adjusted in 0.5kph increments through a new rotary controller and the multifunction display. This delivers precise speed control for

Speak to your local Machinery Ring about opportunities when purchasing Case IH tractors, combines and balers.

precision driving and inching.

Drive is transmitted through an integrated drop-box to ZF axles that can be supplied with open differentials or with differential locks for maximum traction The loader is offered with a choice of narrow or wide wheels, plus the option of agricultural or industrial tyres, making it suitable for a wide range of applications

Carried over from the 403 diesel model, the loader arms are available in standard and high-lift configurations

The standard lift arms deliver a pin height of 2 9m, while the high-lift model achieves a 3 1m pin height Both loader arm set-ups come with a hydraulic quick hitch as standard and the loader arms provide true parallel lift.

The 403E offers a tipping load of 972kg with pallet forks, within a transport weight of just 2,671kg This puts the 403E within EU trailer towable standards, making it an ideal machine for use on farms with more than one set of buildings, as well as for contracting, landscaping, fencing and other related

activities. A heavy-duty counterweight is available as an option, increasing the tipping load by 118kg and the transport weight by 121kg

The machine has a single joystick with a proportional auxiliary controller on top An optional second auxiliary roller can be provided, allowing the operator to access all loader functions from one lever for faster operation

The machine has a 20kW high efficiency hydraulic pump motor and the hydraulic system offers two operating modes, controlled by a rocker switch on the main console Shovel/ bucket mode provides dynamic response, while the fork mode delivers increased precision control.

A programmable constant flow auxiliary feature is also standard, to power motorised attachments such as bedding spreaders used in cubicle houses or open yards, hay and silage bale processors, and yard sweepers, with the operator setting the flow rate through the main display and rotary controller

The 403E is offered with a fixed or folding canopy initially, with a fully glazed cab as an alternative from Q3 in 2023 There is a new multifunction digital display, controlled by the rotary controller to the right of the loader joystick. The operator can use the rotary controller to set auxiliary hydraulic flow rates, inching travel speeds and other settings within the display The monitor also provides all critical machine operating data, including driving mode, state of battery charge and travel speed

The wheeled loader joins a rapidly growing range of full electric machinery within the JCB line-up, including the 2 5 tonne, 6m lift Loadall 525-60E telescopic handler, which also mirrors the capabilities of its diesel-engine counterpart while providing zero emission performance at the point of use

With reduced noise levels and machine vibration, the 403E is a comfortable, highly productive zero ººemission loader, capable of working with a range of attachments.

First UK Sighting for New Fe

FENDT chose the Royal Highland Show as its first event in the UK to exhibit its new Corus 500 straw walker combine harvester

The entry level model sits in the up to 260 horsepower segment and the range includes nine five-straw walker models with working widths up to 7 6 metres

The Corus range offers power outputs of 185-260 horsepower from a four or six cylinder engine, with all

models benefiting from a new electro-hydrostatic drive.

The new machines feature an ergonomic joystick connected to the armrest, panoramic windscreen and an onboard computer with two optional cameras for an improved view

Richard Miller from Fendt said: “Scotland has always been an important market for our combines so it is fitting that the first opportunity for operators

to see the new model was at this year ’ s Royal Highland Show.

“This year we also had the latest Rogator 600 MY23, Cargo T740 loader with its elevating cab, and a variety of tractors including the new 728 Gen 7, which was launched earlier in the year, on the stand “These new Gen 7 700 series tractors are available for pre-order and demand is already proving encouraging,” he said

by Chris McCullough

endt Combine

NEW to the intensive tractor loader market Fendt has launched its Cargo 6 range with a host of features including a dedicated valve block and a new weighing function.

Fendt says the Cargo 6 will be available on the new Gen7 700 Vario tractors and is the first Fendt loader to be fully independent, making it possible to use all the tractor valves with the loader attached

Ed Dennett from Fendt said: “It is a function that will help in so many situations Having a loader with three independent functions, lift, tip and a third valve, without using valves needed for other implements will save operators time and enable tractors fitted with this loader to be more versatile ”

A clever new hydraulic locking function enables tools to be changed in

any position with the added benefit of an easy-to-use mechanical lock and without having to crowd back the loader fully.

Maintenance time has also been considered by positioning all hydraulic components in the cross beam to reduce dirt and mechanical damage

The loader has a continuous lift capacity of 3500kgs and a maximum lift capacity of 4150kgs This combined with a 4 85m lift height and a loader frame width of 1 14m offers greater loading stability and flexibility, especially with the new 2 55m wide bucket

The top CargoProfi model features an integrated weighing function offering both individual and total weight in each position The button activated weighing function is also fully integrated into the Varioterminal, so operators can access

MACHINERY RING BENEFITS!

Speak to your local Machinery Ring about opportunities when purchasing Case IH tractors, combines and balers.

New Lo a de r Ran g e fro m Fen dt

loading data such as the counter and target weight

A new ‘ memo ’ function will also store boom and tool positions which will be especially popular on machines used by multiple operators. Operators can limit the lifting height and tilt angle, and store these as pre-sets, which will help to reduce the risk of catching low buildings or when loading very high trailers

End position and speed-dependent damping ensures the front loader is raised gently and smoothly and will help to minimise losses, whilst a shake function has been introduced to help deposit stubborn materials

Hydraulic accumulators act as shock absorbers to prevent vibrations and a built-in cushioning system, together with front axle suspension and cab suspension to improve ride comfort

Opico Launches three-in-one HE-VA Cultivator

Anew version of the HE-VA Combi-Disc was launched by Opico at the Cereals event

The ‘Stealth’ variant of the ever-popular combination cultivator gains ultra-low disturbance legs and a choice of different points depending on the level of sub-surface action required

Now available in working widths from 2 45m to 5 25m in both mounted and trailed formats, the Combi-Disc employs two leading rows of soil loosening legs followed by two rows of serrated Sabre discs to provide a surface chopping and mixing effect. This is all followed up with a V-profile roller to produce a corrugated, weather-proof finish.

It is this combination of soil-engaging elements that makes the Combi-Disc such an adaptable tool In normal circumstances the tines, discs and press are used in partnership to turn previously uncultivated ground into a seedbed in one pass

When conditions require it, the discs can be lifted completely out of work, enabling the unit to be used as a straightforward subsoil loosener/pan-buster

Likewise, with the legs lifted out of contention, the machine can be put to work as a straightforward shallow disc cultivator

The addition of new ‘Stealth’ soil-loosening legs add further to the Combi-Disc’s versatility, making it a true low disturbance subsoiler with the added ability of being able to provide some surface tilth creation at the same time

Opico’s HE-VA product manager Glenn Bootman said: “With the increased focus on regenerative practices, we ’ re seeing a need for cultivation kit that can reduce soil disturbance but still deal with compacted layers in the soil profile to ensure decent drainage and rooting to maximise crop potential

“With this new leg option for the Combi-Disc we are answering that requirement The basic principle is medium-depth, low disturbance soil loosening combined with shallow surface cultivation I believe that now makes the Combi-Disc one of the most adaptable tillage tools on the market ”

The 15mm wide Stealth low disturbance leg and low disturbance point are the product of many years of development Whilst large numbers of growers are now moving towards reduced tillage systems they appreciate that drainage is key to crop development, allowing timely field operations and preventing the relentless progress of grass weeds such as blackgrass

The Stealth leg and point that HE-VA has developed allows deep soil loosening whilst minimising surface disturbance and preventing mixing of the soil profile

The narrower legs are made from ultra-strong Hardox steel and can be interchanged with standard 25mm wide subsoiler legs as necessary However, it is the point that really makes the difference The Stealth standard 120mm low disturbance point has a shallower wing angle and shorter nose that has been designed to open up the soil to create drainage fissuring without mixing the whole soil profile.

Those wanting increased soil loosening across a wider profile can opt for a wider 200mm point. Both widths are available with and without long-life tungsten facing

by Chris McCullough

Tel: 01772 690575

Feed Silos and Flex Auger Fill Systems

KUHN has launched its new high capacity Lexis 3800 trailed sprayer which, with a 3800 litre capacity, is the largest in the range, with two further models offering 2400 litre and 3000 litre capacities

The Lexis is compact and lightweight, with a maximum length of 6 9m and an overall width of 2 55m Featuring aluminium booms up to 28m, the Lexis

still has an unladen weight of just over three tonnes

The latest model also features new 1 85m diameter tyres with a very high flexion (VF) option from 320 to 520mm which will help to reduce compaction and protect soil health

The Lexis can be specified with Kuhn’s Manuset manual rinse operation, which only requires two main

valves that are controlled from the operator's control station

Multifunction handwheels reduce handling operations by up to 50 percent and the ergonomic design means valves are easily operated for a simple, trouble-free set-up

During rinsing, a complete turn with the delivery circuit handwheel ensures that the water drawn in by the pump is

Kuhn Launches New Lex

conveyed into all sprayer circuits The rinsing tank level gauge, visible from the workstation, also enables easy sequencing of the rinsing operations

The new Lexis is also available with Diluset+ which offers operators assisted management of filling and dilution of residual volumes

Spraying can be operated using Kuhn’s Canbus control box, a CCI 800 or

1200, or any other Isobus terminal

It is stable and manoeuvrable because the shape of its tank has lowered the centre of gravity This improves stability, even with a reduced track width of 1 5m or when spraying on gradients The short tow eye-axle distance of 4 3m coupled with the track assist gyroscopic steering drawbar system also improves tracking in the

tractor wheels

The Lexis can be fitted with CCE individual nozzle control, Autospray PWM technology or the Boom Assist Extreme contour control system

Kuhn’s CCI Connect solutions and MyKuhn portal also provide remote access to the machine and feedback on the tasks performed to harness valuable operational and application data

by Chris McCullough

MICHELIN launched a new version of its popular ‘2-in-1’ EvoBib tyre that performs well both on the road and in field

The EvoBib was the first agricultural tyre on the market specifically designed to be used with Central Tyre Inflation Systems (CTIS)

In field use, the tyre’s footprint is maximized due to the tread design, and its very low-pressure structure, utilising Michelin Ultraflex Technology, which reduces soil compaction and improves the tractor ’ s traction capabilities

When in road use the reduced footprint and the central rib of the tread pattern cut rolling resistance, while longevity is improved and fuel consumption is reduced.

The new tread design has also been adapted to optimise longevity and offer excellent traction capabilities until the end of the tyre’s life In the new EvoBib, the tyre casing is now PFO (Pressure Field Operation) rated, a standard that allows manufacturers to increase the

by Chris McCullough

Michelin launches new version EvoBib tractor tyre

load capacity of their tyres for field use.

The new EvoBib has a footprint variation of 47 per cent between road and field, double that of a VF tyre such as the Michelin AxioBib 2, that would have usually been used with a CTIS

It increases in traction by 15 per cent, compared to a competitor ’ s VF tyre with a hybrid tread pattern and the same traction capability as a VF tyre with a lug tread pattern, under normal field conditions

Fuel consumption is also improved, close to that obtained using a standard road profile tyre While there’s a reduction in consumption of two litres per hour, compared to a competitor ’ s hybrid VF tyre and a reduction of one litre per hour compared to Michelin AxioBib 2 with CTIS.

Two sizes of Michelin EvoBib, VF 710/70 R 42 and VF 600/70 R 30, are now available, which can be used on tractors between 200 and 300hp, equipped with CTIS The range will be expanded later in 2023 with the addition

of new sizes for larger tractors of more than 300hp.

With this new addition, Michelin now has a complete range of solutions for powerful tractors

In order to help customers make the correct tyre choice, Michelin has made the following recommendations:

If more than 80 per cent of usage is in fields and/or difficult working conditions, Michelin AxioBib 2 is preferred because of the traction capabilities offered by its lugs

If the tractor runs between 20 and 80 per cent field use, Michelin EvoBib with CTIS makes it possible to optimise all performance characteristics on the road and in the field, for users looking for a return on investment.

And, if the field usage is less than 20 per cent, therefore mostly road use, and the tractor is not required to work in extreme conditions, Michelin RoadBib will be the most suitable option due to its increased longevity and the fuel savings it offers

INCREASED output and improved material shredding were just two of the improvements shown on a Lowlander 120 Hybrid (HY) Horizontal beater and spinning disc (HBD) spreader at the Highland Show

Built by GT Bunning and Sons, the smaller Lowlander 105, 120 and 150 MK4 HBD spreaders are equipped as standard with a 1500mm-wide beater design

However, users looking for greater output from these machines can choose a 1,830mm HY beater option, that uses the same processing design fitted to the bigger spreaders from the Lowlander 150 HD (Heavy Duty) up to the tri-axle Widebody 380 HD HBD

The HY option uses the Widebody beater design on the three Lowlander 105, 120 and 150 MK4 HBD models.

Bunning’s HBD range uses horizontal beaters to break down material before

spreading via the 1.1m wide spinning discs. The design allows a wide variety of products, such as farmyard manure, compost, chicken litter and sewage sludge, to be spread accurately to 30m and over

Ben Johnson, UK and Ireland sales manager for Bunning, says the upgrade is a useful addition for operators requiring increased output, but wishing to retain the benefits of a smaller machine

Ben said: “Upgrading to the Widebody beaters allows greater output from a smaller spreader and means more material can be processed on to the discs than with the standard system

“The increased width of the beaters can deliver a more even flow of some products at high rates, which, in turn, can give wider and more consistent spread patterns.”

by Chris McCullough

Bunningincreased output option for smaller spreaders

DESIGNED FOR ALL YOUR FARMING NEEDS

BOBCAT SKIDSTEERS AND EXCAVATORS SUIT A RANGE OF USES

As your Bobcat dealer covering Dumfries & Galloway and The Borders, Lloyd Ltd offers their range of robust skidsteers, mini-excavators and tracked loaders to suit a wide range of applications.

With Bobcat-trained engineers and expert advice from our Parts Departments, Lloyd Ltd provides both sales and aftersales support for customers across the agricultural industry and beyond.

Contact your local Lloyd Ltd branch for more information.

Héctor Garcia & Francesc Miralles (2020): The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way, Quercus Editions, London, £ 14 99

More Japanese wisdom by the author team Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles, presented in a beautiful little mintgreen hardcover book – perfect for a gift

Ichigo Ichie means something like: what we are experiencing right now, will never happen again We might run into the same people in the same place, but we will not be the same, we will be older or our situation has changed Nothing will ever happen again in the same way With the right frame of

The author captured forty "farms" in the Cumbrian countryside during a 12-month-period Every farm is different and true to her word "there is no such thing as a typical farm " Cumbria is not all about sheep and lakes as one might think at first It is also about forestry, charcoal making, education, chickens, AI, service stations, and much more.

"Beef, sheep, words" she introduces the famous author James Rebanks and his farm She shows many facets The farm stories are very educational, thought-provoking and solution oriented There is "old," farming from another era and there is "new," highly efficient and mechanized mind, every day can be an opportunity to create special moments and with it a more fulfilled life. And don't wait for the right circumstances, as if life would go on forever. The ordinary can become extraordinary. Ichigo Ichie depends on our ability to listen, see, touch, smell und savour the moment, doing only one thing at a time and putting our heart and soul into it, as if it were the last thing we were going to experience on Earth

"Be a hunter of special moments" as the authors say The more we practice, the better we get and the better we feel about our life Their book is a good source of inspiration and ideas to help us on our journey

At times, she is brutally honest, especially in her photos showing farmers in their homes, at their kitchen tables, in private moments The reader learns about the incredible challenges these people face and the decisions they have to make, that will shape the future of this landscape

The glossary of explaining agricultural "technical terms" is great for non farmers and farmers alike. The Author is a farmer, photographer and based on a Cumbrian family farm and this book shows her attachment to this beautiful part of the world

Plus: At £40 it is a great price for a coffee table book! Small minus: Printed in China

by Petra Jacob

Sun and Capers

Malta is the smallest EU country.

The Republic of Malta is only 316 km² – the smallest country in the EU and consists of the three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino The archipelago is located about 90 km south of the Italian island of Sicily.

The early morning arrival by boat in the Grand Harbour of Valletta is highly recommended with the old walls shimmering honey yellow in the morning sun Valletta was founded in the 16th century by knights of the Order of Malta as the first city in Europe The harbour is one of the largest and deepest natural harbours in Europe and on the

UNESCO World Heritage List

Covering only one square kilometer, it is also the smallest capital in the world

The sun is shining, as it is on 300 more days a year In summer 12 hours a day, in winter up to six. Malta's climate is strongly influenced by the sea. Winters are mild, summers hot and dry, temperatures are often tempered by a cooling sea breeze Holiday weather almost all year round makes this island very attractive According to official figures, before the Corona pandemic, around 3 2 million visitors flocked to the country in 2018 Within ten years, the number of visitors had almost doubled!

The tourism industry is one of the most important sources of income for the Maltese economy, along with the financial and construction sectors and the manufacturing industry, accounting for almost 13% of GDP Agriculture, on the other hand, accounts for less than 2%

With annual rainfall of only about 500 mm and without proper rivers and lakes, Malta is extremely arid. "Water scarcity is a major problem for agriculture," confirms Maltese agronomist and agricultural journalist Jeanette Borg In addition, the island of Malta in particular is very urbanized, and as a country with the highest population density in the EU

In Gozo, agriculture plays a more important role, because larger underground water resources can be used But with over half a million inhabitants and several million holidaymakers every year, Malta is dependent on food imports Most of the food comes from Italy, but also from Spain, Tunisia and Egypt

The sun shines 300 days a year and it attracts over 2 million tourists, four times as much as inhabitants. But it has little agriculture and depends on food imports.

The most important relocation for Maltese agricultural products happens at the wholesale market of Pitkali, about 10 km inland from Valletta The market is state-owned, where farmers and gardeners sell their goods to the Malta Food Agency or the FCCS, an agricultural cooperative The products are then sold on to retailers and supermarkets Just minutes away from Pitkali, the farmer's market of Ta' Qali takes place In a dusty parking lot, it is an unsightly collection of battered vans and simple market stalls The goods are available in plastic containers and cardboard boxes: fruit, vegetables, chestnuts, grapes, brandies, honey, cheese, meat and bread. To protect against the intense sunlight, some of the stands are covered with canvas tarpaulin It is 11 o'clock in the morning, a considerable part of the vegetables and fruits are already in bad shape, they are withered, dusty and dented The customers don't seem to mind, everything that is available here is produced exclusively in Malta and that is what counts

Fresh and inviting look the goods Lucija Borg's has on offer She stands a little apart; she has set up a folding table in front of her car, on which a lot of greenery is laid out On her apron and on a sign on the roof of the car is written "Gozo Asparagus " The name already reveals that asparagus from the neighbouring island of Gozo is sold here: the 450-gram bundle of thin spears for €5.50, the thicker bundle for €6.50. The green asparagus were freshly harvested the day before Asparagus season in Gozo is twice a year, in spring

from March to May and in autumn from September to October, she shares with her customers

"Gozo Asparagus" is a family business, at peak times everyone helps, her husband Joseph, daughter Loraine and sons Anthony and Emmanuel On just under half a hectare on the outskirts of Xaghra overlooking the bay of Ramla, they grow "a little bit of everything," as she says, also for their own use This morning on offer are olives, squash, very large garlic cloves and many different vegetables and herbs The week before they had fresh chard and yellow cherry tomatoes, she says The products are produced without chemical additives. Lucija Borg got up at 4 o'clock in the morning, because it takes her two hours to come from Gozo, with a ferry invovlved She will stay here, until everything is sold, she says

About 2 km away as the crow flies, on the horizon behind the stalls the foothills of the Dingli plateau is the silhouette of Mdina (left) Its origins date back to Bronze Age The Romans had built a strong fortress wall around Mdina and neighboring Rabat, which from afar is very reminiscent of Jerusalem's old town

Meridiana is Malta's flagship winery and was established in 1985 by Mark Miceli-Farrugia and has today around 9000 visitors annually He invested in a cellar, vines and experimented with varieties. To start with he had to make the land on the former military airfield fertile. Before grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay could grow here, he grew peas and wheat

On the way you pass: a dog park, a cat village, a veterinary clinic, sports field and here and there houses, before there is a large stretch of fields. There grow vegetables, olives, pomegranates, figs and grapes The vines are cut remarkably short The ground is very stony, the fields enclosed by dry stone walls, which are totally overgrown with prickly pears, a type of cactus The combination wall and cactus act as a windbreak and protects the soil from eroding The prickly pears can be eaten or pressed into tasty juice

Unfortunately the wanderer will also come across many wild rubbish dumps in the countryside – because Malta has a big waste disposal problem

The old part of Mdina on the other hand, is a feast for the eyes and the palate. There is magnificent architecture and horse-drawn carriages. Not far from the old city walls, the Peristyle restaurant is recommended for its down-to-earth cuisine A Maltese speciality is roast rabbit No other European country eats more rabbits than Malta, the serving waitress confirms There are a few commercial farms where rabbits are kept like chickens, she says But the meat would taste very different

Most of the of the rabbits however come from small enterprises who only have a few rabbits, like her grandfather.

According to official figures: around 550 000 rabbits are slaughtered in Malta every year, which is more than in any other EU country; 500 000 of the animals came from backyard farms, the remaining 50 000 from commercial facilities with slaughterhouses

5 km southwest of Mdina on the coast lies the Dingli cliffs and is recommended as one of the great sights of Malta The terraced fields sloping down to the sea are very impressive, a few part time farmers have planted gardens and small fields here At a particularly beautiful vantage point, a shrewd saleswoman has set up her stand Maltese products are very popular with tourists, she knows that. She sells fig bread, juice from prickly pears and pomegranates, tea from carob; the apples and carob come from her own garden, she says.

A typical Maltese product are capers When asked where they grow, you often get the succinct answer in Malta: "Everywhere " And indeed they grow in the most unforgiving spots like on rocky ground (above) The friendly stall owner leads to an inconspicuous bush

with leaves crawling along the ground Its small green buds are picked in early summer, then soaked in water and salt for at least three weeks It's a lot of work, she reveals In Valletta, the Interspar supermarket has 700-gram jars on the shelf for €3 They come from abroad, agronomist Jeanette Borg is quite sure of that The capers picked and processed in Malta are a delicacy and a 350 gram jar costs around €5

At the checkout at Interspar in Valletta a large poster advertises: "We are working successfully with 48 countries." In fact, the majority of food in Maltese supermarkets comes from abroad, confirms agronomist Jeanette Borg Only about 30% of the food needed in Malta is produced in the country itself Domestic agriculture is often unable to compete with imported goods in terms of price Maltese agriculture faces difficult conditions: water scarcity, small farms, inefficiency and high land prices For young people, the profession is not very attractive, the average age of farmers is 55 years The Ukraine crisis and the shortage of grains a little while ago showed how risky it is for country like Malta, that imports almost all its cereals

BOOK – 200 Farmers of Scotland – NOW £20 when ordering direct

Every farmer has a story to tell This book covers the diverse range of Scottish farmers and crofters from those farming the rugged hills of the Highlands to the sandy loams of the Lowlands. From owner occupiers, tenant farmers, share farmers, crofters, farm managers, starter farmers, to new entrants, farming from 10 acres to 31 000 acres – the people are as diverse as the landscapes and environment in which they work

Scotland covers 7.8 million hectares, of that 5.7 million or 73% is farmland, or 79% if common grazing is included. This book has photographs of 200 farmers and interviews with 109 from across the country from Orkney to Berwick and Durness to Stranraer within its 288 pages It is available from individual bookshops and farm outlets or direct from the author To order direct: drop an e-mail to Eilidh MacPherson at editor@farmingscotland com or private message on facebook – farmingscotland com for details