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farmingscotland.com
ADVERTORIAL
Issue seventy-six • April 2011
Aerial Spraying & Top Dressing
T
hose of you who are entitled to S.F.P and L.F.A.S.S support will most likely have received correspondence from SGRPID or from NFUS high-lighting the fact that among other factors, allowing bracken to create impenetrable or ungrazable areas on their crofts, farms and estates, are likely to be penalised severely, if not physically removed, or deducted from the eligible area shown on the IACS form. At worst the penalty could involve not only the entire current support for 2011 but also applied in retrospect for the years 2007,8,9. M.F.H. Helicopters Ltd, a firm which undertakes aerial bracken control, asks for this to be taken as a ‘wake up call’ by landholders who may be afflicted with the aforesaid problems and who may wish to solve it by bracken control through aerial spraying.
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M.F.H. Helicopters Ltd have been industry leaders for 21 years. And today their fleet of Robinson R44 helicopters, equipped with the latest no-drift Helispray systems and Satloc M3 DGPS mapping, carries out 70% of all aerial bracken control in the UK. Managing-Director Nicholas Hawkings-Byass says, “Aerial Spraying with Asulox to control bracken is at the very core of our business. We have invested a large amount of resources in developing both the technology and methodology to ensure you get the best results from your investment.” MFH is always proud to convey that they use some of the world’s best pilots to execute the complicated helicopter manoeuvres required for accurate aerial spraying. Hawkings-Byass says that “The calibre of our pilots ensures the spraying is as accurate and therefore,
as effective as possible. We are so sure of this, that we guarantee our results with our unique Quality Guarantee.” He adds “Our greatest asset is the experience and professionalism of our pilots and ground crew who ensure all this technology is put to the best use. Our operating bases in Yorkshire and central Scotland, together with our fleet of ground support vehicles and experienced pilots gives us the flexibility to be on site when our clients want, and in the best spraying conditions.” MFH also do hydroseeding. In the late 1990s they were approached by the pioneer Geoff Eyre who asked them to find a way of aerially applying pure Eyre-energised Calluna Vulgaris seed. Given that there are 12 million of these seeds in a litre bottle the technical challenge in achieving their uniform distribution was significant.
MFH Helicopters did, however, find a solution and now several thousand acres of what was white ground are now clad in heather. They have also developed aerial hoppers which are attached to the helicopter and not underslung. These greatly improve the application rates and productivity of both larger seeds as well as prilled products. If you would like a detail discussion of these land management options, please contact MFH Helicopters on 0207 499 2233, or via email at info@mfhhelicopters.co.uk or visit the website www.mfhhelicopters.co.uk. They can advise you, without obligation, on everything from grants to follow up, and give you a quote per hectare or acre for aerially applied bracken control.