Headland News Issue 47: Grassland Focus

ISSUE 47 | GRASSLAND FOCUS

This is the 47th issue of Headland News and my first as managing director.

As ever we face the challenges of producing the nation’s food given current market uncertainties and price volatility, both in terms of higher input costs, fertiliser, fuel and feed, and lower prices for commodities. This has meant that British farmers have had to remain as resilient as ever.

The Kverneland offering of efficient machinery solutions, two-year warranty and extended 0% finance schemes helps to combat these challenges. This edition of Headland News concentrates on improvements gained in efficiency, accuracy and output applicable to everyday tasks on the majority of livestock farms. Common thinking states that you ‘can’t buy time’ but the majority of contributors in this edition speak of reducing the time taken to do a specific job. They have been able to use Kverneland technology to automate processes, providing them with a valuable asset: their time. Whether that’s using a bedder instead of unrolling bales, increasing feeder capacity to reduce the number of feed mixes, or using a wider mower to drop grass quicker.

For the 2024 season, Kverneland has launched new innovations in all areas of the forage and feeding range. With time savings in mind, the new kit is bigger and faster than ever before.

Dan Crowe

SHOW DATES

Royal Welsh Grassland 30 May

Aberystwyth University Farm, Trawsgoed

Royal Highland 20–23 June

Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

Royal Welsh 22–25 July

Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

UK Dairy Day 11 September

Telford International Centre, Telford

AgriScot 13 November

Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

More feeding options from Siloking

A host of updates are available across the Siloking feeder range, including a new battery-powered range of eTrucks, a stepless auger gearbox on trailed models and the ability to run self-propelled diesel models on HVO fuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).

This second generation Siloking eTruck now includes models from 12-20 cubic metres capacity, and unlike its predecessor, the range has been designed from the outset as a robust, high-tech 20 cube model.

The design concept makes it easier to produce smaller eTruck models that have been engineered from the same rangetopping 20 cube machine, rather than upscaling a 12-cube model.

As a result, the eTruck sheds its former lead-acid battery power in favour of advanced battery technology with lithium ion phosphorous cells, creating a 96-volt battery-electric vehicle. This advanced BEV technology affords low-noise, zero-emission feeding that can deliver from two to four mixings without recharging, and projected battery life allows for 3,000-5,000 full charge cycles.

The eTruck uses Siloking’s SelfLine cab, centrally mounted at the front of the chassis.

High capacity TrailedLine mixers, which offer twin and triple auger designs, are available with Variospeed – a stepless gearbox that requires less horsepower to drive and lower start-up torque to engage.

It is a development that allows larger capacity mixers to be operated without the need for ever more powerful tractors.

Three pre-defined auger speeds can be selected to suit cutting, mixing and emptying, with push-button control available, along with activation from the handler used for loading.

The benefits of Variospeed can include reduced fuel consumption, easier speed changes for enhanced mixing efficiency, plus lower driveline vibration.

Working with its engine supplier, Siloking has thoroughly tested and approved the use of HVO fuel in its self-propelled feeder wagons. Compared to diesel, HVO has been proven to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent, and can be used as a direct replacement.

MORE BUTTERFLY MOWERS

Two new butterfly mower conditioners have been launched, which fit between the 8.7m 5087MT and 10m 53100MT Vario, giving more choice for farmers and contractors.

Badged 5387MT and 5395MT, these new models can also be equipped with BX swath groupers. Based on the 3300-series mower platform, the new models provide fixed working widths of 8.75m and 9.5m respectively, using pairs of beds mounted on a butterfly folding frame.

Where the 5387MT uses 3.2m eight-disc beds, the 5395MT uses 3.6m nine-disc beds. Common to both models is the use of round cutting discs, each carrying two ProFit quick-change blades.

Both models use the proven QuattroLink bed suspension system, which uses a multi-link mechanism that affords 700mm of vertical movement and 30 degrees of transverse movement. This pull-type suspension enables each bed to negotiate demanding ground conditions at high forward speeds. QuattroLink also provides a non-stop safety break-back mechanism across the full working width of the mower bed.

Semi-swing steel tine conditioners are used on both models, and with a range of adjustments for the conditioning plate at both the front and rear of the hood, the two models offer fine-tuning of the conditioning intensity to suit different crop types and conditions.

As non-ISOBUS butterfly mowers, both the 5387MT and 5395MT are supplied with in-cab switch boxes that provide easy set-up, with an extensive range of adjustments that can also be made on-the-move.

Adding the BX belt-type swath grouper to the 5387MT and 5395MT adds yet more flexibility to mowing, as the full cutting width can be placed into a large single swath, with each grouper placing the outer swaths onto the central row.

Raising the BX swath groupers out of work allows three individual swaths to be left –and these can also be spread out across the full working width using the butterfly mower’s integral, wide spreading hoods.

Based on the 15.6m 85156C, this new trailed 85134C offers a 13.4m working width from its 12 rotors. A flexible frame concept provides accurate contour following to ensure rotor assemblies float independently of the trailed chassis. A hydraulically operated swath board can be used to prevent over-spreading on headland boundaries for this ProLine model, which uses six tine arms per rotor, carrying Super C tines.

SPECIAL OFFERS ON KIT

Take advantage of some fantastic deals on Kverneland unused old-stock and ex-demo kit at heavily discounted prices, which can be viewed at uk.kverneland.com/specialoffers. Models that come up for sale will be updated every two weeks, and can represent a huge saving over the cost of the very latest models. For example, a 2022-model single rotor rake is currently available with an on-farm price of less than £4,000 – a saving of over £2,000 on the retail price of a new order; and an FHP 200 flail chopper is available with an on-farm price of less than £8,500 – a saving of over £4,000. And all transactions will be completed by your local Kverneland dealer. For more details on these and many other Kverneland machines, visit uk.kverneland. com/special-offers

FASTER SWATHING WITH ROC RS

ROC swath mergers, which have been part of the Kverneland range for the last 12 months, now include RS models alongside existing RT versions. Designed for short crop conditions, the RS is all about speed and crop flow, and is capable of merging at forward speeds of around 20kph.

Much of the improved crop flow has been achieved through a redesigned pickup. Now with a ground-hugging lower profile, the pickup also runs 20% faster than those used on RT models. The RS pickup also uses rearward facing hook tines. In addition, a roller crop press with curved shield prevents crop from being thrown high in the air, helping to move crop onto the swath belt.

ROC RS models also benefit from a new design of swath belt which incorporates a shallow toothed pattern on every fourth slat. This contributes to the machine’s high-speed conveying capability.

Models is the RS range include the front-mounted RS380, and the trailed RS730 and RS1000 models, the latter capable of collecting up to 10m of crop.

STRAW SAVING ABILITY

As herd manager at EH Holdstock’s Elbridge Farm near Canterbury, Kent, Martin Russell is keen to make the most of all available resources. And that includes straw.

“Before I got the 863 shredder bedder, I had been using around 100 round bales of straw each week for our 200 pedigree Sussex cows, plus followers,” explains Martin, pictured. “Now, consumption has dropped to around 60 bales.”

“The 863 simply processes bales far better than just unrolling

them, or letting the stock knock them around once the net is removed,” he says. “Blowing performance is great and our muck is a much more consistent quality from having better straw distribution.”

Supplied by Lister Wilder, the trailed 863 shredder bedder will process around 2,500 bales/year.

While the majority are five-foot straw bales used for both feeding and bedding, a proportion of bales will also include four-foot round bale hay.

“I can now feed the hay bales through the 863 shredder,” he says. “The spout is very easy to control, as is the flow of material going through the machine. I can drop hay down the side of the 863 right against the feed barriers, and this leaves the material in a teased-out fluffy row that is easy for the livestock to eat.”

Martin reckons the switch to a shredder bedder has made life much more efficient in many ways.

“It’s much more than better use of straw and hay,” he says. “It’s turned bedding into a less frequent and much faster process, which also gives me time for other work.”

MAXIMUM SHREDDING CAPACITY

An all-new flagship bale chopper joins the Kverneland range and it’s called the 866 Pro. Replacing the proven 856 Pro, the new model boasts a six cubic metre capacity, and the ability to handle bales up to 2m in diameter.

A key feature of the 866 Pro is the introduction of a hydraulically activated belt clutch. This new element allows the shredding rotor to run independently of the flywheel. Activated from the cab, this feature lets the operator achieve maximum flywheel speed before starting the shredding rotor, reducing the risk of blockage in the flywheel.

“The 863 simply processes bales far better than just unrolling them, or letting the stock knock them around once the net is removed”

He says that while the rear door affords self-loading, he prefers to use the farm’s telehandler, and then use the rear door and its adjustable bale bar to simplify net removal.

“I’m really pleased with how it operates,” he says. “While you can add more blades to the rotor for a finer chop, the results I get are superb. It doesn’t smash the straw, and it continues to process poorer quality, wetter bales, into something that can be fully utilised.”

With a host of upgrades over the model it replaces, the 866 Pro includes dual shredding rotors that sit in front of a larger flywheel housing, with material fed out through a larger and wider, four-stage swivel chute.

Using smaller diameter rotor tubes affords a larger shredding area around each rotor, which provides improved access to the flywheel to deliver greater

throughput with material flow. Complimenting this redesign is a wider flywheel housing, increased from 30cm up to 35cm, again focussed on improved material flow.

The 866 Pro’s chute, being wider than the 856 Pro, has less tapering towards the end of the flap which contributes to improved blowing performance. In addition, a deflector plate

now sits between the flywheel housing and chute, for better material guidance.

Optional side extension plates can now be specified above the twin beaters, increasing capacity and reducing spillage. These work in conjunction with the rubber extension piece that is fitted to the top guard, above the mechanical comb.

Feeding more efficiently

JH Dorrington’s 300-cow herd and its followers have been fed at White House Farm using a total mixed ration for decades – the accuracy of rations helping the farm to maintain output and preserve milk quality.

“We’re running with an average of 4.5% fat and 3.5% protein across 10,200 litres,” explains Zara Dorrington, who runs the family’s livestock with head herdsman Matt Keyworth, pictured. “TMR is the best way for us to manage intake, and it’s not just for the cows – when housed, all our stock are fed this way, including the youngsters.”

The farm relies heavily on producing milk from home-grown forage which requires around 1,700 tonnes of grass and 3,500 tonnes of maize each year, supplemented by whole crop. Being located in Dunsby, Lincolnshire, where dairy farms are few and far between, the 800ha mixed farm runs its own forager for grass, to stay in control of dry matter and energy.

The only exception is maize and whole crop, which does rely on contractor services.

“The nearest grass silage contractor is over 90 minutes away, so we run our own equipment to make the most of timings with grass,” adds Zara. “With a multi-cut system, we can focus on producing the highest quality grass silage by taking more frequent, lighter cuts when our leys are at their best.”

When it comes to feeding, the Dorringtons have successfully used a Siloking Classic, Premium 14 model for a number of years. Supplied by Irelands Farm Machinery, the single auger mixer had performed well, but with expansion plans on the horizon, the farm found itself managing a

progressive shift of numbers within its cow groups.

“We were having to make an extra two mixes per day to accommodate the growing herd size and its groups, which simply became a time-consuming task,” says Zara. “Group numbers increased from 90 to 130 head, which meant that our single auger feeder wasn’t really big enough to remain efficient.”

Two years ago, JH Dorrington swapped its Classic Premium 14 for a twin auger Classic Duo 22, and haven’t looked back.

“We had been pleased with the mixing performance and reliability of the Siloking, so it was an easy decision to choose another, but with more capacity,” says Zara. “With raised feed passages, we opted for a front cross conveyor and tub magnets. We’ve no requirement for rear doors.”

With no in-parlour feeding at White House Farm, rations have to be delivered with a high degree of accuracy and consistency. And Siloking Wireless data transfer provides the level of management required between farm office and control box.

“The control boxes are mounted in the feeder tractor and the telehandler,” explains Matt Keyworth. “And it’s a very accurate system. The only difference with the Duo 22 is that our previous Siloking gave an

“We had been pleased with the mixing performance and reliability of the Siloking, so it was an easy decision to choose another.”

audible warning when you were within 10% of the required ingredient weight, and again at zero. It meant you didn’t have to keep a constant eye on the screen to precisely hit your target.”

“That said, feeding is still much quicker, and easier,” says Matt. “Having that bit more capacity means we can easily prepare 35 tonnes/day in just four mixes. And even when the herd is grazing through the summer months, there are still daily rations to produce. Feeding is now far more efficient, and much quicker.”

ADDING PRECISION TO CONTRACT SERVICES

For Haworth Agricultural Contracting, applying fertiliser for customers extends to around 10,000 acres each year. And with HarvestLab NIR sensing for its umbilical slurry spreading, having the ability to accurately top-up N, P and K levels in sensitive areas with a twin disc spreader has never been more important.

“We provide full traceability for all our customers with everything we apply, whether that’s slurry or bagged fertilisers,” explains Kevin Haworth, pictured. “This has now become an essential part of the process, and lots of our customers not only see the benefit of this technology, but they are actively asking for it, for compliance.”

Based at New Field Farm, Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria, Kevin and son Lyam, operate a general contracting business in an area dominated by livestock and grassland farms. Land comprises upland and lowland areas surrounded by nature reserves, national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

MAKING THE MOST OF FORAGE

“When it comes to fertilisers, we have to consider what goes on and where, and in addition to machine reliability, we want the best accuracy on the market,” he says. “Lyam had heard about how good Kverneland’s GEOSPREAD was, so that was the route we took.”

With plug and play ISOBUS simplicity through the Haworth’s fleet of John Deere tractors, Lyam says accuracy is on another level.

“I didn’t believe it until I’d used GEOSPREAD for myself,” says Lyam Haworth. “Now, I wouldn’t look at another make of spreader. The ability to isolate areas that don’t require fertiliser, and provide traceability, is a huge asset for our business.”

He says the rolling landscapes in which they operate can show up

To increase productivity with silage making at Nether Blairock Farm, James Morrison invested in a 9472C twin rotor rake last season. Supplied by HRN Tractors, it has just been joined by a mower conditioner and a tedder, for 2024.

“Labour is scarce, so you need to invest in good kit that will make life easier and also buy you time,” explains James Morrison, pictured with his dad Robbie. “And we’ve been looking at how we can improve the quality of forage we make.”

That forage includes clamp silage and up to 500 round bales each year, which the Morrisons, from Deskford, Buckie, rely on for its livestock with up to 20 suckler cows, 300 fat cattle plus 500 breeding ewes and 1,500 lambs housed across the 750-acres farmed.

Having seen the benefits a Kverneland twin rotor rake brought for the farm’s trailed forage harvester, the Morrisons

decided that more kit needed to follow, to further help improve upon silage quality.

“The rake has been a superb bit of kit,” says James. “With its rear axle that can be raised and lowered, road transport is very safe. And it makes a great swath. I also like the way HRN Tractors has supported us, and also helped with making the right equipment choices for our business.”

He says the next step was to replace an ageing 2.4m mower with a 3232MN that cuts a wider 3.2m swath.

“As well as going wider, we also swapped from steel to nylon tines to keep weight off the back

the worst in any twin disc spreader, but he’s yet to see any form of over-dosing or under-dosing after a full season’s spreading.

“We operate with an 18m spread width for grassland, which suits rolling and undulating ground,” he says. “But if there’s tramlines available, then our output improves.”

Supplied by CT Hayton with three hopper extensions, the Exacta TL GEOSPREAD is used at around 15kph.

“It’s a sensible speed, in fields that average around 10 acres in size, and few fields are flat,” he says. “I’d probably change to an iDC model next time with hydraulic drive, to eliminate the pto shaft and operate with greater fuel efficiency.”

“Labour is scarce, so you need to invest in good kit that will make life easier and also buy you time.”

of the tractor,” he says. “And the tedder will help to shorten drying times, particularly with the weather being so catchy near the coast around Moray Firth.”

James says the rake has proved invaluable, and in combination with the tedder, it gives the farm the option of also moving straw in the swath.

“We also grow 300 acres of barley, though harvest isn’t until September in this region,” he says. “There are times when we need to tidy up rows or move straw to dry it – it’s why we opted

for a four-rotor tedder, as it suits the width of the combine. And now we can do this with ease.”

“Apart from the contractor’s baler, we’re now very much in control of the quality straw and silage we produce,” he says.

INVESTING IN OUTPUT

With shorter weather windows and the aim of producing the highest quality silage for its 180-cow herd plus 80 suckler cows and followers, W&R Murdoch has long been in control of silage making at Murroch Farm, Dumbarton.

“My grandfather always said if we can do the job ourselves, we’ll make the best silage every time,” says Robbie Murdoch, pictured, who farms with his brother William, and parents Robert and Liz.

Mowing 600 acres each season in several cuts, the Murdochs are focussed on productivity. Since shifting from a trailed forager to a small self-propelled, attention has turned to mowing performance.

“We’d been running a trailed 4032 moco, then we added a frontmounted 3632FN,” explains Robbie. “Going to 6m was great, but the time was right to go wider, so we replaced the 4032 with a 5087MT butterfly.”

Supplied by J&S Montgomery for the 2023 season, the 5087MT uses a pair of eight disc, 3.2m mower

beds with semi-swing steel tine conditioners.

“A lot of folk wonder why we’ve such a big mower on a small dairy farm, but there are two key advantages to going wider,” he says. “The first is that we now drop the grass in less time, so it has more opportunity to wilt before we chop. We prefer not to ted, so we spread as wide as possible using the mower’s hoods.”

“And the second advantage is that I don’t have to spend as long mowing – having bigger kit frees up time to do other things, like milking or getting kit ready,” he says. “When silage quality is everything, I’d say many dairy farms would benefit from going as wide as possible.”

Used on a John Deere 6930 tractor, he says one field in

particular stands out as proof of better productivity.

“I’ve a 17-acre field that always took me 75-80 minutes with the 6m front/rear combination,” he says. “Now, it takes just 45-50 minutes. I’m travelling slower but cutting wider, thanks to an extra 3m of mower bed. And there are

“It is a very well-balanced combination that leaves much cleaner stubbles to help regrowth.”

fewer headland turns because I’m cutting more with each pass.”

“It is a very well-balanced combination that leaves much cleaner stubbles to help regrowth,” he says. “And when it’s not in use, the butterfly folds up neatly for storage.”

SAVING TIME AND BOOSTING OUTPUT

Scott Hall knows that you can’t buy time, but you can buy kit that saves you time. It is why he invested in a 5087MT butterfly mower with 3332FT front mower from his local dealer Farmstar.

“Adding an extra 3m has been a game changer for us,” explains Scott Hall, pictured, with daughter Martha and Dom Ravenscroft, at K Hall & Son’s 1,000-acre Lower Halstead Farm near Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

With a focus on making around 1,000 round bales of high-quality silage and hay for its beef and

sheep, the Halls have been putting the emphasis on being much more efficient.

Scott says the outfit is handled easily by the farm’s frontline John Deere 6250R, and with auto steering guidance, the full 8.75m working width is cut every time, often with daughter Martha at the controls.

“Grass is dropped quicker, so it has more chance to dry,” says Scott. “The steel tine conditioners get wilting off to a good start, though we always ted everything, sometimes twice. It means the mowers don’t need to leave rows that match the width of our rake.”

With a mix of field sizes and very few that are flat, Martha reckons that having a tractor that’s stable enough to handle the kit is as important as power.

“Using 250hp on just 6m was not very efficient,” says Martha. “Now when I go mowing, I can make better use of the tractor power, and despite a slower

forward speed, output has now increased considerably and balance is much better when making headland turns.”

As soon as the grass is down, the focus can turn to tedding.

“Weather windows have got shorter, and more unpredictable, so we don’t need to spend days mowing, to risk the grass getting spoiled,” she says. “This is a great combination that also leaves clean stubbles, and the beds match up perfectly.”

“There is plenty of flexibility too – you can use any combination of the three beds when cutting the last bits of a field, and you don’t necessarily need big fields to make the most of a triple mower. It’s a very nimble set-up.”

FLEXIBILITY FROM FLAILS

While a bat-wing topper has traditionally been the obvious choice for those looking to tidy up pastures, stewardship schemes or stubble management, Dorset farmer David McKie bucked the trend and opted for a pair of flail choppers.

His logic was simple – use both on one tractor where practical, or use them independently on the back of two smaller tractors where space and manoeuvrability can be challenging.

“Compared to a trailed bat-wing machine, opting for a front/rear combination of linkage-mounted flail choppers has brought much more flexibility to our business,” explains David.

Trading as RJ & S McKie, David McKie and his parents run a mixed farming operation comprising dairy, beef and cereal enterprises from the 1,000-acre Hound Hill Farm, Wimborne. Milk from its herd is available locally through several vending machines under the Allen Valley Milk brand.

Elsewhere, brother Joe runs a satellite dairy herd on 400 acres in Cumbria that also sits under the RJ & S McKie banner. Collectively, the brothers share knowledge and resources for the

benefit of developing their respective farming businesses.

“It’s all about being efficient and choosing the right equipment for what we need to achieve,” he says. “But equally important is having dealers that can provide first-class back-up and support – and C&O Tractors is near the top of our list.

When it comes to field topping and stubble management, he says it was dad Richard’s conversation with local dealer C&O Tractors that led to a different solution at Hound Hill Farm.

“We quickly ruled out a trailed bat-wing for its physical size,” adds David. “We have a mix of field sizes, and some of the smaller paddocks would be awkward with a large trailed topper.”

“The quality of cut is excellent, while the rolled finish leaves a neat and tidy appearance.”

“And having one tractor with front linkage and pto meant we could consider a front and rear flail combination,” he says.

“We settled on Kverneland’s FRO 280 for the front and an FHP Plus 250 for the rear. This gave us a generous total cutting width of around 5.3m.”

As the mid-sized model in a range of three FRO models, the 280 provides a 2.8m working width. It offers hydraulic side-shift for offset working, and with a double headstock design, it can be used on either end of the tractor without modification.

At 2.5m wide, the FHP Plus 250 is the widest of three and uses a parallel linkage to achieve a lateral offset. This linkage also means the chopper can operate above and below horizontal, which is useful for mowing ditch banks or embankments.

“We liked the idea of being able to use both flails simultaneously on one tractor in larger fields, making the most of a good work rate,” he says. “But we also have the flexibility of using both on the

back of two smaller tractors, where space and manoeuvrability can be a challenge. And with the offset available, we can now do a lot of boundary work that previously would have needed to be done with the hedgecutter.”

David says that both flail choppers are equipped with rear rollers, which leave a high-quality finish, similar to a mown lawn.

“The quality of cut is excellent, while the rolled finish leaves a neat and tidy appearance,” he says. “If we’re clearing any overgrown areas with the FRO model up-front, it cuts a path for the tractor. Unlike a trailed topper, you don’t have to risk running the tractor in any undergrowth where punctures or other damage can occur.”

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