The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has released further funds from its crisis fund to help those affected by the latest flooding.

It is the second time in a month that emergency funds have been released via its helpline, 0808 281 9490. Since mid-October, the organisation has also given emergency grants to 15 families affected by Tomlinson’s Dairies going into administration – and applications are still being received.

Sustained wet weather has put a strain on many rural communities, particularly in the north of England and Midlands. As of yesterday (11^th November), there were five severe flood warnings across the UK – all associated with the River Don – in addition to 39 flood warnings and 99 flood alerts.

RABI CEO Alicia Chivers said: “We are working closely with other farming organisations to make help available quickly to people who need it. By simplifying our criteria and application process, we will fast-track assistance to farmers affected by the latest floods.

“Having provided over £25,000 in emergency grants due to the flooding in Yorkshire, we know how devastating the impact of extreme weather can be for farmers.”

Long-term solutions

NFU is urging the next government and its agencies to develop long-term strategies to mitigate future flood risks, as farmers are reporting the worst rainfall in living memory – particularly in the East Midlands and north east of England. Prime farmland has been badly affected, with thousands of acres under water.

Prolonged wet weather has meant many farmers and growers have been unable to finish harvesting crops such as maize and potatoes, and are expecting severe delays in drilling and sowing winter cereal crops. Meanwhile sugar beet farmers are unable to get machinery onto wet ground to lift sugar beet, and livestock farmers are being forced to bring animals in weeks earlier than usual, resulting in higher costs for feed and bedding.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “The rainfall that some parts of the country have been experiencing over the past few months underlines the vulnerability of farming businesses, the fragility of returns to farmers, their exposure to volatility and ultimately resulting in an impact on their bottom line.

“It’s why the next government and its agencies need to take water-related issues seriously. Some of our most productive and highest value agricultural land is vulnerable to flooding and deserves to be protected.

“Any future domestic agricultural policy must ensure there are measures in place for farm businesses to manage volatility, particularly in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather.

“We also want to see adequate funding available to enable us to have the right resources to take on the enormous challenge and opportunities of future UK water management. The UK has £20bn of flood defence assets yet too little is being spent on upkeep – this spending must be increased.”

She added that we are starting to see breaches of flood embankments, such as the recent incident at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire, which must be looked at urgently.

Maintaining your machinery’s cooling system is important to all year-round performance, but extra care must be taken during the winter months. Anti-freeze and coolants keep engines cool in the summer and offer frost protection in the winter, without which the system could freeze and cause engine damage that is impossible to repair. Therefore, it is vital to use a quality product, according to lubricant specialists the Witham Group.

As winter looms, anti-freeze and coolants prices are set to rise considerably due to some unique market influences. For example, there is likely to be an increase in demand from China following US trade talks, which will create a tightening of supply across Europe.

It is expected that Brexit will continue to have an adverse effect on the strength of the pound. Brexit could trigger not only finished material price increases due to currency changes, but also a possible delay in bringing tankers from the EU into the UK.

While the weather is an unknown factor, extreme cold spells as we head into winter would lead to increases in demand – inevitably putting pressure on tightening suppliers.

The Witham Group says it has secured good rates on bulk orders from coolant manufacturers, to ensure there is enough supply at the best price for customers. In addition, they offer a range of three products, to suit different budgets and applications. The company provides officially approved OEM coolant products for trucks, buses and vans, as well as cars, construction machines and agricultural tractors.

Witham Group managing director, Nigel Bottom commented: “Witham is encouraging customers to place orders for anti-freeze/coolants as soon as possible to get the best value price and to help avoid any unforeseeable spikes in demand or price increases. We are advising new and existing customers to get in touch as soon as possible to help ensure supplies are available going forward.”

While many growers are struggling to drill winter wheat crops, those that have managed to get some in the ground have also been contemplating the potential effects of the challenging conditions on weed control and crop safety from pre-emergence herbicides.

It will be a more challenging year to marry efficacy and safety, says Ben Giles, commercial technical manager for Bayer. Here are his top 7 tips for how to achieve the best results.

1. Be aware of the dangers. Areas of poor crop establishment are going to be a problem this season due to wet conditions. These areas are vulnerable to weeds such as black-grass growing in large numbers. However, it is important to be careful when using herbicides as there is an increased risk of serious crop effects due to very wet soil and relatively weak crops.
2. Roll if you can. In wet conditions, rolling after drilling is challenging but if possible is highly beneficial. It can help close any open slots and push more soil over shallow drilled seeds by breaking down clods on top of them. Improving seedbed quality by rolling slows down the movement of herbicides through the soil, preventing crop effects.
3. Adapt the programme. The split residual strategy of a pre-em followed by another application 10-20 days later is difficult this season due to ground conditions. A one hit approach is more likely but heavy herbicide loading at this one application will increase the danger to crops, especially when they are already stressed. Overall, the big stacks and sequences used in recent seasons are not suited to this autumn.
4. Chose the safest timing. The true pre-emergence timing, within 48 hours of drilling is the safest time to apply residual chemistry. The true peri-emergence timing when the crop is just appearing through the soil is the highest risk timing, particularly for big mixes of residual chemistry. Allowing the crop to get bigger than peri-emergence will tend to lessen the crop effects but weed control will be compromised.
5. Select tank-mix partners carefully. Under conditions of stress in very wet soils, Liberator (flufenacet + diflufenican) is likely to be safer than Crystal (flufenacet + pendimethalin) as a base to the programme. Adding further chemistry to the mix increases the risk of crop effects depending on field conditions. Tank mixes containing prosulfocarb or pendimethalin are likely to be particularly risky at the peri-em timing.
6. Understand how herbicides act in very wet soils. Apart from diflufenican, most residual herbicides are primarily root acting and move through the soil to the weed rooting zone to take effect. In very wet soils, actives may move slightly deeper to the crop rooting zone and cause crop effects. In addition, crop rooting is often poorer and shallower in wet conditions, increasing the risks particularly on lighter soils.
7. Expect some minor crop effects. Where herbicides are applied, there is likely to be some crop yellowing and bleached halos on leaves. These effects are usually transitory, but they will slow the growth of the crop while it shrugs off the effect. But keep in mind that weeds will also be feeling the effects and are far more susceptible than the crop.

The Midlands Machinery Show Special Feature from Farmers Guide November 2019 Issue.

Reinventing the wheel

Visitors to Agricast’s stand at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show (20-21st November) will be the first to see the company’s new PRR-610-LW wheel and range of subsoiler points. Following the successful launch of the 610 and 710 Press Roll Rings at last year’s show, the company has developed a lighter version of the wheel. 

The new PRR-610-LW is designed for use on Simba SL and DTX machines, which use 276mm diameter steel tubes. Agricast says it is fully compatible with original parts and offers greater durability than the original equivalent part.

“When we reinvented the wheel last year with the introduction of the 610 and 710 Press Roll Rings there was incredible interest in them,” explained general manager William Robinson. “We hope to create the same amount of buzz at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show when we introduce people to the PRR-610-LW.

“We’ve worked very hard to engineer a new wheel that offers exceptional value for money combined with the highest quality and longevity. We have also been hard at work developing a new range of Pro-Lift Points which offer exceptional durability through the use of Tungsten Carbide and hard facing.”

Agricast’s new Heavy Duty Pro-Lift Points will make their show debut at the November event alongside the PRR-610-LW. The stronger and longer lasting part was developed because farmers were reporting faster wear on standard points, due to harsher weather conditions. The new point, which is designed to fit Simba Pro Lift legs, is substantially broader on the front end and over a kilo heavier than Agricast’s range of standard points.

“Last year’s weather was challenging for many farmers and conditions this year have been no different in some areas of the UK,” Mr Robinson added. “We heard over and over again that the dry conditions were increasing wear on points, so we decided to do something about it.

“We’ve taken our standard point, which is an extremely popular part, and added extensive Tungsten Carbide and hard facing to it. We’ve also made the point slightly wider and heavier. The result is a replacement part that has proved incredibly resilient in tests. We hope it will be a popular choice.”

As well as the new point and press roll ring, Agricast will once again be showcasing its High Strength Wheel. Since unveiling the wheel at last year’s Midlands Machinery Show, it has sold over 1,000 of the 24-inch, 8-spoke super strong wheels. The 1,000th wheel arrived in New South Wales, Australia, just before the show.

As well as being stronger than alternatives, Agricast said it is significantly cheaper than comparable wheels and will fit most leading machines – including Cousins, Dal-Bo, HE-VA, Twose and Simba/Great Plains.

“We’ve been really pleased with the way our High Strength Wheel has been received,” Mr Robinson noted. “We developed this new eight-spoke design to offer farmers, contractors and manufacturers a stronger ring at a more competitive price point compared to Ductile Steel. 

“We spent a lot of time on the computer designing this new ring to ensure that it’s as strong as it can be. We undertook load analysis and extensive testing to ensure it is robust and long-lasting. Unlike other rings on the market, the key advantage of the Agricast High Strength Wheel is that the wearing edge of the ring still contains plenty of metal compared to its rivals.”

Established in 1987 and based on the family’s Lincolnshire farm, Agricast is the UK’s leading Cambridge roll ring specialist and also supplies a wide range of press rings, disc blades and subsoiler wear parts. The company also offers bespoke alterations and fabrication services.

Visit Agricast on Stand 27 at the Midlands Machinery Show (20th and 21st November), in the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall, Newark Showground. 

“Fantastic results” from moisture monitoring system

The ability to accurately and automatically check moisture content of wet grain while it passes through a grain drying plant has long been the challenge for grain dryer suppliers.

After many years of research and development, BDC Systems Limited – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – now has its own system, which became commercially available this spring.

Using bespoke sampling units designed and developed by the company, grain is taken from both the incoming (wet) elevator and outgoing (dry) elevators on a plant. These samples are then processed through a multi-chamber duct, incorporating a Sinar moisture probe specifically designed for this application. Live readings showing the moisture content of both samples in a percentage format are displayed on a screen, along with a graph showing the moisture trend. Historical data is also stored in the system’s memory for future reference.

Due to a change in staffing arrangements at R Caudwell (Produce) Ltd, based in Ludborough near Grimsby, assistant farm manager Mark Storr was looking for a way to increase the efficiency of the existing grain drying plant. BDC Systems was able to supply a new control panel with integrated Moisture Monitoring System and remote access.

Mr Storr said: “I found myself in the situation where the grain dryer required more of my attention during the harvest period, and I can’t be in two places at once.

“BDC Systems in conjunction with its dealer Peacock and Binnington was able to engineer me a solution that allows me to remotely monitor and adjust my dryer from anywhere with a 4G signal. And the fact that I can keep track of the moisture content of the grain entering and leaving my dryer means I can leave it for extended periods, freeing me up to do other jobs.”

BDC’s technical manager and head of product development, Matt Grainge, commented: “Following extensive on-site testing at several plants around the country over the past few years, it’s very pleasing that this system is proving itself a valuable tool in the real world. We are even more excited about the next phase where this information is used to predictively control the dryer; we have had some fantastic results
this harvest.”

Much of the product development was carried out with the assistance of Benny Smith of Manor Road Farm in Wantage, Oxfordshire. Mr Smith commented: “After three years of development work at my grain store, the BDC Moisture Monitoring System has now become a valuable tool during the harvest season.

“I can instantly see any changes in grain moisture going in to the dryer or coming out, and react accordingly. It’s easy to operate and the information is easy to see at a glance. This is what I have been waiting for!”

Another of the test sites was Kensham Farms near High Wycombe. Owner Charlie Edgely said he was hugely impressed: “It’s absolutely fantastic. It saved precious time during harvest because at a glance I could see which way the incoming and outgoing grain moistures were trending and I could make adjustments to the dryer accordingly.

“Previously, wet samples were taken from the intake pit and dry samples had to be taken from the final destination bunker, which could be awkward and time consuming. Everything is now really convenient: we have the sampling point next to the grain store office and the control screen in the office next to the other grain store control panels.” 

Drying silos bring advantages over on-floor system

A Buckinghamshire farming business has reported many benefits from its latest investment in a grain drying silo system including easier management.

The Carington Estate’s first drying silo was erected in 2016 and a further silo system has recently been installed at another of its farms.

The new 42ft diameter Sukup Europe stirring drying silos have a storage capacity of 592t. They are filled and emptied through a Skandia I-Line conveyor system with drive-over intake pit. The silos have a powder-coated paint finish to the wall sheets to blend in with the many trees that surround the site.

Chris Singer, farm manager at the 1,675ha farming business said that compared to the business’s on-floor drying stores the silos have a smaller footprint and are vermin proof. “With the intake pit systems that we have installed it is quicker, easier and tidier to fill and in some situations this means that we can run one less tractor and trailer and there is no reliance on a telehandler for loading or unloading,” he added.

“We have experienced grain compaction and restricted airflow when pushing up damp grain with a grain pusher in our floor stores but this is not an issue in the silos. With the stirrers operating from an early stage of the filling process, drying and conditioning is quicker and cheaper.

“The silos are easier to manage, require less power for drying and also have tax advantages over buildings.”

A further fourth silo is due to be erected at the original site this autumn.

Sukup Europe will be exhibiting at the Midlands Machinery Show 2019.

Growth for rear discharge spreader range

Machinery company Harry West has announced that it will increase its product line up, following the successful introduction of the West Maelstrom rear discharge spreader.

The range has been increased with the addition of optional items to give four new capacity machines.

Maelstrom 8 is now available in the following sizes: Maelstrom 8, 8m³; Maelstrom 8 c/w timber extensions, 10m³; and Maelstorm 8 c/w galvanised extensions, 12m³.

The Maelstrom 14 will also be available in the following sizes: Maelstrom 14, 14m³; Maelstrom 14 c/w timber extensions, 16m³; and Maelstrom 14 c/w galvanised extensions, 18m³.

New L-Line spreaders ‘offer improved performance’

A new range of tractor mounted twin disc fertiliser broadcasters has been launched for the small-to-medium-scale grassland or arable farmer. Keith Rennie Machinery (KRM Ltd) says the new line improves spreading performance and ease of use.

The new L-line consists of 2 models with capacities to match 600kg big bag sizes. The L15 has a basic capacity of 700 litres (approx one bag), which can be increased by adding easy bolt-on extensions to 1,600 litres (approx 2 bags plus a spare), and offers spread widths from 12-18m. The L20 also has a base capacity of 700 litres (approximately one bag), which can be increased to 2,050 litres (approx three bags plus spare) and offers spread widths from 12-24m.

According to KRM, the L15 and L20 have an overall hopper width of 2.1m for safe transport on narrow roads, or where access is limited. Both models feature a redesigned chassis to ensure all surfaces are angled to prevent fertiliser being trapped. The modern curved hopper design, without sharp corners, prevents fertiliser lodging and allows easy cleaning. Warning reflectors are built in to the front and rear corners for extra road safety.

At the heart of the new M-Line is KRM’s proven Trend spread unit with two large diameter discs, which rotate toward the centre to gently accelerate fertiliser – giving a wide four double overlap spread pattern. This ensures an accurate and even application with ‘tolerance’, so variations in product, cross winds or driver error have little effect, with less risk of striping.

For headland spreading, the disc direction is reversed so that fertiliser runs on the shorter back of the Trend vane to give a precise level spread with sharp cut-off to the field border. To meet environmental and crop assurance standards, the operator can adjust the headland spread from the tractor seat, simply by adjusting the Pto speed.

Ease of cleaning has been a priority in the development of the new L-Line spreaders, so that washing down is easy, quick and thorough. All protection guards can be pivoted out of position, without tools, to give clear access for cleaning. In addition, special washer access ports have been provided in the frame to allow complete cleaning of all parts of the chassis frame and spreading mechanism. Extensive use of stainless steel and a plasticised powder paint finish ensure long life protection. Both models include a quick release flap in each disc to allow quick and easy emptying of the hopper contents.

Comprehensive standard equipment on the L15 and L20 models includes hydraulic on/off control, fine mesh screens to remove lumps, disc drive with sealed maintenance-free clutch protection and a quick setting calibration kit for precise rate.

The L20 also includes a folding hopper cover to protect the contents and fully sealed LED road lighting. A three-position outlet system allows for precise control of the application rate, from a Micro setting for slug pellets to Min for fine seeds such as cover crops and Std for fertiliser rates up to 300kg/min.

Options include in-cab electronic control using the Calibrator Icon, NAVIcom Tablet control or Isobus, which can be linked to GPS systems for headland auto on/off, section control and variable rate application following pre-prepared maps.

In addition, the L20W model includes weigh cell technology, which continuously monitors, assesses and adjusts the regulating mechanism while ‘on-the-move’. Combined with Intelligent Control, which incorporates an inclinometer and accelerometer, the application rate accuracy is within+/- one per cent, even on slopes or in uneven field conditions.

Prices for the new KRM L-line twin disc spreaders, which are available for immediate delivery, range from £3,980 for the L15 and from £6,830 for the L20. 

Complete silo solutions from new partnership

Perry of Oakley Ltd., the UK’s most experienced manufacturer of grain handling and drying equipment, has teamed up with SiloMaster, to help offer customers a complete handling, drying and storage solution of the highest quality.

Perry of Oakley manufactures a complete range of chain and flight conveyors, elevators, augers, belt conveyors, twin trace conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners and much more, to complement the range of in-house designed and manufactured continuous mixed flow dryers and belt dryers. Capacities range from just 8tph all the way through to 1,200tph (based on wheat at 750kg/m³), meaning solutions can be provided for small farms to commercial grain stores.

SiloMaster has developed a new range of flat-bottom and hopper-bottom silos, that Perry of Oakley has some exclusive rights to. The silos will be designed and manufactured to the highest specification, using quality materials, with an ethos of “on-time, right the first time!”. The new silos will proudly adorn both the Perry and SiloMaster logos, as a symbol of both companies co-operating together.

The partnership between the two companies will allow them to offer a complete solution, supporting other dealers, tailored to individual requirements from concept, to layout and design, through to manufacture, supply, installation and on-going support. 

Growth sees Network spreading nationwide

RTKF Net was established 10 years ago in the heart of East Anglia. Initially the company grew slowly, concentrating in the region. Over the past five years the company has grown rapidly to spread across the whole of England and developed its technology in order to work with all GPS and tractor manufacturers.

As a direct result of this expansion, for the first time, RTKF Net will be exhibiting at the Midlands Machinery show. This will provide an opportunity to show the most recent developments of the RTK network for visitors to see the latest technology in mapping and steering solutions for the farm.

Regardless of the size of the farm, from 100 to 10,000ha, Precision Farming is at the heart of all modern farming techniques and machinery. From Controlled Traffic Farming to Zero Tillage, 100hp to 600hp tractors, precision is the key to driving down costs, increasing efficiency and ever better yields. Central to these modern farming systems and equipment is accurate GPS, allowing farms to operate at the highest efficiencies and to the tightest margins. For the past 10 years RTKF Net, formerly RTK Farming, has been developing the largest independently-owned network of GPS base stations across England. Consequently, it offers the most reliable and robust RTK GPS signal for farmers and the new technology they are embracing.

The team at RTKF Net is dedicated to the support of its customers. Providing remote customer support; diagnosing GPS signal issues remotely and getting you up and running as quickly as possible. 

Vertical rotor straw spreader joins range

Lucas G has expanded its range of straw bedding solutions with a telehandler mounted bale spike and straw spreader called the Distor PIC. This machine is suitable for spreading round and square bales directly inside livestock buildings and can also be used in compact poultry sheds for daily bedding. Adding a vertical rotor spreader means the company now offers the most comprehensive range of straw bedding machinery on the market.

The range includes two models, DP 90 and 120, referring to the height of its rotors to process bales of 90 or 120cm height. The bale spike has two 0.9m tines with 1.3m spacing and incorporates an automatic coupling which makes loading a quick and simple process. Bales can be loaded straight from a stack even inside low buildings and do not need to be double-handled. To achieve an even and consistent bed for animals, the Distor features an over-load protection system as standard which regulates the throughput of material: if too much is fed into the rotors, the bed automatically stops to allow the rotors to process material efficiently without clumps.

The sensitivity is adjustable according to the quality of straw being spread and, in combination with blades on the rotors, means the Distor will cope with the toughest bales. The spread pattern is adjustable from 1.8-6.0m or up to 9.0m with an optional rear deflector. Other options include electrically-controlled side deflectors. 

A celebration of British engineering

On the back of another successful year for irrigation equipment, Jones Engineering will be exhibiting one of their British-made irrigators at the Midlands Machinery Show. These are proving more and more popular every year as customers who have bought them realise how easy they are to use, with the low pressure loss turbine, British computer, all-hydraulic turntable, legs and jack, and the drop-down gearbox for pulling out.

Jones Engineering will be supporting and exhibiting at the Midlands Machinery show at Newark, Stand 0S–S2, promoting British engineering. Based at Westwoodside near Doncaster, Jones Engineering will be pleased to welcome you to view some of their range of vegetable and irrigation machinery and answer any questions you might have.

Novel wheel guard system protects road users

Machinery company Agriweld Ltd has launched a new wheel guard variweight (WGV), which is intended to protect other road vehicles from the devastating effects of tractor front tyres in the event of a collision. Agriweld says it is the UK’s first agricultural manufacturer to offer this system.

It can be purchased as a ‘Complete System’ with up to 1,000kg centre weight, wheel guards and two vari-pods of 100-500kg – giving a maximum weight of 2,000kg. Or, it can be purchased as a ‘Starter System’ of up to 1,000kg centre weight with wheel guards and the option of purchasing the vari-pods at a later date if required. In addition, there is an optional bolt-in, bale wrap storage point (within the vari-pod space).

Price is available upon request and includes: colour choice (special or limited edition colours may incur an extra charge); personalised front name plate (detailed logos may incur extra charge); centre marker rod; fixed pole light kit to include front-facing white LEDs and fixed amber side-facing LEDs; toolbox lid stay; choice of standard yellow and black or chapter 8 hi-vis chevron stickers; and 12 months’ warranty from date of dispatch/collection.

Further options include: Front facing, amber flashing LEDs; fixed white LEDs and backlit name plate; limited edition colours; grease gun holder and laser cut company logo name plates. Individual bespoke options are available on request.

Two livestock auctions in the UK and Ireland have raised more than £23,000 for mental health charities that support farmers.

Funds from the event at Halls Livestock Auction Centre in Shrewsbury, which took place in September, have been given to the Farming Community Network (FCN), Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy and the DPJ Foundation.

Meanwhile, money raised at the spring auction in Ireland has gone to Teac Tom, the Thomas Hayes Trust, which supports individuals and families who are affected by suicide, or suicidal thoughts.

Organiser and dairy farmer Peter Hynes, from the Rearing to Go mental health awareness campaign, said: “The primary aim of the two auction events was to create more awareness around mental health and wellbeing amongst farmers in both countries.

“It’s good to talk and it’s vitally important that farmers have someone to reach out to confidentially, which is why we have been delighted to have been able to support local charities operating in this field in both Ireland and the UK.”

Money raised during the Shrewsbury auction was boosted by a further £3,000 donation from the Betty Lawes Foundation, which was set up by the wife of Volac founder Dick Lawes.

Samantha Sampson, from dairy nutrition company Volac, says it is vital that members of the agri-supply industry understand the stresses that farmers often face.

“We are delighted to support [the Rearing to Go campaign] and urge any farmer struggling to cope with day-to-day life pressures or loneliness to talk to someone. Sometimes, seeing a representative on farm from the agricultural supply trade may be the only time a farmer interacts with another human being all day. We need to be aware of this fact.”

FCN’s deputy CEO and wellbeing lead, Glyn Evans, says that farming is a way of life, not just a business and while it is a “fantastic industry”, it can be “risky and volatile”.

“Farmers are regularly forced to deal with issues on the farm that are beyond their control, be that Brexit, animal disease outbreaks, fluctuating market prices and/or changing weather,” he says.

“Farming can also be an isolating and lonely job, with farmers often spending long hours out in the field with little or no form of social interaction. It can be tough and during difficult times knowing who to turn to can be a challenge – but this is where organisations such as FCN, Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy and the DPJ Foundation can help.”

Anyone in the farming community who is struggling with a mental health issue can call the FCN helpline on 03000 111 999 or e-mail: help@fcn.org.uk. The helpline is open from 7am-11pm every day of the year.

Pic – Attending the recent Rearing to Go charity auction in Shrewsbury are: (l-r) Emma Picton-Jones (DPJ Foundation), Helen Rutter (Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy), Samantha Sampson (Volac), Glyn Evans (Farming Community Network), Paula Hynes, Peter Hynes and Ros Rimmer (Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy).

The farmland market continues to be quiet, with ongoing political and economic uncertainty constraining both the amount of land coming forward and the number of transactions, according to land and property specialists Strutt & Parker.

Since the start of the year just 56,300 acres has been publicly marketed in England, which is the smallest amount in the last 10 years.

The figures are from Strutt & Parker’s Farmland Database which records the details of blocks of marketed farmland over 100 acres in size.

The number of farms for sale is down in all regions, apart from in the South West of England.

Supply is particularly low in the East Midlands, East of England and the North West.

“Less than 16,000 acres of land has been publicly launched in England over the past three months,” says Strutt & Parker’s head of estates & farm agency Michael Fiddes.

“This means that across the whole of 2019, supply is down more than 40% against 2018 levels. It is looking like Q4 will also be quiet.

“However, this significant drop in supply is acting as a counterbalance to weaker demand – particularly from farmers needing to borrow to fund an acquisition – keeping average prices relatively static.”

Demand

Mr Fiddes says that while there are generally fewer active buyers in the marketplace than at the peak of the market, demand has not dropped by as much as supply.

57% of the land marketed in the first six months of 2019 has already sold or is currently under offer. This is the same proportion as had sold at this time in 2018 (56%).

Demand remains strongest for bigger farms and weakest for smaller ones (between £750k – £1.5m).

One new development is that overseas buyers, particularly from Europe, have become more active in the UK market, taking advantage of the relative weakness in the value of sterling.

Pricing

The relatively small number of sales which completed during Q3 make it difficult to establish reliable average values for the quarter.

The range in prices paid remains wide, with the value being driven by location, rather than the productive capacity of the land itself.

“However, the average price of arable land since the start of the year is £9,100/acre, only marginally lower than it was a year ago and about 15% lower than the Q2 2015 peak of £10,700/acre,” says Mr Fiddes.

“Less land is now selling for £10,000+/ acre and much more at £8,000/acre, however, there are plenty of anomalies. The highest price paid for arable land in Q3 2019 was £14,000/acre, with a low of £6,200/acre.”

Pasture prices have dropped for the first time in 10 years, due to less land selling at £10,000/acre, but it is too early to say if this trend will be sustained. Sales of pasture in Q3 2019 ranged from £5,500/acre to £9,000/acre.

Future

“The drop-off in supply is something that we expected, as we have seen during previous rounds of common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms that where there is uncertainty, there tends to be a fall in the amount of land marketed,” says Mr Fiddes.

“In view of this, there is a chance that more land will come to the market in 2020 when there should be more certainty about future policy, but the significant variation in prices will continue.”

Visitors to this year’s Midlands Machinery Show will be among the first to see Scotts Precision Manufacturing’s Trinity 6000 six row topper.

The Lincolnshire designer and manufacturer of vegetable harvesting equipment will also be showcasing its 2020 Evolution separator on Stand 3 in the Stanley Sheldon Hall.

The Trinity 6000 features front and rear-mounted cutting units, which give the perfect balance both in the field and on the road. It has been fitted with shear plates to help achieve fine chopping of the haulm. The wide range of flail lengths ensures class leading suction in the row bottoms. Scotts utilise a floating parallelogram action on the rear units to allow each topper unit to move freely up and down over varying terrain. The company offers the option of a hydraulic control upgrade, which gives the driver precise control of the rear unit’s cutting height from inside the cab. With transmission rated up to 250bhp Scotts believes the performance of its toppers are way ahead of the competition.

As well as the Trinity 6000, Scotts will also be showing visitors its Evolution Separator, the innovative harvesting machine which quickly and effectively removes clod, stones, haulm and loose soil from a wide range of vegetables.

2019 has been a record-breaking year for Scotts, with sales of its toppers and Evolution up 35% year on year.

As well as seeing Scott’s market-leading machines, managing director Derek Scott will be on stand, outlining the company’s plans for 2020 and offering a range of end of year discounts.

“We’ve just celebrated the company’s 25th birthday, and we’re delighted to be able to say that 2019 has been an excellent year for us. We are extremely grateful to all our customers who have placed orders with us and looking forward to bringing the year to a close in style,” says Derek. “The Midlands Machinery Show is always a great event, and we’re looking forward to catching up with customers and old friends.”

The UK auction record for a vintage or classic tractor was smashed at Cheffins October Vintage Sale when the iconic 1903 Ivel Agricultural Motor sold for £328,600.

Billed beforehand as the most important tractor ever to come to auction, the Ivel’s appearance drew a huge crowd to Cheffins’ Saleground in Sutton, with tractor enthusiasts travelling from all over the UK, Ireland and Europe to see the sale.

They were not disappointed. Cheffins Chairman and auctioneer Bill King took a first bid of £100,000 from the assembled crowd and there was spirited bidding before the gavel came down in favour of a telephone bidder. The Ivel will be remaining in the UK but the buyer wishes to remain anonymous.

Just eight complete examples of the Ivel Agricultural Motor, which was built in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, are known worldwide and four of those are in museum collections.

The Ivel has tremendous provenance which is detailed in a book published in 2003 written by his previous owner, John Moffitt, a much-respected cattle breeder, agricultural entrepreneur and vintage tractor collector.

The research for the book found that this model – No. 131 – was used and exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Show in London in 1903. In 1970, Moffitt acquired the Ivel among a collection of tractors he purchased from Derek Hackett of Ross on Wye, a firm friend through their shared interest in early machinery.

It has appeared in the National Tractor & Farm Museum, the Beamish Museum and been exhibited at various events over the years.

To celebrate the Ivel’s centenary in 2003, John Moffitt embarked on a 100-mile charity drive on the Ivel around the country which raised £120,142 for charity.

Following John’s death in 2008, the Ivel has been exhibited at various events and featured in various publications.

The previous record price for a classic or vintage tractor of £94,500 was surpassed a further two times on the day in what was the strongest collection of tractors that Cheffins has catalogued in recent years.

The 1982 County 1884 – the holy grail for many collectors of classic tractors – sold for £139,920, while a 1980 County 1474 brought the hammerdown at £99,640.

Estimates suggest there are no more than 20 County 1884s in preservation and this machine was in superb condition and just two owners from new with 3,833 hours only recorded.

Bill King, chairman of Cheffins who conducted the sale, said: “This was one of the strongest collections of tractors we have ever catalogued and we saw exceptional trade.”

“To break the previous auction record for a vintage or classic tractor three times on the day is remarkable”.

“The undoubted highlight was obviously the Ivel. It was a huge privilege for all of us at Cheffins to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity to buy such an iconic and famous tractor and we are delighted to achieve such a deserving figure”.

“The price exceeded our pre-sale estimate and there was a tremendous buzz and anticipation during the sale.

The British beef industry is set to benefit from an estimated £230 million boost after China finalised the details of an export deal with the UK.

Farmers and beef producers in the UK will have full access to the Chinese market, for the first time in 20 years. It marks the end of a ban imposed by China following the 1996 BSE outbreak.

The agreement follows extensive inspections by the Chinese authorities, who have confirmed that British beef producers meet the necessary standards to export to their market.

Chinese authorities have cleared four beef sites for export in the first instance, with further sites under review. The first exports are expected to be shipped in the next few months.

International trade secretary Liz Truss said: “Chinese diners can now enjoy the best beef in the world. I’m delighted that our dedicated UK producers can now sell quality products to one of the world’s largest economies, supporting local jobs and bringing millions of pounds to the UK economy each year.

“This is another step forward in realising our global trading ambitions with unbeatable British food. As we leave the European Union, we will continue to break down market access barriers to make it easier for UK businesses to trade across the world.”

AHDB’s international market development director, Dr Phil Hadley, added: “This is a great end to a very successful year for our red meat exports. This new agreement is fantastic news for our beef processors who will now have access to another market outside of the EU.

“We continue to work collaboratively with government to create new opportunities for our red meat exports and today’s announcement is a testament to the persistence and hard work of all involved.

“We look forward to seeing the first shipments of beef arrive in China and hope to replicate the success of our pork exports in the beef sector.”

China recently approved five British pork plants to export products to the country, building on a market that was already worth £70 million a year. Defra said it looks forward to the approval of further qualified UK pork plants by the end of 2019.