Wolverhampton-based commercial fuelling manufacturer Merridale has recently been approved under the SafeContractor scheme for the fifth year running.
For some companies and their employees, the term ‘health and safety’ is often considered boring, tedious, and pedantic. However, for Merridale it’s something the company sees as a major part of its pursuit of excellence.
The SafeContractor scheme, run by Alcumus, provides a health and safety audit service for contractors who want to reassure their clients that health and safety is being handled correctly and sufficiently on their sites. SafeContractor has 28,000 accredited members and over 370 major clients. To achieve the SafeContractor Approved status, a business must prove that they are a safe and responsible company. This involves ensuring that all paperwork is compliant with current legislation and that processes are in place to ensure health and safety is handled in the best way possible.
Operations manager, Andrew Tromans, has been responsible for improving and sharpening health and safety standards at Merridale for more than five years. As well as accumulating over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, his professional background consists of more than 10 years of responsibility for H&S systems. During his development, he obtained the City & Guilds Diploma in Occupational H&S, the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate, and the NEBOSH general H&S certificate.
Since joining the company, Andrew has been instrumental in ensuring the quality management processes are of an exceptionally high standard. This is required to maintain its ‘SafeContractor’ accreditation and meet the preferred supplier status for local government authorities and large business enterprises who seek assurance that equipment specifications are fully compliant with current legal requirements.
To carry out every aspect of the manufacturing and installation process safely and thoroughly, Merridale uses a comprehensive catalogue of method statements and risk assessments that relate to each unique job. On this, Andrew said: “We issue these statements based on the actual work to be done for each job, not just as a flat statement to cover all occasions. Every job is different in some way, so our preparation must reflect that.
“For our customers, this allows them to rest assured that we have considered the risks involved in their particular installation or service work and will take utmost care to carry out every job safely and thoroughly, as well as to an excellent standard.”
Bednar has expanded its portfolio of wide machines with the Efecta CE, offering large farming operations an integrated technological line that starts with crop residue management, through to soil cultivation and preparation, and ends with seeding.
The Efecta CE seed drill is built on a robust frame, onto which a double-chamber pressurised 6,000-litre capacity tank is mounted. The pressurised version of the tank allows for excellent fertiliser distribution at a dose of up to 250kg/ha and a seeding amount of up to 300kg/ha.
The drill coulter sections are mounted on the side frames using a parallelogram and each drill coulter uses its own parallelogram within the time-tested PSP (Perfect Seed Placement) system. The combination of such mounting provides excellent contour following and maintaining a constant depth of seeding along the entire working width. Bednar seed drills offer a selection of inter-row seeding spacing. In the case of the Efecta CE seed drill, customers can choose between a row spacing of 12.5 or 16.7cm.
Bednar claims the Efecta CE with a working width of 12m is the most versatile seed drill on the market, making it suitable for CTF operations. There are four alternatives for the front working equipment (Profi/ Turbo/Ferti coulters and the Crushbar) that can be mounted in front of the disc drill coulters, giving flexibility of uses; direct drilling and companion cropping, to name but two.
The Efecta CE is equipped with four distribution heads for even distribution of seed/fertiliser to the individual drill coulters and for the ability to apply high doses of fertiliser and seeds. That ensures the same distance to all drill coulters from the distribution head and an even application of fertiliser and seeds. This solution also offers a sectional control by every three metres of the working width.
Merlo has launched its first full-electric telehandler, the eWorker, as part of a new concept – Generation 0 – which aims to allow the world of handling to take a further leap forward.
The eWorker, which launched at the Palace of Venaria, Italy, in October, is the first of many ranges that will make up Generation 0. It is the result
of years of research into an alternative solution
to vehicles fitted with combustion engines, presenting a completely new engineering concept.
Generation 0 is based on the four cornerstones of all Merlo products: performance, comfort, safety and efficiency – as well as three new aspects: zero emissions, zero noise and zero use of fossil fuels.
The eWorker was designed to support farmers in all daily activities, offering:
- High traction for off-road work, whilst being able to operate indoors and in areas where limited environmental impact is required
- Ability to travel on public roads and, if necessary, tow trailers
- Improved manoeuvrability and agility
- Increased vehicle versatility
- Better working conditions for operators and those working near the vehicle
- Reduced total ownership costs, and payback time.
To achieve this, Merlo engineers combined the advantages of telehandlers and forklifts.
All components, from the boom to the chassis, from the axles to the hydraulic system, have undergone a targeted redesign.
For 2wd models there are electric motors at the front, one for each wheel, while the 4wd model has a third electric motor at the rear side, positioned
vertically and flanged on the rear axle. Patented by Merlo, this offers advantages in layout and manoeuvrability, as well as electronic traction management – guaranteeing the correct speed of all four wheels without slipping, the automatic insertion of the electronic differential lock and regenerative braking. This means reduced energy consumption and increased off-road traction.
A fourth electric motor, connected to a Load Sensing hydraulic pump, allows all the movements of the telescopic boom. To optimise energy efficiency, a dedicated electronic control unit manages the rpm of the electric motor and the oil flow of the hydraulic distributor. To reduce battery consumption, the telescopic boom descends by gravity via a valve controlled by the same unit.
The eWorker allows the use of a wide range of equipment, including: forks, floating and with side shift, multiple bucket types, equipment for suspended loads, and equipment for other special applications such as concrete mixers and sweeper buckets. Additionally, the aerial work platform with overhead self-propulsion allows operators to drive directly from the aerial work platform, drastically reducing maintenance time at height.
All models can be customised to suit customers’ needs. Both models will be available with an open or closed cab, with possible options including a heating system or boom suspension, and they can be approved for road traffic, either as self-propelled machinery or as a tractor. For applications in special working environments (e.g. cold stores), heated windscreens and seats are available.
Agricultural software specialist, Farmplan, has released its long-awaited Cattle Manager Go app for smartphones and tablets, allowing Cattle Manager users to access records and make notes on the farm, even without signal.
Farmplan development support manager Sally Ashwell says: “It’s the perfect extension of Cattle Manager, helping you to improve profitability and manage your herd accurately and effectively.”
The app was released for iOS and Android in October.
Farmers across the UK trust Cattle Manager as a tool that enables compliance and quality assurance for their herds, Farmplan reckons. The new app permits sharing of data between Cattle Manager and Cattle Manager Go via the cloud. Users can choose from a long list of useful information in the desktop program and seamlessly synchronise it to their smart device.
“You can send every animal if you prefer or sort by batches and breeds,” says Sally. “You can also select predefined actions like drug treatments, movements, anything to do with health. Essentially, you have access to as much or as little information as suits you.”
Once the straightforward download process is complete, your smartphone or tablet can be used out on the farm – even without mobile signal or wi-fi. Details for each cow, including ID, age, breed, category, and purchase history can all be pulled up with a tap, along with any medical treatments. Each cow record also lets you quickly tap through to any next of kin still on the farm.
“You can also record data in addition to accessing it,” says Sally. “New births can be entered, along with their tag numbers, sex, and other crucial details. Any actions that have been put against particular animals are presented as a list on your device, so you can enter diary notes as needed.
“For example, you can tick off animals as they are moved or pre-set to specify particular drug treatments and dosage levels. Withdrawal periods are also at hand. You can always be sure everything is in order without needing to be in the office – or even in range of signal.”
Once the user is back within signal range, all data is uploaded to the cloud and synced with your desktop. Each action is shown on screen with the option to make
edits before saving. Multiple users can all work simultaneously without issue – all incoming data is verified to check that information remains current and correct, alerting the user if something doesn’t align.
“Cattle Manager customers have been requesting an app for a long time,” adds Sally. “[…] In addition to saving time and making your life easier, the app helps ensure accurate and timely reporting.”
In addition, from 4th October, cattle birth, death and movement notifications in Scotland should be submitted through ScotMoves instead of BCMS. Farmplan has been working hard behind the scenes to facilitate this, making the process
as straightforward as possible for customers.
Visit www.farmplan.co.uk to learn more.
Greencrop offers a range of dirty water and slurry spreading solutions to handle slurry, digestate from AD Plants, dirty water from livestock farms and washing plants.
With new legislation taking effect from 2025 banning above ground slurry application, slurry spreading will have to change to shallow injectors, trailing shoe or dribble bars.
We can therefore be hopeful of supporting grants becoming available again soon.
Greencrop can supply a full range of all of this equipment, including a great budget range of dribble bars up to 7.5m spreading width, able to mount on existing vacuum tankers from the rear door, without having to weld on any mounting brackets, with the ability to still use the splash plate if needed.
Fitting the tanker mounted dribble bar is very easy, with Greencrop saying it can supply a new galvanised rear door with mounting brackets welded to it, allowing you to fit your existing gate vale to this door. Forklift lifting points are mounted on the machine, allowing the DB to fit to the rear door, which can be bolted o at the correct height.
The machines are very close coupled to the tanker, retaining good weight distribution. All dribble bars from 7m wide upwards are fitted with boom brake back as standard.
The units are fitted with an easy access single horizontal macerator, which is self-sharpening and reversable. Outlets and pipes measure 50mm in diameter (so less blockage) at 250mm spacings.
The company’s dribble bars range from 6–14m with single macerator on tanker models. Twin macerators are fitted on umbilical machines from 9m up to 15m. Greencrop dribble bars can be specified to mount onto a tanker which can be removed and used as an umbilical machine.
Trailing shoe applicators range from 6–12m, tanker mounted or umbilical mounted. Shallow injectors machines range from 3m up to 6m.
Greencrop also supplies Nurse tanks with capacities of 30–140m3. These are all built to customers’ specifications.
Also available is a full range of slurry, dirty water equipment and umbilical kit including pumps, layflat reelers, splash plates, flow meters, monitoring systems and Oroflex hose
Farm machinery and legislation are ever-evolving, and focusing on efficiencies is more crucial than ever, given the withdrawal of Basic Payments and need for profitability. Visitors to the Midlands Machinery Show on 9–10th November will be given an insight into the latest equipment and advice to help their businesses to adapt and thrive.
Featuring hundreds of exhibitors including national manufacturers, distributors and regional dealers, live demonstrations and a packed seminar programme, there will be something for everyone, says show manager Elizabeth Halsall.
The Midlands Machinery Show is organised by the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society and is a platform for SME and large agricultural businesses to show their diverse range of machinery and innovation to those who work or have an interest in agriculture. It attracts around 10,000 visitors over two days.
What’s on this year?
New this year will be a green power demonstration, featuring the latest electric tractors and telehandlers as well as large machinery and groundcare demonstrations.
Changes to red diesel regulations, new machinery grants and how to work successfully with your contractor are just some of the topics being covered in a seminar with the National Association of Agricultural Contractors. Such discussions are particularly relevant as over 90% of farmers use contractors, says the association’s Jill Hewitt.
Other topics in the seminar programme include how to optimise machinery sharing, succession planning and rainwater harvesting.
There will also be a focus on the environment, with a range of technical topics from carbon audits to steps towards net zero.
However, climate change does bring challenges – and increasingly uncertain weather patterns have directed arable farmers’ attention to optimising grain quality post-harvest to maximise returns.
There is lots of new technology on the market to improve efficiencies, speed throughput and protect grain, which will be on display at the show.
Awards
Keeping equipment running during busy times of year is always a concern – so supporting the next generation of agricultural engineers is vital. The Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Award is back for its fifth year – championing upcoming talent in the sector.
“The award aims to raise the profile of the sector and support young people from diverse backgrounds and skill-sets to develop the abilities they need to embark on successful agricultural careers,” says Simon Eccleston, CEO of the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.
Exclusive insight
Those interested in tractors and how they are put together have a particularly special treat this year: An exclusive insight into the entire production line at John Deere’s Mannheim factory in Germany, thanks to a live-streamed tour of the facility on both days of the show.
“Building a modern tractor is extremely complex,” explains Chris Wiltshire, marketing manager at John Deere UK & Ireland. “Visitors will be able to see how we build and test our tractors, with commentary and close-up views.”
Tickets are now available. Entry is free but advanced registration is essential. To book tickets visit www. midlandsmachineryshow.com
When East Lothian-based J. Haig Hamilton & Sons decided to upgrade its potato grading operations to ensure the most advanced handling of the company’s valuable 550-acre crop, it chose long-standing manufacturing partner Tong Engineering’s flagship Caretaker mobile grader.
Haig Hamilton farms a total of 3,500 acres of land. As well as a high- quality crop of potatoes, the family business also farms oilseed rape, winter barley and winter wheat. With the latest equipment advancements including increased automation, upgraded cleaning capabilities, and improved energy efficiency with Tong’s Blue-Inverter all-electric direct drive technology, Haig Hamilton could see that investing in the latest technologies would bring significant savings in labour, time and costs. “Our old Caretaker from Tong was reaching 11 years old and, whilst it remained very reliable, the new models of the Caretaker have progressed so much,” says Mr Hamilton. “We have been farming for over 30 years and have always dealt with Tong throughout that time. […] When the time came to upgrade our grader, we knew that Tong would deliver the advanced, custom-built solution that we were looking for.”
Featuring a high-capacity infeed hopper, the Caretaker grading system specified for Haig Hamilton incorporates an 8-row model of Tong’s EasyClean separator, complete with full Auto-Touch HMI control, for unrivalled cleaning and control in all conditions as well as advanced diagnostics. A 2.4m wide Tong EasyGrade screen grading module carefully grades crop before it passes over a 6-Man LED-lit inspection area and is then gently transferred to boxes via Tong’s Midi EasyFill box filler.
“Our new Caretaker is configured exactly to our specification,” explains Mr Hamilton. “[…] When you are specifying the machine, all the options promise to transform operations and efficiency in a variety of ways and now the machine is in operation I can certainly confirm that they really do.
“Going from a 4-row cleaner to the 8-row EasyClean means we are now able to double our processing capacity when required, but it’s the automation that is really making all the difference. Being based in Scotland, changeable weather is usually one of our biggest challenges, […] but the Tong Auto-Touch HMI control system is extremely advanced and easy to use; at the touch of a button, all adjustments to the cleaner’s settings are completely automatic. Most notably, the automatic high-speed cleaning function is incredible! We can schedule it to take place at set intervals, or in relatively dry conditions […] we set it to run at the end of each day.”
Nick Woodcock, sales manager at Tong Engineering, comments: “[The Hamiltons’] new Caretaker features our most advanced options, and we have even taken their bespoke configuration a step further by designing some additional, unique features which have truly encompassed their most specific requirements. These features include an electric remote-controlled retractable canopy and an in-built water supply for the EasyClean’s spray bars. They have left no stone unturned in specifying a highly advanced machine for the most efficient handling.”
Agriweld offers a number of tools to assist in the fight against compaction – boosting soil health and assisting drainage.
The original Mantis front-mounted toolbar (above left) is designed to lift and alleviate compaction, create drainage and promote soil structure. Primarily designed for use in conjunction with a combination drill, the 460mm serrated, straight cutting disc cuts through the top layer of soil and trash, allowing the following leg to pass through without great disruption.
Swivel legs mean the tractor can steer while in work, and the innovative IP Protected Snap-Bar shear leg protection is standard on all models. The Mantis acts as a ballast weight on the road and, when the drill is lowered into work, restores balance. Mantis models are available in 3, 4 and 6m working widths. For 2022, Mantis will have an option to convert the toolbar to rear-mounted.
Meanwhile, the design of the Prevent Track Eradicator (above right) also fights the compaction caused by tractor tyres or tracks. Allowing for the towing of additional equipment behind
the toolbar, such as a drill or disc cultivator, it is intended to remove wheel track compaction. It can also be used to remove tramlines. An optional mini packer roller behind each set of legs can firm down the lifted area and helps to stop water run-off during use in tramlines.
The leg, combined with a standard issue GLX type point, drives through the soil at a maximum depth of 300mm. Angled wings on the point lift the soil before it sits back down, causing a shattering effect, breaking up compaction. The Prevent is fitted with Agriweld’s Snap-Bar shear leg protection as standard and is available in a 3m width with four legs, auto reset option and a choice of red or green colourway.
The new Spirit 7200 complements the AVR Spirit family with a drawn, two-row offset potato harvester, integrating an additional haulm separation system in the form of a haulm roller just upstream of the in-line pintle belt.
In addition, a trash web under the haulm web ensures that potatoes that ‘dropped’ late remain in the machine and that any haulm that does fall through the haulm web is removed.
After being picked up by the digging unit, the first sieving takes place on the digging web, which has a width of 1.65m. This is fitted with hydraulically powered eccentric vibrators. Then there is the combination of haulm web and sieving web – as these operate so close to one another, the drop height from the digging web to the sieving web has been kept to a minimum. At the transition from the sieving web to the pintle belt, a haulm roller provides additional haulm separation. The haulm roller is easy to adjust in intensity by moving it farther under or away from the sieving web. A potato-friendly transition is ensured as the haulm roller is followed by a soft pintle belt.
On the in-line pintle belt, the potatoes are conveyed to the transversal pintle belt by a triple retaining roller. If desired, the transversal pintle belt can be placed at a greater or lesser angle.Height adjustment from the picking-off table offers the option of quickly adjusting the cleaning capacity. The potatoes are then conveyed into a large seven tonne bunker. The hydraulic bend in the picking- off table with automatic control provides for a minimal drop height into the bunker.
So, what is new about the Spirit 7200? The latest features include:
AVR Connect – The 7200 is the first two-row harvester that can be equipped with the AVR Connect option. This allows the user to access machine data online.
Drawbar – The drawbar is fitted with a frame that neatly conceals all hydraulic equipment and electrical cables to the tractor.
Digging unit – The Spirit 7200 is equipped with a quick-change kit as standard. This means that the user can change the digging unit in just a few minutes to allow a different crop to be harvested (e.g. an onion brush).
Mechanical and, as an option, hydraulic depth adjustment are available.
Haulm web/sieving web – Two rows of three haulm retainers ensure that the potatoes stay neatly inside the machine. Here, attention has been paid to ensuring that there
is distance between the rows of retainers and that there is an efficient and robust mechanism in place to fold the frame upwards in the event of accumulations.
The haulm and sieving webs are close to one another so that the drop height from the digging web to the sieving web is limited, something that is unique in the market.
At the rear of the machine, under the haulm web, is a conveyor that can remove haulm that falls late and that can return potatoes that fall late back into the machine.
Picking-off table – The picking- off table comfortably accommodates six people. For the best ergonomics, the table has been made as flat as possible.
All functions relating to cleaning at the rear of the machine can be operated easily with a clear keypad or mechanical handles.
Bunker – The fixed bunker is 9.6m3 in size with a width of 2m and can hold up to seven tonnes (cf. reference to 7200). A shock absorber is also an option – it can be folded hydraulically and transported on top of the machine.
Tyres – The Spirit 7200 runs smoothly thanks to the decision to opt for high wheels (30.5 rim). Different sizes are available (in some cases, dependent on the version); 650/65 R 30.5, 850/50 R 30.5, and twin row-crop tyres 380/80 R 38 are available, primarily to help prevent protrusion.
The machine is controlled by the Isobus system. This can save on a screen in the tractor, if desired. AVR offers two types of display: Mueller touch 800 and Mueller smart 570.
The first two prototypes entered field operation last year and received positive feedback from users. Some 10 new harvesters started operation in the field this year.
With a large percentage of the cereal harvest now in store, the correct operation of crop ventilation systems can maintain the quality, whilst it’s in there. Evans & Pearce managing director Rob White, provides his advice.
Fan running times need to be managed to utilise the full potential of autumn cooling conditions and are crucial to achieve cost-effective cooling.
Don’t leave fans on continuously all autumn and winter and don’t wait only for the cool dry days. The key is the temperature differential between crop and ambient air; every time ambient air is 4–6oC cooler than the crop, operate fans to ensure you are always cooling the crop. Humidity is largely irrelevant in a low volume system; by low volume we mean air flows of up to six cubic feet per minute (cfm) per stored tonne. The volume of air is not usually enough to introduce moisture back into the crop. The AHDB endorses this message and recognises the importance of cool air, even if the relative humidity is high.
Evans & Pearce customer feedback suggests sucking heat to the pedestal is the preferred option. A good quality pedestal fan will do either – however, choose a direction and stick to it, don’t alternate.
If you do not have a fan for every pedestal, fan rotation every 3–4 days is important to ensure regular ventilation to all parts of the heap. If using top caps on pedestals without a fan, check for condensation on the underside of the cap. If present, a fan is needed on that pedestal to draw out the warm air rising from inside the bulk.
Regular checking of your harvest is important; make sure leaking roof sheets are not allowing a back corner to start spoiling. Is your crop cooling evenly? If not, a screw in ‘hot spot spear’ might be needed to sort out a problem area. Even with an automated control system, crops must be checked – a sometimes tedious but necessary job
- Run fans only when ambient air is 4–6oC lower than crop temperature
- Stick to either blowing air in to the pedestal or sucking it out, do not alternate
- Check crops, especially after stormy weather; damaged roof sheets can easily go undetected Rotate fans around every few days to ensure the bulk gets regular ventilation
- Consider extra fans in mild autumn/winter conditions to utilise every cooling opportunity Differential Control Systems do not have to be complicated or expensive but are very useful
- A modest investment in a crop temperature spear will remove guess work and highlight problem areas
- Seek advice if you are unsure – crops production costs are too high to let them spoil in the store.
