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.
Monkton Court Farms has become the latest potato grower to receive Haith’s next-generation mobile grading system.
Philip Smith, who grows the Desiree and King Edward potato varieties across 60ha in East Kent, recently took delivery of the state-of-the- art grader.
Philip’s previous grader was purchased in 1999 and had reached the end of its natural life, becoming slow and inaccurate.
Monkton Court Farms has used Haith’s equipment since 2016, when a neighbour’s recommendation led Philip to buy two Haith box fillers.
Philip was so pleased with how the box fillers performed that he had no hesitation in talking to Ken Hollingworth at Haith when he decided to replace his grader.
“The Haith box fillers have never let me down, and I was really impressed with the way the company handled my order and has supported me ever since,” says Philip. “When I decided it was time to replace our mobile grader, I looked at the options available but as soon as I spoke to Ken I was confident that Haith would build a grader that would meet my requirements. On delivery, I was delighted with the quality of the build. The grader is now in work and doing a great job.”
As with the vast majority of Haith’s machines, Philip’s mobile grader has been designed to his precise specifications.
The 6.6m long grader, which can handle up to 30t per hour, features a Haith Supaflow bulker that feeds a Haith Evolution Multi- Separator with six spiral shafts and clod roller scrapers to effectively remove soil, clod and haulm.
The covered inspection unit on the grader can comfortably accommodate six people, who can work at any time of the day or night thanks to the presence of energy-saving LED lights and in all conditions as the bunker, separator and inspection area are covered.
“The new generation of Haith mobile graders are our most accurate and efficient,” says Ken. “Being mobile, they are incredibly versatile and can be used in the field or packhouse depending on what works for the grower. We were delighted to supply Philip with his box fillers back in 2016 and it is great to hear that the way those machines have worked for Monkton Court Farms gave him the confidence to buy this latest piece of equipment from us.”
The Dewulf RCA3060 is a self-propelled two-row harvester with a 1.6m wide C-elevator. The C lifting elevator allows the produce to flow ‘up and over’ in a single direction though the harvester, which provides optimal product-friendly transport through to the discharge conveyor.
The harvester is equipped with an axial module consisting of 18 rollers. The rotational speed and angle (-20 degrees to +5 degrees) of the axial rollers can be fully adjusted by the operator from the cabin or can be set to automatically adjust as required. The axial module is equipped with an anti-blocking system and a scraper that prevents build-ups above the gearbox of the axial module. To ensure smooth product flow, smooth transfer rollers have been fitted between the 3rd sieving web and the axial module.
If extra cleaning is required, the discharge conveyor can be fitted with an optional Easy-Clean unit, made up of three smooth rollers alternating with deformable spiral rollers. The waste is removed from the machine by means of a waste belt. If even more intensive cleaning may be required, you can opt for two Easy-Clean units (3 + 3 adjustable in height, direction of rotation and speed) in the discharge conveyor with associated waste belt.
With its interchangeable modular construction, the RCA3060 machine is very versatile. As standard, the harvester is equipped with a ‘Quick Change’ system, therefore it can be used with a wide variety of root crops and can quickly and easily be adapted to suit all conditions. Harvesting kit options consist of diaboloes or half diaboloes, driven cutting discs, onion kit or carrot kit. It only takes around 15 minutes to make the swap.
If you’d like to experience the RCA3060 contact AgVantage to organise a demonstration.
The Ceres Bag Buddy makes precise manoeuvring of big bags simple and safe for machinery, environment and personnel, Ceres Machinery says.
Owing to the overwhelming response to the Bag Buddy, Ceres has launched its new Hydraulic Adjustable Bag Buddy 4H, which is designed to carry 4 x 600kg or 2 x
1,000kg bags, allowing the carrying arms to be quickly and easily positioned from the safety of the cab, to accommodate varying sizes and placement of bags.
The Ceres Bag Buddy is a range of Big Bag Lifters from 1 x 600kg up to 6 x 1,000kg bags, with the most popular being the 4 x 600kg. The Bag Buddy is a convenient and easy way to controllably manage fertiliser, seed and feed bags, far more safely than the questionable use of pallet tines, decreasing
the risk of damage – not only to hoppers and coulters, but also to lorries, buildings and overhead cables.
It is designed with minimal sharp edges to prevent damage to the bags and reduce the risk of hazardous and costly mishaps. The lightweight, but substantially braced, frame helps support bags from behind, greatly reducing swing. Increased telehandler stability is also achieved by keeping the headstock and boom approximately 4ft lower than if using pallet tines –thus lowering the centre of gravity, whilst still achieving the same lift, with the added benefit of increased reach over hoppers and around drill coulters.
The Bag Buddy comes with retaining loops at both ends of each arm, so bags can be quickly secured for transport and in adverse weather conditions. The entire frame is painted in the bright Ceres orange for increased visibility for vehicles around you and ease of use in dark buildings. The Bag Buddy comes delivered ready to go straight to work, with the correct brackets to
fit onto your machine.
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.
