Over 90% of contributors anticipate a greater need for farming support organisations over the next five years, a new survey conducted by The Farming Community Network (FCN) has shown.
The survey of over 160 farmers, agricultural businesses and members of the public across the UK found a significant belief that over the next five years there will be an increased need for the services provided by farming support organisations and charities.
48% of those surveyed said the need will increase, while 44% said the need will increase significantly.
The survey also found that while a small majority are optimistic about the future of farming in their area (55%), significant concerns exist around financial stability, mental wellbeing, succession and retirement, managing change and many other issues.
Jude McCann, CEO of FCN, said the survey provides insights into people’s concerns about the future of British farming.
He said: “The farming industry is experiencing a period of radical change and whilst there will be opportunities for many, farmers will need to work hard to future-proof their businesses and protect their livelihoods. 2020 has already seen a significant number of challenges, not least disruption caused by Covid-19, and the sector’s future is uncertain as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
“This survey paints a picture of some of the key issues those in the sector are concerned about and the increasing demand for farming support organisations.
“It is important farmers remain resilient through these changing times. For some this may mean diversifying their farming businesses and others may decide to plan for retirement, succession or exiting the industry. FCN and other rural charities are here to provide guidance and support to farmers through the challenges ahead.”
The Farming Community Network is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.
One way FCN is supporting farmers to prepare for change is through its FarmWell website – a one-stop resource hub which contains a wealth of free information about personal and business resilience, mental and physical wellbeing and information around how to successfully manage through change: https://farmwell.org.uk/
The Farming Community Network is a member of the Farming Help partnership – comprising of FCN, Addington Fund, Forage Aid, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I), and RSABI, supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund. We hope the survey will also help to raise awareness of the unique support the national farming charities provide farmers and their families. More information about the partnership is available here: https://www.farminghelp.co.uk/
To see the full survey results, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-ZCDWGKBF7/
The National Sheep Association is once again reminding the UK Government to consider the broader potential ramifications of new trade deals, as talks with New Zealand and Australia begin.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker explains: “Trade deals are always going to be complex by nature, with each presenting different challenges and opportunities. With the addition of Australia, New Zealand and the CPTPP today, the UK is now undertaking six major new trade deals running alongside each other. Having come from a position of not negotiating our own deals for many years, the UK is undertaking a big challenge, particularly when our future trading relationship with the EU is so uncertain.”
NSA is concerned about several factors with the new trade deals that are underway. Mr Stocker adds: “Every country that we negotiate with is unique, and for the farming industry, sheep farming in particular, deals with New Zealand and Australia create unique challenges. This is due to sheep farming, and the export of sheepmeat, being such large parts of their industry. We are talking here about the three largest sheepmeat exporting nations in the world, with the UK being additionally unique by having such a large population and consumer market.
“You can be sure that sheepmeat would only travel in one direction, in part because of population numbers, but also because our high production standards mean we can be undercut even though the product is travelling across the globe. It is not uncommon for nations to protect their agriculture industries for sound strategic reasons and this is exactly what we will expect from the UK Government.
“NSA been clear with our Government from day one, when seeking free trade agreements, the UK must not be willing to sacrifice our farming industry or undermine our values and standards for the sake of a deal that might benefit other British industries.
“The UK currently has a fine balance with lamb and mutton exports, imports, and domestic consumption. There is very real concern that increasing Tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for either New Zealand or Australia will damage this balance and make no common sense at all. We would have that concern in normal times but now, with future trade with the EU being uncertain, getting these deals wrong would have catastrophic effects for our industry and for the environments and communities that benefit from it. “We have heard Government commit to not compromising the UK market and our production standards time and time again, yet they won’t commit to it in legislation and as such it just leaves you feeling very nervous.”
NSA is again calling for the Government to commit to ensuring equivalence in any trade deals in legislation before these talks get underway. Mr Stocker adds: “Australia and New Zealand are experienced negotiating nations with plenty at stake, our Government must stick to its indicated red lines and stand by its domestic industries.”
New to the Recommended List in 2019, KWS Firefly is the UK’s highest yielding Group 3 milling wheat at 102% of controls.
It is a brilliant addition to the true biscuit sector, delivering on all fronts including yield, grain quality and agronomics. With the crop marketing challenges which lay ahead, KWS Firefly holds broad market appeal and is approved for export with uks classification.
With over 70% of Group 3 plantings in the AHDB Eastern region, KWS Firefly, either as a first or second wheat, is a first-choice variety for growers looking to capture a number of premium markets in this area.
A cross of Cougar and KWS Rowan, KWS Firefly has a 2% yield advantage across the UK, as well as the highest HFN of the Group 3s and OWBM resistance. With the best lodging scores (twin 8s) and an excellent Septoria tritici score of 7.0, it is a strong package that will also appeal to those in the West.
For growers looking for a variety for sowing mid to the end of September, KWS Firefly is a good option. Those still sowing at this time will benefit from KWS Firefly’s plant type, high tillering, short and very stiff straw, coupled with early maturity.
Fully approved by nabim as Group 3, KWS Firefly delivers a strong grain package with the correct balance of resistance and is extensibility required by biscuit manufactures. Coupled with its fantastic grain quality and uks recommendation, it will also be a key variety for exporting regions and those growing for the feed sector too.
In short, KWS Firefly has one of the most complete packages on the Recommended List with a valuable combination of yield, good agronomics and quality grain.
KWS FIREFLY is available on Cereals 360!
Meet the exciting experience that provides a virtual crop tour across all of KWS’ key varieties of barley, hybrid rye, oilseed rape and wheat!
Learn as you listen to KWS experts talking through their key crop portfolio covering yield, agronomy, end markets and disease resistance whilst watching the crop in the field.
Cereals 360 is accessible wherever, whenever, from the comfort of your own home across computers, or out in the field on tablets and mobile.
Visit www.cereals360.com today!
The dairy response fund has opened for applications from eligible dairy farmers in England in need of support following the coronavirus outbreak.
To be eligible for support from the fund, farmers in England need to demonstrate that they have suffered a reduction in the average price paid for their milk of 25% or more in April 2020 when compared with February 2020.
Qualifying farmers are entitled to up to £10,000 each to cover 70% of their losses across April and May incurred as a result of a drop in price, following a reduced demand for milk with the closure of restaurants, bars, and cafes in recent months.
This financial support will help farmers maintain production capacity and sustain their business without impacts on animal welfare.
Farmers will be able to apply for a single payment from the fund, which will be paid out from 6th July. Applications can be submitted directly to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
The deadline for applications will be 14th August.
Ben Burgess are pleased to announce the company opened a temporary site for Ben Burgess Oakham on 15th June 2020. The site is at Woodside Farm, Empingham, LE15 8QD.
Plans for a purpose-built branch have been submitted and they look forward to moving forward with building as soon as possible. In the meantime, their Oakham team, supported by the Ellington and Coates branches, will be able to provide sales, service and parts support immediately.
Ben B Turner, Director leading the Oakham project, says, “Since John Deere announced our expansion, we have been working hard to secure a presence in our new area as soon as possible. Although a temporary location, we feel having a base allows us to provide the excellent customer service expected and we are making very good progress in welcoming new members to our Oakham team.”
Robert Burdock, Oakham Branch Manager, commented, “From 15th June we will be offering full product support and will operate a parts collection point in line with Covid-19 restrictions. We have highly trained technicians and FarmSight specialists available to provide remote connected support and visit if required. Our sales team are available for all purchasing and demonstration requests too.
“We have made a very positive start in building our business from Oakham and our new site is an excellent step in showing our commitment to the local farming community.”
A purpose-built Ben Burgess Oakham is due to open in 2021 and will be the company’s seventh branch.
Get in touch:
Telephone: 01572 492492
Email: oakham@benburgess.co.uk
Suffolk farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty has warned of dire consequences for British agriculture and the health of the nation, if the government does not stand by its promise to prevent food imports that would be illegal to produce here.
In a column for the Daily Mail, he says importing such food in order to secure a trade deal with the US ‘makes a mockery of everything British farmers have been trying to do for the past 20 years.’
His comments follow calls from various organisations, public figures and consumers, to amend the Agriculture Bill – now at the committee stage at the House of Lords – to prevent lower quality food imports from countries such as the US.
More, cheaper, faster
Jimmy describes his experience visiting a farm in California where he saw a feedlot containing tens of thousands of cattle without a single blade of grass to stand on or eat –compared to his 60-strong beef herd which go to the slaughterhouse with a passport enabling the consumer to trace it back to him.
Noting that in Britain we have one of the safest food systems in the world, he warns that we are ‘in danger of giving it up’ if we allow lower standard imports in order to secure trade deals.
‘American mass farming is different from ours,’ he writes. ‘Industry leaders produce food the way Henry Ford made cars or Coca-Cola makes Coke. They offer more, cheaper, and faster.
‘If this meat and grain comes to Britain unchecked, our farmers will have two options: lower their standards in an attempt to compete, or go bust because they won’t.
‘This will destroy farms that have existed for generations – and farming is not the kind of industry you can turn on and off. Once that deal is signed, there will be no going back.’
Health consequences
Many have argued that British consumers will be able to vote with their feet and choose British products over cheap imports, but Jimmy fears that a trade deal favouring the US will end detailed food labelling, meaning consumers could end up shopping blind.
And the consequences won’t just be economic…
On a past trip to Mexico, Jimmy says he saw a three-year-old boy having all of his teeth removed at a dental surgery, as a result of eating food full of high-fructose corn syrup from the US. While Mexico was once one of the healthiest nations in the world, a three-way trade deal with Canada and the US had devastating consequences for the country’s agriculture, causing a spike in leg amputations due to uncontrollable diabetes.
In the UK, we can currently be assured of quality and safety, even when choosing cheaper products, but if we allow imports of products such as chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef, it will be lower income households who suffer most.
‘Not anti-trade’
Jimmy clarifies that he is not anti-trade, nor is he anti-American trade, but if a trade deal is made, imported products must match our high standards – as indeed, British farmers are already required to do when exporting to the US. While he says he has met ‘wonderful farmers’ in the US who are ‘dedicated to quality produce’, there are systems there ‘that simply wouldn’t match the way we do things’.
Furthermore, if we lower our own production standards to compete, the EU will reject our produce, he notes.
Jimmy describes British farms as ‘the beating heart of our local communities’ and ‘a cornerstone of our civilisation’.
‘During times of strife, whether it was the Second World War or now the Covid-19 pandemic, farmers are on the frontline, feeding the nation. They are key workers, like the NHS or the military. We must respect and protect them,’ he adds.
Concluding, Jimmy said the government must keep its promise to British farmers, not to allow them to be undercut by cheap imports.
‘If those promises are broken, it would be no less than a betrayal of our family farms, our nation’s health and hard-won consumer trust in the ‘open book’ farming which means that what we see in the field is what we get on our plates.
‘It would be a tragedy to lose it.’
A petition calling on the government to send the Agriculture Bill back to the House of Commons for amendment, has now passed one million signatures. Sign it here: https://www.campaigns.nfuonline.com/page/56262/petition/1
Helping to build the foundations of your future crops success Sowing for Peak Performance (SPP) is KWS’s fundamental breeding objective that underpins all cereal genetic development now and into the future. It’s based on the premise that 80% of your crop’s potential is locked in by the seed you buy and sow. Whilst of course, you can fine-tune this with the correct Nitrogen levels, using fungicides wisely to protect it from disease and paying attention to basic management principles, once you’ve made your variety choice your production potential is largely set.
So, to get the best performance on your farm, it is critical that when you choose your variety, you are using a wealth of data to tailor your choice, for both your farm and individual field situation.
Tailored choices are important now and will become increasingly so in the future. In the years ahead we will be entering unchartered waters when it comes to crop production, and many of the accepted principles and practices we take for granted now, will come under increasing scrutiny:
- Much of the chemistry we have come to rely on is slowly being lost to revocation, and what remains is under pressure.
- Our use of essential Nitrogen (N) is also under threat due to growing environmental concerns. The reduction of carbon footprint in crop production will remain a challenge.
- There are worries over loss of N from the system in terms of leaching and its release into the atmosphere.
- Global warming is changing our climate with more extreme weather events predicted and widening variability in growing conditions, often within the same season. Meanwhile, all of this is happening against the backdrop of a global population growing towards 9.0bn in the next 25 years.
It’s time for action!
The way we have produced crops in the past, is not the way we will in the future. What has got us to this point in our agricultural evolution, will not get us to where we need to be without substantial changes.
At KWS, we have always been passionate about genetics and the vital role seed plays in the production equation. We’re proud of what we have achieved to date, and recognise the key role our genetics can play in responding to the demands of the future.
Working with businesses across the agri-supply chain, we’ve identified key requirements that growers should consider if they are to keep their business profitable and environmentally sustainable in the years ahead. Each of these carries a commitment from KWS to ensure our genetics address these needs as far as possible.
5 key requirements for profitable and sustainable UK crops and how SPP can help now and in the future:
- To achieve effective crop management with reduced windows of opportunity
- Climate change has become a reality for many growers over the last few years with growing conditions not just varying dramatically between the years but also within the same season itself.
- KWS actively select for high resilience so that they can help on-farm, spreading workloads at critical periods and buying you time. Note that varieties outside your different market segments may be used to widen spray windows and harvest timings.
- To achieve optimum crop health without a high level of agronomic interventions
- Striving to breed varieties with high levels of resistance to the most damaging diseases has been a key KWS aim for many years and our current portfolio is strong proof of this with some of the highest scores for untreated yields, resistance to Septoria, Mildew and Rusts on the RL.
- But if growing a less resistant type for a specific market requirement, adapt your management practices to boost disease resistance e.g. later drilling of wheats will increase Septoria resistance scores. Different market segments may be used to widen spray windows and harvest timings
- To reduce amount of all inputs used and associated costs
- It’s not just about cutting fungicide spend; choosing the right variety will allow you to save more on labour, diesel and machinery wear and tear, and ultimately replacement.
- To get greater productivity from soils long-term
- Less travel means less potential damage to soils and less time and money spent trying to correct the compaction problems associated with multiple wheelings and carrying out operations in unsuitable conditions.
- From considering how varieties can perform in direct drilled situations through to those that are stiff strawed, variety selection can be tailored to your farm.
- To maximise production/profitability from available resources
- Getting the most production from the resources you have available to you is the key to being sustainable.
- KWS provide a range of high yielding varieties with an assortment of specific agronomic traits. Select your variety based on your soil type, growing conditions, locality to market and maximise your yields.
So how can SPP help me today?
Every farm is unique, and each farm business has different goals – which makes variety choice, highly personalised. However, by using KWS’s SPP ethos, growers can be assured that proactive variety choice will fix circa 80% of your crop performance and pay off in cost and time savings at sowing, during the growing season and through to harvest, for both now and the future.
Savings in:
- Time management
- Extra machine costs (e.g. subsoiler)
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
- Insecticides
- Additional costs (e.g. drying)
Benefits to you:
- Better plant health
- Improved soil quality
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Increased output = extra tonnes
- Higher chance of better quality to attain premiums on offer
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
A petition urging the government not to allow cheap, low-quality imports to undermine British farmers has now reached over one million signatures in just over two weeks.
The NFU, which launched the petition, has said future trade deals should prevent imports of food that would be illegal to produce here.
A proposed amendment to the Agriculture Bill, which would have protected British farmers from such imports, was recently voted down in parliament by a margin of 51 votes. The Ag Bill has since passed to the House of Lords for reading.
As well as reaching an impressive milestone for the petition, around 78,000 people around the country have also written to their MP, urging them to support the introduction of a Trade, Food and Farming Standards Commission. This would review trade policy and develop solutions to ensure all imports are held to UK standards.
The NFU says the success of its campaign is the clearest indication yet that the British public do not want to purchase food that falls below the high standards to which British farmers adhere.
NFU president Minette Batters said: “It has been overwhelming to see this volume of support. The fact that more than one million people have signed a petition urging the government to put into law rules that prevent food being imported to the UK which is produced in ways that would be illegal here is a clear signal of how passionate the British public feel about this issue.
“It is now clear that it is simply not credible for the government to continue to just pay lip service to this issue, when there is such public support for action. They must now give guarantees to the British people that they have listened to their concerns and will make firm commitments to address them.
“Trade policy is complicated, but what the public are telling us is quite simple. They care deeply about their food, where it comes from and how it is produced.
“They do not want to see chlorinated chicken or hormone-fed beef on their supermarket shelves and nor do they want to see food imported which has been produced in lower welfare or environmental systems than is legally allowed in this country. Farmers, animal welfare groups, environmentalists and now the public have made their voices clear.”
She stressed the importance of access to safe, traceable, affordable and nutritious food, produced to the highest standards, concluding: “We must not throw that away in the pursuit of free trade.”
One of the big farming news stories last year was the sale of one of the UK’s largest arable farming businesses – Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited. Under the new regime, since September last year, preparations have been made to establish a new streamlined fleet of plant and equipment with a select group of manufacturers and to dispose of almost all the existing machinery. David Williams has been finding out when and how.
Suffolk-based Clarke & Simpson is handling the dispersal sale and the original intention was to host two on-site auctions on consecutive days at Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited’s Lawn Hall Farm, Essex base, and at Thorpe Morieux in Suffolk; creating what would almost certainly have been the largest active farmer on-site farm machinery dispersal sale ever to take place in the UK. However, problems created by the Covid-19 pandemic meant a rethink was needed. “Within social distancing guidelines it would have been impossible to stage a conventional on-site sale currently,” pointed out auctioneer James Durrant. “Also, the delivery of the new machines has been delayed, so a core fleet has to be retained for this harvest and for autumn crop establishment. Therefore, we have decided to launch an online auction which will include selected lots in late June, with the remaining machinery due to be sold later.” Those interested in bidding can view the machinery on Clarke & Simpson’s website at any time, and also on-site at Lawn Hall Farm, near Great Dunmow, Essex on the 24th, 25th and 26th June, while the auction is in progress.
Attractive sale
James says the sale is expected to attract a lot of attention and competitive bidding for the lots on offer. “We are delighted to be instructed by Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited to sell its machinery. Our original plans had to be rearranged due to Covid-19, but once restrictions were relaxed enough to allow viewing while adhering to social distancing requirements, the decision was made to proceed with the first auction before harvest as a timed online sale. This comprises cultivation and potato equipment, drills, fertiliser spreaders, trailers and combines as well as two backhoe loaders, a telehandler and two Challengers. We expect the remaining machines to be sold later in 2020.”
The online sale starts at 9am on the 24th June and is due to conclude at 12pm on 29th June. A clever feature of the online bidding system is that when bids are placed for any lots within the final 10 minutes of the scheduled running time, then 10 additional minutes are added during which further bids for that lot can be placed. This continues with 10 minutes added after each most recent bid, so bidding for the most attractive lots can continue for many hours after the advertised finish time.
Lots on offer during an online dispersal sale by Clarke & Simpson on behalf of Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited include tractors, harvesters, cultivation machinery and drills as well as a wide range of other equipment from the 8,000ha farming operation.
Clarke & Simpson auctioneer James Durrant (pictured above) says the sale, between 24th and 29th June, will attract buyers from end-users to trade and from the UK and overseas.
In excellent condition, this Kuhn/Rauch AGT6032, 32m 5t trailed boom spreader was new in 2014. It is on Firestone 520/85R46 tyres with 95 per cent remaining tread.
This Simba Great Plains 6.6m CultiPress CP/66MF/FW is tidy. Many points are new, the press discs are sound, and the tyres have plenty of tread. A few levelling paddles need replacing and there is evidence of minor frame repairs, but this heavy cultivator is likely to generate competitive bidding.
One of the sale highlights is this John Deere 670i combine harvester. Registered on an 11-plate and new in May 2011, it has recorded 2,041 engine and 1,585 drum hours. It’s on 800/65R32 drive tyres with 90 per cent tread, and 540/65R30 rear tyres and comes with a straw chopper, 625R 25ft tilting header and a Shelbourne Reynolds twin-axle header trailer.
One of two Challenger twin-track crawlers available for bidding. This MT765C was supplied new to the farm in 2011 and carries a 61-plate and its original RW Crawford main dealer stickers. It is very tidy inside and out, has recorded 5,308 hours and is equipped with double-acting spools, Cat 4 linkage, FarmForce front linkage, front idler weights and TopCon guidance. The tracks have 20–30 per cent tread remaining but the carcase is poor with the inner layer showing in places. The track rollers appear serviceable, but the rubber will soon need replacing.
This Challenger MT775E twin-track crawler carries a 2014 64-plate and has worked 4,678 hours. It’s equipped with five double-acting spools, Cat 4 linkage, Lynx Zuideberg front linkage, front idler weights and Trimble guidance. The tracks are in very good order with 95 per cent remaining tread and the rollers are good with minor stone damage. Overall the MT775E is in very good condition and is likely to attract competitive bidding.
It’s not often that elderly slurry tankers create excitement, but this very original Massey Ferguson 100 model with its original decals and Eastern Tractors dealer stickers is likely to appeal to classic tractor enthusiasts as an unusual implement to add to a collection. The pump is described as needing attention, but the rear splash-plate applicator with a manual and hydraulic valve is intact. The Good Year Traction Sure Grip 13.4-15-26 tyres both appear sound.
This Heath Superchaser Extra bale chaser is likely to attract competitive bidding. It’s on Michelin Cargo 560/60R22.5 tyres with 40 per cent remaining tread and the chaser carries 12 Hesston bales. The 2016 model is in superb condition and appears ready to put to work.
After the prolonged spring drought, irrigators are in high demand and this Irrifrance Javelin 100-400 reel and rain gun is likely to achieve a good price.
This Farmhand flat-8 bale grab with a JCB Q-fit bracket is tidy.
Among potato machinery lots on offer, this Scanstone trailed windrower model WD17 2+5 was new in 2014, and is set for 72-in beds.
Other potato machinery on offer includes this Grimme Combi Star CS1500 destoner described as for spares or repair. It carries G&J Peck dealer stickers.
There are plenty of wheels and tyres to bid for, and these Trelleborg Twin 750/45-30.5 fronts with 30 per cent tread and 850/50-38 rears with 90 per cent tread – with centres to fit a New Holland 6090 will appeal to both farmers and trade buyers.
For a Claas Jaguar forage harvester – this Kemper 375 12-row, hydraulic folding maize header was new in 2013 and appears ready for work.
Two Ford Transit Connect T220 90 vans are available for bidding. Pictured is a July 2009 registered example with 110,625 recorded miles. It’s MOT’s until July this year. Condition is generally tidy although the sills have a few knocks and there are minor scuffs to the paintwork. The interior is average for its age.
Several Kverneland ploughs are in the sale and this LD100-300-H-HD 5+1f reversible has a 300hp headstock and is in good order. The mouldboards are all serviceable although a few are close to needing replacing.
This Marston BT8 8t twin-axle flat trailer has a steel bed and is on 340/65R18 Good Year wheels and tyres with approximately 20 per cent remaining tread. It was new in 1986 but is in very good condition with a sound steel bed. Brakes are hydraulic.
During Farmers Guide’s visit a Maschio Recotiller 5m hydraulic folding power harrow was on the trailer ready to be moved to the Chelmsford auction venue. The power harrow is an Erpice Aquila 5000 model, new in 2010. It has hard facing on the tines, a rear spiral packer roller and carries its Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers.
These two Vadersdtad Rexius Twin cultivator presses are expected to sell well. On the left is a 2000-manufactured 5.5m 550 model which is tidy and has been modified to include an extra third row of tines. The discs are serviceable, and part worn. The newer 2008-manufactured 6.3m 630 model has two rows of tines and the cultivation discs are almost new. Both were supplied by local main dealer P Tuckwell.
This set of Jean de Bru 3.4m trailed discs was new in 1991.The machine appears in good, serviceable condition and the discs have plenty of remaining wear.
These Simba 2B 16ft hydraulic folding trailed discs were new in 1985, and are in good condition. The discs all have cutaways and have plenty of remaining working life. The tyres are sound but perished.
This set of Quivogne APX TL 4.8m trailed discs was supplied by local dealer Blytrh & Pawsey in 1996. The front discs have cutaways and the rear discs are plain and all are in very good condition.
With its original Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers, this K-Two Airo 2.3m single-row swath turner appears ready to use.
With the wet winter not yet a distant memory, it’s likely that many growers will prioritise ditch and drain maintenance this autumn. This Michael Moore Moles two-leg mole plough comes with an additional fitting for a third leg and is in tidy order.
This JCB 3CX Contractor backhoe-loader is likely to prove an attractive lot and would be an ideal investment for those keen to take ditch maintenance in-hand this year. It’s registered on an 05-plate and is on BKT 18.4-26 rear tyres. The 3-in-1 bucket appears in good order, the cab is tidy and overall the whole machine appears well maintained. There is a small amount of rust around the front radiator grill and the in-cab display doesn’t display the working hours but otherwise there appears little to criticise.
Two similar Fraser M20 trailers are on offer. Pictured is a 14t, 2001 model with a hydraulic tailgate, sprung drawbar and on a mix of Trakmila and Fulda 385/65R22.5 wheels and tyres. The trailer has been repainted but needs some tidying and is likely to see use with a new owner this harvest.
Richard Western trailers on offer include this RC14 14t twin-axle root crop tipping trailer which was new in 2007. It has a sprung drawbar, hydraulic tailgate and hydraulic braking. The tyres are 385/65R22.5 with 40 per cent remaining tread and the trailer carries its original Ernest Doe Power dealer stickers.
This Kuhn Axis 30.1 twin-disc 24m fertiliser spreader is in superb order for its age. It was new in 2011 and is fitted with a hopper camera, hopper extension and cover.
Expected to achieve a high price is this Kverneland Accord 6.0m hydraulic-folding power-harrow drill combination. It was new in 2012 and comprises a Kverneland NG-S101F35 power-harrow with wheel track eradicators and a packer, and an Accord DF2 drill with two rows of disc coulters, covering harrow, tramline and pre-em markers, plus a front-mounted hopper.
This West Samurai 5 500/150 trailed straw/ green waste chopper was new in 2017 and is on 315/70R22.5 wheels and tyres. It carries its original WM Agri dealer stickers.
This large 8m Simba CultiPress comprises two rows of spring tines, levelling paddles and a double DD-ring press. It’s in very good condition and the tines have plenty of wearing metal and the discs are in good order. It has its original Ernest Doe dealer stickers.
Those interested in bidding can view the machinery on Clarke & Simpson’s website at any time, and also on-site at Lawn Hall Farm, near Great Dunmow, Essex on the 24th, 25th and 26th June, while the auction is in progress.
John Deere has added two new X-Series combine harvester models to its 2021 harvesting line-up to help large-scale farmers harvest more tonnes per hour and more hectares per day, specifically in tough, high yielding, wet conditions. The new X9 1000 and X9 1100 combines represent the next level of John Deere harvesting performance and are now the flagship machines in John Deere’s range of harvesting solutions.
The X9 1100 can harvest wheat at an impressive 100 tonnes per hour at less than one per cent grain loss. “As conditions change, the X9 combine can make automatic adjustments for the operator so it consistently operates at peak levels,” says John Deere product marketing manager Jonathan Edwards.
The X-Series combines feature the widest feederhouse on the market, which is the foundation for the X9’s performance. Coupled with a new dual rotary separator and the industry’s largest cleaning shoe, these work together to improve crop flow and increase harvesting capacity.
“The crop transitions from the feederhouse and is fed very evenly by the chevron-design feed accelerator towards the heart of the new combine – the X-Series Dual Separator (XDS). With the largest active threshing and separation areas John Deere has ever offered, crop in the XDS is handled through nine revolutions, resulting in low losses and increased harvesting capacity,” says Edwards.
The 3.51m long XDS rotors have taken the proven modular concept from the S-Series combines, with dedicated sections for threshing and separation. Alongside the traditional threshing elements, the separation area utilises a finger design to tease the last grains from the crop mat, so enhancing performance in conditions that are less than ideal.
The X9 is designed to excel in northern, high moisture, tough separation conditions where this machine has been tested extensively and has been proven to achieve over 100 tonnes/hr at a one per cent loss level.
The 7m2 Dyna-Flo XL cleaning shoe has 36 per cent more cleaning area and, thanks to a brand new fan system, delivers 45 per cent more cleaning capacity than the S-Series. This enables the highest grain quality on the market and once more underlines that these new combines are clearly positioned above any previous combine offering, addressing the needs of the largest and most demanding customers across Europe.
During harvest, the highly fuel-efficient X-Series combines can run for up to 14 hours without refuelling and are powered by an all-new John Deere PowerTech 13.6-litre six-cylinder diesel engine delivering up to 700hp (515kW). As on the successful 9000 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, the X9 also features HarvestMotion, a robust belt-drive system which delivers 20 per cent lower fuel consumption and 30 per cent more torque, as well as lower engine rpm.
To ensure customers can spend maximum time harvesting, the X9’s 1250-litre fuel tank can be fully refuelled in under 2.5 minutes with the new Fast Fuel System, providing filling speeds of up to 550 litres/min.
Throughout development of the X-Series combines, John Deere has focused heavily on harvesting efficiency. Through groundbreaking developments in transmissions, crop handling, cleaning systems and the new Xcel straw chopper knives, harvesting power requirements have been reduced by 120hp (86kW), while at the same time delivering increased performance. As testimony to this concept, the X9 was awarded a DLG silver medal for its ‘large combine efficiency package’ at Agritechnica 2019.
The brand new ProDrive XL is a true seamless transmission featuring key benefits such as:
- 30 per cent more torque than the existing ProDrive for hillsides, as well as wet and muddy conditions;
- 40kph;
- engine speed management to 1700rpm to maximise efficiency on the road.
ProDrive XL uses an industry exclusive double pump technology system. It engages both pumps immediately on starting, to ensure maximum torque is available. As the forward speed increases and the torque demand decreases the second pump output is reduced, decreasing the power and fuel requirements. X-Series combines are available on wheels or tracks with a transport width below 3.5m.
The X9 also features a brand new cab offering the latest equipment and options including seat heating and ventilation, a seat massage function and an app-enabled radio. With three different cab specification levels, Select, Premium and Ultimate, there is something to suit every budget and taste.
With the ability to harvest longer than any machine on the market in conditions that are less than ideal, visibility at night has not been overlooked. With LED lighting as standard, night can be turned into day, while other features such as gull-wing LED lights on the Ultimate visibility package provide a nice finishing touch.
The X9 also has a full suite of on-board technology and depending on the packages chosen, it can be equipped with AutoMaintain, Active Terrain Adjustment and Active Yield.
JDLink is available free of charge on both models for two years. This enables machine-to-machine communication and makes it easy for the owner and operator to send field and agronomic data to and from the machine, as well as share machine performance information. With John Deere Connected Support, owners also get unmatched dealer service through Expert Alerts – an industry exclusive – where potential downtime is detected and resolved before it happens.
The X9 1000 grain tank holds 14,800 litres and the X9 1100 up to 16,200 litres of grain, with unloading rates of up to 186 litres/sec. Folding unloading augers with an adjustable spout are available for the X-Series in various lengths.
John Deere is so confident about the performance of this machine that it will be running the X-Series Challenge, where £25,000 (€25,000 in Ireland) is offered to anyone who can beat the X-Series combine in the field. This challenge is open to any production combine on the market today, with registration via the John Deere country websites.
John Deere dealers will start taking orders for the new X-Series combines later this summer.
