Farming Scotland Magazine (March-April 2011)

SPRAYERS • FENCING

SPECIAL CENTRE SPREAD LELY (UK) Ltd

SCOTLAND ON A PLATE with ANCANTHUS HAND-MADE PIES

ARABLE • LIVESTOCK • DAIRY • POTATOES FINANCE • MACHINERY

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PUBLISHER/EDITORAthole Murray FlemingE-mail: [email protected]

PRODUCTION DIRECTORChristina Fleming

CON

TENTSMain Features

Sprayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12

Fencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-16

Special 4 Page SpreadLely (UK) Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-20

Scotland on a PlateAcanthus Hand-Made Pies . . . . . . . . . 13

Regular ColumnsFarming for the Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Crofting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

NFU of Scotland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Vet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

People on the Move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Scottish Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

News SectionArable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-26

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-28

Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-34

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April 2011

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PUBLISHER’S NOTES

COPYRIGHTThis publication has been produced and published by ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD who are the copyright owners. No reproduction, copying, image scanning, storing or recording of any part of this publication without the permission of ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD.

SUPPLIED MATERIALATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD does not accept any liability for loss or damage to supplied film transparencies, photographs or other such promotional material.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is designed, produced and published by Athole Design & Publishing Ltd.

Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive,Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland PH2 7BU. Tel. 01738 639747E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

©ATHOLE DESIGN 2011

ISSN: 2041–918X

Scotland’s larderOn a recent visit to the Scottish Specialty Food Exhibition in Glasgow, I was stuck by the number of small artisan businesses producing some truly great and diverse food. Idea of the ultimate supermarket – “FOOD SCOTLAND”…with only locally sourced produce from this country. Would it work? Probably not, as the cost is not the main concern here, quality is.

Quality is an amazing commodity. Take chocolate for example. I can make an 80% organic bar last me a full week – a square with my cup of tea is all I need. Such is the sheer loveliness. Compared with a cheap regular mass produced bar, that would be scoffed in one sitting, so no cost saving there then?

Cost and quality always seem to be pitted against each other, and cost wins most of the time with the general public. But are they getting real value for their money? I think not.

I have found in food, wine and yes, sweets, that the higher the quality, the less I need to consume, and the more pleasure I get.

I wonder how Jamie Oliver would market that concept?The Scottish Speciality Food Exhibition was a great wee

event, not huge by any means, but it should be.In this issue our “Scotland on a Plate’ page gives you a little

snippet on one of our Scottish Food Heroes – Acanthus Hand Reared Pies.

They are fab. I know, I have tasted them.Forward with Scotland’s larder!

Athole

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ARABLE

ARABLE

55www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

...More than just rollers!

Dal-Bo UK, Unit 12A Shepherds Close, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6SZTel: 01263 732683 Fax: 01263 732632 e-mail: [email protected]

www.dal-bo.com

ARABLE

6 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

ARABLE


Renewables: could micro-hydro work

for your farm?Rebecca Audsley

Climate Change ManagerSAC Environment and Design

Renewables can not only cut down on your existing power needs, saving on fuel and associated emissions, but also provide an additional farm income through Feed in Tariffs (FiTs).

Wind energy seems to be the most common of the renewables being considered or installed on farms. However, if you have a watercourse, micro-hydro may also be worth investigating. The following questions may help you decide if a micro hydro scheme could be right for your farm:

· What head and flow do you have in your watercourse? Head is the vertical fall in the water from upstream to downstream level. Less than 10m would be classed as low, 10 to 50m medium and above 50m would be described as high head. Flow is the volume of water passing per second, measured in m3/second. A basic calculation to assess the power in your watercourses is Power (kW) = 7 (efficiency loss) x flow (m3/sec) x head (m)•

· Does the level of flow vary; what is the mean flow in your watercourse over the year?

· How near are you to a load or grid connection? How easy will it be to transfer the power from generation to point of use?

· Are there any environmental impacts?

· Do you own all the land or will you need to seek permission from neighbours?

· What are the planning and environmental licensing requirements? Micro hydro schemes are now much more attractive following the introduction of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs). Under the FiTs scheme, you are paid for the amount of energy you produce and you can sell surplus energy back into the national grid. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have produced guidance notes for micro hydro schemes at www.sepa.org.uk/water/hydropower.aspx. For more information on farm renewables go to www.farmingforabetterclimate.org.


ARABLE


SPRAYERS

Kuhn extends mounted sprayer rangeKuhn has added the simple and robust Optis to its mounted sprayer range, showing it for the first time at SIMA 2011. With capacities ranging from 300 to 1,200 litres, Optis models feature numerous components already tried and tested in Kuhn’s mounted sprayer range that includes Omnis, Deltis and Altis models.

The Optis can be fitted with one of three control options: constant pressure for the most simple demands; manual DPM control (output proportional to the engine speed); and finally DPM electric control, with a new in-cab control box, the DPF.

A light weight but robust manual boom (RPL), with stainless steel line and protected jets, is available in widths of 9, 10 and 12m.

Kuhn also has a range of trailed sprayers, starting with the 2,400 - 3,200 litre capacity Baltique (up to 21 metres boom width) and up to the top-of-range Oceanis with a maximum tank capacity of 7,700 litres and maximum boom width of 38 metres.

GEM-Trak 3500/4200 trailed sprayer from FarmGemThe criteria considered when designing the GEM-trak was one, stability had to be good and two it had to be able to cope with contractor road mileage and high speed tractors. Providing stability with larger capacity trailed sprayers has always been an issue and FarmGem felt chassis and tank design which would keep the centre of gravity as low as possible were key, these factors combined with the auto steering axle and air bag/leaf spring

axle suspension ensure the GEM-trak offers excellent stability both in-field and on the road. FarmGem also wanted to offer an auto steering axle which didn’t use complicated electronic sensors and potentiometers and so the GEM-Trak auto steering axle has been designed to be controlled by a simple stainless steel cable which is fitted to a bracket on the drawbar and activated when the tractor turns. The sprayer also comes highly specified as standard as it is fitted with 844E auto dosage controller, auto sprayline prime and purge, 300lt/min pump and 19mm ID stainless steel spraylines to cope with higher application rates sometimes required for root crops or liquid fertiliser. It also comes precision farming ready and a DGPS auto spray section control system can just be plugged in if required.

Starting price £38,900

Challenger sprayer sets a standardChallenger’s self-propelled sprayer standard to new

7 IS A MAGIC NUMBERA brief look at some of the latest sprayers on the market for 2011

Gem Trak2 4200


heights with its new RoGator 600. The entire vehicle, designed and built in Europe, is completely new from the ground up - from its exclusive

chassis to its novel spraying system. Unique features in every area of this revolutionary design propel it straight to the top of the technology tree. “We

have consulted widely among professional farmers and sprayer operators that work in every main market in Europe. The result is the Challenger RoGator 600 project that provides unrivalled features for optimum accuracy of application, productivity, comfort and economy,” explains Challenger’s Age Krug.

“The RoGator 600 is an utterly uncompromising design that, like all other Challenger equipment, is developed and engineered to the highest standards,” he adds.

By combining in-depth research with their own outstanding knowledge and expertise of manufacturing

application vehicles, Challenger engineers have assessed every aspect of the spraying task. In the process they have developed new, unique and radical innovations to increase performance - from providing the largest and best filling station, through to the unique plumbing and boom suspension.

100% Amazone – the new Pantera self-propelled sprayerWith the Pantera 4001, Amazone will introduce its new self-propelled plant protection sprayer to the market in December 2010 and, not only is the plant protection technology in-house, but the running gear also originates from its own production line. With its compact dimensions, being only 8.40 m long, 3.80 m high and just 2.75 m wide, the new 200 HP flagship of the Amazone plant protection range goes to extraordinary lengths to impress. The highlight up-front is the new Comfort cab making work easier and more comfortable for the driver and, mounted behind the cab, the combination of 4,000 litre spraying tank and Super L-boom in working widths of up to 40 metres; enable outputs of more than 20 hectares/hour in good field conditions to be achieved. This technology can be put to good use, not only on large farms, but also with contractors and machinery rings. With the self-propelled

Amazone Pantera

SPRAYERS

Challenger RoGator


sprayer being equipped with all the same environment-friendly crop protection technology as the mounted and trailed crop protection sprayers from Amazone, the Pantera firmly places the Amazone crop protection machinery programme in the premier league.

John Deere’s flagship sprayer improved for 2011A new John Deere 5430i self-propelled sprayer with 36m boom was seen for the first time in the UK on the company’s stand (G30, Avenue B) at the LAMMA ’11 show in January.

Over 100 5430i sprayers are now at work in the UK and Ireland, providing high levels of spraying performance and productivity. The company’s European sprayer factory at Horst in The Netherlands has now started production of an enhanced machine for 2011, featuring new developments in

spray boom suspension and application rate control.

A unique control system known as Boom Charge automatically increases pressure in the spraying system to optimise the application rate as the sprayer is switched on and accelerates away from the headland. This system

Vicon iXterJohn Deere 5430i

SPRAYERS


minimises any under application that may occur, thus increasing overall spray accuracy, especially in areas where forward speed is changing rapidly, and providing much more even spray coverage.

Vicon iXter – the industry’s first Isobus compatible tractor-mounted sprayer rangeThe iXter sprayer range from Vicon is the industry’s first tractor mounted sprayer range that offers full Isobus compatibility.

This means that any tractor that is Isobus 11783-equipped can upload the spray computer program onto its own terminal and with the addition of a Vicon switchbox to control boom sections, the sprayer’s functions and hydraulic controls can be operated through the tractor’s terminal.

“Isobus dramatically reduces in-cab clutter and control box requirements,” says Vicon sales manager David Furber. “However, the range is not exclusively for Isobus-equipped tractors – the iXter range is available with FlowMate and Focus II control systems for those who do not favour the Isobus system.”

The Vicon iXter range is available in four tank sizes: 1000, 1300, 1600 and 1800

litres, and each can be equipped with boom widths from 15-24m, from four different boom families. These include the HC and HPT steel booms and the all-new Alu-Liner vertically folding series.

Vicon’s aluminium boom structure avoids a welded construction in favour of aircraft manufacturing technology that sees aluminium components assembled using bolt-together clamps and glue. This innovative construction enables individual pieces of the Alu-Liner boom to be individually replaced - on-farm - in the event of damage.

New Kondor Boom from BerthoudThe three way folding of Berthoud’s new Kondor boom keeps the boom within the ‘envelope’ of the trailed sprayer in transport mode and reduces the overall transport height.

The steel boom offers 32 to 38m variable geometry and steel construction for those operators who may prefer steel to aluminium.

Kondor provides operators with the flexibility to alter suspension to best suit the terrain they are working on, its DDL system enabling them to select either the Pendulo or the Axiale centre pivot system from inside the cab.

Kondor is available on Tenor and Raptor models.

SPRAYERS

Berthoud Condor Boom

Kuhn Optis 600


DAIRY

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Setting out your perimeters

The new Bryce post driver, The Forest Supreme -Designed to be compact and versatile

The Bryce aim was to produce a compact high performance post driver that can be used by one man to give working rates comparable to the biggest machines on the market. It must be suitable for a 70hp tractor (lightweight) for working on soft land and it must offer the ultimate in safety and stability when travelling on steep ground. It must be compact for transportation down narrow lanes and easy access amongst trees in forestry situations.

Identifying this need for a high performance competitively-priced compact post driver for use on medium horsepower tractors with a modest lifting

capacity, Bryce Post Drivers has introduced a compact version of the highly successful Bryce Suma Profi post driver. Named the Forest Supreme for which a Patent is pending, the post driver comes complete with sideshift, backshift, automatic telescopic mast, 400kg hammer, independent hydraulic legs and rockspike.

The novel sideshift feature allows the mast to slide 35cm (14”) to the left and right of centre for versatility through a unique design. When centralised, and with the hammer at the bottom of the mast, great safety and stability is ensured.

The highly acclaimed patented Bryce automatic telescopic mast also features as standard spec, allowing the

FENCING

Bryce Forest Supreme


FENCINGhammer to lift to a height of 3.650 mts under the post cap as well as going down to nearly ground level without any manual or mechanical mast adjustment required. The mast now features a dual mast lubrication system – patent pending. The independent hydraulic legs ensure safety and stability on any type of terrain.

The Forest Supreme offers all the performance and hitting power of the top professional machines offered by Bryce.

Completing the package is a 100mm rockspike which will go down to 1.2 mts (4’) deep, a quick release for safety, and a hefty extractor ram for spike extraction in severe conditions. Hydraulic controls can be folded neatly to the side for transport and travelling down narrow lanes or amongst trees and forestry.

This post driver is unmatched by any other machine in the market by offering the same performance and hitting power of much bigger and more expensive machines. It offers

greater safety and stability than anything else and can be used by one man working on his own to drive posts and hang gates without moving the tractor, and all on the back of a 70hp tractor. It is neat and compact, making it ideal for access and transportation down narrow country lanes and amongst trees in forestry situations. Transport height is only 3.3mts and yet it can drive posts up to 3.650mts long.

The post driver offers a huge saving in terms of costs for those seeking high performance in a compact package or as a backup for the busy contractor who does not require bigger heavier machines but who may wish to send a man away to drive strainers and hang gates on his own with speed and efficiency. It weighs 600 kgs less than bigger, similar performance machines but can still deliver 62 tonnes of hitting power if required. The comparatively light weight of the post driver makes it ideal for the extreme conditions which prevail on

rough hill ground which can alternate between bog and severe slopes.

J B Corrie & Co Ltd“Field perimeter fencing by JB Corrie”

Based in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, the Scottish division of J B Corrie & Co Ltd of Petersfield, Hampshire, is geographically well situated to provide the company’s full range of products and services to customers in Scotland and the North.

We have the freedom and independence that enables us to be flexible and adaptable while remaining a fully integral part of J B Corrie & Co, benefiting from all the knowledge, experience and resources available to a larger company formed over 80 years ago.

The Scottish team itself, with well over 100 years of combined fencing experience, has the knowledge and ability, to carry out a wide variety of fencing projects, gained through undertaking many diverse contracts in often, challenging and logistically demanding locations throughout the Scottish Mainland and Islands.

The Scottish division of J B Corrie are authorised installers of many manufacturers fencing products and systems and are past winners of the national Fence of the Year competition. Through our mature Quality Management System, dynamic approach to Health & Safety and pro-active Environmental commitment, we are at the

forefront of the Scottish fencing industry.

Whether you want Deer Fencing on a Highland Estate, Security Fencing for an Electricity Substation or Metal Railings and Timber Palisade for a new Housing Development we will visit the site, discuss your requirements, carry out a comprehensive survey, and prepare a detailed written quotation.

You can be confident that here in Scotland, J B Corrie & Co has the capability to deal competently, reliably and professionally with your fencing needs - whatever and wherever they may be!

Rutland Electric FencingThe market leaders in electric fencing in the UK. Their products, expertise and distribution network will ensure you obtain the best electric fence for your animal control, whether it is for farm animals, horses, wildlife, vermin or pets.

Electric fencing can provide safe and secure boundaries for permanent, semi-permanent or temporary applications at a cost lower then conventional fences.

Their extensive web site has been designed to assist you in designing your fence and selecting products from our range of Electric Shepherd energisers, posts, insulators, wire, tape and accessories. They also offer several tips and advice for installation and maintenance of your electric fence.

See for yourself at www.rutland-electric-fencing.co.uk

JB Corrie fencing

POTATOES


POTATOES



LIVESTOCK

LIVESTOCK

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com24 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

THE

VET

PEOPLE O

N THE M

OVE

MERLO APPOINTS NEW MAN FOR THE

NORTHDavid Clark has been appointed Merlo as their Territory Sales

Representative for the North West of the UK.

NEW HIGHLAND REGIONAL MANAGER

TAKES UP POST NFU Scotland has strengthened its

membership team today with the appointment of

Bruce McConachie to the post of Highland Regional

Manager.

NEW FEED APPOINTMENT

Matthew Noble has been appointed area business manager for the North of England and Scotland by Newmarket-based feed

supplements manufacturer, Ufac-UK.

LIVESTOCK


FINANCEHIGH HEALTH HERDS

A PRIORITY

Richard LochheadCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs

The Scottish Government


28 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com28

FINANCE

MACHINERY


MACHINERY


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FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINENEXT ISSUE

1st MAY 2011 INCLUDESROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW PREVIEW

BALERS • IRRIGATIONSHEARING • WATER WELL DRILLING


Farming Scotland Magazine (March-April 2011)

Documents

diverse food

nfu of scotland

scotland ph2

scottish government

cost wins

p p uk

ancanthus hand

plate page