farming scotland magazine (may-june 2013)

ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW 2013 PREVIEW25th GWCT SCOTTISH GAME FAIR

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND with HUGH GRIERSON ORGANICBEAUTIFUL TRACTORS • DROVERS TALES

ESTATE

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com June 2013

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

ADVERTISING DIRECTORAthole Murray FlemingTel. 01738 639747

ADVERTISING MANAGERSBarry TweedTel. 01738 550090Email: [email protected] KnightsTel. 01738 447378Email: [email protected]

PRODUCTION DIRECTORChristina FlemingEmail: [email protected]

CON

TENTSJune 2013

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com 3

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 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 2013

ISSN: 2041–918X

Growing and growingHello and welcome to our biggest ever Farming Scotland Magazine, and of course, this is also our special Royal Highland Show Preview Edition.

I am delighted to welcome a couple of new people who have joined our team.

Fiona Sloan will be contributing through her own Online Savvy column, and in other ways too, while we are also joined by Trevor Knights as one of my advertising managers. Trevor is new to the advertising game but is learming all the time! (He’ll love that!).

Both Trevor and Barry are family friends, so we are all working hard and having ‘fun’ while keeping the ‘family spirit’ alive and well here at Farming Scotland.

In this edition, we have also launched two new dedicated news sections. Estate and Sheep.

This is all part of our growing the contents of the magazine to give you as big a read as possible with varied topics of relevance and interest to Scottish farmers and landowners throughout the country.

I hope you like what you see and read?....new ideas always welcome.

The other side of ‘growing’ of course, is the impact of the weather. Here’s hoping that this year is not as wet and cold as last year. The growing season is upon us as I write this column, so fingers crossed for a better summer.

For the very first time, we will have a presence at the Scottish Game Fair in July, so I hope to meet some of you there, and of course in July at the Royal Highland when I make my annual pilgrimage with the family.

Athole.

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Main FeaturesScottish Game Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15Royal Highland Show Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-77Just the Ticket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Beautiful TractorsTwo classic models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Flavour of ScotlandFeaturing Hugh Grierson Organic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12Our Farm ShopA look at Hopetoun House Farm Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Drovers TalesThe diary of Ken Headspeath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19ColumnsIn my View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Scottish Wines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Let’s Cook Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Farmers Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Southern Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Scottish Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21NFU of Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Conservation Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81The Vet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85Crofting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Farming for the Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Anything but Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Online Savvy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98The Money Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99People on the Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114NEWS SECTIONSArable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-18Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-24 Potatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79Gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-86Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87-91 Renewable Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93-97Science & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99-100Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101-109Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Lifestyle@Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111-112Lifestyle Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

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BEAUTIFULTRACTORSSpecially for all our tractor enthusiasts

IHC TITAN, MODEL 10 - 20USA, 1919

FORD, MODEL 9NUSA, 1939

The International Harvester Company began to use the Mogul and Titan trade names just after the turn of the century. One of the last of the breed was the ubiquitous 10-20 Titan of 1915. This model helped spread the tractor gospel: it heralded an era of less expensive machinery in which the farmer could afford his own small tractor and threshing machine. The Titan was one of the most successful of early lighter designs.

FeaturesUtilitarian to say the least, the Titan’s vital parts were there for all to see. A two-cylinder, horizontal motor could burn kerosene or other low-grade fuels and was mated to a two-speed transmission. It was decked out in basic dark grey with dark red wheels, with the IHC symbol emblazoned on the front of the large water-cooling tank.

UsesThe Titan was an all-purpose tractor and its slow-speed, long- stroke motor made it capable of pulling a three-drill plough with ease. The somewhat primitive look of the Titan makes it an interesting and popular show tractor today.

Related ModelsThe Titan gave way to the more modern-looking and mechanically improved 10-20 and 15-30 Gear Drive tractors.

Power & Size10–20 hp; weight: 2495kg (5500lb) length: 373cm (147in) width: 152cm (60in) height 170cm (67in)

Manufacturing & DistributionSome 78,000 models were built in IHC’s factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1915 until 1922. The Titan helped with wartime ploughing programmes in North America, the UK and France, and was also sold in Australia, New Zealand and southern Africa.

In 1939 Harry Ferguson joined forces with Henry Ford, who was looking for a modern replacement for his Fordson tractor. The new model was called the Ford 9N with Ferguson System, or more popularly the Ford-Ferguson. The two men fell out after the Second World War: the resulting legal battle over designs and patents was eventually won by Ferguson.

FeaturesThe Ford 9N used a four-cylinder Ford flat head (L head) motor, a three-speed transmission and the Ferguson System hydraulics. The polished aluminium hood and grille accented Ferguson’s favorite grey colour on the rest of the tractor. An early model could be bought with steel wheels, and there was a stripped- down wartime version designated the 2N.

UsesThis little outfit was very popular. It filled a niche in the light utility tractor market and was a versatile machine that could perform a wide range of tasks. It can still be found mowing and performing other light duties on farms and estates and is starting to appear at tractor shows and working events.

Related ModelsThe 9N was replaced in 1947 by the improved model designated the 8N, which remained in production until 1952. The Ferguson TE-20 and TO-20, of similar capacity, competed with the 9N.

Power & Size23 hp; weight: 1043kg (2300lb) length: 292cm (115in) width: 163cm (64in) height: 132cm (52in)

Manufacturing & DistributionSome 300,000 of the 9N/2N tractors were built in Dearborn, Michigan, from 1939 to 1947. Sold in North America through Ford automotive and Ferguson’s own dealers, they were also popular in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Images from “Beautiful Tractors – Iconic Models” by Rick Mannen

Available in paperback: £12.99. For further information : www.franceslincoln.com


WINE


O U RFARMSHOP

ESTATE


Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the GWCT’s Scottish Game Fair

It’s bigger and better and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Scottish Game Fair promises to be one of the major highlights in the countryside calendar this year.

The organising committee of this leading Scottish event are pulling out all stops to ensure that this year’s Game Fair will be the best event ever, especially as it will be celebrating its silver anniversary.

Katrina Candy, the GWCT’s head of PR & Education (Scotland) said: “We are incredibly excited about the 2013 GWCT’s Scottish Fair and we are planning to make this a huge celebration of our 25 years at Scone Palace. Everyone is working extremely hard towards making this the biggest and best event in our history.

“We’re also delighted to be engaging with Year of Natural Scotland to inspire the public to get involved and connect with nature.”

The Scottish Fair has become one of the leading countryside events in Scotland and almost 40,000 people are expected to descend on Scone Palace to join in the celebrations this year. This popular Fair is renowned for its diversity, offering an exciting weekend of activities, entertainment, shopping, outstanding food and, importantly, an opportunity to learn more about wildlife and conservation.

Fair Director, David Noble said, “We are working hard to put together an extra special show to celebrate our silver anniversary and our

organising team are buoyed up to deliver a first-rate Fair. We will certainly have a few surprises up our sleeve which will add to the party atmosphere.”

New to the Fair this year is the Top Gear Experience simulator which puts you in some of the most up to date supercars, a Gnat Shoot where Guns can try and shoot motorised airborne targets and a show of traditional hill ponies – the best of which will be awarded the Fred Taylor Memorial Trophy.

The GWCT’s Scottish Game Fair is staged annually in the magnificent grounds of Scone Palace on the banks of the River Tay on the outskirts of Perth. The Fair occupies the perfect site for visitors to participate in many exciting rural pursuits

such as fly-casting, gundog working and clay shooting.

In addition, it boasts nearly 400 trade stands, including the celebrated Food Hall, which offers a delicious selection of speciality food products from regional as well as national producers, including seafood, handmade chocolates, traditional farmhouse cheeses and oak-smoked game, wine and locally brewed ales. As well as having an opportunity of tasting and buying a wide range of delicious products, from around the country visitors to the Fair will be able to enjoy exhibitions within the cookery theatre and learn a few new tricks from some of the UK’s top chefs.

It’s a one-stop-shop for country sports suppliers, offering everything for the

ESTATE


land manager, gamekeeper and countryside enthusiast. To augment this mecca for all things sporting, the fisheries area of the Fair will be enhanced this year with more displays and organisations represented on site. It’s also a fabulous weekend of fun for the whole family with plenty of hands-on activities for youngsters to enjoy and a visit to the GWCT’s Wee Beasties marquee is well worth it.

The GWCT’s main exhibition area, however, always plays an integral role in helping to inform and educate visitors to the Fair on its wide ranging research and through appealing interactive displays we communicate our practical conservation message. A visit to the stand is an excellent opportunity to find out more about the diverse range of wildlife research that is being carried out by the Trust both

in Scotland and across the UK and to see how this important research feeds directly into the management of Scotland’s rural landscape.

Although the Fair is a positive celebration of outdoor pursuits such as angling, gundog working and farming game shooting, the GWCT considers that the educational side of the event is equally as important. The GWCT’s exhibition area is therefore always spectacular and thought-provoking and is a popular stopping-off point for many visiting Scottish politicians and policy makers. GWCT researchers take great delight in explaining current research projects to visitors and showing how this research is helping to retain a thriving Scottish countryside that is rich in game and other wildlife.

Although we do not know whether this summer’s weather

will be better than last year, the Fair team have been busy with contingency plans. Katrina Candy said, “We have put in lots of hard work in on the ground to ensure that the site is much better prepared for bad weather.

“But of f course we hope that the weather will be fantastic, but we are determined not to be beaten this summer. We are working closely with the Scone Palace estate to put in contingency measures and we are delighted by the very positive response from trade stand holders who are extremely keen to come back. Indeed, we will be adding a number of new names to the trade village in 2013.”

Visitors to the Scottish Game Fair come from far and wide to enjoy a good day out with their families and friends and as a consequence it has grown to become one

of Scotland’s most successful summer events and a significant date in Scotland’s rural calendar. Its continuing successful operation is therefore of huge importance to the GWCT, which uses proceeds from the Fair to fund its important conservation research.

ESTATE


Demand remains high for Scotland’s primesporting pursuits

Scotland’s pre-eminent Sporting Lets agency, run by CKD Galbraith, believes that the sporting season for 2013 will remain buoyant with continued strong demand for fishing, stalking and grouse shooting.

Robert Rattray, partner at CKD Galbraith and head of the firm’s Sporting Lets firm, said: “ The 2013 salmon season kicked off with encouraging reports from the likes of the Tay and lower Spey. Further north, the cold weather conditions have delayed the start of the main spring run which should start to build up as the weather improves in April and May.

“Grouse numbers have been generally very encouraging over the last three years with 2011 being one of the best years in recent history.”

Marvel at ‘Magnificent 7’ natural beauties on rural

estates of Scotland

Scotland’s landowners are supporting the Scottish Natural Heritage ‘Big 5’ with a campaign of their own to highlight some of the beautiful species to be found on Scotland’s rural estates.

Forming part of the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland celebrations, the Magnificent 7 – seven natural beauties of rural Scotland – is a new initiative led by Scottish Land

ESTATE


Isn’t it always the case that if you are prepared for the worst it’ll never happen and if you leave the house without a brolly on a day that there’s a reported “50% chance of rain” (meaning it might rain and it might not) then you are bound to get soaked?! This was my thinking behind packing the car for a trip to Thainstone from the balmy South West a few weeks ago.

Armed with two sleeping bags (in case one wasn’t warm enough), several blankets, a shovel to dig myself out of the drifts, two torches (in case one didn’t work or ran out of batteries), spare batteries, a map (because I don’t trust the woman on the sat nav) and my mother’s trusty red Thermos flask, which has been a loyal member of the family for over 40 years. Obviously the obligatory jump leads, screen wash, spare towel and a spanner were already in there just in case. My passenger however was a “southerner” so obviously I didn’t rate his potential for driving in snow

SouthernBell

Sod’s Law…

& Estates inviting visitors to view flora and fauna visible in spectacular abundance on country estates from Ayrshire to Aberdeen. The first beauty to feature as part of the Magnificent 7 is the daffodil, and following close behind will be rhododendrons, bluebells, strawberries, heather, flying

fish (salmon) and the ‘famous reds’ – squirrels and stags.

Estates across Scotland will be taking part including Mount Stuart Estate on Bute, Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, Craufurdland Estate in Ayrshire and Bowhill House in the Scottish Borders amongst a host of others.

or sense of direction but he would be handy when we had to dig the car out.

Off we set on a glorious sunny day which my mother would say “looked nice from the inside” and enjoyed the scenery on the five hour trip north on the black roads with no snow to be seen; despite the forecast. Job done we headed home the next day again in perfect conditions except for the odd flurry, then after nearly 500 miles.... Snow!!!! Not just any old snow the worst snow in the South West in living memory!!

On the bright side I’m sure many a housewife in the South West would have a pound on the horses at Aintree this week and you couldn’t go past Tartan Snow in Thursday’s race. He romped home to win at 100/1. About the same odds as getting stuck in the snow when you’re prepared for the worst!

By the way.....when I was unloading the car....I dropped the flask! Sorry Mum!!!

10-YEAR Guarantee – Only with the Remington

VersaMaxAll new Remington Versa Max semi-automatic shotguns now come with a superb 10-year guarantee as standard. “New technology is often viewed with skepticism, but its now clear that Remington have created a winner with the Versa Max VersaPort system,” said Edgar Brothers’ Managing Director, Derek Edgar, adding: “So confident are Remington in the reliability of the Versa Max, that they are offering this new 10-year warranty. Once you’ve shot it, you’ll remember where you where when inertia died!”

At the heart of the single-barreled shotgun is the patented VersaPort gas piston system; an extremely reliable, semi-automatic operating system consisting of seven

City chic and country elegance at new Hopetoun House event

Incorporating the hugely successful International Horse Trials, Hopetoun House will return to the event calendar this summer with the new concept Town and Country Fair.

Promising an exquisite mix of city chic with country living, set in the grounds of Scotland’s finest stately home, the event, sponsored by Gillespie McAndrew, will take place between Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July.

Building on the exceptional success of 2012’s horse trials, 2013’s event will return with a mixture of international sporting stars and training novices looking to make their mark at an esteemed international occasion.

Providing a showcase of some of Scotland’s finest food and drink, Hopetoun’s West Lawn will be home to the Fine Food Walk where visitors will have the chance to experience a multitude of

ESTATE


Feathers at Altitude Ltd -

Highland Perthshire

Feathers At Altitude Ltd are proud to host one of the country’s top game shoots and certainly the best quality driven partridge and pheasant shooting Perthshire has to offer.

Our diligent team of Keepers do justice to the natural topography of their ground and present a shooting experience you will not forget in a hurry. From over 25,000 acres comprising Kinnaird, Glenlyon and Bolfracks Estates, we have developed in excess of 35 drives, catering for all levels of shooting parties.

We have dates available throughout the season when

we welcome rough shooting parties, full teams of guns and also often require individual guns, 2, 3 or 4 guns, to make up full teams. In short, tell us your requirements and we’ll work something out. The minimum driven day available with Feathers is to shoot 200 birds.

award winning producers from across the country, as well as the homegrown taste of the Hopetoun Farm Shop.

The luxury shopping village will give visitors the chance to take a step out of the city to browse latest collections of quality designers exhibiting alongside international names

such as Barbour and Hunter.Tickets for the event are on

sale now priced at £15 each and children under the age of 12 can enter for free.

DAIRY


CAP REFORM AGREEMENT?

By Richard LochheadRural Affairs and Environment Secretary

The Scottish Government


DAIRY

DAIRY



Here comes the sun…

Well, we certainly hope this is the case, come the big Royal Highland Show in June.

With last year being a bit of a wash-out for a lot of events throughout the country, we can only look forward to this seasons shows and events with a confident and hopeful heart.

The biggest of them all of course, is the spectacular that is the Royal Highland Show, and once again, we at Farming Scotland Magazine are pleased to give you an early insight into what will be taking place at this years event.

The next 56 pages should hopefully whet your appetite for what is Scotland’s premier farming event, an event that attracts both those from within the business and of course, the general public, families and all.

The RHS is a great social arena for everyone, and if the weather is good, there is no better place to be than Ingliston.

So, I hope to be there with my own family, taking in all the attractions, and of course, meeting some clients too.

Truly a great mix of business and pleasure awaits.

Slàinte.

Athole Murray FlemingPublisher/EditorFarming Scotland Magazine

“Welcome to the show”by

Becky ElvinShow Manager

This year’s Royal Highland Show is shaping up to be very special indeed, not least because it will be my first year at the helm of this mighty show which is the envy of many other events throughout the country.

Last year, I understand, was pretty wet and it was thanks to a hugely loyal visitor base, coupled with exhibitors’ Dunkirk spirit and the expertise of RHASS staff and directors that kept the show on track. Indeed it was the fifth highest attendance in the show’s history – a fantastic result when so many other events were either cancelled or cut short.

Following significant investment in the showground’s infrastructure, including show rings, drainage and car parks, we are confidant that should the rain fall again this year, we will be in good shape.

2013 is the turn of Highland and Islands to shine a light on this area of outstanding natural beauty. With a significant focus on food and tourism, visitors will be left in no doubt as to the vibrancy of this great region.

Precision Farming is the focus for many of our exhibitors who are lining up to showcase the latest developments to increase profitability: we wish them a good four days.

The Society’s educational charity, The Royal Highland Education Trust, will again inspire up to 25,000 schoolchildren at the show. With a spotlight on food consumption, Discovery Centre sponsors, Quality Meat Scotland, will return with an interactive stall to teach pupils about livestock animals, as well as the importance of healthy eating

Finally, a huge thanks to our main sponsor, The Royal Bank of Scotland – a long term supporter of the show and from what I understand this year, Jimmy McLean will be getting more than his boots dirty at the show in aid of SAYFC which is this year celebrating its 75th anniversary.

We look forward to seeing as many of you at the show.

BECKY ELVIN


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...More than just rollers!

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Claas has introduced a new automatic steering system, GPS PILOT FLEX which can be quickly and easily transferred between different machines.

Until now, in addition to the GPS COPILOT which indicates a path to which the operator manually steers, the only automatic ‘hands-free’ steering system that Claas has offered is GPS PILOT.

Unlike GPS PILOT, which is a fully integrated system built into the machine, the new GPS PILOT FLEX is attached to the steering column and does not rely on any valves within the steering system, so making it easy to swap between different machines, such as tractors, combine harvesters or forage harvesters.

New retrofit steering system

Installation could not be simpler as the control system is fully integrated into a control box and steering wheel that is fitted in place of the normal steering wheel. Having removed the steering wheel and replaced it with the GPS PILOT FLEX steering wheel, steering commands are sent directly to the steering wheel’s electric motor and so directly to the steering linkage.

GPS PILOT FLEX is designed for use with the ClaasGPS PILOT S3 automatic steering terminal. Where this is already fitted to the machine, all that is required is to change over the steering wheel. On machines not already fitted with GPS PILOT S3 then the navigation processor, S3 terminal and GPS antenna can also be easily moved over.

More and more farmers are able to cut costs and drive up the efficiency of their operations thanks to New Holland’s state-of-the-art guidance systems spreading around the country.

As new dealerships adopt the technology, fresh customers are able to take advantage of the GPS power that pinpoints moving machinery, such as harvesters and tractors, with accuracy down to 2.5cm.

Accuracy means efficiency; whether that’s saving time and fuel costs by following an optimal route harvesting a field for high returns, for example, or covering the maximum area when seeding, spraying or cultivating.

New Holland makes it easy as guidance

systems expand nationwide

The RTK system works though the radio station providing a fixed point for the GPS to track the working vehicle, providing any corrections if needed. A network of repeaters ensures good coverage.

A new radio base station unlocks New Holland Precision Land Management’s (PLM) range of products to simplify fleet management and mapping, such as the EZ Pilot™ system.

EZ Pilot™ uses an electric motor drive with GPS guidance to steer the wheel for the tractor’s operator. It means the operator can focus on other tasks such as sprayer or planter performance, improving job quality and crop yields while reducing fatigue.

New online shop for European John Deere fansA new online merchandise shop has been launched on the John Deere website for customers and fans of the brand in Europe. Featuring an updated design and improved user interface, it replaces the previous version introduced in 2007.

The popularity of the John Deere brand is such that John Deere merchandise reaches many fans that are not linked to the land or agricultural and turf machinery. The collection now features more than 1000 items including office accessories, watches and radios; practical

workwear and stylish clothing; ride-on pedal tractors, Gator utility vehicles and go-karts; beautifully crafted scale models, and numerous other gifts and practical items for the home and garden.

John Deere licensed products are created with the

same attention to detail and high quality finish traditionally found in John Deere equipment. Highlights of the 2013 collection include new detailed collectible models, toys and ride-ons for kids, as well as new designs for John Deere clothing lines.

The new online shop, which


Conservation Matters

Precision Farming for all: AMATRON 3

The new AMATRON 3 ISOBUS terminal will replace Amazone’s existing AMATRON+. More than 30,000 AMATRON+ have been sold over the previous few years and like AMATRON+, AMATRON 3 is a machine-overlapping operator terminal for Amazone fertiliser spreaders, sprayers and seed drills. New, in addition to the existing software licences: GPS-Switch and GPS-Track, is GPS-Maps. Plus, thanks to the ISOBUS standard, all ISOBUS compatible machinery from other manufacturers can also be operated via AMATRON 3. It is also downward-compatible with all existing AMATRON+ systems out there in the market and maintains that well-known simple and intuitive operation.

Alongside its use for machine control and monitoring, AMATRON 3 offers the possibility to operate three additional

optional functions within the one terminal. These include GPS-Switch, the automatic headland and part-width section control for fertiliser spreaders, sprayers and now also for seed drills. Also, the light bar based GPS-Track parallel steering aid makes sure that the full width of the machine is utilised – for instance, when carrying out pre-emergence work or on grassland to avoid overlaps. The third function is GPS-Maps; this is the new tool for handling variable rate application maps directly in the field. Whether it’s the simple switching over between the individual functions or matching the level of sophistication to one’s personal needs – AMATRON 3 features a huge range of services. And although AMATRON 3 offers more flexibility than the out-going AMATRON+, it still is a terminal easy to operate and, at the same time, favourably priced.

features prices in both pounds sterling and euros, complements the merchandise offered by local John Deere dealerships in

the UK and Ireland; to find your nearest dealer, visit the website at and look for the dealer locator.

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Texacloth is buying in Scotland this year for the 20th year, and we pay in full on the day for good clean wool.

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Gone are the days in farming when the woman’s work was in the house and making the dinner for “the workers”. For many years now the role is more of a working partner in the business and as one of my

full time working friends said “ I am not a farmer’s wife I am married to a farmer!”writes Fiona Sloan.

Just The Ticket rosettes is a small business which has fulfilled the role of allowing its owners to have a business, which they could run from home, while still being on hand for children and husbands and their related activities, be it the school run or the veterinary run. This thriving little business has been built up over the years in various locations and has supported several farms since its early beginnings in Ayrshire.

It was already growing in 2001 when Ayrshire farmer’s daughter, Jenny Cowzer’s commitment to Young Farmers and her forthcoming wedding, meant that she had to give the business up. They say that everything happens for a reason and at this time, during the Foot and Mouth outbreak, three friends in the worst affected area around Dumfries and Lockerbie, who had lost their stock, decided that they needed a distraction not only from the horror of that spring but of a summer when there was no stock and no shows. Sisters, Marion Paul and Dorothy Goldie and myself, saw the business advertised and set off to buy it, learn all about it and bring it back to Dumfriesshire that night! It all

looked simple enough (when demonstrated by the expert) and there was already a good customer base in the west. With the deal done, the business headed to its new home and all they had to do now was learn to sew in circles, print tails and glue some bits together. How difficult could that be!! Anyone who has watched a spinner make spinning look easy and thought “I could do that” will understand that sewing in circles is a similar concept and requires the ability to pat your head rub you tummy and stick your tongue in and out at the same time!

Just The Ticket duly arrived in Dumfriesshire and over the next three years the business thrived and the customer base grew to include some of the major breed societies and shows from all over the UK. Most importantly, it filled the gap in the lives of the women at a difficult time but with the stock back and work increasing, it was time for the business to pack up and move again. This time it moved just across the border into Cumbria where it remains today with Kathryn Mills.

Kathryn has a small 100 acre farm, with her husband

Jim, near Penrith and while she is also now supplying local shows, she has not only retained the Scottish customer base but increased it by adding, among others, the Scottish National Fat Stock Club to her clients and will be providing the rosettes for the new 2013 Scottish National Winter Fair this year. The rosettes have to fit around lambing 100 Shropshire and Llanwenog ewes, 20 Hereford and Galloway cattle and Jim’s work teaching students with learning difficulties at Newton Rigg Agricultural College and being the local church warden. Like the previous owners, Kathryn also lost her stock to FMD in 2001. “After foot and mouth, it took ages to decide to go back into stock as we couldn’t bear it happening again. When we eventually made the decision to carry on, we wanted different breeds of sheep and cattle, to the ones we had, so that we didn’t get reminded so much, hence the Shropshires and Llanwenogs” she smiles. “I bought Just The Ticket to fill in when things were quieter on the farm during the summer!” she laughs “Last night I finished an urgent order at 3.30am after lambing and tubing lambs till 1.30am!”

You can’t have a show without rosettes. It is the reason we compete. Walk into any farmhouse kitchen, where stock is shown and there will be rosettes hanging from the rafters, framed on the wall and often lying on the table or cupboard. That’s what makes this little business successful. It has always been run by people who have experienced showing and as event organisers have experienced that last minute panic of “I’m short of rosettes for the show!”

Since its beginnings in Ayrshire in the late 90s, Just The Ticket has grown by word of mouth and has thrived through having owners who did everything they could to help their clients, including meeting them in car parks late at night with “the one they forgot”. I asked Kathryn where she saw the business go in the future. “We have expanded our range of rosettes and I hope to gradually increase orders by word of mouth until we can afford to employ someone to help.” she smiles. It looks like Just The Ticket is set to continue supporting farming for some time to come.


RENEWABLEENERGY


RENEWABLEENERGY

On-going wet weather over the previous year and start to 2013 has raised a lot concerns with farmers about soil structure and drainage, and has left many wondering how, when and where to start addressing these issues.

This concern is well founded as poor drainage, along with any soil structural issues, and soil nutrient status will have a major impact on crop yields, reflecting the efficiency and productivity of your soils.

The first step to understand the problem is to dig a hole and have a look at your soil profile. Drainage issues such as ponding, particularly in fields where this has not happened before may be due to a compaction layer. To effectively deal with compaction you need to know where it is so that you can target treatment to the correct depth.

If the profile is looking fine then your next concern should be the state of any land drains and ditches. Good soil structure requires good drainage and the high

rainfall of the past year may be highlighting a land drainage issue.

Key points to remember are: You should be able to

identify a problem before you try and fix it, otherwise you will waste money and do more damage.

Any cultivation done to address compaction should be targeted to a depth just below the compaction layer. For many fields the problem may be just below the surface and only require the use of aerator to break up a capping lower or shallow subsoilers if the problem is within the top 20 cm.

Any form of cultivation or decompaction must only be done when the soils are dry. The cultivation of wet soil is pointless and can lead to additional costs plus more compaction issues in the future.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Farming for a Better Climate website hosts a series of practical guides that can help you to understand your soil profile and how to identify and remedy issues, see www.farmingforabetterclimate.org

Improving farm soils

byBill Crooks, Senior Soil Specialist, SAC Consulting

Renewables is the word of the moment and for landowners, estates and farms it can mean both business potential and information overload. Many people avoid looking into it further because they don’t know where to begin.

Being able to understand what it means in relation to your own specific site is key to being able to decide whether to invest your time let alone money in renewables’ projects.

Put simply, renewables can be a catalyst for changing the whole basis of your business model, if you know what it means for you.

An effective starting point is assessing what you have and the things you can do to improve that – many of which are free to explore or attract good grant assistance. Two organisations worth exploring for support are;The Energy Saving Trust The Carbon Trust

Renewables’ projects can result in new plant generating cost efficient power, heat and light from sustainable resources amongst many worthwhile outcomes. However, whilst the sustainable aspects to these are desirable – fundamentally it is the impact on a business’s bottom line that will lead to the investment!

Do you know what potential your site has?

Do you know how can you make it work for you?

There are a bewildering range of options facing anyone wishing to use renewables to improve their business. Often this overload of information leads to inaction.

You need a team who are experienced in the business aspects of renewables and how they impact on existing and future business plans with established relationship with a range of effective delivery partners who can help you assess potential and understand what you could do about it, getting you to the point where you feel informed enough to make your own decisions about what you choose to take forward which will impact positively on your business for now and the long term.

If you haven’t explored your renewables’ potential because you were not sure where to begin make that initial contact.

[email protected] www.businesslaw.co.uk

“Renewables – Relevant to me?”

By Andrew Smith, Young & Partners

anythingbut

GREEN

RENEWABLEENERGY



Scientists have developed a new methodology to produce a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Because the vaccine is all synthetic, made up of tiny protein shells designed to trigger optimum immune response, it doesn’t rely on growing live infectious virus and is therefore much safer to produce.

Furthermore, these empty shells have been engineered to be more stable; making the vaccine much easier to store and reducing the need for a cold chain. This is important research because it represents a big step forward in the global campaign to control FMDV in countries where the disease is endemic, and could significantly reduce the threat to countries currently free of the disease. Crucially, this new approach to making and stabilising vaccine could also impact on how viruses from the same family are fought, including polio.

This collaborative research was led by Professor David Stuart, Life Science Director at Diamond Light Source and MRC Professor of Structural Biology at the Department of Medicine University of Oxford and Dr Bryan Charleston, Head of Livestock Viral Diseases Programme at The Pirbright Institute.

Dr Bryan Charleston, whose team at The Pirbright Institute has developed a detailed understanding of the immune response to FMDV in cattle and is leading the vaccination trials work, says, “The FMDV epidemic in the UK in 2001 was disastrous and cost the economy billions of pounds in control measures and compensation. As a result of the outbreak the Royal Society

recommended new approaches should be developed to control the virus should it happen again.

“This important work has been a direct result of the additional funding that was provided as a result of the 2001 outbreak to research this highly contagious disease. Using our detailed knowledge of the immune responses to FMDV in cattle we were able to define the characteristics that needed to be incorporated into the new vaccine platform to induce protection.”

Professor David Stuart, explains, “What we have achieved here is close to the holy grail of foot-and-mouth vaccines. Unlike the traditional vaccines, there is no chance that the empty shell vaccine could revert to an infectious form. This work will have a broad and enduring impact on vaccine development, and the technology should be transferable to other viruses from the same family, such as poliovirus and hand foot and mouth disease, a human virus which is currently endemic in South-East Asia,”

Key results were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens on Wednesday 27th March 2013. The work is principally funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK (Defra) and the Wellcome Trust.

Clinical trials of the synthetic shell based vaccine on cattle carried out by Dr Charleston and his team have shown it is as effective as current vaccines. Whilst a commercial product is still several years away the team hopes that the technology can be transferred as quickly as possible to make it available to a global market.

New foot-and-mouth vaccine signals huge

advance in global disease control

With so many people now using the Internet, a website is seen as an essential tool for marketing your business. Indeed, many agricultural businesses now see a website as being crucial to business growth.

If you are a pedigree breeder, can a website help you sell more stock, semen, embryos etc?

In short, if done properly, yes it can. A good, well constructed website can put your business in front of your potential market. Pedigree breeding, in terms of the scale of the Internet, is a niche marketing opportunity and a website can be a very good investment.

Even if you are just starting to build your herd or flock, a website can focus on keeping future potential buyers up to date with your genetics. As the herd develops, a well designed website can grow with it and expand to promote animals, embryos, semen for sale. Linking to live pedigree and EBV’s (Estimated Breeding Values), from sources such as BASCO or ABRI Breedplan, allows potential buyers to research

the genetics in addition to viewing photos or video clips of animals they are interested in.

A website is a marketing tool that can also complement the more traditional options used by pedigree breeders. The Internet presents an opportunity to engage with a worldwide audience and attract buyers. If a potential buyer researches your pedigree bull or ram, before making the trip to the pedigree sale at the auction mart, then the website has helped market your livestock ahead of the competition.

The thought of getting a website up and running is still a daunting task for many people and yes it does require some commitment and time to gather the content but if done properly it can be a very cost effective way of attracting new buyers from all over the world.

Next time we will be looking at what’s involved with setting up a good website starting with choosing a good domain name and professional looking business email.

On the Ball…On–Line

byAllan Bewley & Fiona Sloan

Pedigree Farmer Web Design

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WILKS BROTHERSMain dealers in Perthshirefor DEUTZ FAHR Tractors

Sales • Service • PartsRepairs for a wide rangeof Agricultural Machinery

Murthly, Perthshire, PH1 4HGTel: 01738 710381 Fax: 01738 710581

Introducing the new 6 and 7 Series


Get kilted out

Newton, Inveraray, PA32 8UH Tel: 01499 302525

www.redshankkilts.co.uk

Redshank traditional kiltmakers offer a unique, bespoke and unrivalled service if you want a truly Scottish heirloom kilt. We source 100% wool and silk fabrics from Scotland’s finest weavers and commission kiltpins, belts and sporrans from Scottish craft businesses to make sure that your kilt makes you feel special, knowing that you look good, whether you need to be formal or casual. Redshank made the outfit Greg Wyse wore when he married Emma Thompson – a handcrafted kilt in Isle of Skye tartan Harris Tweed woven by Donald John MacKay of Luskentyre Harris Tweed. We also made Greg’s black nappa leather waistcoat, silk shirt, belt and sporran as well as his kilt socks, handknitted in Harris wool.

More recently, Redshank made two kilts and a tweed suit for Brendan Coyle (Mr Bates of Downton Abbey) who came to Inveraray last summer to star in Christmas special. We also supplied the blue herringbone tweed kilt to be worn by Malcolm McDowell in the film Monster Butler.

As an independent kiltmaker, we can buy from all the Scottish weavers and have access to a wide range of tartans or we can have a rare tartan woven or we can design a tartan or tweed specially for you. Recent customers include the Clan Claus Society (world headquarters in Ohio) with their Claus of the North Pole tartan. It’s red, green, white and gold and Clan Claus members wore kilts in the tartan at this year’s convention in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Group travelling plans? – sorted

Travel Solutions’ Group Travel Department has been established for over 17 years, offering tailor made travel personalised to groups own specifications. Group sizes can range from 20+ passengers.

If you are a member of a club, or association or simply want to travel as a group and are looking for tailor made travel, Travel Solutions Group Department could help you. We can accommodate your needs to meet your group’s budget.

We work with many different farming groups across Northern Ireland, arranging travel to a wide range of agricultural shows and events across Ireland, the UK, and into Europe and can include educational visits to farms,

factories or other places of interest.

Travel Solutions holds £5 million Tour Operator Liability Insurance, giving Group Organisers the protection expected by their group members. Be safe, not sorry!

Don’t just take our word for it; hear what our customers have to say...


@homeChairs To Make You

SmileKelly Swallow’s chairs are individually sourced vintage and antique pieces. The charm and unique personality of every piece is rediscovered by painstakingly and lovingly matching it with an exciting collection of fabrics to create a unique piece with newfound splendour. Kelly’s stunning chairs can be colourful and vibrant or subtle and interesting - and will always make you smile! But look more closely, to find the story. A commissioned piece can pull together the strands of the client’s life in colours, features, patterns and textures. These intriguing chairs

can have a sense of history, texture, depth and meaning while also being cheerful, even theatrical. When times are tough, people are drawn to things with more substance and longevity. Kelly’s work embodies all of this, reaching back to traditional skills, mixing vintage and modern fabrics to provide the heirlooms of the future. Kelly Swallow sells ‘ready to go’ pieces and also takes commissions, allowing customers to be completely involved in creating their own bespoke piece. The chairs speak for themselves!

Little Tree Furniture specialises in creating original furniture from reclaimed materials, some of which are hundreds of years old. The Reiner collection is an example of upcycling at its best; a unique range with an industrial style that will suit any retro or contemporary home and is right on trend.

Sourced from old colonial buildings in India and hand crafted using a combination of reclaimed hardwood and metal, the Reiner collection mimics the materials’ past use with its distinctive design. The seasoned hardwood has endured the industrial revolution and so it appears

apt that this stylish range reflects its roots.

The range has a naturally-aged industrial steel frame with a distressed finish that complements the reclaimed wood. Its natural grain and colouring makes each creation slightly different for a truly individual piece of furniture.

Reiner Upcycled Pipe Bookshelf - £545, Reiner Upcycled Large Sideboard - £745

Reiner Supreme


@homeElement Interiors’ New ‘Geology’ Wallpaper

Collection

Give your home a new season makeover with Element Interiors’ ‘Geology’ wallpaper collection Element Interiors design products that transform everyday interiors into fantastical, otherworldy natural environments. We’ve very excited to share our latest wallpaper collection with you. Our ‘Geology’ wallpaper collection draws inspiration from the irregular geometric formations and jewel tones of various mineral crystals and rocks. ‘Geology’ incorporates slightly more subdued versions of our classic colours such as blues, greens and violets, as well as new colourways such as burnt orange and sliver. Belma Kapetanovic,

the designer behind Element Interiors says ‘The graphic, geometric approach is a bit of a departure from our usual organic forms, but still maintains the on-trend retro feel that we are known for. We are really pleased with this new and different design direction and hope you will be too!’ All of our designer wallpapers are printed digitally and sold per square metre. They can be customized to suit any space and are suitable for both residential and commercial settings.

Brand new Edinburgh fabrics to celebrate

Scotland’s capital cityDekoria.co.uk celebrates the capital of Scotland in style with the launch of the brand new Edinburgh fabric collection. Edinburgh is particularly close to the heart of stylists in Dekoria as this is where Dekoria.co.uk is based. This beautiful collection reflects the beauty of this city, including 8 colour co-ordinated fabrics: 4 styles of check pattern inspired by Scottish tartans and a selection of quality plain coloured fabrics to mix and match for the most stunning effect. The colours of the new Edinburgh collection are inspired by the city architecture and history, combining the medieval Old Town and the neoclassical New Town, with warm beige and cool grey tones echoing the sandstone and rock of the city landmarks. This stylish combination of colours, structures and patterns is a celebration of Edinburgh’s unique character. Dekoria.

co.uk is one of the largest online shops for home textiles and fabrics by the metre and fabrics in the Edinburgh collection start from £14.99 per metre. Textiles and accessories available to order online include standard and made to measure curtains, roman and roller blinds, cushions, throws, tablecloths, upholstered seating, sofa, armchair and chair slipcovers and kitchen and bathroom textiles in an unrivalled range of hundreds of fabrics. This offer makes Dekoria a unique destination for professional and amateur interior designers, offering premium home accessories at comfortable prices accompanied by excellent customer experience.


carVolvo unveils its new

XC RangeVolvo has unveiled two new XC models, featuring revised styling, improved performance and fuel efficiency, plus enhanced equipment levels.

Seen here, the new Volvo XC60, available in two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive versions with a choice of manual or Geartronic auto gearboxes, features revised styling at the front and rear, colour coordinated bodysides and new wheel options that help deliver a crisp, modern exterior.

Meanwhile inside, revised materials and new equipment ensure both driver and

passengers are cosseted in a perfectly designed, peaceful and practical cabin.

The in-command driving position is complemented by ergonomically designed controls, while a choice of 304hp T6 petrol engine, and 163hp D4 or 215hp D5 diesels deliver all the performance and refinement a driver would demand. Running costs have also benefited from recent emissions improvements too – choose a D4 FWD diesel with a Geartronic auto gearbox for example, and it now emits just 159g/km CO2 (an 11%

improvement on the previous model). Opt for a manual D4 or D5 model and emissions fall further to 139g/km, which equates to a combined cycle fuel economy figure of 53.3mpg.

Isuzu D-Max picks up a range of new accessories

Isuzu UK has designed and developed a range of competitively-priced accessories for its acclaimed D Max pick-up, allowing customers a far greater degree of customisation.

The accessories – available through Isuzu’s entire UK dealer network – includes a variety of stylish, practical and capability-boosting enhancements, all conceived to make the Isuzu D-Max the perfect choice for the most demanding business or recreational pick-up owner.

Designed to ensure the Isuzu D-Max stands out from the crowd, a stainless-steel rear ‘style-bar’ can be specified, enhancing the silhouette of the D-Max. Running along the front edge of the load bay, it can also act as an additional tethering point for loose items.

There is also a new alloy wheels design, available in 16-, 17- and 18-inch sizes. The 10-spoke design features an enlarged centre cap and all variants can be shod in heavy-duty off-road tyres.

Smart fortwo cityflame edition is genuine hot stuff

Smart is turning up the heat on its city car rivals with the launch of a stunning model. The smart fortwo cityflame edition is destined to have motorists blazing a trail to smart retailers nationwide when it is launched in May, thanks to a combination of head-turning good looks and a superb specification.

This is a car that cannot fail to brighten the lives of owners as it is distinguished by vivid pearlescent flame yellow body

panels that are anything but mellow.

Complementing the eye-catching exterior are a black tridion safety cell, grille surround and door mirror caps as well as exclusive 15” black-painted 3-double spoke alloy wheels. ‘cityflame’ logos in the mirror triangles reveal this smart’s identity, whilst BRABUS headlights with titanium-coloured background further enhance its striking appearance.

PEO

PLE

ON

THE

MO

VE Guy HodgsonKelvin Cave has appointed Guy Hodgson as their new Scotland Area Sales Manager

With a background in farming and with the added benefits of working in other industries (automotive and chemical) Guy Hodgson will bring a career history of diversity with a varying customer base. Guy aims to “…provide a ‘can-do’ approach to all, and positive long-term relationships”.

Jim DrysdaleLeading Scottish regional practice Ledingham Chalmers LLP has confirmed the appointment of renowned agricultural law specialist, private client and environmental lawyer, Jim Drysdale, as a partner. Mr Drysdale will play a leading role in the firm’s drive to become a national leader in rural business.

Annabel SillBranston Ltd the UK’s largest potato supplier, has boosted its green credentials with the appointment of a new environmental coordinator. Annabel Sill landed the job at Branston’s main site in Lincolnshire after completing an 18-month graduate placement with the company.

Annabel, 23, said: “I’m thrilled to have been offered a permanent job with the environmental team at Branston after completing my graduate placement, especially as so many young people are struggling to find employment at the moment.

Robert BainA Scottish farmer’s son whose career has given him years’ of experience in retail farm machinery sales is now finding out what life on the other side of the fence is like as the new area sales manager in Scotland for tractor distributor AgriArgo UK.

Robert ‘Bob’ Bain has joined the Landini and McCormick tractor distributor for Great Britain.

“I’ve always wanted to work for a manufacturer and having been on the retail side myself for many years I have an understanding and appreciation of the dealer’s position in our business,” says Bob. “I hope that will stand me in good stead as I help our Landini and McCormick dealers in Scotland meet the expectations of their customers.”


farming scotland magazine (may-june 2013)

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