Written by Jim Breen

Monday, August 6, saw the latest monthly Cambridge Machinery Sales auction take place at Cheffins Auctioneers’ sale grounds in Sutton, Cambridge.

These monthly sales can attract a significant number of lots, including tractors, construction equipment and all manner of machinery.

Groups of dealers, contractors and farmers journey to these auctions – on an occasional or regular basis.



This report focuses on the John Deere tractors present; we look at a segment of what was on offer.

Tim Scrivener was there for AgriLand to sample the atmosphere, capture these pictures and to jot down the key prices. All the pictures in this report are from Monday’s auction.



All (hammer) prices are subject to a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 2%.

Prices are also subject to VAT at the local rate (i.e. VAT must be added to all of the hammer/sale prices in the captions below).


Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to...

Written by Breifne O'Brien

Making the most from grazed grass will be the key discussion point at an upcoming farm walk, to be held on the farm of Wayne Acheson on the outskirts of the village of Sandholes, Co. Tyrone.

The farm walk run by AgriSearch, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

Acheson’s farm finishes approximately 1,200 cattle a year and consists of 400ac of lowland (200ac fixed grazing platform and 200ac dedicated to silage) and a 520ac hill.

The farm’s 100-cow suckler herd are grazed on the hill. An additional 500-600 store cattle are purchased in the late summer to graze silage before they are housed for a 90-day finishing on high-quality silage plus concentrates.

Acheson places a strong emphasis on good grassland management across the farm to ensure optimum performance can be achieved from grass, with a target daily live weight gain of above 1kg/day.

The fixed grazing platform is laid out in one-hectare paddocks with around 100 paddocks grazing 600 store bullocks throughout the grazing season.

An eight paddock grazing system is used for each group of cattle (grazed in groups ranging from 40 to 50 in size).

Acheson said: “To maintain sward quality, we regularly take bales off the platform if covers go past our grazing target.”

Acheson is one of 23 beef farms participating in the...

Written by Agriland Team

Dairy giant Dale Farm has reported a record sales increase compared to the same time last year for its ice cream range in the summer.

This sales boost has been attributed to the scorching temperatures recorded across the British Isles over the months of June and July.

Nigel Cairns, commercial director for Dale Farm Ice Cream recently commented on the record figures.

He said: “Dale Farm’s Ice Cream sales have rocketed thanks to June’s summer heatwave as people seek to keep cool.

We are delighted to report that ice cream sales figures for last month were up 61% on last year.
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“The hot weather and record temperatures have been fantastic news for our business,” he said.



“The huge increase has meant our team has had to work incredibly hard to meet this increased demand and we are taking extra steps to ensure that freezers across the country are stocked-up with ice cream as the good weather looks set to continue.”

Meanwhile, Dale Farm also recently launched the largest ‘self-consumption’ solar farm in Ireland at its cheese processing facility in Co. Tyrone.

The 37ac solar farm, connected directly to the...

Written by Rachel Martin

Cattle youngstock rearers now have a quick and easy way of recording and monitoring individual calf growth rates against pre-set targets, thanks to a new smartphone app.

Launched as a free tool available as a download from Volac’s refreshed ‘Feed for Growth’ website, the new app is one of an innovative range of practical resources available to help farmers rear better cows.

Product manager Samantha Sampson said: “Our new ‘Feed for Growth’ app is designed to help farmers working with youngstock to simplify the process of assessing whether individual animals are on track to meet key performance targets.

‘Roadmap’


“Once you have registered on the new website and key in your growth ‘roadmap’ target data; for example, calf birthweight; weaning weight; age at weaning; mature bodyweight; and desired age at first calving.

“Then simply download the app and get started. The app allows you to set up different holdings and record a calf’s unique ear tag number.

“You then simply record an individual calf’s weight as it develops and instantly see if it is on track against your pre-set roadmap graph, allowing you to make changes to its feeding programme as necessary.”

Herds can be congregated into coloured groups to help you keep track of different batches of calves. What’s more, each calf...

Written by Breifne O'Brien

In the last 10 years, 388 farmers, family members or farm workers have been killed on British farms with 38 of these incidents occurring on Welsh farms, according to the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW).

In addition to this, thousands more have suffered serious injuries which changed lives forever.

With this in mind, the FUW is reminding farmers to book their space at the upcoming ‘Saving lives and livelihoods’ farm safety awareness events.

A statement from the union said: “Being safe on the farm and reducing the high level of accidents should be a priority for all who live and step foot on farm holdings.”

The Wales Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP), is a collaboration between all the key organisations representing agriculture and allied industries in Wales.

WFSP has said it is determined to reduce these stubbornly high statistics by persuading farmers of all ages to attend a regional workshop on general farm safety.

The day will include short practical demonstrations that could help farmers to reduce the risks of farm accidents and injuries.

Some aspects to be covered at the event will be:

• General farm safety;
• Child safety;
• Safe handling of livestock;
• Working at heights;
• Operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) safely;
• Safe use of farm machinery;
• Lifting trucks and tractors securely;
• Handling chemicals...

Written by Rachel Martin

Straw prices have soared to record-breaking highs as the summer drought continues to put a squeeze on availability.

The latest Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) figures show that although there was a small month-on-month decline in June, prices were still well above year-earlier levels.

Averaging £99/t


During June, the price of a big square bale of barley straw in England and Wales averaged £99/t on average; £3 lower month-on-month, but it was still £45 above year-earlier levels, according to data collated from the farming press, British Hay and Straw Merchants Association and Defra.

Similarly, the average price of a big square bale of wheat straw also fell £3, to £88/t.


Image source: AHDB



A spokesperson for AHDB said: “Straw prices typically come under pressure at this time of year, as the new crop of straw becomes available; however this year, any downward pressure comes from an elevated base.

Production of straw this harvest, in particular, will be an important influence on prices through the autumn and winter.
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“GB harvest reports for 2018 are now being released regularly, with the...

Written by Jim Breen

Monday, August 6, saw the latest monthly Cambridge Machinery Sales auction take place at Cheffins Auctioneers’ sale grounds in Sutton, Cambridge.

These monthly sales can attract a significant number of lots, including tractors, construction equipment and all manner of machinery.

Groups of dealers, contractors and farmers journey to these auctions – on an occasional or regular basis.



This report focuses on what we like to call the ‘best of the rest‘; we’ve looked at other brands (in isolation) in accompanying reports.

Tim Scrivener was there for AgriLand to sample the atmosphere, capture these pictures and to jot down the key prices. All the pictures in this report are from Monday’s auction.



All (hammer) prices are subject to a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 2%.

Prices are also subject to VAT at the local rate (i.e. VAT must be added to all of the hammer/sale prices in the captions below).


Click...

Written by Breifne O'Brien

Winter barley growers, that are considering switching to growing a hybrid, can now gain a greater insight into the potential return on investment by using a new hybrid barley calculator.

Syngenta seed campaign manager, Mark Bullen explained that the app allows users to select a Hyvido hybrid and a conventional variety.

It will then process all the data received and derive an estimate of the potential extra return on investment from growing either one in a particular region.

The app will factor into account a higher seed cost for hybrid seed.

Based on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Recommended List yield data, the app also allows users to select an appropriate grain price.

Potential benefits


Bullen also noted that the app can factor in other potential benefits of growing a hybrid, such as the value of additional black grass suppression. The value of a yield boost in oilseed rape grown after a hybrid can also be included if relevant.

He said:“Growing a vigorous-developing hybrid can bring numerous benefits – not just in terms of yield.”

As the price of seed for a conventional winter barley variety increases, a hybrid can look even more financially attractive.
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Bullen concluded by highlighting that it is useful for growers to be able to easily assess the overall...

Written by Breifne O'Brien

A nationwide harvest survey has been launched to assess the impact of another year of volatility on arable crops.

A spokesman for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said that the 2018 growing season faced had been one of the most extreme in living memory – nudging close to that of 1976.

The late, cold winter followed by the prolonged dry spell has put a huge amount of stress onto crops.

Available online


As in previous years, the survey is available to complete online. Farmers who participated in the survey last year will receive an email directly from the NFU with a link to the 2018 survey.

NFU chief combinable crops adviser, Jack Watts, said: “Having timely insight into the size of the crop is becoming increasingly important and the NFU Harvest Survey traditionally provides the first insight, well ahead of the official estimates.

Without input from our members, we would be unable to underpin our key policy asks with evidence.
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The deadline for returning final results for England and Wales is Sunday, September 23. However, contributions from those with earlier harvested crops are welcome as soon as available, as this data may be used to publish interim results.

When all data is available it will be revised and...

Written by Sylvester Phelan

Bull fertility will be among the key topics discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Borders Monitor Farm on Wednesday, August 22.

Whitriggs, a 480ha farm near Denholm, is run by Robert and Lesley Mitchell, along with their son Stuart. The farm runs a suckler herd of 140 Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus cross cows, and a flock of 1,000 Lleyn ewes across two units.

The farm’s current bull team consists of Angus, Simmental and Shorthorn bulls.

With an eye on continuous improvement, the Mitchells are keen to shorten their calving period and make sure that their bulls are working to their full potential.

At the meeting, Colin Penny from Zoetis will discuss what checks to make on bulls, including a semen test, and what to look out for while the bulls are working.

“At Whitriggs, we are always evaluating our business and the way we do things,” said Robert Mitchell.

“Making our cattle more efficient and reviewing when we sell calves is a priority for us, so I’m looking forward to hearing from Colin Penny who will no doubt give us a greater insight into managing our bulls more efficiently.”

Fodder and feed budgets


The meeting, which is free and open to all farmers, will also look at fodder and bedding options to address the challenges posed by the dry summer.

The facilitators will lead the group in creating feed...