NEW CARRIER 925 SPIRIT NEXT. Annual Investment Allowances. One pass establishment system. The need for a long term plan. with Carrier Drill

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1 vision Issue 8, January 2011 NEW CARRIER 925 SPIRIT NEXT Annual Investment Allowances The need for a long term plan One pass establishment system with Carrier Drill Keeping you in touch with the latest news from Väderstad UK

2 Although I am new to the team, I was well aware of Väderstad s reputation for innovation and quality when I joined the company. I came into the trade via Harper Adams Agricultural College, and over 15 years with my previous employer, progressed through development, service and into sales. This has given me a good foundation and understanding of our industry. Since my arrival, I have begun to discover that there s a lot more to Väderstad than meets the eye, and in the coming 12 months it is part of my role as Marketing Manager for Väderstad Ltd to ensure that we continue to communicate some important messages to further strengthen our market position. Some farmers may believe that new Väderstad machinery is beyond their budget or unsuitable for a smaller acreage. Nothing could be further from the truth. It s true that Väderstad is renowned for its larger machines, but large should not be confused with high capacity. For the smaller farm with tractors under 150HP, Väderstad remains a great high-capacity option with a range of smaller machines designed specifically for this type of acreage. Large doesn t mean expensive either, the acid test of financial performance should be cost, not price. The operational cost per acre of a Väderstad is often well below other systems. What s more, Väderstad Finance has a range of options to help minimise financing costs and maximise on available tax relief. As a family business, Väderstad has a reputation of working closely with its dealers and customers alike, and in line with this I look forward to meeting many of you in the upcoming months. Andy Gamble Marketing Manager New TopDown tine gives impressive mixing The 2011 TopDown model is equipped with new tines, new shins and new points. These give the machine a new soil flow and impressive mixing of soil and plant residues. Now there is also the option of folding up the required number of tines if necessary. Through the shape and rounding of the tines, the flow of soil is directly upwards along the tine. The points break up the soil, which is carried freely upward until the flow is broken by the MixIn-shin in a cascade of finely distributed soil and plant residues. MixIn shin increases mixing intensity The curved shape of the MixIn-shin makes it a phenomenal soil cultivator, increasing the mixing and straw incorporating effect. Since the new tine ends are divided into points and shins, it is easy to replace the points, while the shins have more wear to give and can be left in place. This decreases the overall cost of wearing parts, while maintaining the quality of the work. Broader, heavy tread tyres TopDown 600 and 700 have been given broader tyres with heavy tread that give the machine impressive bearing in tough conditions. The tyres are hard wearing and give a stable ride in the field and in transport. Central depth adjustment From 2011, all models in the TopDown series are equipped with a depth stop valve that allows simpler, stepless and more accurate depth setting. The hydraulic system gives easy, fast and precise depth adjustment over the entire working width. Folding tine As an option on TopDown, there is now a special fixing plate that allows the tine to be folded up completely out of the soil. This fixing plate can be used with all TopDown tines (even those on older TopDown models). The folding tines can be used for example to increase the distance between the tines on the machine, or to decrease the working width in order to work to greater depth with the same tractor. Next Generation Spirit Spirit Next is the next generation Spirit model, with many new features. Spirit Next is responsive and manoeuvrable in the field and on headlands and provides impressive precision of seed placement even at high drilling speeds. Spirit Next has a new cushioned mounting for the coulter assembly the classic Väderstad rubber mounting in a new design with the triangular TriForce beam. Powerful and flexible The TriForce rubber mounting is characterised by a quiet ride and is completely maintenancefree. The high coulter pressure and the powerful construction allow drilling in difficult conditions. A large rebound range and linear resistance give stable rebound with constant force. This new construction gives the entire coulter assembly good stability in both the working and transport position. The coulter assembly executes a predetermined, responsive action, which gives high drilling precision on varying soil types and uneven fields. The soil contouring is impressive, even at high drilling speeds. Double Consolidation The secret behind this uniform emergence can be found in front of and behind the seed coulters. Carrying wheels in front of the coulters and consolidating wheels behind give double consolidation. The construction is unique. The wide carrying wheels in front of the seed coulters are displaced in the offset position. They prepare the way, give Spirit a stable passage and allow the seed coulters to maintain constant drilling depth, even at high speed. The offset position decreases the draught requirement by up to 25% since soil and crop trash flow more easily through the wheel gang. Behind the seed coulters, large consolidating wheels ensure that the seed makes good contact with the soil the basis for quick start and problem free establishment. New metering system Spirit Next has a new metering system that gives simple and speedy calibration tests, stable and consistent metering and the possibility to sow extremely small doses under 1 kg/ha. The system is fully corrosion-proof. Metering is controlled by a powerful electric motor that gives a stable and reliable metering function. The system has low and high gears. A flap for shutting off the flow of seed to the drill system makes it easy to work on the seed house even when the hopper is full. 2 3

3 Annual Investment Allowances The Need for a Long Term Plan. Mary Brooke-Taylor ACA FCCA Any business that is planning significant capital expenditure over the coming months and years needs to take heed of the upcoming changes to the capital allowance rules. Tax relief for capital expenditure (e.g. plant and machinery) is given via capital allowances. Currently an Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) is available which means that businesses can claim 100% relief against taxable profits on the first 100,000 invested in plant and equipment and certain other capital items. The 100,000 AIA is set to reduce to 25,000 from 6th April 2012 (1st April 2012 for limited companies) and therefore if capital purchases are planned around this period, careful consideration needs to be given to the timing to enable maximum relief to be claimed. Writing down allowances on plant and equipment not covered by the AIA, or previously held in a capital allowances pool, will reduce from 20% to 18% with effect from 6th April 2012 (1st April 2012 for limited companies). Where an accounting period is not in line with the tax year and straddles the above change, the allowance will be apportioned and restricted. For example an unincorporated business with a 31st December 2012 year-end can claim 3 months allowance at 100,000 and 9 months allowance at 25,000. A total for the year of 43,750. However this is further complicated by the fact that the maximum allowance that can be claimed in the period 6th April to 31st December 2012 would be 25,000 in line with the AIA threshold applicable in that period. AIA is available to sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. However, where a partnership has a corporate partner no AIA is allowed. Similarly, there is only one AIA available between a group of companies. Where an individual has a controlling interest is one or more unincorporated businesses that are related (i.e. they have shared premises or similar activities) only a single allowance is available. Separate allowances are only available where the businesses are clearly separate and distinct. Advice should be sought from your accountant if you believe these provisions may apply to you. Expenditure is treated as being incurred generally on the date that the obligation to pay becomes unconditional. However if the title to the asset was transferred before the obligation became unconditional, provided this occurs within one month, allowances can be claimed at the date title was passed. This is a useful provision where a purchase may straddle an accounting year end. Where an obligation to pay is unconditional but actual payment is not due for more than four months after that date, the date of the actual payment becomes the date at which allowances can be claimed and the date the expenditure is deemed to be incurred. Where the obligation to pay becomes unconditional ahead of when the asset would normally be bought into commercial use in an attempt to claim allowances early the expenditure is then treated as being incurred on the date that payment is actually made. Care needs to be taken where machinery is purchased out of season, to be used in a later period, in an attempt to claim allowances in the earlier year. Such purchases and payment/finance agreements should be reviewed with your accountant where such a decision is based upon anticipated tax savings rather than commercial requirements. Assets that are purchased on a hire purchase agreement are eligible for relief at the point that the asset is bought into commercial use despite the delayed consideration. Where an agreement commences pre year-end, for example 5th April 2012, but the asset e.g. a combine harvester, is not put into use until the following harvest, allowances will not be available to claim until the year ended 5th April 2013 when AIA has significantly reduced. Another point which is often overlooked and should be borne in mind is when plant and equipment is sold and AIA had been claimed at purchase, if further capital expenditure is not undertaken this may create a tax charge. This arises due to a clawback of allowances. Your accountant will be able to advise you on this as they will keep full records of all the claims made. Following the proposed reduction in the AIA in 2012, it has become more important that agricultural businesses consider carefully the various methods of funding major capital items. Operating leases for example may provide greater benefits to businesses both from a commercial and tax perspective and advice should be sought. It is vital that agricultural businesses in particular take a long term view of their capital expenditure plans to enable them to maximise the tax reliefs that are available. An essential part of the mix FINANCE When Väderstad Finance was created five years ago, customers used its facilities to finance around 35% of the new machines the Company sold in the UK. Today this figure is closer to 70% of new machinery sales almost double! Without asking our customers why, we can only guess at the reasons for this rapid growth but it s probable that a number of key factors have played a part. Clearly low cost finance and 0% offers reduce the cost of borrowing, making it more attractive at a time when bank facilities have been under pressure as a result of the global crisis. Surprisingly, more than 50% of transactions are not completed using published 0% offers but on bespoke low cost payment plans structured to suit the cashflow of an individual farm. Perhaps the design of the offers has also contributed to the growth of Väderstad Finance as a result of creative promotions that match purchase to use but payment to income. However, cost should not be confused with price. Väderstad machines have a remarkably low cost of use, after you take into account their running costs per acre and high resale values. It s the same with Väderstad Finance. A choice of finance lease and purchase options, to which we are adding operating lease in 2011, enables businesses to take maximum advantage of available tax reliefs yet spread the capital cost over a number of seasons. This relief has a beneficial impact on the overall cost of borrowing for the business although capital allowances are set to change in (see facing page) Service is important too, which is why we took the decision in 2009 to open our own Väderstad Finance office. The aim was to provide a dedicated contact for customers and dealers alike, with the ability to co-ordinate field service and to transact finance business direct. It s clear that the quality of service provided by Janet Hart, who runs our York office, has proved a winner with many of our dealers and the amount of business transacted through the office continues to grow exponentially! Hitachi Business Capital our retail finance partner is working closely with us to secure the mix and volume of funding we need to drive our business during a difficult time for the economy. Of particular importance is the development of an operating lease product, which has been trialled this year and will be launched nationally in It s true to say that every buying decision means a financial decision too. That s why we expect Väderstad Finance to continue to grow by offering the service, value and genuine creativity in our range of financing options that enables our customers to acquire new and used Väderstad machinery in the most convenient and cost effective way for their business. Elaine Prince Finance Manager New Retail Finance terms from Väderstad Finance January April % FPA on all new Väderstad machines * For full written quotations contact: Janet Hart at Väderstad Finance on or *Terms are applicable on all new Väderstad machines, except the Rollex range. Finance is for business purposes only in the UK and subject to status and availability. Terms and conditions apply. 4 5

4 Central, hydraulic depth setting on Rapid A 400S A new feature on Rapid A 400S is optional hydraulic depth adjustment, where the working depth can be set centrally from the tractor cab. This function is accompanied by Interactive Depth Control, which allows the depth to be adjusted from the tractor cab on the move. This allows the drill operator to achieve even more accurate establishment on variable soils, resulting in perfect emergence. The function also allows faster shut-off of metering on headlands. The system provides the ability to alter drilling depth within very small intervals for maximum yields. Interactive Depth Control makes Väderstad seed drills unique in terms of drilling precision. Quick and easy The hydraulic master-and-slave system gives easy, fast and precise drilling depth adjustment over the entire working width of the machine. The drilling depth is controlled by the central master cylinder, while the slave cylinders on the wing sections follow with millimetre precision. The hydraulic system is self-compensating and at every lift to the top position, lifting and calibration occur automatically. With one press of a button on the control box in the cab, the drilling depth adjustment function is activated. The depth can then be altered with 1mm accuracy using the hydraulic level. After this adjustment, the main cylinder is locked in the new position by double hydraulic valves. That makes Interactive Depth Control a very secure system with no risk of involuntary changes in drilling depth. Rigid tined cultivator reduces potato land workload Introducing a 5m Väderstad TopDown to the cultivation armoury to cover all arable land including potatoes on a 1500 acre Herefordshire farm, has contributed towards making valuable financial savings as well as producing a good seedbed in preparation for potato planting. Potato growers Reg and Graham Watkins of F I Watkins and Sons have practiced minimum tillage on all but the potato land for the last 15 years, but since his brother Graham saw the TopDown at work in Sweden on potato ground, the decision to include one in his reduced cultivations regime was taken. The farm is situated mid-way between Ledbury and Hereford and lies on the Much Marcle series, where soils range from sandy gravel to heavy loam. Cropping includes 400 acres of potatoes grown for the pre-pack market, 400 acres of first wheat, 600 acres of oilseed rape and 60 acres of grass for seed. The brothers stopped growing sugar beet following the recent closure of the Allscott factory, near Bridgenorth in Shropshire. A Väderstad Carrier small disc cultivator, was used for preparing seedbeds on all cereal and oilseed rape land, following a Cousins Flatlift, says Mr Watkins. We also tried the Carrier out on potato land following the plough and it worked the top of the furrows very well, but it s not designed to go deep enough he says. So all our potato land is first ploughed, to get the depth, before one pass with the TopDown. We then ridge up, bed till, de-stone and then plant. This compares very favourably with our previous system of plough, spring tine cultivator, power harrow, ridge up and then bed till. Mr Watkins believes that introducing the TopDown has cut out two tractors and two operators as well as producing a better seedbed for planting the crop in much less time. The farm used to hire in contractors to do all the power harrow work but now all the cultivation work is carried out in house. The rigid tines on the TopDown pull out the wet soil below and the ground dries out so much better. The press at the rear provides good consolidation for the bed too, he adds. We re saving time, fuel and labour from not using the power harrow and bed-tilling rotovators, and it actually means that we don t have to employ an extra man and a high horsepower tractor, to do the extra work. Overall, the TopDown has given us three tools in one. Export opportunities will benefit the UK Wheat production in the UK for the 10/11 season is estimated by DEFRA to be million tonnes, an increase of 749,000 tonnes from last year. Trade estimates are slightly lower at closer to million tonnes. The season saw opening stocks some 33% lower than previously at 1.90 million tonnes and imports 13% lower at 1.01 million tonnes. These changes reduce overall UK availability by a predicted 304,000 tonnes according to HGCA figures published in October These same figures show higher domestic consumption, with human and industrial usage representing the biggest increase at 725,000 tonnes, the major contributor to this increase being usage for biofuels production. The HGCA predicts our exportable surplus to be 1.31 million tonnes; given that trade estimates put export sales to date close to 1 million tonnes, it would suggest that the UK will have comparatively few tonnes left to export. Looking at other exporting nations, two of the biggest players Russia and the Ukraine have continued to attract attention from around the world with their grain exports having ground to a halt as their respective governments look to secure their own domestic supplies. Expectations are that Russia will have to import up to 4 million tonnes of grain before the end of the season, a figure which their officials deny. At the end of October planting figures from the Ukraine suggested 6.3 million hectares of winter wheat Ireland has a field day! have been planted, a 7% decrease compared with last year due to a lack of soil moisture. The industry predicts that the fall in Russian acreage will be greater than that seen in the Ukraine because the drought in Russia was more prolonged. These countries will therefore be heavily reliant upon spring plantings, but are already said to be unlikely to make up the shortfall due to lack of seed. London Wheat Futures November 10 Source:Thomson Reuters Hannah Littleford Grain Buyer Criddle & Co Ltd. Office: Mobile: hannah.littleford@ebsgroup.co.uk Time will tell whether Russia and the Ukraine will shrug off their problems or if this season s weather events will have ongoing supply implications. There is no quick fix, but in the meantime it appears likely that the UK will benefit from export opportunities in the coming year. It seems paradoxical that in a season which has seen higher UK production figures our end of season stocks have potential to be very tight. May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 Väderstad Ltd invited current and potential customers to a field training and demonstration day at Killenane, Bagnalstown, Co Carlow. Visitors were presented with nine machines from the Väderstad range of market-leading Rapid Drills, and a selection of cultivators including Cultus, TopDown and Carrier. After the individual presentations, visitors were able to take the opportunity to observe each machine working in the field. Väderstad Ltd would like to extend thanks to Mr McDonell for kindly allowing the use of his farm for the event; the customers who provided machines and local dealers for the use of their tractors, which all contributed to a successful event Price GBP 6 7

5 Are arable farmers livestock farmers? Maybe not in the context of direct food production but they are when it comes to the soil. Within every square metre of soil there are billions of microorganisms which play a critical role in helping to maintain good soil health and hence productive soil. Unless they have the right conditions to thrive, the inputs applied whether they are crop protection sprays or fertilisers will not have the full desired effect. The way we manage the soil through cultivations and inputs of organic matter can have a profound effect on productivity and long term profitability. As every farmer appreciates, an effective root structure is fundamental to crop performance but roots are very difficult to measure. After all, what is the key difference between a winter and spring wheat crop they both form a full canopy & capture all the light during grain fill but any spring crop is going to have a much smaller root system and lower yield potential. So what is happening down there in the soil and what can we do to influence it? The physical components sand silt and clay will not change. The chemistry will be affected by inputs such as fertilisers and lime but it is the biology that is most diverse and dynamic. Soil Livestock Management David Langton technical manager for Masstock Arable (UK) Ltd An example of this is Take-All, which is a soil borne fungus. As subsequent wheat crops are grown, the fungus proliferates, infects crop roots and reduces the yield. However a Pseudomanas bacteria lives and multiplies in the lesions on the roots caused by the Take-All. After 4 to 5 consecutive wheat crops are grown the numbers of these bacteria have built up and are thought to produce antibiotics, which inhibit the growth of the Take-All fungus. This has implications for cultivations and it has been seen that levels of Take-All are higher following ploughing compared to min-till. This may not be surprising as through ploughing, all the beneficial Pseudomanas bacteria are being buried 20 to 25cm beneath the soil surface in a more anaerobic environment rather than in the top 10cm where a large proportion of the crops roots grow. The soil contains a huge range of beneficial, neutral and harmful bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, nematodes, worms etc in a complex food web. The major starting food source for these microorganisms is produced by the crop. Their roots secrete exudates of sugars, amino acids and complex carbohydrates into the area immediately surrounding the roots the rhizosphere. In return, certain bacteria and fungi establish symbioses with plant roots, some like Mycorrhizal fungi even within the root cells enabling the plant to access nutrients from a much greater soil volume. This is particularly important for the immobile element phosphorus as the roots only occupy about 1% of the soil volume. The microorganisms become a virtual root greatly increasing the volume of soil from which phosphorus can be accessed. Other nutrients such as nitrogen, sulphur and trace elements are also released by these biological processes and made available to the crop by rhizosphere microbes. As well as plant exudates, microorganisms use organic matter as a substrate and transform the nutrients they contain into soluble forms that the roots can absorb. Every crop grown will leave the decaying root system and if not removed, the remains of the foliage. Another source can be the addition of organic matter in the form of manures, sludge s, compost etc. Healthy soils have a population of microorganisms and worms, which break these down and cycle them, but cultivations play an important role in how and when this occurs. Effects of cultivations Change soil crumb size. Mix surface crop residues into the soil, or bury them in an anaerobic layer. Can kill larger organisms such as worms. Can improve drainage but can also dry out seedbeds. Introduce air but equipment can smear, compact, or over consolidate. The introduction of air during cultivation provides oxygen to the microorganisms increasing their activity, which will accelerate the decay of organic matter. The nutrients contained in the organic matter will become available but at the same time reducing the levels of soil organic matter. Soils with lower levels of organic matter tend to be less stable in part due to the lower level of microbial activity. They are more difficult to make into a good seedbed, prone to drought and erosion and more reliant on inorganic fertilisers. Therefore a critical element of maintaining a healthy soil means managing organic matter incorporating crop residues or additions of fresh organic matter to help maintain good populations of soil microbes. It is then a case of maintaining your soil livestock. They need food in the form of organic matter as well as oxygen so that the majority are the beneficial aerobic microorganisms and the right chemical environment so maintaining nutrient status and importantly ph. The way you cultivate your soil can have a profound effect so do not forget the soil livestock when you consider your strategy. Pressing need for flexibility in heavy land cultivation Changing from being a light land farmer to a heavy land farmer overnight isn t a challenge that many growers have to face in their farming careers, but Cambridgeshire farmer Michael Sapsed, who made that change in 1990, reckons that having a flexible approach to cultivations has helped him ever since. Back in 1990 he went from a chalkbased farm, near Royston to what he describes as nice and heavy Hanslope Series clay at Manor Farm, Croydon, in Cambridgeshire. Unfortunately, the same year we took over the farm, all the land had been power harrowed and when it turned wet the soil slumped, he says. This really opened up our eyes as to what can happen on heavier soils. Mr Sapsed runs the family business with his son, James, farming 2,500 acres in all winter wheat, oilseed rape and winter beans making up the rotation. Basically, we were still geared up for light land farming and a disc/ press/drill approach just didn t work on the heavier land, he says. In the mid-1990s, when they first became commercially available, Mr Sapsed turned to Väderstad s 8m Rexius Twin press as a tool to work alongside the plough. You can t really get away from using the plough on this land and we needed something that would work in combination with it, as well as doing without the use of a power harrow which we ve always tried to avoid because of the associated costs. The Rexius can turn land that really looks pretty awful into something that is most of the way to becoming a very good seedbed, he says. Having upgraded to a 10m Rexius five years ago, Mr Sapsed has been particularly impressed with the Raptor tines at the front of the implement. They are very important for starting the shattering process and they literally lift and rip the soil allowing the following Crossboard and rings to level and consolidate. The Rexius leaves less holes, divots and hollows than other presses which results in a more level and consistent seedbed, he adds. Marathon points have been used on the tines for increased durability and, although they cost more than standard points, they have been on the machine since it was purchased and are only now being changed for the first time. This has meant a considerable reduction in maintenance downtime, says Mr Sapsed. The Rexius runs over ploughed land once the soil has dried sufficiently at a rate of acres an hour, running at speeds of between 9 and 13km/hr. The main thing to understand with the press is the timing, and knowing when to go back to the field following the plough, he says. The soil needs to dry out enough but without it setting like concrete. Mr Sapsed believes that the main advantage of the Rexius over other presses is its ability to keep going in adverse conditions. The rings are positively locked to each other and so they all keep turning together when things get sticky. You ve really got to be in a field when you shouldn t be to stop this machine, he comments. 8 9

6 Carrier 925 More powerful than ever! Väderstad has launched its largest and heaviest Carrier with integral Crossboard, which has been designed specifically for working on ploughed land or direct into stubbles at speed and has an impressive 9.25m working width. Weighing nearly 10 tonnes the Carrier 925 has the same folding mechanism as the 12.25m version, which gives it inherent strength and effective weight. Each of its 72, 450mm conical shaped discs delivers an impressive 135kg of working pressure. Special steel tines of an angled wearing plate that can be replaced if necessary. The Crossboard tines are connected together by a stabiliser bar made of spring steel with a fracture point of over 1100 N/mm2. Steel roller crushes and consolidates The press-hardened 600mm diameter steel rollers with scrappers behind, is designed to aggressively crush and press crop trash into the soil. Rubber suspension helps extend the life of the frame and roller. Each roller is 50cm wider than the working width of the discs, to ensure perfect levelling. Running a 266ha cereal farm single handedly means leaving nothing to chance. Catchy weather can be disastrous, especially at drilling, so minimising the amount of time spent on the land and being able to select the best drilling days is critical for a good establishment and to maximise gross margins. Norfolk arable farmer Robert Hambidge who runs Pudding Norton Farm just outside Fakenham knows only too well how much pressure is put on his time during the busy drilling period. The farm supports winter wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape and linseed, plus sugar beet and land rented out for potatoes. Soil types range from blowing sand to calcareous clay. Six or seven years ago when arable farmers generally were struggling to maintain profits, Mr Hambidge had little room for manoeuvre in that he already kept a tight rein on costs so there was no slack in the system to cut out men and machines. A new approach to establishing cereals was needed that would be a departure from a traditional ploughing system. As a result he decided to broadcast cereal seed straight on to stubble and then incorporate it with a Simba Express before rolling. It proved to be a cheap establishment system but one that was also seriously flawed in that it left a very uneven crop and in catchy weather situations it could be days or even weeks before he could get back on the land to cover the seed. One pass establishment system with Carrier Drill It got me out of a financial muddle but it s not an ideal system, he says. Uneven and poor germination will lead to reduced yields so while we might have been able to reduce costs our yields suffered. Better fortunes in farming have allowed Mr Hambidge to rethink his establishment strategy again, which has seen him purchase a Väderstad 3m Carrier drill with an 800kg hopper, Crossboard and discs. He also purchased a Vibroflex, which is used after all crops, including roots, to break up the soil surface before going in with the drill. The only kit Mr Hambidge now has on the farm is one 125hp tractor, the Vibroflex, a 3m Carrier drill and a fertiliser spreader. He also kept the Simba Express. By using various combinations of equipment he has been able to bring production costs down to 72/t based on an 8.5tha cereal crop. The Carrier drill was used last year to establish all the cereal land. It gives us a much wider window of opportunity for drilling and we only need a 125hp tractor to pull it, he says. Success in part is due to the tractor weight he adds, which is part of the secret behind the success of the Carrier system. The Carrier drill also acts as a primary cultivation tool so benefits from a bit more weight at the front end. In my case I have a six cylinder John Deere chassis but only have a four cylinder engine. This means the tractor weighs about 200kg more than my old tractor. It also has low profile tyres. For wheat we drill at 80kg/ha and travel at about 12kph although our 125hp John Deere can pull faster. Drilling with the hp Carrier is much more precise and does produce a much more even crop. Broadcasting a crop will normally compensate eventually, but it s the evenness of the crop that we now achieve that we never could before, he says. The Carrier does the same role as broadcasting, cultivating with the Simba and rolling all in one, basically saving three passes. Yields have not changed significantly because yields were down anyway nationally due to the poor harvesting conditions, but he says costs have come down and in a normal year he believes that there will be a yield improvement. Mr Hambidge also says that he is more in control of the operation rather than being dictated to by the weather. Without doubt moisture retention has definitely improved, which will be good in a dry year. But a big advantage of this system is that you can be in and out in one pass. This means he can be more selective on when to drill and only pick the best days, rather than being forced to go in when the conditions are not perfect, says Mr Hambidge. Carrier with Crossboard is suitable in systems where ploughing and minimum tillage are both used. This is an implement that gets the job done, irrespective of crop rotation, weather or soil conditions. Crossboard consists of a number of spring tines of special steel that aggressively crush coarse furrows. The tip of the Crossboard tine consists Easily done from the cab The Carrier 925 is also equipped with an electric depth stop, which means that the toolbar returns hydraulically to the pre-set depth when it is lowered back into work. This is all achieved without leaving the cab. During stubble cultivations the Crossboard can be folded away out of work

7 3 year warranty on all new Control Stations From 1st November 2010 all new Control Stations (part no ) supplied, will be covered by a 3 year warranty. Goosefoot option for NZ Aggressive The range of points for NZ Aggressive has now been extended to include a 14cm goosefoot share. Equipped with goosefoot shares, NZA becomes a true weed killer. The goosefoot gives an extra edge when weeds are very plentiful, not least in organic cropping. Fits older models This share efficiently cuts off volunteers and weeds which offers full slicing effect from only around 3cm working depth, which makes for a high work rate and a low draught requirement. The goosefoot share also fits older models of NZ Aggressive. High clearance The NZ Aggressive cultivator is designed to meet the tough demands of seedbed cultivation. A flexible Crossboard crushes clods before the cultivator tines set to work. The close tine spacing creates a fine seedbed immediately. The following harrow levels the surface and leaves the soil ready for drilling. The generously designed frame height allows free passage for straw residues, stones and coarse clods. Powerful Crossboard for levelling NZ Aggressive is equipped with a front Crossboard as standard. It is easy to add a rear Crossboard for increased levelling ability. A rigid steel stabiliser bar is fitted on the rear of the Crossboard tines for maximum rigidity. Single-Knife With the Single-Knife cultivating tool fitted on Crossboard, the cultivation effect is further upgraded. The knife splits and slices furrows and clods as it moves forwards at high speed. Competition Winner Dates for your diary LAMMA Show 19th 20th January 2011 FTMTA Show Ireland 10th 12th February 2011 SIMA Show 20th 24th February 2011 Cereals th 16th June 2011 Royal Highland Show 23rd 26th June 2011 Buckinghamshire farmer Simon Sinnott (right) was the Winner of the Profi subscriber competition to win 500 worth of Väderstad parts and machine mountable toolbox. Farming 325ha in partnership with his brother Peter, Mr Sinnott was presented with his prize by Väderstad parts manager Keith Jones. Agritechnica 15th 19th November Unit one, Ellesmere Business Park, Grantham, Lincolnshire. NG31 7XT Tel Fax