< Previous.....Trusted For Generations www.peacock.co.uk | Tel: 01652 600200 Old Foundry, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 8NR Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm Saturday 8am - 12pm . ... .Y ou r L o ca l G arden M achin er y E x p e r ts ! Not Just For Farmers A UTHORISED D EALERS F OR : Need Help Choosing Your Next Mower? We Can Help! Our Experts Are On Hand To Answer All Your Questions! PEACOCK & BINNINGTON Q UALITY G ARDEN M ACHINERY A T A FFORDABLE P RICES SKIPS - HOUSEHOLD & COMMERCIAL MINIS MIDIS BUILDERS & RORO FAST RELIABLE SERVICE LICENSED WASTE TRANSFER STATION & TIPPING FACILITY SKIP HIRE/WASTE TRANSFER STATION: Tel:01472 241342Email: waste@brianplant.com PLANT/HAULAGE/AGGREGATES/EARTHWORKS: Tel: 01472 341499Email:info@brianplant.com www.brianplant.com SKIPS - HOUSEHOLD & COMMERCIAL MINIS MIDIS BUILDERS & RORO FAST RELIABLE SERVICE LICENSED WASTE TRANSFER STATION & TIPPING FACILITY Charles H Hill Ltd. Moor Lane, Horsington, Woodhall Spa, LN10 5HH. Tel: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk 80-83.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:37 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 81 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT The food sector is of enormous importance to Greater Lincolnshire – it’s the third biggest sector and, as the LEP points out, it contributes £2.5 billion every year to the area’s economy. Their vision is to double its economic value by 2030, and through a host of support and funding opportunities, and the skills of farm managers in locating opportunities, the possibility of this being achieved looks very likely. Lincolnshire has often been at the heart of the agricultural sector and the Lincolnshire Show remains one of the most important gatherings of the farming community in the whole of the UK, as it’ll illustrate again this summer. Beyond that, the industry is vitally important for not only the success of the county, but also for the country as well. Something worth thinking about the next time you’re stuck behind a tractor on the road. When it comes to farm machinery it’s an almost ironic thing. The agricultural sector has always had something of a reputation for being conservative and steadfast, adapting slowly to changes, much like the crops they harvest. Put a new piece of machinery on the market however, especially one that can make the job more efficient – and farmers will © Shutterstock /l Dmitry Kalinovsky 82 Á machine The farming market has struggled in recent years but sticking one’s head in the sand isn’t going to do much to help. The great 80-83.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:37 Page 2snap it up in a moment. It’s that pro-active attitude towards making things work better which ensures the UK market can still compete with our European neighbours, who often pay less in terms of wages and other associated costs. Cultivation equipment can range from ploughs to power harrows, or from rollers to strip-till drills, while harvest machinery can include anything from combines to chaser bins, or trailers to grain dryers. Sprayers can be mounted, trailed or self-propelled, or any equipment related to them such as nozzles, bowsers and nurse tanks. It’s never a single piece of kit and the costs can spiral out of control if you’re not careful. And that is a very real problem in the market right now, mostly as a result of how much supermarkets are © Shutterstock /Fotokostic DIRECT GASKETS LIMITED Contact us today on 01482 219655 or visit our website www.directgaskets.co.uk Since 1989 we have been market leaders in the manufacture of Gaskets. Having been established for over 30 years and based in Hull, we play an important role in the city’s manufacturing sector. Whilst doing this we have also built up a strong reputation for supplying high quality products at very competitive prices and an unbeatable service. “For those times when you need a helping hand on farm or on land” KEVIN JOHNSON AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS 4 Church Road | Wittering | Peterborough | PE8 6AG Tel: 01780 782924 | Mobile: 07860 608825 enquiries@kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk www.kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk Kevin Johnson Agricultural Contractors provide a wide range of contract services to farmers and landowners in Cambridgeshire. Creating partnerships with landowners and farmers is an important part of our business. Whether you require a single service such as baling / straw stacking, or a more complete crop or farm management service, Kevin Johnson Contracting can help! If you are interested in a more comprehensive agricultural management program, we will be happy to advise on the most efficient way forward for your farming requirements. Oil Fired Boiler Engineer OFTEC Registered Steve Russell Plumbing • Oil Tank Replacement Service • Installation • Commissioning • Repairs • 24 Hour Call Out • Servicing & General Plumbing Call Steve on 07840 531403 80-83.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:37 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 83 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT paying farmers. The constant price squeezes, do put a damper on the market as a whole. At least, that is how it seems on the surface. More difficult farming economies will force people to find efficiencies wherever they can, and there’s nothing more efficient than agricultural machinery. No number of men or women can work the same land faster, nor more accurately. It may be that the only way to survive is to do what we can to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of the system – and that’s going to require some high-quality machinery. There is the age-old saying, make something good and the customers will come. That hasn’t always been assigned to agricultural machinery, but it works here too. The market may look worrying, the outlook may be bleak, as some proclaim it. But manufacturers should be doing what they can to bring out the best they have to offer. Machinery so efficient, so time-saving and productive, that farmers cannot help but see the value in it. If the offerings on the market don’t meet that criteria, if the benefit is just too little to justify… then one has to wonder why they have been brought to market in the first place. When it comes to the difficult relationship between farmers and supermarkets, we’re afraid there likely isn’t going to be much change on the horizon. The introduction of the National Living Wage has hit farmers harder than most, and everyone in the industry knows exactly where they will try to recoup that from. The only option is for farmers to do things better, to do things cheaper and to produce more. 80-83.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:37 Page 484 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK - RENEWABLES We all know that renewably energy is the future, and that we should be doing what we can to protect the environment and stop global warming. More than that, farmers and those in the agricultural industry will be acutely aware of the effects of the environment on their crops and herds. Be it the recent flooding of recent years, or the seasonal changes bringing colder springs and hotter winters, all of which play havoc with the industry. The problem has always been the cost and complexity around the renewables industry. How affordable is it, how long is it going to take to pay itself back, how much is it going to interfere, will it provide enough energy? The answers to all these questions haven’t always been clear – but that hasn’t always been the fault of the renewables industry itself. It’s worth remembering that renewable technology, at least when it comes to what is commonly used in agriculture, is still relatively new. On top of that, it’s also still improving to this day. So there was a lot of cost initially because there were so few people doing it, and the parts were expensive – the issue of confusion was the same, because we were still seeing what did and didn’t work. Now however, the renewables industry has become a lot more mainstream, which means there are many suppliers who can help – and in addition – because it’s more common, it’s also become a much more affordable practice. Countryside areas like Lincolnshire benefit greatly from it too for a variety of reasons. Rural homes, particularly those on farmland, almost always come with good garden space, which means technology like ground source heat pumps can be installed. You can’t easily do the same in a city, where there’s little ground space to put it, but out here where we have more room it’s an attractive option for reducing energy bills. The process is a fairly simple one. Temperature is taken from the ground outside your home, usually from the sun heating the grass and soil, and then is transferred into energy that helps to power your home. Everything is underground, so there’s no worry about it damaging your garden or being an eye sore. On the farming side of things, many people are looking towards anaerobic digestion or other forms of biomass convertors. These work to convert food waste, either rejected or damaged crops (or even manure) into energy through anaerobic digestion. This requires a bit more of an initial investment but is perfect for farmers who have a lot of waste they need to get rid of. Why not turn it into profit, especially when you can sell what you don’t use back to the grid. Anaerobic digestion does require some space, as it is essentially a process which takes place in silos or a small plant, though the process isn’t one that requires employees or any huge technical expertise. There is an initial capital investment in the building of the plant, but there are many suppliers across Lincolnshire who can provide the service, so there is clearly a demand for it – meaning that it must produce some level of return on investment. Solar panels and wind turbines are also seeing increasing use on farmland. Sometimes it’s in the use of converting entire fields into solar farms, though that practice has become a little more difficult Farming Energy Agricultural land has always been a promising endeavour for the renewables industry, but it’s never quite been affordable. Has that changed? 84-85.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:39 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 85 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - RENEWABLES to source approval for. In more low-key examples there are solar panels appearing atop barns and farm buildings, these being particularly good locations due to the lack of any taller buildings limiting access to sunlight. Individual turbines have also started to appear nearby, less to power an entire site, but more to take the edge off the energy bill. At the end of the day, renewables is only going to be viable so long as it is beneficial to us, as cruel as that sounds. Thankfully the industry has progressed in leaps and bounds from what it once was, and you can expect to see many renewables suppliers at the Lincolnshire Show this month, plying their wares to the farming market. We’d advise giving them the time for a conversation. You might be surprised at how much the prices have changed. © Shutterstock /loraks © Shutterstock /manfredxy Lincolnshire’s award winning heating specialists Boilers from only £150.00 per month (10 months interest free payments) Call now for a free no obligation quotation 01472 882363 UP TO GUARANTEE YEAR 84-85.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 10:39 Page 286 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK - EQUINE It is noticeable that grass livery, once the poor relation of horse ownership, is now becoming much sought after as more horse owners turn to a more “natural” way of life for their horses. Social media sites are full of pleas for livery yards that offer “24/7” turnout all year round or can guarantee turn out every day. This is coupled with land prices increasing and livery yard owners needing more clients to make their businesses worthwhile. Thus, what land there is needs to be carefully managed, especially in wet areas and turnout becomes the Holy Grail. In parallel with this is a growth in “retirement livery”. Horses are living longer but are not always up to the job their owners want horses for. They don’t want to see otherwise healthy, happy horses put to sleep merely on age grounds, but can’t afford stabled livery for two or more horses. So for the lucky few with land but little else to offer liveries, a business opportunity presents itself. The main requirements for retirement livery are usually that the horse lives turned out on a permanent basis, barring illness or injury, in a herd system with other horses, both mares and geldings. It can often work in areas of cheap land but little else, such as Wales or Scotland, though owners may find this restrictive in visiting. Owners normally look for field shelters or free access to safe barns, with large or unrestricted varied field grazing and water, though of course safely fenced at the perimeters. Horses are likely to be unshod, but owners will require regular trims, dentistry, worming and inoculations plus vet attention, all of which are costs are likely to be in addition to the basic livery fee. Ad lib forage is usually provided in winter, with hard feed for those that require it – many don’t. Supervision at least twice a day is essential and there Retiring types Retiring types 86-87.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 11:10 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 87 FARM & COUNTRY LINK - EQUINE should be some stabling and individual fields for ill or injured horses. Anyone offering this service should consider planning requirements and all horses should be insured if possible. Some will be uninsurable, so you will need to work out a way to ensure bills are met by the owner. Any vet bill should be addressed to the owner. A contract setting out each party’s responsibilities and duties is a must. It should ensure that the service provider can take the decision to put to sleep on veterinary advice if the owner cannot be contacted. One problem might be that of owners abandoning their horses and not paying, but any business risks bad payers. Make sure there is a deposit sufficient to cover the cost of humane destruction and get owners to pay by direct debit which you control. Thus, you can spot problems early on. You are unlikely to make a fortune, but it can be a business to run in parallel with another, or to make use of otherwise unproductive land. Plus, you make old horses very happy! © Shutterstock /Ralu Spatareanu FOR A CARING AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO ALL YOUR VETERINARY NEEDS • Pre-purchase Examinations • Endoscopy • Stables & Theatre • Tendon Scanning • Reproductive Ultrasound • Mobile Xray Unit. Estate Office, Boston Rd SPILSBY Tel: 01790 752227 Heath Road Trad. Est. SKEGNESS Tel: 01754 767444 110 High Street MABLETHORPE Tel: 01507 478182 Fenwold Veterinary Practice Ltd 86-87.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 11:10 Page 288 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK - LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW Now in its 135th year, the Lincolnshire Show offers a wide range of exciting activities, from breath-taking entertainment in the Main Ring to top chefs cooking live in The Lincolnshire Kitchen. There’s beautiful blooms in the Horticultural Zone and a slice of Lincolnshire’s history in the Aviation and Discovery Zones, and while you’re at the show you can even splurge in the exclusive boutique style shopping area, or browse the 600 trade stands spanning the Showground offering everything from clothes, jewellery and shoes to cars, lawnmowers and even hot tubs. Of course, no trip to the Lincolnshire show is complete without a visit to Lincolnshire Today’s hospitality marquee by the main ringside, where we’ll be offering invited guests an opportunity to take the weight off their feet and enjoy live music courtesy of Jasmine Taylor while enjoying refreshments with us. All subscribers and advertisers to Lincolnshire Today will receive a free invite and pass to our VIP area, so don’t forget to bring that along. And, if you haven’t yet had yours please drop a line to a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk and we’ll take care of it. Once you’re fully recharged, you might want to take in the sights of the amazing RAF Falcons, who will be parachuting into this year’s Lincolnshire Show to wow the crowds once again with their daring aerial displays, or you could pop along to see Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, who is set to bring ‘The Martin Lewis Money Show’ to this year’s show. Over the years Martin has saved the nation millions of pounds with his frank advice on energy switching, credit card debt and savings. Jayne Southall, CEO of Lincolnshire Showground, said: “In 2018 the Show marked 100 years since the end of WW1, but this year it is celebrating several anniversaries of its own with the 150th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, 60 years of the Show being held at the Showground and the tenth birthday of the Epic Centre, so we’re thrilled to be unveiling such exciting highlights! “We were absolutely thrilled to have the RAF Falcons as part of last year’s Show to celebrate 100 years of the RAF. The reception from attendees of the show to their parachute displays was fantastic, so we’re over the moon to have them back for another year as part of our celebrations. “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming Martin Lewis to the Showground to help our visitors with his revered money saving expertise over the two days – it’s certainly something not to be missed.” New for 2019 is the Lincolnshire Lifestyle Marquee within in the Horticultural Zone, where visitors will be able to shop a wide range of products from independent regional crafters. The Wye-Valley Axemen will bring traditional lumberjack techniques to life in the Countryside Ring and the popular East Midlands Police Dog Display team will also be returning. Sally Mundy, Sponsorship & Trade Sales The 135th Lincolnshire Show The Lincolnshire Show is a true celebration of rural Lincolnshire, with an eclectic mix of breathtaking entertainment, food, shopping, music, horticulture and farm life - creating the perfect family day. 88-89.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 11:11 Page 1FARM & COUNTRY LINK - LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW Manager for the Lincolnshire Show said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming approximately 600 traders and exhibitors to the Lincolnshire Show this year from all over the country. Lots of our traders and exhibitors have supported the Show for many years, but we’re always delighted to showcase new businesses and this year is no exception!” Jayne added: “As always, we have non-stop entertainment across both days, making sure that there is something for people of all ages and interests. As a charity, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is truly passionate about promoting and supporting education, food and farming within the local Lincolnshire community through all of our events, and the Show is no different. We’re proud to continue celebrating the heritage of Lincolnshire and showcase the best the county has to offer in one place. “And we still have a few more exciting announcements to reveal about this year’s very special anniversary Show - so watch this space!” Hundreds of new and local exhibitors, adrenaline-racing performances and exciting attractions are set to appear at this year’s event, including a grand parade of machinery through the ages, up until present day. Advanced tickets are available at www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk/tickets: Adult £21, Young Person (aged 17 - 22) £17, Child £6, Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £44. Under 5s go free. Or you can purchase them on the gate at: Adult: £25, Child £8, Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £52. Under 5s go free. Young person tickets are not available on the gate. Visit Lincolnshire Today’s hospitality marquee by the main ringside 88-89.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2019 11:11 Page 2Next >