Farmers Guide

Richard True, Kerry Carter and Martin Clarke from agricultural merchant Clarkes of Walsham were at the show with a range of the company’s garden furniture. Mr Clarke said: “We have been exhibiting at the Royal Norfolk Show for more than 10 years. The weather is always great so we take our garden furniture but it is also an opportunity to see our farming customers, some of who we may not otherwise have the opportunity of meeting.”

David Ritchie sales manager David Richardson is pictured with the company’s new bale handler – the Ritchie 1412. Priced at £1,625 plus VAT it was launched at the Highland Show. Mr Richardson explained that the company had a new area sales representative joining shortly – David Payne will be based in Norfolk but will cover all of East Anglia.

Cousins of Emneth was promoting its 3m V-Form that works with satellite systems and is available with a Techneat Nutri Start Lq as an option. Also on the stand was a Patriot versatile combination cultivator.

Graeme Barrett, precision sampling manager for Keith Mount is pictured with examples of detailed maps the company can provide for individual field soil analysis. Its Phield Tek service can help farmers reduce their fertiliser applications through soil analysis and plotting the soil requirements onto detailed maps using GPS technology.

Pictured in front of the new Challenger 845 bought by PJ Lee and Sons are (l-r) Thurlow Nunn Standen managing director James Thurlow and daughter Phoebe, Challenger territory manager Steve Sampson, Thurlow Nunn Standen Challenger product specialist for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Dave Lovell, Richard, Andrew and Christopher Lee. Mr Lee explained that the farm had previously used a Challenger 765 for five years and put 8,500 hours on the clock. With more land and the need for greater fuel economy and a higher hourly output the decision was made to purchase the new Challenger complete with auto steer giving even more time efficiency. Farming 6,380 acres of arable crops in and around Ely, Cambridgeshire the farm also relies on the flexibility, reliability and knowledge of the dealer parts, service and sales personnel. “Dealer confidence is important,” said Christopher, “in order for us to remain in control of the work we need to know the backup is efficient.” In order to maximise its investment, the farm is currently considering its options on upgrading its cultivation machinery and has been undertaking on-farm demonstrations although when this magazine went to press the final decision had not been made.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the team from CTM Root Systems – two generations of the Mountain family are pictured (l-r) Nigel, David, Michael, Andrew and Adrian. Nigel Mountain explained that the company was founded by Charles Thomas Mountain in 1950 and made sugar beet cleaner loaders. The company’s stand featured its Rockstar destoner and the new Energreen – a multi-purpose tool carrier that has already proven popular with internal drainage boards.

It was G&J Pecks second time at the Norfolk Show promoting its range of agricultural JCB machines. Pictured with a JCB TM220 are JCB brand manager and company director Jon Wareing (left) and north Norfolk area sales manager Will Mallon. “We have been operating in Norfolk for three years – it was an extension of our JCB territory,” said joint managing director Ian Loversidge.

Sarah Chapman explained that Chapmans stand featured its chopped straw and shavings products aimed at poultry producers and horse owners. “We are mainly here to offer hospitality to our poultry farmer customers, but we also get a lot of horse owners making enquiries.”

Jason Periam of Gurney Reeve is pictured with a new Suton EHDG230 power grab. Built for heavy duty work it has hydraulic rams in line with the loader brackets to transfer force back into the telehandler arms, explained Mr Periam. Also on the stand was a Suton Shear Grab SG171 and a new design of grain pusher.

The New Ideas competition is organised jointly by Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the Norfolk Farm Machinery Club (NORMAC). Judged by Neal Sands, the winner of the Farm Entry category was Mr Robert Stimpson with his large bale delivery system that was designed by Mr Stimpson and built by Martin Mcginlay and his son Daniel. Mr Mcginlay collected the Ernest Cozens Perpetual Trophy and £100 prize money. Second place and £30 was awarded to Mr Paul Spinks for his chaser bin and auger and in joint third place were Mr Gordon Warren with his cultivator packer and Mr Martin Cooper with his front steering cultivator packer who won £30 each. Best entry from a member of Norfolk Farm Machinery Club was awarded to Mr Simon Callow for his reed roller table. Mr Callow won £50 and the Peter Bullimore Trophy that was presented by Mr Bullimore’s daughter Carol Spinks. Pictured (l-r) Daniel Mcginlay, Martin Cooper, Jason Mcginlay, Gordon Warren, Steward Fred Milk, Paul Spinks, Steward Chris Thomas, Simon Callow, Carol Spinks and Neal Sands.

MDT is now distributing the range of Scare’m bird scaring devices. Designed by Essex farmer John Galloway, the self-launching kites require virtually no maintenance and each one will help keep about 10 acres of crops free from pigeons and crows. Prices range from £90–110 plus VAT.

Norfolk farmer Adrian Pilgrim (right) and his wife Gail are pictured with Mark Donsworth on the MDT stand that featured the NRH subsoiler and 12m Cambridge rolls. Mr Donsworth explained that the company also supplied a full range of wearing and tungsten parts.

Above: David Wilson of Standen Engineering was pictured on the Stalham Engineering stand with a T2 two-row trailled harvester. “It has a two-web intake system and a system called vari-sep that gives hydraulic height adjustment between the first and second webs,” explained Mr Wilson.

Right: Ben Painter (left) and Kevin Butter were pictured on the Agricultural Plant Hire stand that was making its Norfolk Show debut. The Peterborough-based company supplies, hires and services combine harvester parts and machines. “It is not too late to hire a combine for this year,” said Mr Painter. “We offer hire contracts ranging from one season to five years on new and used machines.”

Left: Hugh Crane Cleaning Services was displaying its Commando 500 series of diesel powered cold water washers as well as its new road sweepers that Robert Crane explained are suitable for potato and grain stores.

Right: Stalham Engineering’s stand also featured a JCB 527-58 that can lift 2.7t to 5.8m and at less than 2m high and wide will fit through a doorway. Stalham Engineering managing director Malcolm Nicholson explained that the telehandler will be available from October 2010.

B.W. Macks stand featured the new Merlo P25.6 – a 2.5t 6m telehandler with width and height under 2m. “It is good for chicken houses or anywhere with restricted height and width,” said Paul Pearce. Also featured on the stand was a range of Claas tractors and other Merlo machines.

A Massey Ferguson Delta 9280 dominated the Randell NFM stand. Managing director Steve Kittle explained that it was launched at Cereals 2010 and was currently the only one in the UK. The company was also showing the country’s only Fendt 828 280hp tractor and was taking orders for both machines. “We are also showing Schaffer Lader products for the first time – it is a new franchise for us,” said Mr Kittle. The Randell NFM team line up in front the new MF Delta 9280 combine.

Pictured (l-r) is the team from Needham Agriculture – Richard Blew, Helen Walker, Mike Averill, Ruth Worthington, Sam Frost and Peter Roberts. “We exhibit at 12 or 13 agricultural shows every year,” said Mr Blew. “From my point of view the Royal Norfolk Show stands head and shoulders above the others.”

Norfolk farmer Robin Key is pictured shaking hands with Mike Wilson of Harvest Installations after purchasing the 500th Harvest Maxi Stirrer through Norfolk dealer Ben Burgess. Mr Key (left, pictured beside his wife Jilly) farms at Seething and has recently upgraded his grain storage facility and needed a new stirrer. “ I bought one of the first to be made 10 years ago and it worked well so I knew where to come when I needed one for the new store,” said Mr Key. The new stirrer will serve a 2000t store. Also pictured are Jackie Wilson and Ben Burgess Richard Craske (right).

This Kleine cleaner loader created a lot of interest on J Riley’s stand. Jeremy Riley explained that it was the first one sold in the UK and was going to M&J Haulage in Lincolnshire. The RL350V has a 10m width and a 15m boom.

Ben Burgess’ Richard Craske (left) and Ian Pritty explained that the company provides a range of grain storage and drying facilities as well as stirrers. “We are currently putting up a 1000t silo on a farm” said Mr Craske. “All farms have different requirements so we visit and discuss individual needs and then design a system that will work for that particular customer.

Ernest Doe Power has recently begun supplying Dal-Bo products. Ernest Doe Power general sales manager Gerald Silvey (left) is pictured with Dal-Bo sales manager Steve Atkin. Mr Atkin explained that the company manufactures folding rolls and also a range of seed bed and stubble cultivators.

Johnson Brothers managing director Mike Stokes (left) and Agrifac product manager Cliff Buck, are pictured with an Agrifac drain jetter. Mr Buck explained that the machine offers 50 bar of pressure and 500m of hose for cleaning land drains. Prices start at £7,500 plus VAT.

Ernest Doe Wymondham-based agricultural sales representatives Robin Thorrold, Malcolm Forder and Simon Dack line up for Farmers Guide camera in front of a Simba DTX300 which is particularly popular throughout the group. “It is a big selling machine for the company,” said Ernest Doe Power general sales manager Gerald Silvey.

Pictured (l-r) is the Spring Farm Partnership team - Knud Christensen, Vitfoss; Hannah and Oliver Arnold, Spring Farm Partnership; John Fish, Vitfoss; and Jess Smith. Pictured in front of a Buschoff Mill Mix machine Oliver Arnold explained that by taking the machine onto farms the company can make livestock rations from home-grown crops with the addition of Vitfoss formulas.

Paul Eccles of Tey Farm Services reported a good number of enquiries for its farm buildings. “We offer a complete package – from securing planning permission and carrying out groundwork to buildings and construction and we currently have a 98 percent success rate with planning applications.”

Manns stand featured the new Claas Xerion 5000 alongside a wide range of Claas machinery.