Support for young farmers on agenda at Batwing flies through the work
suspension on each wheel, while on the
‘next generation’ meeting
eight wheeled model pivoting axles allow
AN NFU Cymru ‘next generation’
meeting in North Wales has been
branded a huge success, with over
120 passionate and enthusiastic young
farmers present.
The Welsh Government’s director of
agriculture, food and marine, Andrew
Slade, addressed the meeting and
spoke of the administration’s vision
for the future of Welsh agriculture.
“Both industry and government
share a vision for the future — of a
dynamic, competitive, world-class
industry, with more movement into,
through and out from the sector,” he
told the Caernarfon gathering.
“We need a forward-looking
partnership between industry and
government to help realise this vision,
with meetings such as this bringing
different farming generations together.
“We are all too aware that market
volatility has affected and will
continue to affect all of our
agricultural sectors and these
challenges are not going to go away.
“But while market prices are out of
our control, government can work
alongside the industry, the supply
chain and other partners, to help
join up thinking and to look at other
measures that can help strengthen
the long-term resilience of Welsh
agriculture.”
He said the new Wales Rural
Development Programme would
be the biggest and most ambitious
yet, with nearly £1bn to invest
strategically in the future of rural
areas.
Farm investment measures would be
an important part of the programme
and include capital project support for
young farmers, with the application
process starting later this year.
Aled Jones, Mid-Gwynedd
NFU’s county chairman, said it
was encouraging to see so many
passionate and enthusiastic young
farmers at the meeting.
Where there are large areas of grass to be
cut you want the highest efficiency in a
mower. From set-aside maintenance and
stubble chopping, to amenity or airport
grass, it’s all in a day’s work for the new
Wessex range of heavy duty batwing
mowers. The brief was to design a high
output rotary mower with a blade tip speed
and up-turn on the blades to allow a superb
cut at fast forward speeds. And these fit the
brief precisely.
The Wessex batwings cover the ground
fast so you get the most for your money
from a range that suits tractors from 100hp
upwards. There are five models from
4.8m to 8.0m and each will ensure even
distribution of cut material across the
width of the machine without swathing.
The Wessex ST-480 and ST-540 have three
rotors and six wheels as standard with the
other models offering the option of six and
eight wheeled versions with five rotors. The
six wheeled mowers feature independent
smooth travel over rough terrain. All
blade assemblies are mounted directly on
the output shaft of a heavy-duty gearbox
protected by its own friction blade clutch.
The ST Series features a patented hydraulic
levelling system which allows easy
levelling of the machine regardless of the
height of the tractor towing hitch. There’s
a simple hand pumped, hydraulic oil
reservoir and linkage rod system to enable
you to set the drawbar at the desired height
so the mower is cutting level behind the
tractor. The machine is lifted in and out
of work hydraulically and the wings can
float between -15º and +15º to allow the
accurate following of ground undulations.
As we have come to expect from Wessex
the heavy-duty deck fabrication comprises
a massive box section sub-frame to provide
integral strength, while a sheet steel plate
above and below gives a clear, uncluttered
deck free of residue build-up.
In transport mode the Wessex ST Series
batwing mowers fold to 2.5m and past
centre for safety and stability on the road.
Smooth travel is ensured with hydropneumatic suspension and the machines
come fully fitted with road-legal kits and
safety reflective strips. Wessex International
01264 345870 www.wessexintl.com
management. While this technology
offers exciting new opportunities
for land and farm management, they
need to be used effectively and in a
safe manner.”
BASIS is working in conjunction
with the National Centre for
Precision Farming at Harper Adams
and leading members of the UAS
industry to develop a range of
suitable training courses to address
this new accreditation requirement.
Stephen Jacob, business
development manager for BASIS,
said: “The number of drones being
used in agriculture has increased
rapidly in recent years and some
companies and UAS pilots who
offer data collection services will
not have come from an agricultural
background. As a member of the
Unmanned Aerial Systems Special
Interest Group, BASIS was asked to
put together a form of accreditation
for UAV pilots working within the
agricultural industry.”
The course will cover farm
practices, agricultural supply chains,
crops and crop management and
legislation relating to agriculture,
data protection and health and
safety.
For agronomists and farmers
Further courses are planned for
agronomists and farmers wanting to
operate their own UAS and analyse
the data collected.
A voluntary Professional Register
for UAS Operators for the
Agricultural Industry will be
launched for those who work
or intend to work within the
agricultural industry for: field and
crop scouting; livestock monitoring;
flood, fire and other natural disaster
impact recording; and any other
types of topographic or photographic
data collecting activities relevant to
the agricultural industry.
The register will establish, develop
and promote a standard of conduct
to which members will adhere in
order to ensure the safety, security
and privacy of the operators,
customers, bystanders and general
public in t