Tag Archive for: Farmers

Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

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Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity: Farmers need more confidence in the industry before they can plan their next business investments.

That was the sentiment of exhibitors at the new-look Midlands Machinery Show which took place at Newark Showground last week.

Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

Redesigned into a one-day format, thousands arrived at a chilly – but dry – show to talk to suppliers, gain CPD points, and socialise with their peers.

With budget day on the horizon and still no government announcements over the future of environmental schemes, exhibitors networked with land and business owners who are tentative about major investments.

NFU President sets out the challenge

One of the draws to this week’s show was the NFU’s Midlands Environment Conference.

Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, opened by stressing how high the stakes have become for farm businesses trying to navigate environmental policy. He pointed to recent public attention on the human impact of current inheritance tax rules and said the union is doing everything possible to turn that scrutiny into political pressure.

He warned that Defra’s environmental schemes remain in a state of flux, with SFI and Countryside Stewardship decisions creating clear winners and losers at a time when farmers need certainty. He called for transparency around the remaining ELMS budget and a clear plan for how farmers will be prioritised as more than 10,000 agreements expire in 2026.

Tom said environmental delivery will only succeed if farmers have confidence to invest in productivity, which is why the NFU continues to push for a workable SFI offer, rollover support where needed, and long-term clarity on the shape of future schemes.

Sentiment felt on the stands

Sharmans Agricultural, which took first prize in the Best Agricultural Trade Stand class, brought a broad range of machines to the show, including a Krone BiG Pack baler, Amazone Pantera self-propelled sprayer, and JCB telehandler.

Group Marketing Director Sally-Ann Hazard said the show is on the “home patch” for the Sharmans’ Grantham depot and was an opportunity to meet customers with the next 12 months in mind.

“The stand was built to give customers a proper look at the machines they are considering for the year ahead, and a chance to talk through plans for the coming season,” she said.

“Footfall was stronger than expected and conversations were upbeat. We understand why people are cautious but engaged, and the show offered a rare moment where the industry felt forward-looking again.”

David Musson Fencing took the best allied trade stand with a display that showed why the business has become a fixture at the Midlands Machinery Show.

The company’s Kerry Smith, who oversees purchasing, said agriculture remains a core market alongside equestrian, domestic and commercial work, and that the past year has seen strong demand for their products, underpinned by capital grants for fencing.

Kerry said the show is one of the best opportunities they have to see both long-standing customers and new faces.

“Footfall was good and the conversations were productive, with visitors willing to spend time talking through projects in a way that is impossible when they come to collect products from the yard or going to a job,” she said. “The overall mood feels more upbeat than expected and offered a welcome sign that confidence is still there beneath the uncertainty.”

Investing in efficiencies

Alan Parry, a software development manager with farm compliance app MeritAgCheck, said the challenge facing farming was driving investment in efficiencies.

“We used the show to give demonstrations of how our app can cut down on bureaucracy and paperwork, which always results in unnecessary costs for farm businesses,” he said.

“When profitability is under pressure you look at where you can shed costs, and adopting technology is one of the routes to achieving that.”

Similarly, first-time exhibitor Fireward, used its show presence to demonstrate how proven fire-suppression technology could prevent losses caused by machinery fires, particularly to balers and combines.

Marketing Manager Ben Robinson said: “Our systems have been used in construction and other major plant equipment for years but we’re now seeing how it can cut insurance costs and also the cost of losing farm equipment to fire damage.”

The Midlands Machinery Show has run for more than a decade and is organised by the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.

Events and Development Manager, Elizabeth Halsall, said: “We all know the challenges facing the industry, and that goes for the show’s visitors and exhibitors alike. But there was positivity to be found at the show, and a strong turnout is testament to the resilience of the sector and the need for events such as this to bring people together.”

The 2026 Midlands Machinery Show will be held on Wednesday 18 November.

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Farmers Tackle Giant Hogweed

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Farmers Tackle Giant Hogweed: Bayer is supporting a community project in Scotland to tackle Giant Hogweed, with equipment and labour supplied free of charge by local farmers.

Giant Hogweed hits the headlines each summer as members of the public are injured by its poisonous sap, which can cause painful blisters and severe skin irritation when enjoying the great outdoors, but it is also an invasive plant which has a serious impact on the biodiversity of the riparian and aquatic environment.

Farmers Tackle Giant Hogweed

Managed by the East Lothian Countryside Volunteers (ELCV), the project is based at Haddington, East Lothian, at the centre of an area through which the River Tyne flows, with Giant Hogweed growing on its banks.

Local farmers have joined forces to combat the weed, using the highly effective glyphosate herbicide Roundup, some of which has been donated to the project by manufacturer Bayer.

Spraying started in March, with 50 qualified farmer operators using knapsack sprayers to apply Roundup alongside the river, with help from an online dynamic map created by the ELCV which pinpoints the worst affected areas using reports from volunteer spotters, and allows them to be ticked off as they are treated.

Local farmer James Wyllie was asked to co-ordinate the initiative, having previously led a campaign to control Giant Hogweed on an eight mile stretch of the Biel and Whittingehame Water in East Lothian.

He explained: “The original proposal was for 10 miles of the River Tyne, but there was such a high level of support from the landowners to participate in a project where all the riparian owners were acting together that it has expanded way beyond the original plan. It now covers about 48 miles of the River Tyne from A68 to the sea and including two major tributaries, Birns Water and Colstoun Water in an area with around 75 riparian landowners participating.”

While the main focus is on Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are also being targeted by operators as they spray.

Mr Wyllie added: “It’s going to take five years to see a real difference, due to Hogweed seeds which are embedded in the soil and will germinate in future years. We aim that no plant should be allowed to flower, as each can produce 10,000 seeds, and any flower heads that are produced need to be removed and disposed of safely.”

“The open access dynamic map is key because farmers can see exactly where plants have been observed along the river and when overlayed on a satellite map helps to pinpoint areas to inspect. Later in the season where there are no flowering plants left it is marked with a green tick.”

Farmers Tackle Giant Hogweed

In small areas of non-agricultural land, removal of any odd Giant Hogweed plants are tackled by the ELCV volunteers to ensure that there are no gaps.

Bayer’s Roundup Technical Development Manager Barrie Hunt explained: “This is a unique project in that it attempts to treat an almost complete river catchment area, which gives the best chance of tackling the weed. Where only part of the catchment is treated, there is always the risk of plant material being washed down river and Giant Hogweed re-establishing itself. We have been pleased to work with the ELCV and Mr Wyllie on such a worthwhile operation.”

As the growing season drew to a close at the end of July, Mr Wyllie commented that he has been overwhelmed with the positive response to the project. “Every farmer approached has offered to support the work – labour contributed by farmers free of charge will be worth around £100,000 over a 10 year period – and we are very grateful for the sponsorship from Bayer and backing from Scottish Natural Heritage.”

He added that Roundup has been key to the success of the project.

“I’ve used it for 25 years and it is one of very few products that is approved for aquatic use; there are no ground residues and it works by contact onto the leaves only. It’s also very effective on Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.”

“This is a long term project on a large scale, which demonstrates East Lothian farmers and the local community working together to achieve a common goal.”

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