The problem at Kinclune Farm Kirriemuir was moss. A series of damp springs had caused an explosion of moss virtually to choke out some areas of grass on this upland farm in Angus.

Fred Mitchell, the grieve at Hugh Farquharson's farm had heard about the OPICO grass harrow and he persuaded Mr Farquharson that this was the tool to sort out the moss. A phone call to local OPICO dealer, Agricar in Forfar, brought a speedy response and an offer of an on-farm demonstration.

"We picked the thickest, dirtiest patch of moss filled grass we could find," said Mr Farquharson, and although the dealer did not admit it when he first saw the trial site, he afterwards revealed that even he was unsure if the grass harrow could cope.

But, as Mr Farquharson described the demonstration, "Soon the harrow was moving quickly through the sward and moss was flying up into the air."

A 6 metre mechanical folding model was bought and then used on 200 acres of the grassland on this 1,400 acre stock rearing unit. So far, it has lived up to its demonstration promise and proved itself to be a "very useful tool".

Mr Farquharson's father had used a chain harrow to deal with similar problems in the past, but the positive effect of the harrow compared with the 'bounce over' tendency of the chains made it no contest. In fact, says Mr Farquharson, the tractor encounters considerable resistance when towing the OPICO grass harrow "which suggests it is doing its stuff."

More proof on the benefits of the purchase came in the autumn when Mr Farquharson went over his grassland again. This time he worked in a square pattern to maximise the effect of the harrow. "This has been pretty effective and grass is emerging from the moss," he says. "

There is another attraction of the harrow and that is its low maintenance costs, an important factor on any land with stones and particularly so on a farm belonging to a Scotsman who is a former banker.