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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.
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