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The introduction of a Grass Harrow and Pneumatic Seeder has delivered major benefits to a South Wales farming enterprise.

Richard and Lynwen Anthony have achieved considerable cost savings in the production of Italian ryegrass on their 210 acres.

"We grow a lot of Italian ryegrass," explains Richard. "You get very high dry matter yields. The problem is that it is expensive to re-seed the leys after two years. So what we have looked to do is to cut that cost down by stitching into the leys to get more like out of the crop. We're now on our fourth year with some of the leys. With the OPICO Grass Harrow and Air 8 Seeder after two years we were able to stitch in at half the normal seed rate to keep the leys going. We are very pleased- we have cut our costs considerably".

The machine has opened up new business opportunities for their expanding agricultural contracting business. "The grass harrow has got us on to a lot of farms that we had not done work for before," said Richard. "We have had some good results, particularly with old pastures that have been grazed bare with sheep, sprayed off with Roundup, then stitched in with rape and turnips. Unlike ploughed land, this system gives a firm base and the sheep have been staying quite clean on it."

During its first two years the machine has covered about 2200 acres covering jobs ranging from the renovation of old pastures to completely re-seeding ground that had been ploughed and rolled. "The equipment has proved extremely reliable," said Richard and he considers it excellent value for money.

February 2001