Agri Tellus will offer bale tarps, silage and hay additives, as well as applicators, grassland equipment and slurry bags.
Andrew Snell, formerly of Profitable Farming Company, has announced a new business, offering servicing and support for additive applicators, as well as a host of new products.
The first range brought in will be the US-manufacturer Inland Tarp. Designed to protect hay and straw stacks, it can be used on both round and square bales and uses UV-resistant polyethylene with reinforced webbing tie-downs every 3ft.
According to the company, these are three times stronger than traditional tie-down methods and can withstand
100mph winds.
“With hay and straw prices as high as they are, it’s more important than ever to protect that investment,” explains Andrew. “The Inland Tarp range has a lifespan of between seven and eight years, will not go brittle and is available in a range of sizes.”
He recommends using the bale tarps on straw stacks and keeping hay in the shed to avoid bleaching. However, side sheets are available if required.
Managing slurry stocks
Agri Tellus will also import Inland Tarp’s range of slurry bags, developed using the highest possible grade of PVC. These will be complemented by the French-manufactured Serena range, which is available in capacities from 150,000 to 1m litres. As these are temporary structures, there is no need for planning permission, although Andrew still asks for sites to be protected.
“Farmers are under a lot of pressure to upgrade their slurry storage, but many do not have the budget, space or planning permission to expand their lagoons. These slurry bags can be easily transported and strategically left around the farm on field edges to make application easier,” he explains.
Serena can also manufacture slurry towers, lined with the same grade of plastic as a liner. These can offer a more permanent, cost-effective expansion to stores. To offer different price points to customers, Andrew will import the Chinese-made Derflex slurry bags. While these are cheaper, he says they are still high-quality, but the compromise is longer lead times and the requirement to order multiple to justify transit costs.
Baler/forager applicators
Much of Andrew’s previous experience has been with baler additive applicators, and he will continue supporting existing units on farm, as well as providing a series of simple, mechanical applicators that are built under contract.
These will be complemented by a more advanced range of units that will be launched in the near future. Andrew is tight-lipped about the specifications of these, but says they will be significantly more advanced than the current unit.
He also expects the market to continue to grow as prices for fodder remain high.
Putting metal on the ground
To round out the initial range, Andrew has agreements in place with three implement manufacturers. Czech
company Rozmital will provide grassland equipment, including mowers, rakes and tedders, and SMS Agro (also Czech) will import a series of cultivators, drills and rollers, including models specifically designed for overseeding grassland.
He will also work with cultivator manufacturer Awemak from Poland, which builds disc and tine cultivators, harrows, subsoilers and ploughs.
“We won’t hold anything in stock,” he explains. “Customers can order through me, and the machine will be delivered to the farm, where a member of the team will be on hand for PDI and setup. We will also provide aftersales service.
“The benefits of these manufacturers are that they offer a good-quality product at a lower price point than many established brands, and holding stock would increase those costs for me, and inevitably have to be passed on to the customer,” he adds.