For Angus Livingston, harvest has always been his favourite time of year. Growing up on the family farm at East Whitefield, near Burrelton in Perthshire, he was an integral part of farm life from a young age.
And when harvest came around, there was nowhere he would rather be than in the combine, bringing the crops in.
That all changed in 2022. Following an accident, unrelated to farming, Angus is now permanently in a wheelchair. Fifteen months spent in hospital, followed by the huge challenge of coming to terms with the reality of a completely different way of life, could have changed his relationship with farming forever.
But Angus still wanted to be involved. He still wanted to be part of the farm’s field operations. Most importantly, he still wanted to get back in the combine.
Angus says “I couldn’t sit back and let everybody else have all the fun. So, to the drawing board it was, to come up with something no one has done before to get me back in the operator’s seat.”
Finding a way back
East Whitefield is a busy family-run arable farm covering around 220 hectares. Approximately 120 ha are dedicated to spring barley and winter wheat, with a further 80 ha rented out for beans and potatoes.
The Livingston family were already SoilEssentials customers, having introduced precision farming technology to their operation. Their New Holland tractor was equipped with a PTx Trimble GFX-750 guidance display, NAV-900 receiver and EZ-Pilot Pro (EZPP) steering system.
For Angus, the question was whether technology and a little ingenuity could help him get back into the driving seat. There were conversations, discussions and plenty of practical considerations with SoilEssentials about what would be possible – and, importantly, what would work safely and comfortably for Angus in the combine.
A specially fitted hoist brings Angus up to cab level, where he can be helped safely into the driver’s seat. The SoilEssentials technical team then adapted the steering system, incorporating the PTx Trimble AutoPilot Motor Drive (APMD) and NextSwath (automatic headland turning), making it easier for Angus to control with his reduced movement.
The combine’s engagement button was reimagined too. A specially adapted foot pedal was strategically positioned underneath Angus’s elbow, giving him a simple and accessible way to operate it.
Harvest 2025
Harvest 2025 became Angus’s pilot year – his first real opportunity to get back in the combine and do what he had always loved.
It wasn’t easy. The physical demands meant he was often exhausted after each shift, but Angus was determined. He wanted to finish the job, be involved and play his part alongside the rest of the farm team.
And when harvest came around again this year, he was itching to get back up there. For Angus, being back in the combine is about much more than operating machinery. It’s about independence, purpose and being part of something that has been a huge part of his life for as long as he can remember.
A team effort
Angus has a fantastic support network around him. His team of personal assistants help Angus maintain his independence away from the farm – while also keeping a watchful eye on his enthusiasm for getting back to work!
Farm operator Lewis is on hand to help when needed, while Angus’s parents are delighted to see their son back in the field, even if they remain understandably cautious.
And then there is Angus himself: determined, resilient and unwilling to let what happened to him stop him from doing what he loves.
He sums it up with “Certainly, it has not been straightforward. A lot of time and effort from myself, the team on the farm, the blacksmiths and SoilEssentials has gone into this project. It has allowed me to achieve this ambitious goal I have had since my accident, and it really does show where determination can get you.”
For the Livingston family, the adaptations have opened possibilities that might once have seemed out of reach.