Wainfleet Monitor Farm meeting: Machinery decisions for your business

9.30

Registration and refreshments

9.45

Introduction

Judith Stafford, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager

9.55

Monitor Farm Update

Gary Willoughby, Wainfleet Monitor Farmer

·         Any changes since December meeting

·         How the crops are looking

·         Machinery costs at Wainfleet Monitor Farm – comments on findings of labour and machinery review

10.05

Labour & Machinery Review at Wainfleet Monitor Farm

Rob Meadley, Brown & Co.

·         Why do a review? Do you have an accurate idea of your fixed costs?

·         Benefits to the business – the ability to make accurate and justified business decisions

·         How are the reviews conducted?

·         What is the basis of the calculations?

·         How are the results presented?

·         Establish a £/hour cost of machines and £/ha for implements

10.20

Calculating your machinery costs

Harry Henderson, AHDB

Guide group through how to use the AHDB Machinery costs calculator to work out their own costs for:

·         Tractor

·         Drill

Include discussion of:

·         Depreciation

·         Maintenance and repair costs

Cost of establishment at Wainfleet Monitor Farm

Rob Meadley

·         Comparison of plough/power harrow system with direct drilling for first wheat

·         Cost per crop and 5-year average yields

·         Establishment costs (£/ha)

·         Diesel costs

11.20

Calculating machinery costs – what the figures tell us

Harry Henderson

How Wainfleet Monitor Farm compares with the rest of the Monitor Farm network

11.50

Machinery costs – how you can use the figures

·         Group discussion

·         Benchmarking and using Farmbench to compare costs

12.15

Final comments and meeting close