During a visit to the LAMMA show, John Riddle had a good look at an OPICO Sward Lifter. John had seen one used close by and was very interested and impressed with the results. He waited till the Rickerby Spring Show last year and bought one.

"I had heard very good reports about results from an OPICO Sward Lifter and a nearby neighbour had excellent results. They do a very good job aerating and breaking up the pan underneath. Today's machinery is heavier and when leading silage in, the trailers can leave marks on the land. The Sward lifter cutting discs cut the sward directly in front of the subsoiling legs to minimise surface disruption. The legs break the pan under the surface to improve soil structure and drainage."

Unfortunately the bad weather took its toll and John was unable to use his Sward Lifter, but he knows that when he can the results will be very favourable.

John farms alongside his sons, Iain and Simon, who have worked with him for 20 years. Between them they look after a heard of suckler cows and a flock of sheep, on their 1,200 acres which include 800 acres of rough grazing.  

This article was originally published in the Rickerby Virtual Show magazine