September 2025 The Northern Farmer

Efficient Use of Fodder

The incredibly dry conditions this year mean the efficient use of fodder and bedding has never been more important. AgriSource offers a range of products that can reduce daily usage, minimise waste and increase nutritional benefit, in addition to reducing labour and increasing operational efficiency.

Dividing up and feeding out round bales of silage can be both time consuming and hard work.

The Göweil round bale slicer can be used to either cut bales in half or into several slices — for example when reversing down a feed passage — saving time and labour and reducing waste as the livestock eat. This is also useful when bales need to be divided between buildings or pens.

AgriSource also offers a range of double and single silage pushers which can be used to keep the silage at the barrier, getting the most out of each feeding.

The Göweil slicer is strong and well made, with an optional wrap holder to retain the net and stretch film when required.

The mounted and trailed Kidd bale processors are also a good way of feeding round bale silage efficiently and make dividing bales as easy as possible.

A dual-purpose machine, the Kidd blowers are also useful bedding machines, allowing both round and square bale straw to be used efficiently.

For customers feeding straw, the Kidd 475TC (Twin Chop) can be used to pre-chop straw to a consistent chop length, giving livestock more nutritional value.

Being easy to operate and suited to a variety of locations and situations has made the Spread-a-Bale bedding machine with Horizontal Rotor (HR) a popular choice.

Making eating easier for young stock and significantly reducing mixing times compared to introducing full straw bales into diet mixers. By retracting the additional knife bank with the tractor hydraulics, the 475TC becomes a conventional flywheel bedding machine that leaves the straw longer for a more effective and longer-lasting bed.

Finally, the popular loader-mounted and simple-to-operate Spread-a-Bale bedding machines are available in a range of sizes: Micro, Mini, Midi and Maxi. Whether using a mid-range skid steer or tractor loader up to a 4.5 ton telehandler, there is a Spread-a-Bale to suit your loader.

Farm building access and layouts vary massively, and AgriSource can offer a choice of spreading systems and mounting options to suit. Horizontal Rotor (HR) is ideal where greater throw distance is required in larger buildings. The latest ST or Side-Throw models can bed to either side or directly forwards, even when end-mounted, making them versatile and ideal for bedding from narrow passages.

The original Spread-a-Bale Twin Vertical Rotor system is a timeless design that creates a wide fan spread pattern — still the best solution for many farms.

Customers favour the gentle bedding action, minimal dust, simplicity of use and easy self-loading that their Spread-a-Bales provide.

When it comes to feeding and bedding, every farm has its own challenges and requirements. To find out more about any of AgriSource’s products and how they could help you, call Paul Bellas at AgriSource on 07769 221261.

DARLINGTON & STOCKTON TIMES

dst.co.uk

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025

Family-run farm equipment specialist AgriSource Machinery was established by owner Paul Bellas just over five years ago, and since then, it has grown both as a business and in the range of products it offers.

Based near Scotch Corner, AgriSource specializes in new and used machinery and implements.

“Marshall trailers and spreaders have been a key product for us as they continually invest in their factory, building quality into every machine,” said Paul.

All Marshall units are fully shot-blasted before entering a modern temperature-controlled painting process.

LAMMA 2025 saw the launch of Marshall’s new low loader trailer, which features a hydraulic beaver tail, eliminating the need for separate loading ramps and allowing the trailer to become a flatbed bale trailer in seconds. The company’s recently updated range of livestock containers is also available with hydraulic sheep decks, allowing instant changeover from cattle to sheep work.

“The Marshall Vesuvius rear discharge manure spreaders are receiving very positive customer feedback,” adds Paul. “Their hydraulic pushback system eliminates the mechanical floor drive system together with all the maintenance and reliability considerations that go with it.”

As a bedding equipment specialist, AgriSource offers Spread-a-Bale loader-mounted bedding machines, which are growing in popularity due to their simplicity, efficiency, ease of use, and versatility. The range of spreading systems and body sizes means there really is a Spread-a-Bale to suit every farm.

The introduction of the latest ST (Side Throw) model allows the spreading of bedding from narrow passages, with the ability to switch between spreading from left, right, or straight ahead in seconds.

Also on offer is a comprehensive range of trailed and mounted bedding and straw chopping equipment from Kidd Farm Machinery, including the flagship 475 TC Twin Chop, which provides excellent performance for customers who need to consistently pre-chop straw for bedding and feeding use. Kidd also offers a range of fence post knockers, pasture toppers, and heavy-duty rigid or folding mulching toppers.

AgriSource is proud to be the regional dealer for Kelvin Cave, supplying and supporting Murska, Korte, and Rivakka roller mills. Its priority is to ensure it supplies the best machines for its customers’ farms with a mill range that allows it to service a broad spectrum of feed processing requirements from pigs to sheep and cattle.

High-capacity hammer mills are also available from Murska and Rivakka.

AgriSource also supplies feeding equipment and mixer wagons from feeder specialists Trioliet, offering a full range of machines from five to 52 cubic meters with various discharge options to suit different farm feeding arrangements.

SIP Grass Machinery joined the AgriSource range in 2024, providing a comprehensive lineup of professional high-specification disc mowers, tedders, single and twin rotor rakes, and pick-up rakes. SIP Machinery comes with a three-year warranty as standard and boasts great features to ensure long-term reliability.

Alpego power harrows, combination drills, rotary cultivators, and stone buriers continue to be an important part of the AgriSource range, with Alpego flail mulchers being extremely popular and incredibly reliable.

The company has also introduced the new TL50 extra heavy-duty fully offset flail mowers to complement this range. The TL50 is designed for higher HP tractors and is available to work fully offset in widths up to 2.6m.

For more information about its products, call AgriSource Machinery at 01748 352123, visit www.agrisourcemachinery.com, or check out its stand at YAMS.

Providing great value and the right machinery for your needs

📞 Call us on 01748 352123 or visit us at YAMS

🔹 AgriSource – Your Partners in Farm Machinery

🏭 Brands: Marshall | Fleming | Trioliet | SIP | Alpego

🌐 www.agrisourcemachinery.com

📱 Paul Bellas Mobile: 07769 221261

“With less staff on the farm I was keen to move away from unrolling bales by hand on my own. After much consideration, we purchased a spread a bale earlier this year. Shed layout was a huge factor when looking for a bedding machine. I needed something compact enough to access a restricted central passageway, but with enough throw capacity for our larger yards. Being forklift mounted combined with the low dust levels and ease of use drew me in to look at a spread a bale. Paul visited the farm, measuring doorways, feed passages and yard sizes to see which model and configuration would fit best. He then brought a machine to try on our loader to see how it would fit.  A mini with a horizontal rotor is the perfect machine, we can get through our tightest doorway, side-mounted to bed from a passageway and then end-mount it to gain even more spread distance elsewhere. It allows me to safely bed up on my own in roughly the same time as it used to take 2 of us and it also reduces straw usage by approximately 20 to 25%”

” The Spread-a-Bale allows me to safely bed up on my own in roughly the same time it used to take two of us and reduces straw usage by 20 – 25%”

William Maughan of Denton near Darlington

AgriSource; New and used machinery, Equipment for farm livestock, grounds care, and equestrian. Richmond, Yorkshire. Please feel free to reach out with your requirements.