The annual Kirkland UK machinery Demonstration Day was even more popular this year with fruit growers from around Britain. Kirkland UK presented for the fruit industry its new Orvin machinery range as well as the established Kirkland UK range.
Over 180 growers visited the venue at Bobbing in Kent. The event was kindly hosted by A. C. Goatham and was set in their orchards. This meant that growers could see the machinery working in a practical environment.
As well as machine demonstrations there was also a static display of machines so that growers could browse and discuss with colleagues and Kirkland UK staff their current and future needs in orchard management. The most popular new machines discussed were the mechanical pruner, herbicide spray heads, new Orvin sprayer range and sub-soiler, one of the key advantages from all these machines is reducing labour content in orchard management.
BCS Valiant Tractor Frumaco Harvester
Triprop and Quatt Sprayers Triprop in Action
Herbicide Sprayer Hercules and Frumaco Harvesters
Integral with machinery was a viewing of the Kirkland UK Covers Systems. A shuttle-bus took growers to the cherry orchards of John Myatt at High Halstow, Rochester. Here Ivan Worsley explained to the groups the various advantages of the Covers Systems and how these benefits, together with technical support in tree management, can lead UK growers to potential cherry yields of 18-20 tonnes per hectare.
Kirkland Cover System Kirkland Cover System
The feedback and comments from growers has been very positive. Moving forward to the next Demonstration Day Kirkland UK is planning a specific focus and theme centred on our machines. Scott Worsley summed up the success of the Demonstration Day and said:
‘We set out to show growers the depth and breadth of our new machinery range; that there is a specification for every application and budget need. The attendance and feedback from growers indicates this was a success’
And the winner is…
For one local Kent grower the Demonstration Day brought an added bonus. John Higgs – of C J Higgs & Son won the Orvin 2 metre mower in the Demonstration Day Prize Draw.
John grows apples, pears and cherries and took delivery of his mower from Scott Worsley at Owens Court Farm, Selling in Kent last week. A delighted John commented:
‘I just called in to talk about a sub-soiler with Kirkland so it was a complete surprise to learn the next day that I had won the mower’
You will be able to view a full range of exciting videos showing all our machines actively working in real life conditions.