In-house harvesting for Townshend Farms

Five years ago, Townshend Farms, Suffolk purchased a 2009 Vervaet Beet Eater 617 to bring their sugar beet harvesting in-house. This year the business upgraded to a 2014 model, with the new machine again supplied by J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd.

Townshend Farms looks after nearly 1,820ha for multiple landowners growing crops of wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans and sugar beet. Soil types vary considerably across numerous farms, although heavy clay loams are prevalent.

A very wet season had inspired the original purchase, and rapid expansion made this year’s update a logical progression.

“We were not unhappy with our contractor, but they can’t always be available for everyone,” explains Chris Townshend.

“Autumn 2019 was really wet, and by January 2020 we still had over 60ha of beet in the ground. I started looking online at used harvesters, and Rileys had this machine advertised. We viewed it the next day, made a deal with Jeremy Riley, and drove it home a day later. A key part of the decision was having experienced operator Paul Baker available to drive it.

“Buying a 10-year-old machine felt strange, and had it been a tractor or combine I wouldn’t have even considered it,” notes Chris. “But we have Rileys carry out an appraisal every year, and if everything on this list is done there’s a very good chance the machine will get through the season without an issue. We do most of the maintenance ourselves, and with three full-time staff it’s really handy having it in the workshop during the winter months.”

“Vervaet harvesters are tried, tested and proven,” points out Chris. “They’re not the cheapest, but I don’t mind paying a little extra as residual values are good. Rileys are specialists, the engineers are experienced and knowledgeable, workshop manager Harry Skeet is brilliant, and they’ve always had all the parts we’ve needed in stock.

“This year the harvester needed more spending on it so I enquired about an upgrade,” notes Chris. “Matt Carse at Rileys had a machine available which was a big step up but affordable, and would be ready to go having gone through their workshop. We’re really pleased with it.”

Read more sugar beet news.