Case Study - Frederick Hiam Ltd

A farmer in Cambridgeshire has widened his use of LPG equipment with the purchase of a new, bigger 6 metre greenburner powered by Calor.

Mark Bower, manager at Frederick Hiam Ltd near Littleport, produces sweet corn, sugar beet and potatoes for the pre-packed trade, supplying major supermarkets. Crops are grown on 400 acres of land on two adjacent sites. Throughout that time, Mark has used Calor LPG to power his operation and ensure rapid turnaround when it comes to weed control and crop desiccation.

Frederick Hiam Ltd originally invested in a ‘single bed’ weed burner that met immediate needs, covering up to eight acres a day. ‘Timing is everything when it comes to weed control. We have to flame the ground three days before crop emergence to allow the crop a head start and the canopy to develop – that’s how we minimise competition from the weeds,’ says Mark. ‘We were pleased with the performance of the equipment but spoke with Richard Western about developing a bigger machine which would allow us to cover more ground,’ he adds.

The solution came with the new 6 metre wide LPG burner delivered this year by Richard Western Ltd, who have been developing agricultural machinery since the sixties. Now, using Calor LPG to power the equipment, Mark can cover his land in a matter of days – which, he says, makes the task much easier.

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Calor LPG delivers cleaner, controllable power


‘We’ve used the equipment to control weeds prior to sowing this year’s sweet corn crop and for the first time this autumn to set the potato crop,’ he adds. ‘It’s easy to use, fast and efficient, and running on Calor LPG means we can eliminate the use of chemicals that could easily drift.’ Richard Pearson, who supplied the new burner, says that LPG is seeing increased use on farms for a wide range of applications. ‘We’ve seen increasing interest over the past couple of years as farmers recognise the benefits,’ he adds. ‘Calor LPG can be used to heat buildings and road vehicles, dry crops and as we see at Frederick Hiam, control weeds and set potatoes.’

Calor operates the UK’s largest LPG delivery fleet

Calor LPG delivers cleaner, controllable power across agricultural and horticultural applications. Calor’s Jeff Penfold adds that increasing environmental legislation and pressure from customers is encouraging farmers to investigate cleaner energy options. ‘Using Calor LPG to desiccate potatoes, for example, is much more convenient and flexible than using traditional sulphuric acid,’ he says. ‘Farmers spraying acid or chemicals have to give 96 hours’ advance notice to the public and the closure of footpaths as well as the drift that can result from spraying can generate complaints. There are also real environmental concerns about drifting spray and the handling and storage of chemicals.’ Calor operates the UK’s largest LPG delivery fleet and has a team of dedicated technical experts.

Calor powered burners stack up in cost terms

Mark Bower confirms that using Calor LPG allows his produce to compete with imports while ensuring compliance with the highest production standards. ‘We’re seeing real pressure from cheaper imports which may not be produced to the same UK standards, so every saving we can make allows us to compete. Calor powered burners stack up in cost terms as well as environmentally, he says. ‘Working with Calor and Richard Western has helped ensure our competitiveness’ he adds.

Click here for more information about weed burning For more information about greenburners visit: www.greenburner.com

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Case Study - Frederick Hiam Ltd

Calor LPG delivers cleaner, controllable power

Calor operates the UK’s largest LPG delivery fleet

Calor powered burners stack up in cost terms