Titch Hill Farm, a 360ha downland farm near Worthing, was struggling with its outdated grain handling system. The existing 1960s setup was no longer fit for purpose, leading to lost harvesting time and reduced efficiency.
The farm's manager, Mark Heritage, worked closely with McArthur BDC to design a future-proofed post-harvest system that could handle increased output efficiently. This involved installing an intake system and drier that could minimize manual input and maximize productivity.
Heritage explained that the old system was causing them to lose valuable harvesting time waiting for moisture levels to drop, which was becoming increasingly difficult as crop yields grew. With more arable land being used, the farm had outgrown the old system.
A new grain store was constructed ahead of harvest 2024, and the priority was to install an intake system and drier that could handle increased output efficiently with minimal manual input. This would enable the farm to cut one crop and sell it quickly to create space for the next, reducing the pressure on harvesting time.
The McArthur BDC team worked closely with Heritage to design a complete post-harvest system tailored to the farm's layout and operational demands. The system features an automatic electric mobile grain drier from Mecmar, fed by a Skandia 40tph I-Line trench intake conveyor.
Crucially, the company ensured that intake capacity, drier throughput, and discharge flow were correctly matched to ensure smooth operation of the system. Installing the largest suitable capacity drier within the site's space constraints was key, but equally important was ensuring the intake could feed the drier consistently.
Automation was a major requirement for the farm, with Heritage wanting the system to run to preset controls allowing continuous operation with minimal supervision during peak harvest pressure. The Mecmar drier features a touchscreen control panel with full remote monitoring capability.
The new post-harvest system has significantly improved the farm's efficiency and reduced harvesting time. With the old system no longer in use, Titch Hill Farm is now able to optimize its operations and make the most of its increased crop yields.
This project highlights the importance of investing in technology to stay ahead in the agricultural industry. By leveraging expertise from companies like McArthur BDC, farmers can optimize their post-harvest operations and improve overall productivity.
As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, it's clear that technology is playing an increasingly important role in optimizing post-harvest operations.
