Integration of existing equipment enables potential return on investment in five years

A new grain and seed processing plant designed and installed by McArthur BDC is already proving pivotal to Mountfair Farming Ltd's long-term sustainability objectives. By integrating existing machinery within a modern, high-performance system, the plant delivers the reliability and operating flexibility the business requires, while also positioning the farm to realise a potential return on investment within five years.

Based in the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, Mountfair Farming is a leading agri-business specialising in contract farming and farm management services. The company owns and manages over 2,100 hectares across its own and contracted farms.

Growing oats and winter wheat with break crops of oilseed rape, beans and vining peas, Mountfair Farming aims to maximise productivity and long-term sustainability through environmentally responsible practices - having adopted minimum tillage back in 2002 - while ensuring that every contract farming agreement delivers measurable environmental benefit.

When its previous seed cleaning and storage facilities reached the end of their operational life, Mountfair Farming identified the need for a new, standalone grain and seed processing plant that would future-proof its operations.

We needed a system that was efficient, flexible and reliable - one that would integrate with existing infrastructure," said Aidan Grimsdale, Operations Manager at Mountfair Farming Ltd. "McArthur BDC stood out for its experience, attention to detail and proven track record in delivering post-harvest grain processing solutions."

After reviewing Mountfair Farm's existing rotary cleaner and seed dressing applicator, the McArthur BDC design team, liaising with its grain-cleaning specialist, quickly identified how both could be integrated into a new plant to deliver superior pre-cleaning and, in turn, the highest quality farm-saved seed.

Working closely with Grimsdale, McArthur BDC designed the new plant within a purpose-built shed. The bespoke design now additionally features a JK Machinery JCC 08 vibrating sieve cleaner, a 10t hopper and Skandia Elevator handling equipment, all controlled via a PLC touchscreen control panel.

The control panel allows flexible routing of grain through cleaning and dressing processes, ensuring efficiency and the ability to precisely meet individual crop specifications.

Grain is tipped into an untreated bunker and is fed by a telehandler into the 10t hopper, which in turn feeds a Skandia conveyor. Grain is then carried by an elevator to another conveyor and passed through the existing rotary cleaner which now acts as a pre-cleaner.

Once pre-cleaned grain is fed into the JCC 08 for additional fine cleaning. If seed dressing is required the grain is carried to the existing seed dressing applicator.  

The JCC 08's aspirator plays a key role in preparing grain for farm saved seed as it removes any remaining dust and chaff enabling the most effective seed dressing. Once dressed, seed goes directly into a dedicated treated bunker.

If seed dressing is not required, grain is transported directly to store.

Currently the plant is used to process 400t of Mountfair Farming's farm-saved seed wheat, beans and oats, for replanting that Autumn or the following Spring ready for the next harvest. Its flexibility also allows for potential contract grain processing in the future, offering an additional income stream.

Processing farm-saved seed supports Mountfair Farming's long-term sustainability goals by negating the need for seed to be purchased and transported to the farm, or to be transported to and from grain merchants to be cleaned and dressed. 

"The new plant met every one of our critical success factors: it was operational for harvest 2025, it delivers consistent results across different crops, and it was delivered on time and on budget," added Grimsdale. "If we continue processing our farm-saved seed, we're looking at a five-year return on investment - with even faster payback if we decide to move into contract cleaning.

"The McArthur BDC team were great to work with from start to finish. The knowledge and expertise of its grain cleaning specialist, combined with their extensive grain handling experience has resulted in the delivery of a grain processing plant that cost-effectively integrated our existing equipment and which builds resilience for the future, enabling us to continue to meet our environmental aims.

"I would encourage anyone looking at upgrading or designing and building new grain processing capabilities, waste no time in talking to them."