Mark's Farm Tips provide useful farming advice to help take your farm to its full potential.
From Sota's Agronomist & Farming Guru, Mark Crakanthorp.

MARK'S EXPERTISE IN PASTURE, BEEF AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY is invaluable in assisting those who are new to farming and require expert advice.

Fencing tips for the discerning fence builder. Good, bad or indifferent – the fence is the yardstick by which all is measured.

Autumn has come around again and its time to think about renovating your pastures for winter. Here’s some handy tips to set you up.....

At Sota, we often field enquiries from folk who are only in the very early stages of investigating which tractor best suits their small acreage requirements. Here are a few things you might like to consider...

Regular maintenance of your Slasher, Finishing Mower or Flail Mower will reward you with better performance and durability. Mark Crakanthorp de-mystifies implement maintenance.

With October fast approaching, it's time to think about putting down a veggie patch for those delicious summer veggies like pumpkins, squash, beans and watermelons. Small scale horticulture is the domain of these tractors, so let’s dust off your rotary hoe and get busy!

Controlling blackberries is hard work, particularly where tractor access is difficult, like creeks and gullies. But, when found along fences and in isolated clumps, they are fair-game for some good, old fashioned mechanized mayhem. Many of our customers investigate a Sota Kubota and 4 in 1 Loader with taking on blackberries high on the hit list.

"Ignore checking your filters and fluid levels at your wallet's peril!", says Mark Crakanthorp.

Create cost-effective Winter pastures and keep your cows happy, says Sota's Agronomist, Mark Crakanthorp.

Give your cows water - lots of it but expect them to " bite the hand" that watered them and destroy your water trough!

"For the small acreage owner who wishes to increase the carrying capacity of their acreage, subdividing paddocks and managing grazing is essential", says Mark Crakanthorp.

"Hail the Flail Mower!" says Mark Crakanthorp, as he ruminates over grass, scrub, weeds, fire breaks and fire hazards.

How often has a hobby farm sprung up where there was once a dairy? An old market garden? Or even an orchard – long neglected. The legacy of scattered outbuildings and established trees remind us of days gone. But what about the soil?