Harry Ferguson’s system of farm mechanisation is brought to life here by a wide range of implements filmed at work. Beginning with spring cultivations and potato planting, the programmme covers weed control in potatoes and kale, hay and silage-making, hedge-trimming and general farm tasks such as post-hole boring and milk churn transport. It concludes with potato lifting, leaving a companion programme to look at other autumn and winter activities.

The majority of the implements are from Harold Beer’s working collection in North Devon and many were bought new. A range of Fergies provide the power, one of them still at work on the family farm where it was first used in 1949. The programme has a commentary scripted by Stuart Gibbard.