This official Society of Ploughmen handbook is aimed at people new to ploughing who need the basics for farm work, and the growing number of competitors at ploughing matches. This updated second edition includes the current rules for international match ploughing, the scoring system and ploughing organisations throughout the world. It gives an introduction to: • the types of plough and how to set them up • the main classes of competitive tractor ploughing: vintage mounted and trailed; world-type conventional ploughing; and reversible ploughing • a short history of ploughs Among the 200 illustrations there are over 150 colour photographs specially commissioned to show in detail good practices as well as faults and how to correct them. Author Brian Bell, Britain's leading farm machinery writer, has written this manual with the help of a number of ploughing experts including Ken Chappell, David Chappell and Peter Alderslade.

A Norfolk farmer's son, Brian played a key role in developing agricultural education in Suffolk from the 1950s onwards. For many years he was viceprincipal of the Otley Agricultural College having previously headed the agricultural engineering section. He established the annual 'Power in Action' demonstrations in which the latest farm machinery is put through its paces and he campaigned vigorously for improved farm safety, serving for many years on the Suffolk Farm Safety Committee. For his services to agriculture, Brian was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). Among Brian Bell's many publications are three videos on ploughing. He lives in Suffolk with his wife Ivy. They have three sons.