A Norfolk farmer's son, Brian played a key role in developing agricultural education in Suffolk from the 1960s onwards. For many years he was the vice-principal of the Otley Agricultural College where he 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 on the Suffolk Farm Safety Committee. He is secretary of the Suffolk Farm Machinery Club. In 1993 he retired from Otley College and was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to agriculture. He is secretary and past chairman of the East Anglian branch of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers. Brian's writing career began in 1963 with the publication of Farm Machinery in Cassell's 'Farm Books' series. In 1979 Farming Press published a new Farm Machinery, which is now in its fourth enlarged edition, with more than 25,000 copies sold. Brian's involvement with videos began in 1995 when he compiled and scripted Classic Farm Machinery.

Farm Machinery has long been the standard book on current theory and practice for both students and farmers. This fully revised 5th edition incorporates new text and photographs which reflect the many changes and developments that have taken place over the last decade. This new text has been added to complement earlier material concerning the working principles, operation and maintenance of vast array of the somewhat less sophisticated farm tractors and farm machines in use on British farms in the twenty-first century. There are chapters on tractors, cultivation and drilling machinery, crop treatment and harvest machinery. Further sections deal with farmyard and estate maintenance machinery, mechanical handlers, dairy equipment, irrigation, farm power and the farm workshop.

PART - I : FARM POWER : Farm Power and Farm Mechnisation * Renewable Energy * Internal Combustion Engine * Measurement of Engine Power * Fuel System * Governor * Lubrication System * Ignition System * Cooling Systems * Farm Tractor * PART - II : FARM MACHINERY : Strength of Materials and Material of Construction * Mechanical Power Transmission * Tillage Implements * Seeding and Fertilizaing Equipments * Pumps for Irrigation * Plant Protection Equipments * Harvesting and Threshing Equipments * PART - III : FARM PROCESSING : Processing Equipments * Grain Driers * Dairy Equipments. PART -IV : FARM ELECTRICITY : Farm Electricity. Appendix* Bibliography * Index.