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It's always fascinating to see how others tackle similar problems to the ones on our farm... great to get that little 'light-bulb moment' when you find something which will work. We've made quite a few useful things from your magazine
Mike Davies, Chester
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'Better farming' ideas for everyone on the land
We're interested in things that farmers make in the workshop
... which save them time, cost less, and are often not available from agricultural merchants. Bright solutions to everyday farming problems.
Skid steer modifications for safety and efficiency
An example which we feature in the current issue comes from Cumbrian farmer Mark Wills. The implement mounted on the loader of his skid-steer occasionally dropped off, particularly when it was rested on an edge like on the muck spreader. It was annoying and potentially dangerous. The worn linkage was the problem. Rather than fix it by replacing a few bushes to get by for a year or so, Mark modified the attachment with a pair of hydraulic brake rams. It took very little time, and not much expense. Implements are now mounted solid on the loader, and will be years to come.
Stone road building system for farms that could be used in Africa, Asia and developing countries
Some farmers get down to doing jobs better by making one-off machinery. The Punton brothers have created nearly 5 miles of stone roads to service their outdoor pigs, using a 4.5 metre wide grader made in the workshop. Filled with a tipping trailer it lays a road which is compacted by a vibrator roller, and the result is no pot-holes. They use their own stone, using a stone separator to improve land and, at the same time, providing thousands of tons of quality material. It's a clever way of doing two jobs at the same time.
Push-in silage feeder means sheep eat the whole bale - no waste
Sheep are increasing being fed wrapped haylage in circular feeders. It's more reliable to make, and easier to feed... but the wastage is high. Charley Walker reckons that almost 30% of each bale wasn't being eaten. He now uses a totally different design of feeder built for him by a neighbour, and the %age waste is minimal.
Air blast keeps baler knotters and stuffer brake free of debris
Big square balers have a capacity for work, as have their drivers, so there's nothing more infuriating than a knotter missing a beat. Often the problem is caused by chaff and debris building up around it, and once cleaned off it works okay again. We show how a Surrey farmer-contractor built an air blasting machine that keeps both the knotters, and the stuffer brake totally clear of debris, spending just £150 on it.
Practical Farm Ideas No 75 Issue 19 - 3. Nov 2010 - Feb 2011. £3.45
48 pages. All-editorial. 45 'Made it Myself' ideas.
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