Current issue

81 Vol 21-1. May - August 2012

Back issues

80 Vol 20-4. Feb-May 2012

79 Vol 20 - Issue 3 - Autumn 2011

78 - Vol 20 - Issue 2 - Summer 2011

77 - Vol 20 - Issue 1 - Spring 2011

76 - Vol 19 - Issue 4 - Winter 2010

see all back issues

What they say about us...

Each magazine has some useful tips, and the writing isn't biased towards manfacturers - it gives an independent view of things. I value its practicality.

Gwyndaf Thomas, Carmarthen

If you'd like your comments featured here, please contact us

Farmers should be on the front line for snow operation

The British snow problems could be substantially eased if farmers were designated as the front line for non-motorways. Snow blocked road chaos would be reduced if the huge army of farmers and their tractors was brought into action. Tractors with snow ploughs on the front and grit spreaders on the back should be the main sight on UK roads. Rather than attempting to bring the professional army of council machines, drivers, managers in at a moment's notice, a volunteer army of farmers are already dispersed throughout the country, ready to do the job. Some councils do use farm help, but the practice is in decline, not due to a low standard of service, but because it is easier to organise spreading from large depots using big machinery and employed staff. The cost is of course considerable. Gritting trucks normally seem to have two people in the cab, and they are limited to standard driving hours. Farmers who have secured contracts report rates of between £35 to £75 an hour, and they can use red diesel provided they are clearing public roads and not private areas such as supermarket car parks. Some contracts include a retaining fee which is paid irrespective of winter weather. The contracts often run for a few years, and the council will supply the plough. With front linkage now more common on tractors the ploughs are more easily fitted and exchanged from one tractor to another. Machinery Rings would make a useful administration route for managing the work, but Councils should be able to do the organisation themselves.	One farmer told us that a Vicon Varispreader makes an excellent salt spreader as the spreading width is easy to reduce to a road width.

The British snow problems could be substantially eased if farmers were designated as the front line for non-motorways.

Tractors with snow ploughs on the front and grit spreaders on the back should be the main sight on UK roads. Rather than attempting to bring the professional army of council machines, drivers, managers in at a moment's notice, a volunteer army of farmers are already dispersed throughout the country, ready to do the job.

Some councils do use farm help, but the practice is in decline, not due to a low standard of service, but because it is easier to organise spreading from large depots using big machinery and employed staff.

The cost is of course considerable. Gritting trucks normally seem to have two people in the cab, and they are limited to standard driving hours.

Farmers who have secured contracts report rates of between £35 to £75 an hour, and they can use red diesel provided they are clearing public roads and not private areas such as supermarket car parks. Some contracts include a retaining fee which is paid irrespective of winter weather. The contracts often run for a few years, and the council will supply the plough. With front linkage now more common on tractors the ploughs are more easily fitted and exchanged from one tractor to another.

Organising farmer snow operatives through the Councils and Machinery Rings would make a useful administration route for managing the work, but Councils should be able to do the admin work themselves.