Issue 26-1: Used Astro turf makes effective grit-free cow tracks
Issue 26-1: We feature two direct drills - for grass and for cereals
Issue 26-1: Farm designed cubicles safe for variable-sized cows - good for cross-breeders
Issue 26-1: Financial Tips- post Brexit farming will need better meetings, procedures
Issue 26-1: Cooks flat 8 sledge has 7 big improvements - prevents bales jamming
Issue 26-1: Claas Liner grass rake adapted to protect arms

Current issue

101 # May - August 2017 Vol 26-1

Recent Back Issues

100 # Feb - May 2017 Vol 25-4

99 # Nov - Feb 2017 Vol 25-3

see all back issues

Farmers' Comments...

I have subscribed to 11 magazines, of which 9 have something to do with farming. The only one I'm savouring from cover to cover is Practical Farm Ideas. The fact that these ideas are from collegues in a somehow similar situation, that they have been realised under farm workshop conditions and have really proven their usefulness in the daily challenge of practical farming, gives your magazine a value I have never found anywhere before. I think your publication should be a must for any farmer who has more in his toolbox than a hammer, chisel and vice grip!

Richard K.Auler, Republic of Ireland

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

<< back

95 # Nov '15 - Feb '16 Vol 24-3

Price £4.35

Welcome to Practical Farm Ideas Vol 24-3 published on Nov 21 2015

48 all-editorial pages. Practical cost-cutting opportunities.
Tax advice for farmers selling/developing land
Soil+ Cover Cropping: rotations, techniques, seed drill, benefits
Made it Myself: inspirational machines, made on low budgets, from farm workshops.

Start your subscription - £16.50/year - with this important issue.

Made it Myself

    •   Dairy / cleaning off cubicle bed / modified mini-dumper with hydtaulic brush / sweeps 2ft into bed / dumper converts back for summer building work / total cost £2,200
   •   Kinetic log splitter / no hydraulics or power, other than human / car coil spring required
   •   ATV trailed slug pelleter / spreads 32 metres / twin hoppers and disc spreaders / 80in track fits tramlines
   •   Milking parlour troughs / linked rain plugs for easy washing / saves time / makes daily washing simple
   •   ATV front box / huge capacity / adds to safety, nothing will fall out

Financial Focus

• Reducing land development taxes: CGT at 28% and Entrepreneurs Relief at 10%. This detailed article looks at the rules and practice of ER which can save you 18% on your development profits. Read it now before doing anything.

FarmWorld

    •   Driverless tractor now on sale in USA.
   •   As revolutionary as the Google car / Diesel-Electric drive eliminates gearbox / tractor has 2 x 200hp units driving alternators and wheel motors designed for farm use / diesel-electric units designed as retrofit to re-power tired tractors from fuel tank to wheels
   •   Dairy farming in NZ / major milk price fall / Chinese investment
   •   Health and farmer / Lyme Disease / symptoms / treatment
   •   Mobile phones / 11 things you need to stop doing with them
   •   How legal are modified cars? / insurance issues
   •   Extended tractor service intervals / are they doing you a favour? / or hastening a new machine?

Soil+ Cover Cropping International

• Zero-till guru / extensive farm walk / 10 years experience / record keeping shows results /
• Overseeded cover crops / technique worked well in 2015

Farm Walk

• Dairy herd / herd expands into 6 x Lely robots / expands from 160 to 360 milkers / managing the changeover / work schedule / training cows and managers
• Potato innovations / 'made it myself' ladder makes inspection easy / platform added to Sumo LDS / Grimme combination cultivator/bedformer gets Mocap machine