FWispace

Sexed semen and scyncronisation ?

roundfeeder — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:41:26 GMT

Does anybody have any experence of using sexed semen in beef cattle / heifer's and batching them ?..ie. scyncronisation ...as the supplier's dont recommend it and say natural heat is prefered but speaking to a dairyman he tell's me he know's of batching heifer's in the dairy herd ,...Do I or dont I ????????

Spraying near houses

oxonoxon — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:09:39 GMT

Our back garden backs onto a field in which wheat is growing. Today the farmer sprayed (I assume fertiliser and/or weedkiller!) and I wondered if whatever he used might be harmful to our garden plants and pets. There is also a strange fishy smell in the air - I wondered if this was the spray, or maybe someone is cooking fish! Not bothered about the smell, which will go, but I'd be grateful for reassurance that the spray is harmless. (Farmer was in an enclosed cab.)

Is this double-vented chicken unique?

phil clarke — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:20:05 GMT

News has come into the Poultry World office of a chicken with two vents. Paula Miller, who helps run Martins Wood Farm near Lewes, said she first discovered the abnormality when they segregated the blue haze hybrid on account of her “mucky rear end”.

But on closer inspection it emerged that this was the result of having an extra orifice.

It seems the poultry vets have never seen this before, though Paula did unearth one similar case in the USA a few years ago. Have any forum users seen or heard of anything similar?

Rattling pick-up canopy

welshnwilling — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:15:53 GMT

We have an aluminum canopy on our pick-up and I can't seem to stop it rattling. I keep tightening the wing nuts but they keep on loosening. There must be a better way of securing the canopy without making it too difficult to take off ? Never had this problem with the Land-Rovers over the years because we never took the canopy off. There wasn't much point.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks

BBQ

peesie — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:29:11 GMT

I must say,my barbecue is extremely economical.A bottle of gas has done us 15 years.

manitou buggiscopic

henarar — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:43:53 GMT

anyone know if there any good or what troubles they have ?

Taarup 306/307 gearbox problem

jack1234 — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:36:44 GMT

Hi I have got a taarup 306 mower con which last season chewed up the teeth on the pinion gear that drives the bed I need a new crown wheel and pinion gear I have spoken to my local kv dealer and you cannot get the parts any more as it is too old dose any one know where there is one being Brocken up as I would be happy to buy a hole gearbox or mower if the right price cheers

Anything good happend in the last year ?

henarar — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:40:29 GMT

With all this doom and gloom with the weather and other things over the last year I was wondering if anyone's had anything really good happen both farming or not or had a good year despite all the problems ?

Matbro TR 250 Telehandler - Burst hose inside boom?

petej — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:50 GMT

Hi.

Our 1993 Matbro TR 250 telehandler has a burst hydraulic hose. The machine is offsite and I haven't had a chance to see it yet, but I am told that the problem hose sems to run inside the boom and the driver couldn't readily see how to access and remove the end inside the boom.

I have no experience of repairing telehandlers (this is our first and only one) and it would be really useful if I had some idea of what I am looking at when I go to see the machine. Does anyone know how to access the hose ends inside the boom? Is there an access plate or do you have to remove the boom etc.?

Thanks.

Yet another weather thread

kansasfarmer — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:53:42 GMT

I have to tell all of you that it was 61F at a little before 7am this morning, I was in a short sleeved shirt by 10am, yesterday morning, and Saturday my wife had the windows open and the ceiling fans running on high. A cold front will come through dry this afternoon, like most fronts have come through the last 24 months, and cool us down to a high of 60 tomorrow, unbelievable weather for December. One thing about a drought, you get a lot of really nice fall weather.

Pig Farming opprtunity in Bulgaria.

the Geordie — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:44:06 GMT

Hi - I have an interesting proposition for someone with experience of traditional pig farming who would be up for the challenge of relocating to Bulgaria. Some background info - I live in a small but endlessly interesting village in Northern Bulgaria, about 60k south of the Danube. Life has traditionally been subsistence farming with most people owning around 2000sq metres at their house and then various other holdings outside the village where the main crops are sunflowers, maize and wheat. Farming techniques range from ploughing with a horse to a fairly sophisticated cooperative system for the use of big machinery. There’s not much in the way of organic or sustainable farming methods in this area except where foreigners have had an influence. Animals are goats, sheep and cattle which are grazed on common ground with a shepherd. Depopulation is a major problem and as consequence, land and property is very cheap. I currently have responsibility for around 6000sq metres of land. I’m not a farmer and I have other business ventures going on but I do need to use this land and I thought that pigs would be a good option…..but I don’t know anything about pigs! So here’s what I thought and here’s my offer: I’d like to farm pigs with the long term intention of preserving the meat (there are some interesting and tasty local techniques) to sell to deli’s in the UK The pigs will live outside - lots of issues like 45degrees in August and -30 in January, wolves, jackals and stuff like that, but with secure housing at night I can offer a house rent free with large plot of land to grow vegetables. The house has plenty of barns and outhouses I will buy the initial stock ( I have no idea how many we are talking about). I’m really looking for someone who wants to invest in a prospective long term business because I can’t afford to pay someone until the pigs are ready to kill. But that doesn’t have to be a money investment - its about time. But because I really know nothing about pigs and pig farming , I’m hoping that someone will be interested enough to start a conversation here so I can learn - basically I have a business idea, land and a house and enough money to buy some baby pigs - I need some help. If you want to check out life in a village, please go to www.stjamespark.biz I’d also like to draw people’s attention to the possibilities of setting up a farm in Bulgaria - there’s lots of land, its pretty cheap - there’s lots of potential and we need more people! Kathy

UKIP

Peter Wells — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:28:12 GMT

At the moment UKIP have won 52 seats out of 700 ish in the Local Government Elections. They have a % vote of 25 however.

Are things changing in Britain or is this basically a protest vote?

Himalayan Balsam and other invasive species

JKstudent — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:01:45 GMT

Please answer the questions [Poll]

Cold weather

snookered — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:26:03 GMT

What do readers think about the fact that many forecasters and scientists think that the world is entering a Little Ice Age. I personally think that it started 2012 the year with no summer! This year we have had record cold weather and most crops in the ground are way behind for the time o year.

New Holland 482 Drum mower

fixersteve — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:12:47 GMT

Hi, Can anyone tell me if the bottom skid saucers from any other makes of 5ft 6 drum mower will fit onto a New Holland 482.

Many thanks

Steve

English / Scottish

henarar — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:18:19 GMT

I never thought that there was a large amount of [dare I say] bad feeling between the scottish and english till I started to read this forum

But it has come up a few times what is the problem and how is it fixed?

For my part i have no problem with any other part of the uk or the people in it

But if the most of the scotts or any of the rest of us for that matter feel they should go it on there own then they should get on and put it to the vote

And the best or british or should that be scottish luck

one show

glasshouse — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:08:05 GMT

good prog about hay donations to wales 2nite

GM: Great move or great mistake?

wilff — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:28:09 GMT

Farmers Weekly has launched an investigation into farmers' views on the use of GM technology in UK agriculture. The use of GM technology in agriculture has always been subject to polarised debate, but as pressures on global food security mount the argument for and against the use of the technology has moved into new territory. Are you happy feeding GM compound feed to your livestock, are you frustrated by Europe’s resistance to using the technology? Or do you feel that GM is a solution desperately looking for a problem to solve and there are more immediate or better solutions at hand? Maybe you like the technology but are just not happy with how it is currently applied? Or do you think that there is a case for remaining GM- free? Whatever your view on this complex issue, make sure you have your say below to help us gather a nationwide picture of farmer opinion. If you'd like to take the survey it is available here until Tuesday 20th May: http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/GM-crops/

aerial crop analysis

dickie — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:56:43 GMT

hi there, i'm new to these farming forums and indeed new to farming but is something I've always had an interest in. I'm presently doing some research in using unmanned aerial systems for crop analysis, the technology and legislation exists in the UK however to my knowledge little to no one is doing this. My question to you is how receptive and or how useful would images from on high be to you, I'm not just talking about regular camera images but also Near Infrared imaging that look at the variations of vegetation colour to determine crop stresses etc? All images would be geo referenced so you could plot these into you GPS systems for precision applications. Is this something that you could see being contracted out at various stages of a crops growth? Have any of you heard of any farmers using a similar system or service? I look forward to hearing from you all.

NOW CLOSED Caption Competition - April '13

racheljones — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:33:50 GMT

Here we go, new pic for April. Usual rules apply - best caption at the end of the month wins £25.

Relief milker rates

muzza65 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:49:53 GMT

I'm sure this old chestnut has been around the forums a few times. This is my 2 cents I guess. I've been working around the country for the last rather a few years. Mainly under the umbrella of the major farm relief companies, even as far back as Flecther's (not sure if they are still about). Long story, learnt my trade in NZ and now ended up in sunny south wales near Cardiff. I''m looking to start some relief milking in my local area as not so keen on the hundreds of miles around the country any more. I've never directly billed a farmer for my services and was wondering what the going rates are these days. A bigger question I guess is there much of a demand for it. Regards

Invasive Non-native Species

JKstudent — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:55:26 GMT

Hi there, I am a student working on a project to help the farming community deal with invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KZYQVTT Currently there is a lack of help for land owners and farmers, and my project will aim to design programme to increase the help you receive from councils and similar organisations. Please take the time to fill in this survey as I will be using the key results to focus my campaign on. Thank you J

Best EID sheep recording software

case1394 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:02:49 GMT

looking at getting recording software coupled with a psion reader for a pedigree flock (so will need to pretty comprehensive ) , what are peoples experiences with the ones on the market at present ,

Does weather alter sex?

BrownCow — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:14:17 GMT

Anybody else had far more bull calves than heifers? We have had 6 heifers and 17 bull calves in our spring herd. We used two bulls and it was evenly spread between them.

Massey 6140 only goes forward

6140 — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:57:32 GMT

I have a massey 6140 dynashift if I select forward there's no problem but I try to select reverse it will not engage. Any body got any ideas what it could be??