We all know fuel is a big bill on most farms - so this project could yield some really interesting results. It's a three-year initiative collecting data from field tests and individual farmers in a bid to discover ways to reduce fuel usage. Anything that cuts fuel bills has got to be good for individual businesses and for the environment. Anyone got any tips, feel free to share them here...

My tip for saving fuel would be to lock the missus in the house so that she couldn't drive around so much. Global warming would be a thing of the past and fuel prices would plummet due to lower demand.

Only joking....honest ! Now, where did I put that ball and chain ?

We now think before we start a tractor, do we really need to do that job??, gone are the days of recreational tillage on this farm

I like a bit of recreational tillage dont care how much fuel or anything else i use

The cheapest way to save fuel is to keep the engines serviced especially the air filters. Reduce engine revs where possible and look at each job to see if it is really necessary.

If we could get the ladies interested in recreational tillage it would be a lot cheaper than running to the shopping centre!

mursal:

If we could get the ladies interested in recreational tillage

Not quite sure what recreational tillage is (or implies) but if you can think of a way of getting the ladies to do it, I doubt you'll ever have to work again.

henarar:

I like a bit of recreational tillage

Has it got anything to do with sowing wild oats ?

welshnwilling:

mursal:

If we could get the ladies interested in recreational tillage

 

Not quite sure what recreational tillage is (or implies) but if you can think of a way of getting the ladies to do it, I doubt you'll ever have to work again.

interestingly, when Daniel Defoe toured Devon many moons ago, he witnessed Farmers wives and daughters pulling the plough.

l did mention that to my better half, l still have the bruises!!!!!

mursal:

The cheapest way to save fuel is to keep the engines serviced especially the air filters. Reduce engine revs where possible and look at each job to see if it is really necessary.

Quite right . Also avoid using young drivers (under 30 ?) as my two boys have been carrying FYM this week and I dread to think how much fuel's been wasted, not to mention damage done to tractor transmissions. Lots of black smoke and changing gear every two seconds seems to be the norm for these youngsters....get me, I must be getting old !

welshnwilling:

Lots of black smoke and changing gear every two seconds seems to be the norm for these youngsters....get me, I must be getting old !

Funny enough I don't mind the gear changing as I think it takes the stress off the clutch, as long as its done without stressing the gearbox.

Driver over 30 are a bit thin on the ground around here.

Would you not settle for 25 and give everyone a chance?

Always puzzles me how 4 gear changes are needed to drive out of our yard, more on the NewHolland, is it because the buttons are easy to press?

henarar, I read your post as recreational PILLAGE!!  Sounded like the old warmongering "rape and pillage" days. Too much Zider I suppose.

Tim,

     I am going to be a little critical here of the good old Farmers Weekly.Instead of as it were applauding or condoning these absolute Idiots from the the "EU" the artical should have exposed the absurdity of spending probably huge amounts of Tax Payers Money on a subject that is down to the Individual Farmer and his Common Sense and Judgment over an issue that is basic Logic.If the base figure of 3000 [ 666 Gals ] is used. If we say it now takes one and a half Gals instead of one Gal to plough an acre at 44p/litre the cost now to plough that acre has increased by about one £.The 666 Gals has cost £1320 so the cost to the Farmer is £660 extra. What does that matter in the Big Picture where Ferts have increased by £ 80 or more per acre. I therefore amoungst many more Millions here are paying Taxes for an absurd Investigation into something that has its own answer bound up within .That is that the Tractor of today runs a Transmission system that does allow more productive work to be obtained in some circumstances but overall consumes a lot more power and a Hydraulic system that lifts huge loads but also consumes extra power to do this.

  If the EU has money to throw away give it to Farmers to install Water Injection or Hydrogen Injection Systems to gain real benefits from burning Fossill Fuel. End of Rant [ anyone believe I am anti EU ! ! ! ]

burocrat basher:

I am going to be a little critical here of the good old Farmers Weekly.Instead of as it were applauding or condoning these absolute Idiots from the the "EU"

Dear Tim,

That on the edge journalism is going to eventually get you into real trouble. If it ever gets out of hand and you want a safe house, just give me the nod.

boveyfarmer:

Always puzzles me how 4 gear changes are needed to drive out of our yard, more on the NewHolland, is it because the buttons are easy to press?

Yep I know what you mean. On our NH it always select's 9th gear when you start up. Our lads then change up and up and up and up again, until they get to 13th or 14th. Why can't they select 13th before starting off ? I was complaining to my Dad the other day about it and he said it sounded exactly the same when I drive it.

Must be the sound-proofing !