Back Issue - Practical Farm Ideas - 73 - Vol

CONTENTS OVERVIEW

This issue shows how Selkirk farmer and contractor Paul Nixon pays a huge attention to detail, has an uncanny ability to see the better way, and has the energy and motivation to make it happen.

This issue aims to transmit some of these skills, provide you, the reader, methods that change for the better the way you do a job, and gives you a choice of projects for your workshop.

Livestock:

Mobile Out-of-Parlour feeder goes into grazing fields

Winch hoists new born calves to clear lungs

Cattle handling centred on hydraulic powered crush

Bull pens designed for safety and convenience

Suckler cow maternity unit

Calf crate has top features

Silage nudger has adjustable arm 43

Cattle pen layout and design

Cattle crush and forcing yard has major features 45

Livestock shed has all removable pens 46

'Rock Stopper' on forage harvester prevents major damage

Arable

Accord DL drill converted to piggyback for power harrow

Straw raking kills slugs as well as spreading lumps

Folding roller has useful weight transfer ability

Knotting baler twine, and buying big reels

Round bale gripper better than spike

Feed hopper has hydraulic lift-up top

Front press fitted with inflated tyres

Mobile loading ramp is towed around yard

Claas Volto tedder gets modified for work in hay

LED strobe light provides low cost warning

Work platform made using recycled lorry lift

Farm Walk with Paul Nixon, Selkirk, Roxborough

Push-off bale spike

Feed trailers for sheep use clamp silage

Levelling board on power harrow improves working

Rear hook on trailer is fitted at correct height

Straw haulage rig gets workshop treatment

Teagle strawchopper has extended chain restraints

Cameras become essential operating aids for farm machinery

9ft grain bucket converted to sweeping duties

Retro-fitted hydraulic back trailer doors

Up-graded trailer braking raises efficiency from 20 to 50%

How to buy good tools cheaply

Aluminium spool-on gun, circular saw

Steel support roller

Mobile phone amplifier

Logs and firewood

Log chopping block holds them in place

Manual log splitter uses sledge hammer

Electric powered log splitter has large ram

General

Innovative wheel changer uses clever geometry

Tote wheelie moves opened bags like barrow

Roll bar for lightweight tractors and ATVs

Hydraulic hoses re-routed for longer life

Roller door draught excluder 15

Mobile hen house keeps hens in - and out

Rebuilding a damaged crank shaft

Parcel cages make good wood stores

Texas Ag Mechanics Show

Workshop heater made with gas bottle

Farmworld

African innovators raise living standards

Self Help Africa - the charity that helps people help themselves

Youth projects help self starters with funding

Farm accident victims get little or no support

Weeding while you wander

Financial Focus

Maxxing your Single Farm Payment 38