Recent content by BPip

Thanks exfarmer - upon my researches this past year i’ve kinda concluded the same - the JD885 can handle a tedder/rake but the other machinery would be hard-going. I’ve found new compact tractor gear from Europe as you mention, the prices are eye-watering! May have to consider upgrading and...

Hi all, I wonder if any of you can recommend some smaller HP mowing machinery for my JD855, 24HP tractor with 19HP at the PTO looking for recommendations on makes/models of balers, rake/tedders and drum mowers that may be suitable for a smaller tractor such as this - older used models to look...

One average year i recorded the weather daily - Two thirds of the year it rains! 🤨 We’ve got roughly scottish highlands rainfall and sunshine hours here. Mainly overcast and mild. The drainage ive done is OTT compared to ‘normal’ but is needed! More rain in winter than summer, hence soil cold...

yeah, i have soil temps on my side in august, it can take a while in spring for the temps to rise. Low temps are part the reason germination is so slow in late april even….i’ve seen an inch of growth by june…terribly slow. Waste of seed really. Fingers crossed an august sow will do much better.

East county Clare, west Ireland

I once had rounds from a farmer and they were covered in mites, thousands of them. Didnt notice when i picked up the bales, but got a facefull of them when rolling them by hand. Couldnt use the stuff, go near it -like being bitten by thousands of midges! he said his shed was new so not from...

They’ll be in fields where beetles etc thrive as they eat the larvae of other insects. So more likely in a mixed crop than singular.

I completely agree! Reading from moisture meter depends on the density of the packed material. I’ve got used to the meter’s idiosyncrasies….That reading was from compression of the hay yet looser bales read lower…15kg small squares…read under 18%. Ive opened the bales - there’s no heating or...

I’ve got a supplier of nice hay, just trying a few bales before buying a load, but there’s mites on them. Hold your bare arm on the bale for 10 seconds and 3 mites will crawl onto you. Some pink, some white/cream coloured. Is this the common straw itch mite? They were baled about 3 weeks ago in...

Thanks for the replies - seems autumn is worth a try, never done it, but shall give it a go! It’s sods law that every spring i try, its followed by a dry spell of sudden heat, then loads of rain and sudden cold…the seedlings really struggle. Spring seems very unpredictable now! This year was...

As title - have you had better luck with autumn sown grass or spring? Obviously this year spring was colder than normal, mild winter. So weather always plays its part. I’ve got small acreage and wanted to intersow into existing mixed grass pasture some timothy, cockfoot and tall fescue. Soil...

Yes its very possible, as the bracken was eaten down to the stumps you said - and this time of year its at its most mature. We have it growing near the hedgerows near me - it’s the type of bracken that has roughly 3 foot stalks standing upright, very large leaves now. Springtime its small and...

In horses bracken/ferns contains thiaminase and causes acute B1 deficiency, blocking thiamin so neurological symptoms/tremors etc - its fairly rapid - so sounds like your sheep experienced similar..? They’d have to eat a fair amount as a horse, but most dont as its unpalatable. A sheep being...

It depends on what was stated in the selling advert. If the seller states product ‘working’ - and it ends up not working, then distance selling regulation laws come into play ‘not as described’ etc. Matey said first use of machine and it fell apart, broke. IF it had been tested and described as...

If you bought it from him off ebay didnt you use paypal, or did he manage to convince you too to ring him and then bank transfer money and do the deal outside of ebay payment protection?