Farmer Roy's Random Thoughts - I never said it was easy.

hendrebc · Mar 19, 2019

New Puritan said:
Ha - no doubt some would say I did pay too much for it. It's not all that heavy, so I probably paid over the odds on scrap price at any rate.

Yeah it's just a hoe, the idea is it cuts off very small weeds just as they germinate, and they dry out in the sun and die. I need to change the feet for ones like on Roy's photo. People tend to say if you can see the weeds, it's too late - i.e. they need to be that small.

I'm not sure how well such a machine (something better than my old clunker, but a more modern version of the idea) would fit with zero till? They really are for hitting weeds that have only just germinated, I'm not sure how well they'd work where there was a lot of different sized weeds and surface material? It might be better somewhere like where Roy is as the gaps don't green up in the way they do here. What do people think?

I guess it's the old argument of herbicide Vs tillage and which is the least/most damaging. If your organic you don't have much choice but till so :scratchhead:

I can't see occasional light cultivation being too bad compared to power harrows and really deep ploughing your little hoe is barely a tickle. Probably better to not do it but herbicide isn't perfect either and if you are trying to grow a crop, especially organic, you have to deal with weeds somehow. Just be mindful of the damage being done and try to minimise it however and whenever you can.

cows sh#t me to tears · Mar 19, 2019

Blaithin said:
There’s benefits to having no neighbours for a mile.

Blaithin · Mar 19, 2019

Crofter64 said:
270 days is just 2 weeks shy of regular gestation length. It’s strange that calves can’t and humans can survive an premature birth ( even before modern premie care)

Calves can survive if born before 270 days. There’s just higher mortality is all. In fact I wouldn’t consider anything two weeks early as premature, cows can easily calve two weeks either side of their due date.

The only reason human baby’s can survive severe premature births is because of technology. Before 35 weeks their lungs are considered underdeveloped and puts them at increased risk and higher reliance on NICU support. Lungs are the last organ to finish developing in human babies.

Coincidentally, lungs are the last thing to finish developing in calves.

Despite one species being more dependent and less mobile than the other at birth, this has little to no bearing when it’s their ability to breathe that dictates the mortality. Premature human babies don’t survive because we’re used to them being dependent on us. At birth all actual organ are functioning in humans, we are not that underdeveloped. Our hearts work, our lungs work, our digestive systems work, our brains work. We just can’t move and rely on being fed and protected. Our bodies function.

Calves are the exact same plus they can move.

As long as a calf is close enough to term that their lungs are developed enough to provide adequate oxygen, there’s no reason that calf can’t be pulled through. They have normal premature issues. They aren’t the most mobile, they have trouble regulating their temperatures, lower immune support, etc. But when compared to premature humans, I don’t think any calf that’s only 36-37 weeks along should be written off as less likely to survive as a similarly aged human baby.

You can say calves hit puberty at 8 months so are much more advanced than humans, but yet, their gestation is the exact same. The only difference is really their mobility at birth, which can be blamed on our large brains. A calf’s growth is accelerated after birth compared to a humans, not before.

Kiwi Pete · Mar 19, 2019

glasshouse said:
Farmers in nz and oz have been flying on seed and fert for years

Still do - believe it or not it sets our price for land-based spreading, incredibly efficient way to do it.
Even though I drive a fert spreader I'd still get a chopper in, and the depot is at the end of my street

Kiwi Pete · Mar 19, 2019

Yale said:
Liked it but don’t like it...

There’s a running theme with this thread,we all seem to be having varying amounts of bad luck.

However I think that is just farming and it’s ups and downs.

I've been keeping quiet for this very reason.
I know my positivity probably pisses more people off than their bad luck at times

Blaithin · Mar 20, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
I've been keeping quiet for this very reason.

Because you are having bad luck or because you aren’t?

cows sh#t me to tears · Mar 20, 2019

Blaithin said:
Calves can survive if born before 270 days. There’s just higher mortality is all. In fact I wouldn’t consider anything two weeks early as premature, cows can easily calve two weeks either side of their due date.

The only reason human baby’s can survive severe premature births is because of technology. Before 35 weeks their lungs are considered underdeveloped and puts them at increased risk and higher reliance on NICU support. Lungs are the last organ to finish developing in human babies.

Coincidentally, lungs are the last thing to finish developing in calves.

Despite one species being more dependent and less mobile than the other at birth, this has little to no bearing when it’s their ability to breathe that dictates the mortality. Premature human babies don’t survive because we’re used to them being dependent on us. At birth all actual organ are functioning in humans, we are not that underdeveloped. Our hearts work, our lungs work, our digestive systems work, our brains work. We just can’t move and rely on being fed and protected. Our bodies function.

Calves are the exact same plus they can move.

As long as a calf is close enough to term that their lungs are developed enough to provide adequate oxygen, there’s no reason that calf can’t be pulled through. They have normal premature issues. They aren’t the most mobile, they have trouble regulating their temperatures, lower immune support, etc. But when compared to premature humans, I don’t think any calf that’s only 36-37 weeks along should be written off as less likely to survive as a similarly aged human baby.

You can say calves hit puberty at 8 months so are much more advanced than humans, but yet, their gestation is the exact same. The only difference is really their mobility at birth, which can be blamed on our large brains. A calf’s growth is accelerated after birth compared to a humans, not before.

We have had plenty of tichy bubs born. Most do survive and grow into normal cows. Funny when there no bigger than a poodle and weigh bugger all. Generally end up being pains in the arse because of all the extra attention they get...

Kiwi Pete · Mar 20, 2019

Blaithin said:
Because you are having bad luck or because you aren’t?

Going well, here

Crofter64 · Mar 20, 2019

Blaithin said:
Calves can survive if born before 270 days. There’s just higher mortality is all. In fact I wouldn’t consider anything two weeks early as premature, cows can easily calve two weeks either side of their due date.

The only reason human baby’s can survive severe premature births is because of technology. Before 35 weeks their lungs are considered underdeveloped and puts them at increased risk and higher reliance on NICU support. Lungs are the last organ to finish developing in human babies.

Coincidentally, lungs are the last thing to finish developing in calves.

Despite one species being more dependent and less mobile than the other at birth, this has little to no bearing when it’s their ability to breathe that dictates the mortality. Premature human babies don’t survive because we’re used to them being dependent on us. At birth all actual organ are functioning in humans, we are not that underdeveloped. Our hearts work, our lungs work, our digestive systems work, our brains work. We just can’t move and rely on being fed and protected. Our bodies function.

Calves are the exact same plus they can move.

As long as a calf is close enough to term that their lungs are developed enough to provide adequate oxygen, there’s no reason that calf can’t be pulled through. They have normal premature issues. They aren’t the most mobile, they have trouble regulating their temperatures, lower immune support, etc. But when compared to premature humans, I don’t think any calf that’s only 36-37 weeks along should be written off as less likely to survive as a similarly aged human baby.

You can say calves hit puberty at 8 months so are much more advanced than humans, but yet, their gestation is the exact same. The only difference is really their mobility at birth, which can be blamed on our large brains. A calf’s growth is accelerated after birth compared to a humans, not before.

Thanks. I couldn’t have said it better myself( which is true as I didn’t know most of what you said

)

Blaithin · Mar 20, 2019

I’m a biology/anatomy nerd

Henarar · Mar 20, 2019

We had one at 8 months years ago she was so small mum picked her up under her arm and carried her up the road with the cow following she ended one of the biggest cows in the herd

hendrebc · Mar 20, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
I've been keeping quiet for this very reason.
I know my positivity probably pisses more people off than their bad luck at times

You'd have to try really hard if you wanted to pee me off being positive isn't going to do it

Yale · Mar 20, 2019

hendrebc said:
You'd have to try really hard if you wanted to pee me off being positive isn't going to do it

Yes,it helps for us all to drag each other along.

texas pete · Mar 20, 2019

hendrebc said:
You'd have to try really hard if you wanted to pee me off being positive isn't going to do it

Positively pee'd off by your positivity...

Yale · Mar 20, 2019

Even the adverts are taunting me.....

texas pete · Mar 20, 2019

Yale said:
Even the adverts are taunting me.....

View attachment 778672

This social media stuff is spookily clever...Maybe Our Dear Leader is in league with Mark Zuckerberg et al.

Adverts taunting you though, that really is bad..

holwellcourtfarm · Mar 20, 2019

New Puritan said:
Ha - no doubt some would say I did pay too much for it. It's not all that heavy, so I probably paid over the odds on scrap price at any rate.

Yeah it's just a hoe, the idea is it cuts off very small weeds just as they germinate, and they dry out in the sun and die. I need to change the feet for ones like on Roy's photo. People tend to say if you can see the weeds, it's too late - i.e. they need to be that small.

I'm not sure how well such a machine (something better than my old clunker, but a more modern version of the idea) would fit with zero till? They really are for hitting weeds that have only just germinated, I'm not sure how well they'd work where there was a lot of different sized weeds and surface material? It might be better somewhere like where Roy is as the gaps don't green up in the way they do here. What do people think?

Ok if you want a stale seedbed but that's a bit "off" for this thread

A blade just below the surface like that would be about as discriminating as Roundup

When Roy uses one it is to help retain his dead surface cover material while preventing unwanted weed species producing seed so appropriate for his climate.

Just my thoughts, no offence intended.

Samcowman · Mar 20, 2019

Kiwi Pete said:
Going well, here

I won’t comment on calving until it’s finished because if you do Sod’s law something will go wrong. But I am two thirds of the way through in 5 weeks.

glasshouse · Mar 20, 2019

Farmer Roy said:
View attachment 778562 Noble Blade Plough
just random google pics
View attachment 778536 View attachment 778538 View attachment 778546

Do they use them in oz?

onthehoof · Mar 20, 2019

Samcowman said:
I won’t comment on calving until it’s finished because if you do Sod’s law something will go wrong. But I am two thirds of the way through in 5 weeks.

when I’m asked how many calves have you had I tell em there’ll be time enough for counting when the calving’s done.

Farmer Roy's Random Thoughts - I never said it was easy.

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