- Location
- Fife
I have a bit of rope out the back with a plastic bottle on the end. It's 15 paces long. When the bottle reaches the last stake it's time to put in a new one.
Best grassland improvement implement
- Thread starter cousinjack
- Start date
I have a bit of rope out the back with a plastic bottle on the end. It's 15 paces long. When the bottle reaches the last stake it's time to put in a new one.
- Location
- Cornwall
Some of the arable big boys would have gps fitted... to achieve the same result ..
- Location
- Fife
Some of the arable big boys would have gps fitted... to achieve the same result ..
I use an app and the GPS on my phone to plan and map paddocks. It's only accurate to within 3/5m. But that's close enough for the short term fencing I'm doing.
- Location
- Hertfordshire
@unlacedgecko what is the app called?
- Location
- Fife
FieldsAreaMeasure. It's free, but I've upgraded to the premium version. It means I can sync devices, so do all my planning on the big screen iPad then use the phone for fence building on the ground.
I can come and plan a grazing system for you, and build it if necessary. PM me to discuss.
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Thanks, my current measuring app has a very dated google map image from over 4 yrs ago, so the fields have slightly changed with new fences etc.
Ive just downloaded this one and new fences, water troughs are on the map so it a bit easier to work from. I'll have a play.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
With the state of some of my root fields currently, I think I'd be towing a ton weight by the time I got down the fence line.
- Location
- Fife
With the state of some of my root fields currently, I think I'd be towing a ton weight by the time I got down the fence line.
Use an empty bottle. It floats over the mud.
TristanP
Member
- Location
- East Sussex
Sorry to hijack a little, but what do people do subdividing up fields with footpaths in? Fence the footpath off along one side, put gates in (probably to be left open...), or just don't even try?
Greythundercloudys
Member
Overseeding is the biggest waste of time and money, never works. A plough is surely the best implement.
- Location
- Fife
I fence across the footpath and put bits of hose pipe over the wire to make a stile.
- Location
- Cornwall
Nat
Am considering palisade fencing on the boundary of our more problematic fields !
Natives round here don't stick to the footpath anyway..
Am considering palisade fencing on the boundary of our more problematic fields !
TristanP
Member
- Location
- East Sussex
Natives round here make their own paths across fields too. Unfortunately ~60% of my fields have a (sometimes two) footpaths going through them, and a lot are near an old railway line which was made into a tarmac'd walk/cycle track so all well used loops off that and through the fields.
Good idea. Any issues with people not being able to find it/get over/dogs getting shocked? I fenced off the path in a lambing field one year to keep the dogs away and it led to few yelps/you've shocked my dog. Also have people struggling to find the (obvious) stiles in the fences that are there now... If people kept their dogs on leads and stuck to the footpaths though I suppose these wouldn't be issues!
Good idea. Any issues with people not being able to find it/get over/dogs getting shocked? I fenced off the path in a lambing field one year to keep the dogs away and it led to few yelps/you've shocked my dog. Also have people struggling to find the (obvious) stiles in the fences that are there now... If people kept their dogs on leads and stuck to the footpaths though I suppose these wouldn't be issues!
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- Location
- Fife
No haven't had a problem with people unable to access. I drop the wire down a lug or two at the stile so that probably helps.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Another vote for grazing.
Has to be sheep - they are the greatest of all grassland improvers. They'll wipe out a lot of weeds, and they'll feed the grass.
You just need to know when to graze hard, and when to rest.
I don't bugger about with electric fences- fields are the size they are for a reason (dry stane dykes)
Has to be sheep - they are the greatest of all grassland improvers. They'll wipe out a lot of weeds, and they'll feed the grass.
You just need to know when to graze hard, and when to rest.
I don't bugger about with electric fences- fields are the size they are for a reason (dry stane dykes)
Puroforts are better than Noras in this regard. Something to do with the type of plastic they make em of.If you wear wellies, you might not be earthed so there would be no circuit and you'd get no shock!
Been there, done that.
Standing on one foot also helps (and helps more people think you've lost the plot completely, as if touching a live fence wasn't enough...).
- Location
- somerset
two years of serious drought, this year worse than last, some leys just died, 18 acres of drought resistant festololium ley, sown spr 2018, 1 cut, 2 grazings, dead, nothing came back after rain, other than amg, and weeds. That was the worst one, but several took a hammering, f rape in places took 7 weeks to germinate, with no weed growth in that time. So, with planned reseeding, and topping up, 65 acres, with another 17 asp. It was the driest year I have ever known here, 75/6 wasn't as bad, plenty of showers about, just missed us, our neighbour, dry our end, the other end of his brilliant. Just, luck I suppose, but bloody expensive.
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Chain harrows
Spread the muck between grazings so there's less rejection, rips out dead grass, bruises the grass to encourage tillering & lets air into the base of the sward.
As for heavy rolling causing compaction-you roll a ploughed field and it only compacts the top inch or two.
Spread the muck between grazings so there's less rejection, rips out dead grass, bruises the grass to encourage tillering & lets air into the base of the sward.
As for heavy rolling causing compaction-you roll a ploughed field and it only compacts the top inch or two.
Lots of waymarking arrows from your local CC will help. You cannot train idiots or arrogant twits, but point most members of the Public in the right area, and they will co-operate I have found. I am scrupulous about spraying out cross field paths as it then allows me to point out the wanderers errors!