- Location
- Owaka, New Zealand
things are starting to look alright again
son in law works in design/safety on helicopters, he says they are absolutely totally inefficient emission wise, in fact, the worst there is, after space rockets.Surely a 300 is a recreational model. A 500 would be a qualifying business purchase.....
On a more serious note I'm watching attempts to develop low emissions helicopters with amused interest....
if you could/can add a 'noise' to it, like a warble fly, it could be a great help in getting cattle to move, our spring calvers are awful, takes forever to get in.I can see a drone being a justifiable future business purchase......
That's why I now think their use should be reserved for essential tasks that ONLY helicopters can do (air ambulance, search and rescue etc).son in law works in design/safety on helicopters, he says they are absolutely totally inefficient emission wise, in fact, the worst there is, after space rockets.
Just to abuse the same statistical nonsense as the average tabloid, the average combine harvester has a fuel tank of about a 1000 litres but only one seatThat's why I now think their use should be reserved for essential tasks that ONLY helicopters can do (air ambulance, search and rescue etc).
Imho there is now no acceptable case for them as personal transport (even for politicians, business leaders and "celebrities") or for recreational use.
And I'm a self-declared helicopter buff.
I know a chap with an AS341 Gazelle. It carries up to 5 people but burns a full tank (540 litres of jet A1) in 3 hours.
They only make fuel tanks half the size nownot that many years ago, you could cultivate all day, on one tank of fuel, now, you need a refill at some point.
at 85ppl for red, they need to half the consumption, as well.They only make fuel tanks half the size now
Interesting on that front to read the FG review of the prototype JCB electric forklift. JCB reckon it is good for a typical 6 hours use before charging (2 hours to full on a fast charger) but FG found that in intensive work like mucking out it only managed 1.5 hours.at 85ppl for red, they need to half the consumption, as well.
On that theme, min-til or dd, look very attractive, now, all we need, is high production pp, perennial corn plants, that would probably halve the rate.
What l cant really 'imagine' is an electric powered tractor, presumably they will come, jd will be ahead of that game, their tractors are already green.
What l cant really 'imagine' is an electric powered tractor, presumably they will come, jd will be ahead of that game, their tractors are already green.
I don't think winter grazing with cattle necessarily "helps" as far as buttercup goes, however the disturbance does mobilise a bit of N and everyone eats everything,, so.... what's the worst that can happen
Are plain wire fences still often installed down there? There's not many of them left round these parts, nearly all 8/80/15 netting now. I'm surprised that fence is still holding stock given the pressure it's obviously under and the slack line, lucky for you that it's not my sheep next door to you...That's the one. It crushes up pretty easily too with a bit of impact from above View attachment 992000
I think we're going to need to do a bit of work on the boundary fence
as a lad, l bought a few small lots, or single ewes, and lambs, cheaply in market, least said, the better, but it was an extremely quick learning curve, in both fencing and diplomacyAre plain wire fences still often installed down there? There's not many of them left round these parts, nearly all 8/80/90 netting now. I'm surprised that fence is still holding stock given the pressure it's obviously under and the slack line, lucky for you that it's not my sheep next door to you...
quite like the look of the small robots, toiling away 24/7, weeding etc, they look quite practical. But when you move on to the really big tackle, it's a job to imagine, a combine, or forager, working all day, without re-charging, or 'whatever'.Interesting on that front to read the FG review of the prototype JCB electric forklift. JCB reckon it is good for a typical 6 hours use before charging (2 hours to full on a fast charger) but FG found that in intensive work like mucking out it only managed 1.5 hours.
There's a way to go yet on some of the tech.
Saw those at an organic meeting a few years back. Actually thought it might be useful for certain farms. But i think they would get stolen pretty quickly!as a lad, l bought a few small lots, or single ewes, and lambs, cheaply in market, least said, the better, but it was an extremely quick learning curve, in both fencing and diplomacy
quite like the look of the small robots, toiling away 24/7, weeding etc, they look quite practical.
Some probably came from a place that had poor fences that they were used to getting through, it's skill they never forget once learnt. I've bought sheep before that I couldn't really understand why they were selling them, until I got them home and tried to contain them...as a lad, l bought a few small lots, or single ewes, and lambs, cheaply in market, least said, the better, but it was an extremely quick learning curve, in both fencing and diplomacy
they might get thrown in the pond, by exasperated farmers trying to work them out, with the instruction manual in 16 different languages !Saw those at an organic meeting a few years back. Actually thought it might be useful for certain farms. But i think they would get stolen pretty quickly!
They'll be so intelligent they won't need a manual........they might get thrown in the pond, by exasperated farmers trying to work them out, with the instruction manual in 16 different languages !
Neighbour bought some like that, said they never saw them in the same field twiceSome probably came from a place that had poor fences that they were used to getting through, it's skill they never forget once learnt. I've bought sheep before that I couldn't really understand why they were selling them, until I got them home and tried to contain them...