Relocating an arable farmyard - things to include and things to avoid!

[TomP]

We are relocating our arable farmyard. I'm working with the designers to get the right design and currently working on a list of things that we want to include. The list is below. Anything anyone feels like commenting on/adding would be really welcome:

• Combine & header covered area - sheltered but open enough to try and avoid mice taking residence in Combine!
• Filling/washdown pad for sprayer (covered) with primary holding tank, Biofilter and irrigation area nearby
• Sprayer operator workbench
• Hand washing sink
• Drain rack for triple rinsed pesticide containers
• Area for PPP storage (bunded spray container) plus additional secure bunded area for bulk PPP items near sprayer filling area (covered)
• Area for PPP & foliar feed IBCs near sprayer filling area (with room to load/unload) (covered)
• Area for 5-8000l fuel tank (plus filters)
• Area for Adblue IBC (covered)
• 10,000l Water tank for sprayer fed by multiple rainwater harvesting tanks (plus mains backup)
• Wash down area for (non-sprayer) machinery
• Space for liquid fertiliser tanker/rented tank
• Toilet (plus shower and washing machine)
• Restroom (including kitchenette)
• Farm office
• Covered, secure machinery storage including Workshop space
• Weighbridge (next to farm office) - not available on current budget (but future proof space).
• 1000t basic tip and run grain storage unit
• Room for grain storage expansion (with potential tipping pit, drying, wet bin, crop ventilation) - not available on current budget (but future proof space).
• Car/truck parking area
• Solar panels on main roofs (south/sw aspect)
• Design to maximise health and safety of staff and visitors
• Design for easy flow of vehicles
• Design to consider security

We have space elsewhere for storing recycling, granular fertiliser and seed.

Thanks

 

[JP1]

Movement activated lighting for safety and security

Separate toilet facilities for visitors / truck drivers (Covid minded )

Good signage

 

[Clive]

having done this before i could write a book !

big thing i would say is design it all around artics re tip height and turning etc not tractors

build to industrial spec if you cam afford to

don’t skimp on concrete spec

don’t forget the weighbridge - one of the most important and most used bits of kit on a arable farm surely ?

 

[TomP]

Thanks Clive... weighbridge space considered, might be on the wish list for a few years.
Any standard stats on artics (tip height and turning etc) - although I suspect designer should now this.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

If youre just building 1000t storage the rest of the shopping list seems a lot.
Are you storing grain elsewhere?

 

[TomP]

Yes! Just slowly trying to move away from my Grandads 16x silos which are starting to show their age (1970s).
We are building in levelled space for future grain storage expansion.
Also some external storage.

 

[Clive]

Thanks Clive... weighbridge space considered, might be on the wish list for a few years.
Any standard stats on artics (tip height and turning etc) - although I suspect designer should now this.

Think we went 8.5m to eaves - planners won't like that though! Ours involved a long and expensive fight ! not sure about turning but whatever a designer says is possible ........ add some on to account for rubbish drivers

Consider crash barriers and door protection posts to prevent damage

Run cat 5 cables everywhere for data/monitoring in the future


we built an indoor sprayer filling area next to the spray store - I suspect future legislation might make parking/filling outside illegal ??

Don't overlook staff welfare, staff room , kitchen, shower room male and female toilets etc

 

[GeorgeK]

Good drainage and make sure surface water from big storms runs away from the buildings. No such thing as too much security, perimeter ditch? Don't tip all the groundwork soil right next to the shed, it becomes a paradise for rats, badgers and rabbits

 

[N.Yorks.]

Cattle shed...... for when you decide to go mixed so can use FYM or Anglian Water Biosolids have got too expensive.

Diversity diversity diversity.

 

[chaffcutter]

Add to Clive’s list, oversize drainage works for when you expand the yard, an oil trap between your wash down area and the surface water outfall and slope wash concrete so that all the run off from that area goes through the oil trap. Put overflows in the ends of roof gutters to stop any chance of water ingress to stores in extreme rainfall events ( ours have run several times in recent years despite huge valley gutters and downspouts) and if you have valleys, line them from the start.

 

[Case290]

Build your grain store for side entry so you can just add more bays onto the end And never ever need a valley gutter.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

If you’re starting with little storage I would approach it differently. Build the grain store with room to fit everything else in for now and then add all the other stuf when finances permit

 

[Lofty1984]

Don’t pee about with ibc of adblue get a proper bundled tank inc pump so much better for filling kit

 

[vinnie123]

DUCTS! Don’t lay any concrete without a duct or two crossing it. So cheap to Chuck in now and so annoying when you have to saw a trench through your nice new concrete in a few years time .

 

[2wheels]

We are relocating our arable farmyard. I'm working with the designers to get the right design and currently working on a list of things that we want to include. The list is below. Anything anyone feels like commenting on/adding would be really welcome:

• Combine & header covered area - sheltered but open enough to try and avoid mice taking residence in Combine!
• Filling/washdown pad for sprayer (covered) with primary holding tank, Biofilter and irrigation area nearby
• Sprayer operator workbench
• Hand washing sink
• Drain rack for triple rinsed pesticide containers
• Area for PPP storage (bunded spray container) plus additional secure bunded area for bulk PPP items near sprayer filling area (covered)
• Area for PPP & foliar feed IBCs near sprayer filling area (with room to load/unload) (covered)
• Area for 5-8000l fuel tank (plus filters)
• Area for Adblue IBC (covered)
• 10,000l Water tank for sprayer fed by multiple rainwater harvesting tanks (plus mains backup)
• Wash down area for (non-sprayer) machinery
• Space for liquid fertiliser tanker/rented tank
• Toilet (plus shower and washing machine)
• Restroom (including kitchenette)
• Farm office
• Covered, secure machinery storage including Workshop space
• Weighbridge (next to farm office) - not available on current budget (but future proof space).
• 1000t basic tip and run grain storage unit
• Room for grain storage expansion (with potential tipping pit, drying, wet bin, crop ventilation) - not available on current budget (but future proof space).
• Car/truck parking area
• Solar panels on main roofs (south/sw aspect)
• Design to maximise health and safety of staff and visitors
• Design for easy flow of vehicles
• Design to consider security

We have space elsewhere for storing recycling, granular fertiliser and seed.

Thanks

add on a million £ overdraft.

 

[tomcat67]

If you've got a blank canvas, make sure grain store doors face away from prevailing winds, if you use roller shutters make sure you bury the guides in channel sections because someone will bend them, either a small step at door entries or Atco type drain, but they need to be kept clear of grain, as helps stop wind blowing rain in, and slope grain floors very slightly towards the door.

 

[mo!]

If you get the chance to have a look at a BeesWax farm then take it. Traffic flow is important, much safer if all the vehicles are travelling in the same direction. Their spray fillup/washdown station is drive through as well. It's quite simple when you see it. Anywhere you can reduce vehicles moving backwards (drive through grain pit?) will reduce accidents and improve productivity.

 

[quattro]

Think we went 8.5m to eaves - planners won't like that though! Ours involved a long and expensive fight ! not sure about turning but whatever a designer says is possible ........ add some on to account for rubbish drivers

Consider crash barriers and door protection posts to prevent damage

Run cat 5 cables everywhere for data/monitoring in the future


we built an indoor sprayer filling area next to the spray store - I suspect future legislation might make parking/filling outside illegal ??

Don't overlook staff welfare, staff room , kitchen, shower room male and female toilets etc

Thought there going away from male/female to whatever someone thinks they are!!

 

[quattro]

Also blue water pipe two or three one can be from compressor and one for water and one for spare

 

[Clive]

Thought there going away from male/female to whatever someone thinks they are!!

i’ve been planning a new toilet block and did wonder how many categories I would need these days !