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

quattro

Member
Location
scotland
i’ve been planning a new toilet block and did wonder how many categories I would need these days !
Went to a new garden centre pre lockdown and there were 5/6 separate toilets for disabled and everyone, can’t remember what the signs on the doors were apart from disabled one
 

vinnie123

Member
Location
dorset
Went to a new garden centre pre lockdown and there were 5/6 separate toilets for disabled and everyone, can’t remember what the signs on the doors were apart from disabled one
rubbish to em! All we hear about is equal rights, one size fits all.
All tha5 aside I think there is a recommendation on toilets/head of staff 5/1 I seem to remember
 

bluebell

Member
i wouldnt recommend valley gutters, ie two buildings ajoining each other sharing a gutter, my experience is they collect leaves etc, so if not cleaned out often, in heavy rainfull will overflow into building, talking from experience ?
 
If possible diesel tank(s) inside and hidden away from prying eyes.

I would look strongly at security first and foremost. Obvious areas that need to be considered are farm office/workshop/diesel and spray store. If you can hide things internally then do so. Workshop wants a strong room inside that has rebar in the walls to stop people hammering through. Also a steel door that locks in multiple places. Conventional padlocks are of no use unless they are enclosed or somehow protected from angle grinders. I've seen heavy metal vehicle barriers that have a locking point made of two interlocking steel boxes that you can padlock from beneath only and they enclose the padlock totally making them very difficult to attack.

I would have a concrete apron around the buildings and one way traffic for trucks and tractors around the perimeter.

Agree with putting ducts and services in across the site before pouring concrete.

Would put wash bay (and oil trap) at one end, possibly next to workshop. Consider also the need to heat the office space or workshop, not stupid money to insulate a building now with kingspan etc.

Put Earth berm around entire site and grass it to stop unauthorised vehicle entry except by gates.

Crash barriers around vulnerable areas, including corners, weighbridge and any liquid tanks- i.e liquid fertiliser.

If there is space and finances allow an area of clean/cleanable concrete outside will do as an emergency grain tipping area, you don't need a big area to be able to store a few hundred tonnes outside.
 
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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 .
Also blue water pipe two or three one can be from compressor and one for water and one for spare
Yes loads of ducts and scope to expand the services without digging
And dont scrimp on sizes of the pipe
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Out of interest, why on earth does a farmyard need m/f toilets? One thing in a pub where they might be getting dozens of users an hour, surely most small places of work, shops etc, even employing a handful of people, get away with a single toilet?

i think it might be law in a workplace ?

but even if it isn’t a lady may not wish to share a toilet used by a man ?

if building fresh why wouldn’t you
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
i think it might be law in a workplace ?

but even if it isn’t a lady may not wish to share a toilet used by a man ?

if building fresh why wouldn’t you
we have a number of horse liveries and the opposite is more realistic the ladies loos are the most disgusting and not just from the obvious cyclical effects
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
we have a number of horse liveries and the opposite is more realistic the ladies loos are the most disgusting and not just from the obvious cyclical effects

we have a haulage company in our yard - after the average truck driver has used our gents i wouldn’t send a dog in let alone a lady !

We need to update our facilities though, despite having a ladies and gents the offices share toilets with the yard which is not ideal and there is often a wait for the gents due to volume of people here now so we need bigger facilities i think
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
we have a haulage company in our yard - after the average truck driver has used our gents i wouldn’t send a dog in let alone a lady !

We need to update our facilities though, despite having a ladies and gents the offices share toilets with the yard which is not ideal and there is often a wait for the gents due to volume of people here now so we need bigger facilities i think
ah .well dont make them too big or you will have another problem to deal with and im not joking
 

TomP

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Cambridgeshire
Thanks for all your comments.
Here is the updated list! Now I've just got to build it!:oops:

Combine & header covered area - sheltered but open enough to try and avoid mice taking residence in Combine!

Filling/washdown pad for sprayer (covered, drive through if possible) with primary holding tank, Biofilter and irrigation area nearby

Sprayer operator workbench (include in bunded area)

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)

Area for 5-8000l fuel tank (plus filters) – try and hide away if possible

Area for Adblue IBC pump (or tank if required)

10,000l Water tank for sprayer fed by multiple rainwater harvesting tanks (plus mains backup)

Wash down area for (non-sprayer) machinery with oil trap positioned between washdown area and surface water outfall – slope all concrete in this area so run-off goes through this oil trap.

Workshop area (including a strong room inside [rebar in walls to stop people hammering through and steel door that locks in multiple places]). Potentially a second oil trap at workshop.

Room for liquid fertiliser tanks (include crash barrier)

Toilets (plus shower and washing machine). Separate toilet for visitors with separate entrance direct to outdoors (Pandemic consideration)

Restroom (including kitchenette) (heated and insulated)

Farm office (heated and insulated)

Covered, secure machinery storage.

Weighbridge (next to farm office)

1000t basic tip and run grain storage unit. Slope grain store very slightly towards the door. Small step at door entry or Atco type drain. Try to position door to protect from prevailing winds. Consider height of building to future proof for complete filling via ceiling conveyor system. Build to industrial spec for future proofing diversification.

Future proof space for grain storage expansion (with potential tipping pit, drying, wet bin, crop ventilation/drying).

Clean concrete area outside for emergency grain storage outside (design with correct slopes to drain away from centre of pile on all sides).

If using roller shutters, make sure you bury the guides in channel sections to avoid bending.

Car/truck parking area (include electric charging point(s))

Solar panels on main roofs (south/sw aspect). Consider roof materials for ease of solar installation.

Design to maximise health and safety of staff and visitors

Design for easy flow of vehicles (assume bad drivers so add a bit on for turning circles). One-way traffic systems. Avoid as much reversing as possible.

Design to consider security (consider earth (+grass) berm/bund around entire site to stop unauthorised vehicle entry except by gate.

Secure gate (automatic).

PIR (movement activated) lighting

CAT5 cable everywhere.

Good drainage everywhere and make sure storm water runs away from buildings

Don’t tip all groundwork soil right next to the shed as attracts rats/ badgers/ rabbits

Crash barriers and door protection posts around vulnerable areas (to include corners, weighbridge, liquid tanks)

Consider discussion with a security consultant at design stage.

Don’t skimp of concrete spec and a minimum of a concrete apron around all buildings

Try to avoid valley gutters. If they have to happen consider how to access easily for cleaning.

Design all outside space around articulated lorries (rather than tractors) (with some extra room for bad drivers)

Lay ducts in concrete to allow expansion of services, and so avoiding digging trenches in concrete in the future (don’t scrimp on sizes of pipe)

Strategically placed water pipes for (non-potable) water access in different parts of the yard.

Good signage

Consider space for recycling

Consider space for granular fertilisers

Consider space for seed
 
Thanks for all your comments.
Here is the updated list! Now I've just got to build it!:oops:

Combine & header covered area - sheltered but open enough to try and avoid mice taking residence in Combine!

Filling/washdown pad for sprayer (covered, drive through if possible) with primary holding tank, Biofilter and irrigation area nearby

Sprayer operator workbench (include in bunded area)

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)

Area for 5-8000l fuel tank (plus filters) – try and hide away if possible

Area for Adblue IBC pump (or tank if required)

10,000l Water tank for sprayer fed by multiple rainwater harvesting tanks (plus mains backup)

Wash down area for (non-sprayer) machinery with oil trap positioned between washdown area and surface water outfall – slope all concrete in this area so run-off goes through this oil trap.

Workshop area (including a strong room inside [rebar in walls to stop people hammering through and steel door that locks in multiple places]). Potentially a second oil trap at workshop.

Room for liquid fertiliser tanks (include crash barrier)

Toilets (plus shower and washing machine). Separate toilet for visitors with separate entrance direct to outdoors (Pandemic consideration)

Restroom (including kitchenette) (heated and insulated)

Farm office (heated and insulated)

Covered, secure machinery storage.

Weighbridge (next to farm office)

1000t basic tip and run grain storage unit. Slope grain store very slightly towards the door. Small step at door entry or Atco type drain. Try to position door to protect from prevailing winds. Consider height of building to future proof for complete filling via ceiling conveyor system. Build to industrial spec for future proofing diversification.

Future proof space for grain storage expansion (with potential tipping pit, drying, wet bin, crop ventilation/drying).

Clean concrete area outside for emergency grain storage outside (design with correct slopes to drain away from centre of pile on all sides).

If using roller shutters, make sure you bury the guides in channel sections to avoid bending.

Car/truck parking area (include electric charging point(s))

Solar panels on main roofs (south/sw aspect). Consider roof materials for ease of solar installation.

Design to maximise health and safety of staff and visitors

Design for easy flow of vehicles (assume bad drivers so add a bit on for turning circles). One-way traffic systems. Avoid as much reversing as possible.

Design to consider security (consider earth (+grass) berm/bund around entire site to stop unauthorised vehicle entry except by gate.

Secure gate (automatic).

PIR (movement activated) lighting

CAT5 cable everywhere.

Good drainage everywhere and make sure storm water runs away from buildings

Don’t tip all groundwork soil right next to the shed as attracts rats/ badgers/ rabbits

Crash barriers and door protection posts around vulnerable areas (to include corners, weighbridge, liquid tanks)

Consider discussion with a security consultant at design stage.

Don’t skimp of concrete spec and a minimum of a concrete apron around all buildings

Try to avoid valley gutters. If they have to happen consider how to access easily for cleaning.

Design all outside space around articulated lorries (rather than tractors) (with some extra room for bad drivers)

Lay ducts in concrete to allow expansion of services, and so avoiding digging trenches in concrete in the future (don’t scrimp on sizes of pipe)

Strategically placed water pipes for (non-potable) water access in different parts of the yard.

Good signage

Consider space for recycling

Consider space for granular fertilisers

Consider space for seed
picture dairy would be good too for us;)
 

eagleye

Member
Location
co down
My suggestion is avoid roof lights in roof sheeting, they become fragile with age can blow in and
are a death trap for anyone who has to go onto roof.
consider the clear sheets in sides instead but they can be a security risk!
lot of good stuff. consider future expansion space, prevaling wind and sun direction for office windows.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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  • 50-75%

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  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.6%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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