1. Centre pivot irrigators have recently become very popular with larger properties, however they do require a flattish farm and substantial capital and water. The advantage of this system is they are fully automated and very accurate with little water wastage.
2. Rotorainer irrigators used to be the mainstay for irrigation in NZ; these are large rotary type irrigators that can water up to a 100m wide strip 400-600mm long every 24 hours. This type of system requires a shift every day that may take up to 1 hour. Some larger properties with 8-10 of these irrigators will have a full time employee whose sole job is to shift these irrigators. Another disadvantage of these is mechanical breakdowns, though they only turn slowly, they do have a lot of momentum and if they hit something solid, a tree of fence, they can do a lot of damage. This type of irrigator is now becoming superseded by center pivot irrigators.
3. Boarder dyke irrigation was the first type of irrigation in use. It involves water being channeled down water races that have gates positioned with timers on them that drop down at set times to shut off flow and flood the paddock. This system was prominent in Canterbury but due to the high-labour needed and high wastage of water they are being phased out for spray type irrigators.
4. K-line is the cheapest type of irrigation to install. It consists of 5 or so black ‘pods’ connected with an alkathene hose. The pods contain a small sprinkler that irrigate a 15m circle. Each line of pods will irrigate 1 hectare and are easily shifted by an atv.
5. Lateral sprinklers are similar to k line but only have on sprinkler on each line. These run at a higher pressure than the k line and water a larger area of about a 25m circle, these are shifted every day with an atv.
For those of you with smaller lifestyle blocks I'd suggest that either option 4 or 5 would be a good option to look into for keeping your pastures greener for longer.
Cheers, Euan
1 A cow cycles (comes into oestrous) every 21 days
2 Cycling cows ride each other to assert dominance
3 Tail painting is the best way of checking when cows are cycling
4 There are two types of breeding, AI (artifiical insemintion) or natural
5 AI is common in the dairy industry and natural mating is more often used in the beef sector
6 For natural mating an ideal ratio is 1 bull to 10-25 cows
7 Bull fertility will begin to decline after 6-7 years of age
8 The average gestation period of a cow is 283 days so a cow successfully mated on the 22 October is due on 1 August.
Euan.
All the best
Euan
]]>Farming has changed drastically over the years, and with new technology and methods modern farming has become much more complex than ever before. However, this complexity comes with a number of challenges that need to be addressed if we want to ensure a sustainable and profitable future for agricultural production. Here are some of the biggest challenges of modern farming:
1. Climate Change: Climate change is one of the biggest threats to modern farming. With changing weather patterns, unpredictable temperatures, and increased levels of drought, farmers are struggling to produce enough food to meet the demands of a growing population.
2. Soil Health: The health of soil is critical to the success of any farming operation. Unfortunately, many farmers are struggling with soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and other soil issues that can reduce crop yields and make it difficult to produce food in an environmentally responsible manner.
3. Pest Management: Pests are a major challenge for modern farmers, as they can quickly destroy a crop and reduce yields. Farmers must use effective pest management strategies in order to protect their crops and maximize their yields.
4. Water: Water is essential for successful farming, but it can be a major challenge in areas with limited access to clean, fresh water. In addition, water scarcity can cause water prices to increase and make it difficult for farmers to afford the water they need to irrigate their crops.
5. Labour: Finding and retaining a reliable labour force is a challenge for many modern farmers. With increased automation, fewer people are available to work on farms, and wages are often too low to be attractive to potential employees.
6. Technology: Technology is becoming increasingly important in modern farming, but it can also be a source of frustration. New technology often requires significant investments of time and money, and it can be difficult to keep up with ever-evolving trends.
7. Market Access: Lack of access to markets can be a major challenge for modern farmers. With increased competition, farmers need to find ways to differentiate themselves and access new markets in order to stay profitable.
These are just a few of the challenges that modern farmers face. As the industry continues to evolve, it is important to stay informed about new technologies, changing markets, and other factors that can influence agricultural production. With the right strategies, modern farmers can overcome these challenges and ensure the success of their operations.
Good luck out there.
Euan
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1. Firstly decide if you need a 2 or 4 wheel drive model. If you have a relatively flat and dry farm and aren’t going to do much towing you may only need a 2wd model otherwise go for a 4wd.
2. Tires, these are easily over looked and can make a huge difference when the going gets tough, make sure they have plenty of tread, or be prepared to pay $400-$600 for a new set.
3. Decide on what you are prepared to pay, and remember the more you pay for your ATV the less it will cost in repairs and maintenance.
4. The newer the better when it comes to ATV’s, power steering and automatic transmission available on newer models make riding easy and safer.
5. Be aware of the history, ATV’s from dairy farms usually have a shorter life, they tend to have accelerated corrosion and engine wear due to their type of usage. On the other hand an ATV from a cattle or sheep farm can still look and ride like new after many years of use.
6. If you are looking for a hassle-free purchase then you may want to buy through a motorcycle dealer, though this may cost you a little more, it will probably come with some form of warranty and it should be freshly serviced. If you choose to buy privately it will be a good idea to get an independent mechanic to appraise it so you don’t find any in unexpected surprises!
Happy shopping
Euan