Farming Chitchat 10/10- Now VIRUS-FREE!

whelan2 · 14-10-2020 05:47PM

Have a few calves on a couple of cows . The calves got out today and decided walk up the silage pit, which hasnt been opened yet. Is silage tape the best to fix it or what ?

ganmo · 14-10-2020 06:27PM

I says wrote: »

Will be a late night

Night vision?

Dinzee Conlee · 14-10-2020 06:32PM

Is it too late to spray furze, or would you get away with it?

Grueller · 14-10-2020 07:48PM

whelan2 wrote: »

Have a few calves on a couple of cows . The calves got out today and decided walk up the silage pit, which hasnt been opened yet. Is silage tape the best to fix it or what ?

Tape I would say. Hate when that happens.

_Brian · 14-10-2020 07:49PM

Eco eye is painting a bleak picture of farming and environment. To the outside eye to see figures fromTeagasc quoted that 83% of beef farmers are making no profit, and then farmers saying farmers are just farming cattle for the subsidies.

It paints a bad picture of farming.

Mac Taylor · 14-10-2020 07:50PM

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

It's a freakin' PIKE!!!:p

For forks sake it’s a fork.....:D

Scan cows and sheep.......dip sheep....:D

Birdnuts · 14-10-2020 07:55PM

_Brian wrote: »

Eco eye is painting a bleak picture of farming and environment. To the outside eye to see figures fromTeagasc quoted that 83% of beef farmers are making no profit, and then farmers saying farmers are just farming cattle for the subsidies.

It paints a bad picture of farming.

Usual simplistic nonsense from Stewart - rough grazing of cattle is a key feature of maintaining habitat in the Burren and Hen Harrier areas.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 07:55PM

_Brian wrote: »

Eco eye is painting a bleak picture of farming and environment. To the outside eye to see figures fromTeagasc quoted that 83% of beef farmers are making no profit, and then farmers saying farmers are just farming cattle for the subsidies.

It paints a bad picture of farming.

I thought it was quite good. Don't shoot me. Didn't think it was bleak at all.

_Brian · 14-10-2020 08:02PM

NcdJd wrote: »

I thought it was quite good. Don't shoot me. Didn't think it was bleak at all.

It gave the impression that more cattle = more subsidies which is not the case. It also suggests using grass for AD rather than milk or beef, that’s fine but much of the grass wouldn’t be available without fertiliser so there is a bit of a problem.

For me the most accurate thing saod was that beef is being overproduced because of poor advice to farmers. Excess beef allows factories to pull prices. It’s a facet of supply and demand.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 08:07PM

_Brian wrote: »

It gave the impression that more cattle = more subsidies which is not the case. It also suggests using grass for AD rather than milk or beef, that’s fine but much of the grass wouldn’t be available without fertiliser so there is a bit of a problem.

Maybe it's just suited to pig farming so but thought it would be another revenue generator if there was an infrastructure set up. And maybe factories would have to compete with a biogas industry thereby raising the price for beef?

As one fella said at the mart we would not be a prisoner to the beef factories. In that they would have to guarantee a good price the farmer will just look to biogas instead. That's what I took out of it.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 08:34PM

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

Is it too late to spray furze, or would you get away with it?

I'd say you'd get away with it in the next few days. After that. No.

whelan2 · 14-10-2020 08:35PM

Grueller wrote: »

Tape I would say. Hate when that happens.

Ah had a day of it today, not over yet. Kids at training

whelan2 · 14-10-2020 08:36PM

Say my name wrote: »

I'd say you'd get away with it in the next few days. After that. No.

I say wait until tomorrow, it's a bit dark now

Water John · 14-10-2020 08:47PM

Mossie1975 wrote: »

Nice out this morning. Couldn't stop looking at the sky bringing in the cows ... anybody else think it was unusual this morning or do I need to go and see a doctor? Have a good day lads

I think Mossie is in love.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 08:47PM

_Brian wrote: »

It gave the impression that more cattle = more subsidies which is not the case. It also suggests using grass for AD rather than milk or beef, that’s fine but much of the grass wouldn’t be available without fertiliser so there is a bit of a problem.
.

It'll grow the same as the grass grows in the ditch without fertilizer.
The digestate would be going back out on that land anyway.

If biochar is added to the mix. Depending on the char it'll increase the amount of methane produced in the digester and provide a substrate to stop the nutrients from the digester leaching in the soil when spread. By that action alone and continued cutting, gassing, added char and spreading, the land will increase in fertility and build carbon.

The only negative is the power used to drive the tractor and build the digester if that'd be renewable.

Siamsa Sessions · 14-10-2020 08:50PM

Kasey_Don wrote: »

Is green cert good thing to do for an aspiring farmer?

I grew up on a farm but been away a long time now so don't know the real technical details and the schemes and tax etc.

I'm thinking of starting farming before I turn 35 to avail of young farmer grants. If I leave it so late, is there a point in going at it before turning 35?

I live in a different part of the country most of the time so I don't think I'd get away with being registered and having the old man do most of the work?

And I don't suppose it's possible to mix herds if you had a massive shed?

I did the Green Cert part-time over an 18-month course run by Teagasc in 2018-19. Was in a similar position to yourself, growing up on a farm and helping with all the jobs, but away from it for over 15 years then so very much out of the loop.

I enjoyed the course and learnt loads, but I was mad interested and tried to pick up as much as I could from the official course content, the tutors, and the teaching/demo farm itself.

You might be able to mix herds if there was an official B&B arrangement in place between the two herds. But this might mean an extra move on the animals’ blue cards, so you’d have to check.

Feel free to send me a PM if you want to talk more about the Green Cert.

Waffletraktor · 14-10-2020 08:57PM

Say my name wrote: »

It'll grow the same as the grass grows in the ditch without fertilizer.
The digestate would be going back out on that land anyway.

If biochar is added to the mix. Depending on the char it'll increase the amount of methane produced in the digester and provide a substrate to stop the nutrients from the digester leaching in the soil when spread. By that action alone and continued cutting, gassing, added char and spreading, the land will increase in fertility and build carbon.

The only negative is the power used to drive the tractor and build the digester if that'd be renewable.

They add some version of charcoal/bio char to stabilise the digesters daily. They add enzymes and acids also, with a balance of the correct dry matter and silages needed. The digestate literally is like what comes out of an animal mixed together minus the worst of the smell, they seperate out the largest material and the rest is like slurrry.
They are most profitable skipping the engine and injecting straight into gas mains. Co2 is captured and processed to 95+% purity and which makes the carbon capture requirement easy peasy for carbon use efficiency.

A former minion runs a farm with a digester in SE corner of England, they wouldn't include grass beyond 1/3 of the feed stock with maize being the bulk. They're inclined to make small clamps in corners of a block and haul it in as needed ideally with artic access. They will haul out 80% ish of what goes in mostly in 'slurry' form.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 09:06PM

Waffletraktor wrote: »

They add some version of charcoal/bio char to stabilise the digesters daily. They add enzymes and acids also, with a balance of the correct dry matter and silages needed. The digestate literally is like what comes out of an animal mixed together minus the worst of the smell, they seperate out the largest material and the rest is like slurrry.
They are most profitable skipping the engine and injecting straight into gas mains. Co2 is captured and processed to 95+% purity and which makes the carbon capture requirement easy peasy for carbon use efficiency.

A former minion runs a farm with a digester in SE corner of England, they wouldn't include grass beyond 1/3 of the feed stock with maize being the bulk. They're inclined to make small clamps in corners of a block and haul it in as needed ideally with artic access. They will haul out 80% ish of what goes in mostly in 'slurry' form.

Would it be more profitable sending the maize for biogas or for animal feed ?

Sorry might be a silly question just trying to understand if there is any opertunities in it.

Waffletraktor · 14-10-2020 09:14PM

NcdJd wrote: »

Would it be more profitable sending the maize for biogas or for animal feed ?

There isn't a legal farming enterprise as profitable other than a crop of houses. You need the correct public money subs in place to encourage building as it's millions to build but cheaper the bigger you go.
Rosco's place has an inflation linked, minimum annual price rise garunteed contract for another 25 years of a 30 year life cycle. The guy who owns the place could afford to build one himself, usually the farmer ends up renting the site and supplying labour and handling feedstock/digestate and not actually benefitting the most.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 09:18PM

Waffletraktor wrote: »

They add some version of charcoal/bio char to stabilise the digesters daily. They add enzymes and acids also, with a balance of the correct dry matter and silages needed. The digestate literally is like what comes out of an animal mixed together minus the worst of the smell, they seperate out the largest material and the rest is like slurrry.
They are most profitable skipping the engine and injecting straight into gas mains. Co2 is captured and processed to 95+% purity and which makes the carbon capture requirement easy peasy for carbon use efficiency.

I was at an A.D info meeting in Johnstown castle there a while back and the big push was to have them connected to the gas mains.
There's one in Tipperary on a dairy cheese farm, the original one in Adamstown, and sure there's a few more around.
It's the irish crowd here are trying to push grass for the "more disadvantaged area's" .
When the experienced A.D. crew would prefer tillage ground and crops.
You'd know it from the start they'd prefer it for a replacement for suckler farming.
Try getting a forage harvester and trailers in some of those areas however. :rolleyes:
The heads of the founding org in this country would be from nw and upper Midlands.

If it does take off here by way of logistics it'll occur in the south and southeast.

Edit: just saw you had the grass thing covered..

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 09:21PM

Waffletraktor wrote: »

There isn't a legal farming enterprise as profitable other than a crop of houses. You need the correct public money subs in place to encourage building as it's millions to build but cheaper the bigger you go.
Rosco's place has an inflation linked, minimum annual price rise garunteed contract for another 25 years of a 30 year life cycle. The guy who owns the place could afford to build one himself, usually the farmer ends up renting the site and supplying labour and handling feedstock/digestate and not actually benefitting the most.

Interesting and taps straight into the gas network. We are way behind here on this stuff.. you'd think the greens would be all over this stuff. Bloody useless, all they go on about is greenways and cycle paths.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 09:23PM

Say my name wrote: »

I was at an A.D info meeting in Johnstown castle there a while back and the big push was to have them connected to the gas mains.
There's one in Tipperary on a dairy cheese farm, the original one in Adamstown, and sure there's a few more around.
It's the irish crowd here are trying to push grass for the "more disadvantaged area's" .
When the experienced A.D. crew would prefer tillage ground and crops.
You'd know it from the start they'd prefer it for a replacement for suckler farming.
Try getting a forage harvester and trailers in some of those areas however. :rolleyes:
The heads of the founding org in this country would be from nw and upper Midlands.

If it does take off here by way of logistics it'll occur in the south and southeast.

Edit: just saw you had the grass thing covered..

And there's a nice outlet for your biochar production.

Birdnuts · 14-10-2020 09:23PM

Waffletraktor wrote: »

There isn't a legal farming enterprise as profitable other than a crop of houses. You need the correct public money subs in place to encourage building as it's millions to build but cheaper the bigger you go.
Rosco's place has an inflation linked, minimum annual price rise garunteed contract for another 25 years of a 30 year life cycle. The guy who owns the place could afford to build one himself, usually the farmer ends up renting the site and supplying labour and handling feedstock/digestate and not actually benefitting the most.

Well thats the big question - with wind(and soon solar) hoovering up a vast amount of subs via the PSO etc, will supporting digestors finally break the back to the energy consumer who bankrolls all of this. The fact that natural gas prices are near all time lows with a glut of supply worldwide FTFF doesn't help either in terms of economics

Water John · 14-10-2020 09:25PM

I studied renewable energies 20 years ago. Sadly, AD has made little or no progress since in the ROI. Without the guaranteed price that Waffle references in the UK and NI it's a non runner.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 09:35PM

NcdJd wrote: »

And there's a nice outlet for your biochar production.

It won't be me anyway but it is about to become more mainstream here.

It's a pity though ,with all the livestock farmer bashing going on in this country and how well biochar addresses all those stones that are thrown at farmers, you'd think more farmers would be proactive on it instead of waiting to be led by some patented products pushed by you know who and which are detrimental to soil life.

Edit: there's some with PhD's working for a research group even suggesting adding aluminium to slurry. Not one iota of a mention of pyrolised carbon. The answer given was cost..
And it's used in the U.K. in A.D. digesters.
At least they understand bacteria and life.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 09:52PM

Say my name wrote: »

It won't be me anyway but it is about to become more mainstream here.

It's a pity though ,with all the livestock farmer bashing going on in this country and how well biochar addresses all those stones that are thrown at farmers, you'd think more farmers would be proactive on it instead of waiting to be led by some patented products pushed by you know who and which are detrimental to soil life.

Somebody will cop onto it and package it as Super Grow or something like that! The posh gardeners will go mad for it for their pot plants ha. Just need to send a bag of it into diarmud gavin with a photo of your coleus and you'll be out the door with that stuff.

Might give it a go myself over the winter. Just need to read up a bit better on your thread.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 10:05PM

NcdJd wrote: »

Somebody will cop onto it and package it as Super Grow or something like that! The posh gardeners will go mad for it for their pot plants ha. Just need to send a bag of it into diarmud gavin with a photo of your coleus and you'll be out the door with that stuff.

The biggest trouble is getting plants to grow in 100% biochar. Lots saying it can't be done. College papers even saying it can't be done. But the info is there online and in published books on char on how to do it.
It is very simple though and it's only a matter of lighting a match. It's just everyone is scared sh1tless of litigation in this country when fire is mentioned. Even my biochar kiln maker put down on the invoice "farm repairs" in case of an accident. They didn't say it, said it was for tax on my side..but :rolleyes:

Char is blotting paper that holds onto nutrients and provides homes for bacteria and fungi, moves electrons and stores and primes carbon.
All the good stuff.

Say my name · 14-10-2020 10:16PM

NcdJd wrote: »

Might give it a go myself over the winter. Just need to read up a bit better on your thread.

Dig a little hole in the ground.
Put some dry kindling in the bottom. Light it. When one layer starts to get ash on the fuel add another layer of your feedstock.
(Don't use timber or whatever crop that has chemical residue that's a big no.)
When you've enough done, pour water in on the side of the hole and let the water quench from the bottom up. The steam will rise and break open the char above it.
And fill your hole with water.
It should be all soft char that'll break in your hand.
Scoop out into a bucket and add it to your compost heap or dungheap or slurry tank if you had it.
Don't go mixing artificial fertilizer with it. That's defeating the whole purpose of what you're doing.

I think that's it mostly. It's what orchid growers used here in the past and further back there were others.

NcdJd · 14-10-2020 10:25PM

I can mix this with soil too Say my name ? Do you have to wait a period of time or can you use the char straight away ?

A friend of mine has cattle so I can get some cow manure off himself..he owes me a couple of trailers for all the unpaid work I done for him over the summer

gozunda · 14-10-2020 10:37PM

Does anyone know if the new restrictions on visitors to households/ gardens apply to farm yards adjacent to a house?

The covid regulations seem to getting more complex by the day tbh

Farming Chitchat 10/10- Now VIRUS-FREE!

Comments