farm roadways

tullyGirl · 20-05-2015 12:45PM #1

Im interested in building a farm roadway through my farm as i am planning on changing to a paddock based grazing system.
Im looking for help to figure out costs and quantity i will need in tonnes.
3"down and 804 on top.
My plans are for 4-5m wide by aprox 800m in lenght.
Any help would be great,
Thanks.

raypallas · 20-05-2015 01:30PM

Depending on your ground, if you have good solid subsoil you will have a good foundation. 5m is a very wide farm roadway, how many stock are you going to have on it? A vibrating roller is money well spent, as you will have little or no subsidence afterwards.

Muckit · 20-05-2015 01:50PM

Are you suckler or dry stock? I would consider a roadway unnecessary for paddock grazing if drystock or even sucklers if you are running a bull. That amount of roadway the guts of half a hectare.

Take away productivity off this, payments and the cost of putting it in. l'd be seriously considering if it is really necessary.

Milked out · 20-05-2015 02:05PM

Will be hoping to do similar here this year, from what I understand if you have rock or gravel on farm it would reduce the cost significantly over buying material in. I have no figures yet but I think teagasc have a guide somewhere on rough costs. Some have just reversed the topsoil and sub soil to make a roadway for cattle mainly which worked ok on dry ground don't know for how long but I think part of that idea was that you could reinstate the field easy enough.
on roadways themselves they are a god send as they make moving stock a one man show as well as reducing damage to ground by allowing more access for machinery and beast with diference gaps etc and can allow you to get cattle out earlier and later by making it easier to let them in and out and back fencing etc

just do it · 21-05-2015 09:35PM

Milked out wrote: »

Will be hoping to do similar here this year, from what I understand if you have rock or gravel on farm it would reduce the cost significantly over buying material in. I have no figures yet but I think teagasc have a guide somewhere on rough costs. Some have just reversed the topsoil and sub soil to make a roadway for cattle mainly which worked ok on dry ground don't know for how long but I think part of that idea was that you could reinstate the field easy enough.
on roadways themselves they are a god send as they make moving stock a one man show as well as reducing damage to ground by allowing more access for machinery and beast with diference gaps etc and can allow you to get cattle out earlier and later by making it easier to let them in and out and back fencing etc

+1

PN14 · 22-05-2015 11:10AM

Calculation for amount of stone

4m wide road (as stated above 5m wide very wide for farm roadways just leave gaps off road wide enough and you'll be able to swing in machinery / trailers if required)

800m long 4m wide say 200mm deep = 640m3 x 2.2tns /m3 = 1,408 tns at say 20tn per load = 70 loads

800m long 4m wide say 150mm (6") deep = 480m3 x 2.2tns /m3 = 1,056 tns at say 20tn per load = 53 loads

Also would suggest that terram is used under the stone. It stops the soil mixing with the stone. Its well worth the extra cost generally 150m per roll so 6 rolls required.

frazzledhome · 22-05-2015 01:30PM

Cow roads here is €20 per linear meter all bought and levelled with 360 machine. 4m wide

Shale used and travelling 10 miles

Muckit · 22-05-2015 01:59PM

Milked out wrote: »

Will be hoping to do similar here this year, from what I understand if you have rock or gravel on farm it would reduce the cost significantly over buying material in. I have no figures yet but I think teagasc have a guide somewhere on rough costs. Some have just reversed the topsoil and sub soil to make a roadway for cattle mainly which worked ok on dry ground don't know for how long but I think part of that idea was that you could reinstate the field easy enough.
on roadways themselves they are a god send as they make moving stock a one man show as well as reducing damage to ground by allowing more access for machinery and beast with diference gaps etc and can allow you to get cattle out earlier and later by making it easier to let them in and out and back fencing etc

From your username l am making the assumption that you are dairy? A no brainer if that is the case. The cows will be using it twice a day every day. And it no wonder you don't need to do calculations on cost as there is the comfort of knowing that your investment can be met from the monthly milk cheque!! :-)

The OP hasn't revealed their enterprise so again I am assuming beef cattle.

On the topic of moving cattle, you open the fence and they walk into the next paddock, simples:-) You shouldn't need a permanent roadway to get around the farm to graze it all. If ground is too wet, they should be in the shed.

Dosing.... can be easily done when they come around to the paddocks/fields nearest the yard.

Sick animal? Set up temp laneways with geared reels.

Also perhaps think about bringing the mountain to muhammad. There are grants for mobile penning. I'd spend on this before lorry loads of gravel and roadways that will rarely be used.

So what if cattle bog a wet spot where you're running them along a temp laneway. When it recovers they can eat the grass off it, they'd be a long time atin' gravel!

Same goes for machinery. What good is a permanent roadway to a wet field?

In conclusion, my view is that permanent roadways are an unnecessary expense fot the vast majority of beef farms anotare not needed to set up a paddock grazing system. Better spent on pipe, extra troughs and elec fencing.

mythos110 · 22-05-2015 02:50PM

PN14 wrote: »

Calculation for amount of stone

4m wide road (as stated above 5m wide very wide for farm roadways just leave gaps off road wide enough and you'll be able to swing in machinery / trailers if required)

800m long 4m wide say 200mm deep = 640m3 x 2.2tns /m3 = 1,408 tns at say 20tn per load = 70 loads

800m long 4m wide say 150mm (6") deep = 480m3 x 2.2tns /m3 = 1,056 tns at say 20tn per load = 53 loads

Also would suggest that terram is used under the stone. It stops the soil mixing with the stone. Its well worth the extra cost generally 150m per roll so 6 rolls required.

Rule of thumb is usually 1.6 tns/m3 is it not? That would make 3/4 of your totals but still a significant spend.

Greengrass1 · 22-05-2015 03:35PM

frazzledhome wrote: »

Cow roads here is €20 per linear meter all bought and levelled with 360 machine. 4m wide

Shale used and travelling 10 miles

Was priced 5/t + vat yesterday plus haulage on top because this lad hos no lorry. Great stuff all it needs is a 13t digger on it to press it in

PN14 · 22-05-2015 04:03PM

Cl 804 is 2.2 tns / m3.

6" down around 2.0 ths /m3

Larger rockfill 1.6tns / m3

This is compacted.

GY A1 · 22-05-2015 04:30PM

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Was priced 5/t + vat yesterday plus haulage on top because this lad hos no lorry. Great stuff all it needs is a 13t digger on it to press it in

Get a large roller and compact it well.

Username John · 22-05-2015 04:52PM

Muckit wrote: »

From your username l am making the assumption that you are dairy? A no brainer if that is the case. The cows will be using it twice a day every day. And it no wonder you don't need to do calculations on cost as there is the comfort of knowing that your investment can be met from the monthly milk cheque!! :-)

The OP hasn't revealed their enterprise so again I am assuming beef cattle.

On the topic of moving cattle, you open the fence and they walk into the next paddock, simples:-) You shouldn't need a permanent roadway to get around the farm to graze it all. If ground is too wet, they should be in the shed.

Dosing.... can be easily done when they come around to the paddocks/fields nearest the yard.

Sick animal? Set up temp laneways with geared reels.

Also perhaps think about bringing the mountain to muhammad. There are grants for mobile penning. I'd spend on this before lorry loads of gravel and roadways that will rarely be used.

So what if cattle bog a wet spot where you're running them along a temp laneway. When it recovers they can eat the grass off it, they'd be a long time atin' gravel!

Same goes for machinery. What good is a permanent roadway to a wet field?

In conclusion, my view is that permanent roadways are an unnecessary expense fot the vast majority of beef farms anotare not needed to set up a paddock grazing system. Better spent on pipe, extra troughs and elec fencing.

You never considered they might have sheep Muckit

Tisn't so easy to put up a temp fence for em

I put in a few roadways, and I only have the few sheep. Found em very handy, as tis no fun to be trying to run sheep from a bare paddock, through half-grown paddock, into another one... They just don't seem to listen when you tell them there is better grass in the next one

(altho the same argument re expense vs reward could be made maybe)

I said · 22-05-2015 05:10PM

Put a roadway in a few years ago saves on tearing up ground and moving cattle is so handy open gate and they go the direction you want them to with paddock/block grazing.
Once they get used to moving the likes of getting in for testing or treating takes all the rooting and bolloxing out of it a half hour job takes just that,no messing at all.

fanadman1 · 22-05-2015 06:28PM

going to be doing this in the winter but the one thing that is going to save me a fortune is that i wont need to buy in stone :L
i knew that one day that fine pencil hill would prove very handy

freedominacup · 23-05-2015 06:49PM

fanadman1 wrote: »

going to be doing this in the winter but the one thing that is going to save me a fortune is that i wont need to buy in stone :L
i knew that one day that fine pencil hill would prove very handy

If the digger isn't just digging the fill out quickly, as in all he needs is a half days head start before the dumpers arrive to have a stockpile, then stone delivered at less than €10/tonne will probably be better value.

fanadman1 · 23-05-2015 07:01PM

freedominacup wrote: »

If the digger isn't just digging the fill out quickly, as in all he needs is a half days head start before the dumpers arrive to have a stockpile, then stone delivered at less than €10/tonne will probably be better value.

Im widening an existin road whice is sitting beside the rock face if you get me this is where the stone will be comeing from abd it will need to be moved anyway if you get where im comeing from. Ahould have about 1 mile of a road for under a 1000 euro if the men i had priceing it up are to be belived

Miname · 23-05-2015 09:07PM

Rough stone ungraded round here delivered at €120 a ton. I've been considering roadways for a while and was going to put this in as a base with limestone screenings as a top late to seal it all in.

tomieen jones · 19-06-2015 09:58PM

Miname wrote: »

Rough stone ungraded round here delivered at €120 a ton. I've been considering roadways for a while and was going to put this in as a base with limestone screenings as a top late to seal it all in.

120 a ton? You mean 120 a load of about 20 ton I'm assuming

Sam Kade · 20-06-2015 02:53PM

If you have good subsoil and an excellent track machine operator you could do a reversible road. No need to buy in stone and the road can be taken out at any stage.

just do it · 20-06-2015 02:58PM

Sam Kade wrote: »

If you have good subsoil and an excellent track machine operator you could do a reversible road. No need to buy in stone and the road can be taken out at any stage.

How well do those work out? How well do they last the test of time particularly in high rainfall areas?

Sam Kade · 20-06-2015 03:02PM

just do it wrote: »

How well do those work out? How well do they last the test of time particularly in high rainfall areas?

If you have the right subsoil they will last forever. The forestry always make them around here where they have fully loaded artics traveling over them.

keep going · 23-08-2015 11:46PM

Where do ye put the fence posts on farm road ways.i have them along the edge of the stone but im thinking of moving the wire out about 18 inchs to 2 ft as the edges build up over the years

frazzledhome · 25-08-2015 08:28AM

Just put in 800m here all shale with larger pieces tracked in first then covered with crushed shale or slig as its known around here.

Bigger removed the sod and that was used to fill some hollows and make good an spot near yard that needed tidying.

60 lorry loads @€;150 came to €9000
9000/800 came in at €11.25/m at 4m wide
Not sure of digger cost yet as he did other works while here.

All other roads came in at €15/m and this looks similar

I said · 25-08-2015 10:43AM

frazzledhome wrote: »

Just put in 800m here all shale with larger pieces tracked in first then covered with crushed shale or slig as its known around here.

Bigger removed the sod and that was used to fill some hollows and make good an spot near yard that needed tidying.

60 lorry loads @€;150 came to €9000
9000/800 came in at €11.25/m at 4m wide
Not sure of digger cost yet as he did other works while here.

All other roads came in at €15/m and this looks similar

Christ I got lucky when we hit gravel on the farm saved me a fortune by the looks of it

Kevhog1988 · 25-08-2015 02:21PM

They built a new road bypassing our village last year. I did the yard out the back of stables in stone for parking machinery on etc with the stuff they dug out and planings. Rolled the life out of it in layers with compactor on the pedestrian roller we have for laying tarmac. Got right into the corners etc. I was paying the lads 80 euro for an 8 wheel waggon load.

Cousin has gravel on there land, He used it for filling floors etc on the house build. i estimated that again we dug it out of the pit and drew with the tractors etc it would have been more ecenomical to buy in if he had of been paying wages etc. (i gave him a weekend on the basis hell give me a hand when i do mine).

Road planings are serious gear if anyone can get there hands on it?? we put them down in car parks here. The asian lads go mad for it as way cheaper than tar.

frazzledhome · 25-08-2015 04:46PM

I said wrote: »

Christ I got lucky when we hit gravel on the farm saved me a fortune by the looks of it

How much per meter?

Milked out · 25-08-2015 04:50PM

frazzledhome wrote: »

Just put in 800m here all shale with larger pieces tracked in first then covered with crushed shale or slig as its known around here.

Bigger removed the sod and that was used to fill some hollows and make good an spot near yard that needed tidying.

60 lorry loads @€;150 came to €9000
9000/800 came in at €11.25/m at 4m wide
Not sure of digger cost yet as he did other works while here.

All other roads came in at €15/m and this looks similar

Did you have roll or just tracked it in? What depth did you go with the larger material. Had to put off ours this year put may try and do part next year. Have shale rock here but finding the right spot and cost of breaking it out must be worked out yet

freedominacup · 25-08-2015 05:13PM

Milked out wrote: »

Did you have roll or just tracked it in? What depth did you go with the larger material. Had to put off ours this year put may try and do part next year. Have shale rock here but finding the right spot and cost of breaking it out must be worked out yet

If there's a breaker involved the cost is too high.

Milked out · 25-08-2015 05:31PM

freedominacup wrote: »

If there's a breaker involved the cost is too high.

That's why I mentioned finding the right spot as the rock above the surface is a bitch to break whereas the stuff below can be softer and the the digger could pull it out, don't want to waste time and money finding out either tho if it can be brought in cheaper. Local quarry wouldn't be as good as frazzs price id say. Last roadway done here was thru wet ground so needed more material and the rock broken out allowed us to mow an extra 2 or 3 acres as well.

frazzledhome · 25-08-2015 05:34PM

Milked out wrote: »

Did you have roll or just tracked it in? What depth did you go with the larger material. Had to put off ours this year put may try and do part next year. Have shale rock here but finding the right spot and cost of breaking it out must be worked out yet

Tracked in

farm roadways

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