With the weather being so good this last while there is a massive amount of fieldwork being done at present. It really takes the pressure off operators and their machines when conditions are good.

I was doing a bit of chain harrowing and rolling for a man today who is from a farming background but was away from it for years. Recently he recently returned to the land on which he keeps breeding mares with flat/speed pedigrees.

On arrival into his yard I saw what looked like a modified calving gate or box, but on further investigation it turned out to be a foaling crate. It had a shelf on one side for storing equipment which a vet might need and all the gates on it had spring loaded closings.

The man had mounted a light on the wall behind the crate and there were two plugs close by.

“That’s a mighty job,” I said to him

He explained his reasons for the crate which, when examined, apply to us all. He said mares foal late at night and when you’re on your own it’s all about operator safety and labour saving help.

He explained the light was for the operator to clearly see the foal coming, the plugs were for any clippers or scanners the vet might need, and the shelf was so all your instruments would be close to hand.

This man only has a handful of mares but yet very simply and cheaply he had set up a fantastic arrangement for man and beast to work comfortably and safely.

It got me thinking that even in our on yard, let alone many others yards I have been in where hundreds of cows are calved and sheep lambed, you seldom see such a safe work space, especially as nowadays more and more farmers are working on their own. For a little thought and small outlay this man has made fantastic improvement in his workspace.

He had also created a great loading ramp or bay by just hanging a few gates properly and pouring a few metres of concrete to fit the specifications of his trailer so that he could reverse into place first and have all possible escape routes for a blocked animal. And all this while he loaded stock without having to be in the pen with them. The ramp of the trailer fitted snugly into a concrete ramp so that it meant animals did not have to step up into the trailer.

It just got me thinking that even though we may work with different animals or products or crops etcetera there are so many good ideas that can be adapted to make life easier and safer for us all.