Michael Boyle from Milltown, Co Galway, is a part-time suckler farmer. By day, he works as a mechanic at McHale Farm Machinery and he also puts his talents working with metal to good use on the farm.

In 2014, he bought a new JCB telehandler in the UK because he wanted a versatile machine that would be useful around the yard for both farm and machinery maintenance work. “At the time, I was looking for a secondhand telehandler in the UK but ended up buying a new one because there wasn’t a huge differential in price for new and the sterling was weak at the time, which also helped,” Michael explains.

With the new telehandler, he needed different implements to carry out routine jobs during the year. Having almost 20 years’ experience working for McHales, there was no need for Michael to go out and buy any equipment for the telehandler – he could make everything himself. Instead of manufacturing several implements especially designed for different tasks, he constructed one main implement with several attachments. In a series of photos, we feature Michael’s ideas to reduce labour on his farm.

To start off, Michael made an ordinary bale spike. The two tines are solid and are ideal for bringing in bales of silage for feeding cows. The tines are 49in long and 30in apart.

The fork holder was a useful addition to the spike frame. Michael can easily transport the fork from shed to shed without loading it into the cab of the tractor.

Picture three

Michael got the idea to manufacture a silage pusher to make it easier to move silage in and pull it out from cattle’s heads.

There is a three-point linkage on the implement also. Michael designed it this way, so that it could be hooked up to a small tractor if needs be. This implement is 7ft wide and 20in high.

The tines of the bale spike enter two slots in the bottom of the bucket.

Two pieces of chain with a U-bolt hold it securely to the frame.

It is handy for moving meals, lick buckets, fencing equipment and bad silage.

The folding arm can be hydraulically released and put into working mode without leaving the tractor.

By lifting the front loader and tipping it backwards, the arm will fold back again and it can be secured with hydraulics.

A rubber stopper where the arm folds back prevents damage and a banging noise when the folding arm is being positioned when not in use.

Michael says it is very secure and finds this addition extremely useful for moving equipment quickly around the yard. “In seconds, I can hook on a trailer and take it out of a shed or move the muck spreader out of the way,” he explains.

Michael said that the telescopic arm on the telehandler is particularly useful here because implements can be moved into the corners of sheds or a low shed easily.