Your Farm: handy equipment for the farm

With Christmas fast approaching, the annual anxiety about what to buy different family members creeps up. It’s nice to be able to buy useful gifts that will stand the test of time (at least six months) rather than a short-lived gimmick that won’t see the light of day once the festivities are all over. There are a variety of options available if you are buying a gift for a farming family member.

The gift does not need to be overly expensive. Ideally, it should make working on the farm that bit easier and a few of the options listed below might make it safer too. Some might say these are items a farmer should have anyway, but as is often the case it is the little things that we try to do without to save money. So small, thoughtful gifts like the ones listed below could really be appreciated for the months ahead. Remember, if you are buying items online they might not arrive in time for the big day so bear that in mind before making a purchase.

Pressure washer

Power washers make cleaning yards and sheds much easier. What’s more, you can do a much better job and it reduces the amount of bacteria building up in livestock housing. This gift is more expensive than the rest so it may not fit in your Christmas budget. It might be something a few family members could chip in on.

Electric pressure washers cost from €250 to €450 including VAT. They are not really suitable for farm work because they usually don’t have the required power to clean large animal housing. For a farm the most cost-effective power washer with a large PSI (over 4,000) would be a tractor-mounted option powered off the PTO. They cost from €750 to €1,000 including VAT usually and come with a 30m hose. Petrol-powered models with PSIs over 2,000 cost €950 to €1,900 including VAT. Similar-sized diesel pressure washers cost from €1,800 to €2,200 including VAT.

Earmuff radio

Anyone who has a pair of earmuffs with a built-in radio says they couldn’t be without them. They are particularly useful when carrying out slow mundane jobs such as power-washing or sweeping. They should only be worn when it is safe to do so and there is no moving machinery in the vicinity. The beauty of the earmuff radio is that it blocks out loud irritating noises and replaces it with a sound you might want to hear – music, news, conversation. There are no irritating wires either because earmuffs are battery-powered. They can cost anywhere from €50 to €150. Standard types have just a built-in radio, while more expensive options allow you to use the headset as a phone.

Electric fence fault finder

Keeping the electric fence in good working order can be easier said than done, with faults difficult to find. Thankfully there are a number of fault finders on the market now that can tell you how well the fence is working with a voltage meter display, if there is an earthing problem (fault) and what direction the fault is. Fault finders cost in the region of €70 to €140. A less expensive option that would still make a nice gift is a fence tester. Basic fence testers will not tell you where a fault is but it will tell you how well the fence is working. They cost in the region of €20 to €30 and usually don’t require batteries.

Hand tools

A good set of hand tools is always useful for making repairs around the farmyard. Basic socket sets start from a price of €40 and can go up to €150 for more comprehensive sets. Sets including wrenches can cost up to €200. The problem some farmers find is not that they don’t have tools but rather they can’t find them. A good-sized tool box to keep all equipment in one place could help. Portable tool boxes cost anywhere from €18 to €50. There are also larger cabinets available. Heavy steel drawer cabinets cost from €200 to €300. Most are on wheels which means you can move them around the tool shed.

Wet gear

Keeping warm and dry outside even if it is a miserable wet day is always a positive. It might seem insignificant but a hole in a wellington or a leaky pair of pull-ups can make life so much harder. A new outdoor outfit can make the world of difference. Most co-ops and merchants have a good selection of gear. They are also available to buy online. A new pair of water-proof leggings costs from €20 to €30. Water proof trousers (pull-ups) cost anywhere from €15 up to €35. Simple nylon rain jackets cost €14 to €20. More breathable but waterproof flexothane jackets cost in the region of €40 to €50.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Protective clothing is always useful to have on the farm but most of all when working with dangerous equipment. For example if a farmer uses a chainsaw regularly he should have protective gear – a chainsaw helmet and earmuffs, chainsaw trousers, chainsaw gloves and chainsaw boots. The cost of a full of a multipack kit on the Irish Forestry Products website is €272 including VAT (excluding shipping costs). This includes gloves, trousers, boots and a safety helmet with a visor and earmuffs.