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From The Wellies - May 2009

Newborn calves and lambs have been enjoying some excellent weather during most of April. Anything born outside in dry, warm conditions has a much better chance of getting to its feet and suckling unassisted. Shepherds and cattlemen are also saved from hours of work rescuing chilled and hungry newborns.

Higher spring temperatures have also meant early grass growth has been really good. Many farmers were hoping for an ‘early spring bite of grass’ as feed supplies were running low. The wet weather of 2008 caused difficulties in securing enough quality forage to last through the winter, but for once nature seems to have balanced itself out and cattle in many parts of the country are now out on grass rather than using up expensive feed or bedding.

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Other newborns hopefully making an appearance in the fields soon will be Oystercatcher and Lapwing chicks. Ground nesting birds have had a much better chance of nesting and hatching their first clutches of eggs because of the early spring.

In a year when spring sowing of crops is delayed many nests are made on top of ploughed ground. Once cultivations and sowing starts nests which are not accidently disturbed by cultivators become easy targets for all sorts of predators from foxes to crows. Having watched these birds in fields over the years the best success rate for rearing chicks seems to be laying and nesting just after cultivations and rolling are complete. Small chicks can be hidden in the middle of the emerging crop and have a fairly good chance of survival.

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Tractor technology has advanced at a tremendous rate over the last 20 years with automatic gearboxes, suspension systems and satellite guided steering just a few of the features on offer. There have also been advances in engine technology but diesel is still the fuel of choice.

Italian company Fiat, who sell the New Holland brand of tractors, look set to change this with the recent unveiling of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell tractor. The prototype tractor has two electric motors, one of which replaces the transmission while the other drives hydraulic pumps and other equipment hitched to the tractor.

The electricity is created when the hydrogen reacts in the fuel cell with the oxygen drawn from the air to produce water and electrons. The electrons are harnessed in the form of an electric current, which in turn drives the electric motors. The compressed hydrogen is stored at high pressure in a 100 litre tank under the bonnet which allows the prototype to run for approximately two hours before refuelling.

Heat and water are the only emissions from the prototype tractor and the lack of a noisey engine means it sounds like an electric fork lift or a milk float. The main appeal of this new technology is; never having to order another delivery of diesel again or meet ever more stringent emission controls. However, Commercial availability of hydrogen fuel cell technology may be some way off, with storage and transportation of fuel some of the problems to be overcome.