Day 42..
Grassland - today we started off in groups to do some research on specified topics. Paddock Grazing for my team! We described paddock grazing as a way to utilise your fields for the purposes of grazing livestock, whereby the livestock can be managed and moved from one field to another. Advantages include a field structure that is usually in place, fields get rested, can take advantage of new grass growth, livestock rotations (sheep and cattle) as well as reducing worm burden. And, the benefits of paddock grazing include helping to reduce poaching (fields cut up by wet weather conditions), conservation of lush grass, less forage costs and nutrient rich grass.
Machinery - an introduction to crop sprayers! In two teams there were white boards and markers and the mission to draw a sprayer! With two very different diagrams we then discussed how a sprayer is designed and how it works. You may think it quite a simple piece of machinery... Ohh no, it's a very sophisticated piece of kit, from foldable booms and suspension to directed spray application. Dealing with chemicals is extremely hazardous, and spraying is no exception. The chemical solution is added to the PLASTIC tank, and is pumped along the pipe system, at a set pressure, to the three boom extensions and then deposited out through the nozzles - which are set at half a metre apart - for directed application. Insecticides and fungicides are the most dangerous to apply and you are required by law to be certified to do so. However, fertilisers are less dangerous, and can be applied by anyone, but still with care and attention!
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