“A wheelie good idea”

“Life has been busy for George and Jason Stanley since they decided to start manufacturing their labour saving ideas. The sheep farmers from Errill, Co Laois, had plenty of enquiries from fellow farmers on their stand at the Ploughing. However, it was another small idea, not related to sheep, that generated the most interest. The idea was a trolley that can be used to tow the wheelie bin down an avenue to where it can be collected.

"The trolley picks up the bin and is put onto the car's tow bar. It can then be quickly dismantled into three pieces and put into the boot of the car,'' Shirley Stanley told me. There is one pin to pull to dismantle it. They even got an order to make a trolley that can carry two bins at the same time. George and Jason took the plunge in the new business after they entered the JFC innovation awards last year. It just goes to show that one thing always leads onto another. So if you have an idea, get an entry in and you never know where you will end up. Contact your local Teagasc or DARD office for details.”

By Peter Young

I spoke to the main specialists in sheep handling equipment, who have all noticed a huge increase in enquiries for mobile equipment since the new grant scheme was announced

FMD aside, getting out or cutting back numbers might be all the talk among sheep farmers at present.

Below the surface, a large number of farmers are determined to stay with sheep in the future.

They realise the key will be to reduce labour to get a higher return for every hour worked. Fencing, a good sheep dog and a quad are becoming some of the common tools in everyday use for sheep farmers.

However, a good handling system is another key element in reducing time. The newest farm improvement scheme grant offers a 40% grant on sheep handling facilities. For the first time, it is covering mobile handling units and weighing systems.

The Department is compiling a list of manufactures and systems which quality for the grant on mobile equipment. This will be available shortly. At this stage, the majority of the companies featured here are included, but it is important to check the updated list before applying for a grant.

One Department requirement is that all separate elements shall have the same serial number engraved on each component.

More metal needed

Concrete and timber structures appear to be the preferred choice of materials for making permanent handling facilities. A number of people I talked to in the trade say that this is causing a problem.

Planners adhering to the published specifications are going for concrete races, which are extremely coarse and unadaptable to work with. It also makes adding on apparatus, such as weigh platforms or turnover crates, at a later stage impossible, bar the use of a jackhammer.

Problem

The concrete circular collection yard is proving to be a major problem, with the danger of lambs being crushed due to a complete blind spot being created by a solid wall.

The other aspects is cost. One supplier told me a metal circular yard would cost less the €1000 where a concrete one could cost over €2,000 by the time it is in place. Maybe, the Department could look at these aspects as well.

Stanley Engineering Services

George Stanley and his son Jason (086 8292731), are two sheep farmers that have taken their ideas one step further and are now manufacturing them.

Named SES (Stanley Engineering Services), their main focus is in the mobile 20ft race, which they have found invaluable on their farm in Errill, Co Laois.

Towed with a tractor, quad or car, it is 11ft when travelling and can be easily extended out in the field.

Made out of 1.1/2 incl box iron and mesh, the wheels can be removed to facilitate easy viewing of sheep as they pass through.