A new tractor

[shroomy]

Perfect complement
https://youtu.be/DFyg739E2Tw

[RogerB]

This is my favourite tractor song. R-

[Walkingthedog]

Great learning curve for me WTD. I’ve had to look up nearly every TLA and agricultural phrase used. Have you driven it yet? R-

This is all new to me as well Roger. It is another world. The only thing I recognised on board was the steering wheel and a cup holder. Won’t be taking delivery for a few weeks.

[RogerB]

Will the cup holder accommodate a wine glass? R-

[Walkingthedog]

It could hold a very large one.

[LC&DR]

Hi WTD,

Have you considered selling grazing rights on to the meadow? A few sheep, goat, geese etc. not only keeps the grass cut but fertilised at the same time? Much more ecologically friendly too?

LC&DR

[Walkingthedog]

That is an excellent idea, however, it isn’t fenced off and might cause a few problems.

[Mountain Goat]

Hi WTD,

Have you considered selling grazing rights on to the meadow? A few sheep, goat, geese etc. not only keeps the grass cut but fertilised at the same time? Much more ecologically friendly too?

LC&DR

I would not suggest goats as the lnd needs regularly walking to check there are no poisionus plants (Goats often die through poisioning as they eat anything), fencing needs to be double height without any barbed wire (Barbed wire will shred their udders as they climb) and they need shelter as only one breed is hardy enough to be left out in all weathers. We used to regularly be called out by the RSPCA when we kept goats as so many were either poisioned or caught pnemonia after people were not providing correct shelter. A goats skin is not any more hardy then ours when it comes to being left outdoors. We found farmers to be some of the worst culprits for misstreating goats as they treated them like sheep). Don't forget that most breeds of goat come from warm climates. Anglo nubians are a little more hardy but really, to keep goats outdoors in all weathers they need to be the wild mountain goats However, the constant checks to ensure that the fencing is adequate is a bit of a pain. They need ideally 7 ft high fencing to stop them getting out. Some will use an old billy goat and climb on his back to get out. Very intelligent creatures and are browsers rather then grazers, so they dont eat the grass down like a horse or sheep do. Sheep are a much better alternative as they are generally hardy depending on the breed. They still need looking after but need much less work. Fencing does not need to be so high but the downside with sheep is if one does get out one can get the whole lot out as they follow. Is why one never mixes goats with sheep as goats by their nature always think the grass is . greener on the other side of the fence and all the sheep will follow if they get out! Goats regularly test any fence post for weaknesses in order to make their escape!
Shetland ponies are ideal as they will rarely attempt to break out. As long as they have water, food and there are not two randy males, they usually settle down.

[Mountain Goat]

Here in Wales in the past, certain areas of Wales had loads of rabbits. Just one branch line, the Whitland and Cardigan line, used to send a ton and a half of wild rabbits per day to London for meat. My dad remembered a whole bank collapse due to the volume of tunnels it had in it. Farmers had issues with them as they would eat all the grass down in the fields.
Sadly mixer which was assumed to be the solution decimated rabbit numbers rather then controlled them. A horrible disease.

[Walkingthedog]

Well that’s all very interesting but not ideal for a village green used by copious dog walkers.