Practical Farm Ideas

Water bowser puts out crop fires

NFU Mutual warned us last week of the dangers of crop fires. Ripening 

cereal crops are getting dry and the extreme sunlight is ready to ignite some

tinder dry material. 

Their warning reminded me of a neat idea which Geoff, a Midlands farmer

with land close to dense housing estates, prepares each season as soon as 

crops look vulnerable to fire, whether caused by sunlight or youths with matches.

His home made 3000 litre water bowser for the sprayer has a stainless tank 

which came from a nearby brewery that was being rebuilt. It mounts on a single 

axle chassis with good tyres. There's a Honda pump fitted and a long hose,

an on-off valve, and a jet end. 

When the corn ripens the tank is filled and the bowser parked in the yard for

a quick get-away when the alarm sounds. Geoff is generally on the scene

well before the brigade who have people to collect and much further to travel.

The fire is often out by the time they arrive.

This is one of 50 cost cutting Bright Ideas featured in the Vol 19 - 2 issue of

Practical Farm Ideas published in August 2010.  

Why not read the other 49 stories?  Or, why not be wise and subscribe? Then

you'll get 150 or more ideas like this four times a year.

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