BACK TO BASICS

In this day and age, everything is on the go at once. Farmers and contractors alike spend time getting maintenance done through the winter months before it all kicks off at spring time with ploughing, spreading dung and sowing amongst other jobs. In todays climate, this can take a while to get started if it’s wet but then when it does dry up, it’s all hands on deck to get as much done as quickly as possible. Due to this fast pace, employers and co-workers are struggling to take the time to show younger or less experienced staff how things should be done properly. Ploughing, for example, isn’t just a case of hitching up, driving to a field and putting a plough in the ground. Time needs spent on greasing the appropriate areas, checking plough points and skimmers as well as looking for the right place to start in the field. This is why different skills need taken back to basics and training given for the up and coming generations in the sector by running courses locally, which takes the strain off the employer. Rural Services Scotland recently ran a course on practical ploughing in Blairgowrie, with great success. The candidates were shown how to set up the tractor and plough correctly, what to check on the plough and what to look for in the field before starting off. As the day progressed the participants were able to get hands on with the equipment and develop their knowledge through the verbal skills that they had been given throughout their time at the course. Taking it in turns, the candidates were able to look at each others work and discuss anything that could be changed or was done well to help encourage their own thinking about the situation. Feedback from one young farmer indicated that he’s learned a few interesting points to improve his work. Rural Services Scotland intend, in future, to run appropriate practical courses as and when asked for with the intention or tailoring the courses to the needs of the employer and employee dependent on their individual skills.