Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; National Agricultural Advisory Service
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Film shows the advantages and methods of precision drilling of Swede seeds to save labour Gilbert L Evans, Newton Farm, Brecon [Wales] and Christopher Shepherd, Woodhouse Farm, North Hyton, Sunderland Scene of a field of Swedes. Scenes of singling [thinning seeds out, so remaining plants have enough space to grow] by 2 men using hoes working up rows of Swede seedlings. Scene of a field of Swede seedlings spaced out. Narrator states that singling takes valuable labour away from other tasks. Scene cuts to farmyard with tractor and load of hay being driven through a gate and unloaded into an open sided barn by 3 men. Singling clashes with hay making, and sometimes with shearing and silage making. Diagram of usual method of sewing Swede seeds using machinery that sews too many seeds in each row, leading to higher labour hours. Diagram of precision drill machinery showing seeds spaced out at regular intervals. Scene cuts to tractor ploughing a field in Autumn [Brecon Beacons]. Narrator states it is crucial to prepare the ground properly. Scenes of frost on the ploughed field. Scenes of a man demonstrating crumbly soil. Spring - scenes of tractors harrowing, rolling and fertilising the ploughed field. Scenes of tractor and machinery ridging the field for areas with heavy rainfall. Scenes of machinery drilling on a ridged field and a flat field. Close ups of machinery working and demonstrating single seed method. Scenes of graded seed being loaded into the drill. Scenes of ridgework drilling. Scenes of precision drilled crops. Close ups of crops: normal drilled crop; ungraded seeds spaced at 1?"; 4" spacing drilled at 4 mph; graded seeds 1?" spacing at 2 mph and graded seeds drilled at 4" at 2mph. Scenes of a field with a farmer, and sheep eating Swedes, with part of the crop fenced off. Background scene of sheep demonstrating the fence is electric. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, National Agricultural Advisory Service
