Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 1.7 - Modern Machinery
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Nov 7, 2024 Discover childhood memories from a lively cattle market and the impact of Storm Babette. Explore the fascinating evolution of agricultural machinery, from historic tools to advanced John Deere tractors and drones. Listen to insights about weather changes affecting rural life and the preservation of heritage structures. Delve into the hidden world of lichens and their ecological importance, followed by a look at the unique liverwort plant, highlighting its fascinating features and connection to nature.
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Norwich Cattle Market Memories
- Chris Skinner recalls watching cattle driven past his school to Norwich Cattle Market stalls where agricultural merchants sold produce.
- This spot was a bustling hub for livestock and farming supplies in his childhood.
Modern Agricultural Machinery Evolution
- Modern tractors like the John Deere BRX use tracks to reduce soil compaction despite weighing 12 tonnes.
- Drone technology is emerging to seed and spray bracken, showing rapid agricultural tech evolution.
Gigantic Forage Harvester
- Chris Skinner shows a 1,000 horsepower forage harvester costing over £400,000, akin to buying a house.
- This maize-harvesting machine chops stalks for livestock feed or biogas, highlighting farm tech scale and expense.