Farming

[1969shelby]

Can anyone comment on the use of helicopters in the farming industry, other than ag spraying or livestock hearding?

[Arm out the window]

They're also used to prevent frost forming on fruit crops in some places by hovering around keeping the air circulating.

[Flyting]

and as a pick up to get around large farms much quicker

[Anthony Supplebottom]

.. and for hunting/culling wild boar and deer - and for re-supplying farms in winter and for slinging in building or construction materials.

[ericferret]

grass seeding,
lifting fodder/feed blocks directly to animals in remote areas
dropping dry chemicals as opposed to spraying
logging

[Bravo73]

Helicopters are used regularly by the salmon farming industry.

[topendtorque]

as above + flood relief fodder slinging, even animal slinging out of floods, feral animal control (shooting) all manner of survey.

the most unusual is occasional ploughing, but not for long.

[hammerhead70]

cherry drying

[Thomas coupling]

But apart from these 1969shelby - sorry can't think of anything.

[Gemini Twin]

Corporate transport for corporate farm owners.

Maintenance for windmill farms.

[SuperF]

Spreading fertilizer and lime over grass and crops.
Lifting animals that have fallen down cliffs, or wandered off and can't get back.
Lifting in fencing materials, water pipes, drills, diggers, etc.

[Gordy]

Flying coxs:

lly8BBGidJQ

[topendtorque]

Counting Kangaroos is another, those big boomers are multiplying fast.

the most unusual is occasional ploughing, but not for long.
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/Satcop/1ba03a88-1433-424a-8307-3337f8568dcd_zps78ae34e3.jpg

[Arm out the window]

Don't forget water-skiing and croc transportation.

[Mel Effluent]

I might be able to help, as I have frequently been described as an agricultural pilot!

[Grenville Fortescue]

so shelby, what are you going to do with all this agricultural information?

[grumpytroll]

I hope he's penning the next Bond Movie!! Titles anyone?

[ericferret]

Not to worry Mel Effluent most helicopter pilots fall in to one of two categories,
Those with a touch like a midwife and the agricultural.

In the Lama days up north Dollar used the same frequency for the loadies as British Airways house frequency and sometimes a high flying BA would get the agricultural transmissions.

On one occasion a rather plummy voice demanded that the unidentified callsign identify itself.

"This be Ted Spencer and oi be muckspreading at 60 feet" was the reply!!!!

[topendtorque]

The carrying of agricultural product, loosely described as "grass",. quite often at night, for which some have ended up as guests of her Majesty.

[1969shelby]

Thanks everyone for your input. This all started with my own curiosity. It's a subject that I noticed was not mentioned very often on the forums. I have heard of some of these applications, but never salmon farming. If you could chose an A/c to incorporate into a medium size agricultural/ cattle farm for hearding, crop spraying, frost patrol, feral animal control, surveying and small equipment/material transport, what would you favor?

[Arnie Madsen]

Not farming per say ..... but related ..... crop insurance adjusters are very busy for short periods of time and are paid on a per-claim basis which is reasonably profitable.

The drawbacks are many miles driven farm to farm by auto ..... then sometimes miles of walking through crops to take samples .... thru mud , mosquitoes , and 90* summer temps on the Canadian Prairies

Never did it in the end .... but we calculated that with a Hughes 269 a person could cover all those fields 10 times as fast .... including setting down anywhere in the field to do a sample , make plenty of revenue , and be able to sit in the hotel bar telling true stories every evening.

[Thomas coupling]

Jet ranger

[JimBall]

The lengths some people will go to get tax inspector-approved deductions....

[Savoia]

If you could chose an A/c to incorporate into a medium size agricultural/cattle farm for hearding, crop spraying, frost patrol, feral animal control, surveying and small equipment/material transport, what would you favor?


SA315B Lama

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z_q8Ury-h-I/UWqaJKcHGBI/AAAAAAAAM_w/G2BLQP-zZeA/s681/Air+Glaciers+SA315B+Lama+HB-XTO+Bex+Switzerland+1+Sep+07.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bfqewGaUpOY/UWqfOF7S0LI/AAAAAAAANAA/vezr5VHNgmI/s328/Cartoon+Farmer.png

[spencer17]

@Savoia

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bfqewGaUpOY/UWqfOF7S0LI/AAAAAAAANAA/vezr5VHNgmI/s328/Cartoon+Farmer.png
and the engine sound expels Moles too !:ok:

[Coconutty]

I hope he's penning the next Bond Movie!! Titles anyone?How about :

Plough Another Day !
( Especially in a Robinson ) :ok:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[Martin Barclay]

Thanks for that. Still cleaning the keyboard!

[Dave Sharpe]

At the risk of offending a few people....MFH in the UK use the R44 ( and did use the R22) for bracken spraying and some associated seeding -If people want a taste of what its like ...close to the ground with spray booms following contours I can highly recommend it for sharpening your skills!!!!:ok:

[1969shelby]

What do you mean by bracken spraying and associated seeding?

[Dave Sharpe]

Hi---the control of bracken on high ground in the UK where either access is difficult or burning is not appropriate..its done widely in Scotland and in the Peak District National Park amongst many places-normally done by the New Zealand Pilots--R44s are used with spray tanks--a taster is done with the R22 that was used...hope that answers your questions or PM me..

[Little cloud]

Shelby, this solitary farm on the remote cliff encircled island of Stora Dimun in the Faeroe Islands probably wouldn't exist without the helicopter, nearly everything goes in and out with it. The alternative is hauling goods up the cliff off a small boat.

http://faroeislands.dk/imags/storadimon/olavurfrederiksen/11Juli04_4495.jpg