Control Traffic Farming Explained: Benefits, Challenges & Our Journey!

[@simonfoxhall8604]

Just wanted to say thanks so much for sharing this. I was wholly ignorant about CTF. Beautifully explained. Once again, thanks, James, for all you do to enlighten us about British farming. You, and your team, are absolute stars 🤍🤍🤍

[@rogerpinner-x2l]

As a very elderly fan of your videos James I am reminded of trials I took part in with ADAS in conjunction with ICI ( blasts from the past ) showing similar benefits particularly in soil structure. Then we called it tramlining, what goes around comes around! Well done .

[@andykeeble1]

CTF is a fascinating concept. Your research and implementation must be hugely satisfying James. Excellent update as always.

[@martinreams]

Another good video James, we have been using a form of CTF on Cauliflower and Calabrese crops, and with these crops being harvested by hand it’s vital the crops are not planted in any wheelings, otherwise they are not ready when the bulk of the crop is, which leads to wastage, we have now moved to a strip till machine on the system and it works very well.

[@andrewpearce5663]

as an engineer watching your videos, everything your doing makes absolute sense.... CTF is the way forward.. wishing you and the crew a great Christmas and new year.

[@PeterWalker-i2s]

An amazing insight into how CTF works and the benefits.

[@mpcgamingclips]

Great detailed explanation! Was very interesting to see the progression that you’ve been through over time. The bar graph was a good visual to show just how much of the field space is actually compacted throughout the year. Must be great to know that all the work over these years has has resulted in better yields and higher efficiency. Thanks as always for another great video.

[@Tommy-vh7xj]

Love the banter you have with the lads James

[@Nicknofish]

The appliance of science. Great video, as always, James. Thank you.

[@RichardCarter-i1l]

Thanks for the CTF deep dive James, never even considered fuel savings/improvements to rolling resistance. Model tractors as prizes - nothing better for our next generation of farmers 👍🏻

[@AndrewCarbis-h7e]

A mechanic said to me backlong they have changed the plastic in the pipes which rats love! Something about making it more environmentally friendly. Maybe a chat to Claas UK is in order, preferably on camera! Always enjoyable watching your videos.

[@leddielive]

An 18% increase in yield & surprisingly 6% reduction in fuel usage are definitely worthwhile results, especially as you're farming crops as usual but just ensuring equipment is compatible with your Controlled Traffic Farming plan. Thank you for explaining CTF in more detail, I thought I knew what it was but I've learnt a great deal more. 😀

[@PX_Farms]

13% reduction in diesel and 6% in chemical, fert.

[@ivgotballsofsteel4048]

@@PX_Farms Bet that adds up nicely with the acers you farm.

[@MalcolmGreves]

Another great video James, your positivity is motivational at time when the industry is under the cosh 👍👍

[@adrianlayen4119]

Thanks James, really interesting talk about CTF, it seems like a great system once you have the machinery so all run the same. Loved the poems, well done to those lucky winners.

[@garyroberts8170]

One of the most interesting channels on KZbin 20 k subs on the horizon

[@peterwilson-qj2ds]

Great video again James, very interesting on how the C T F works. Keep up the good work .

[@PaulPinner]

Great video again James, very informative as always.

[@ollywareing9419]

Another cracking video. Love the fact your doing stuff the kids like competitions etc. Well done

[@JamesBond-wy6sb]

Had the same problem with rats chewing the hydraulic pipes on my excavator. I liberally sprayed the inside with lavender oil which seems to put them off. Only downside is when the machine warms up, the overwhelming smell of lavender sends me to sleep!😅

[@russellswann2450]

Park the vehicle over come chicken wire and hook it up to an electronic fence pack...

[@alistaircook6900]

Excellent video, very informative. CTF very interesting, I never realised the amount of saving on compaction.

[@littledavey2169]

PX FARMS VERY PROFESSIONAL FARMER'S UP THE FARMERS 💯 👏 👌. 🤙🦊

[@rik-rutland]

Running up the combines will have generated heat, so I suspect the rodents will have been instantly attracted by the resultant lasting warmth - quite a few hours worth before reaching ambient temperature. There's probably also residual water for them to drink from the washing process. Once inside, no food to eat means the rodents will try anything else, and much of this non-organic consumption is all about producing material for nesting. They'll want to keep warm as the machine cools, and explore further/get into more secluded habitat space, hence I suspect why you've discovered the overnight damage. I've seen it recently on a big generator I operate to power a drier and conveying equipment - with mice instantly going in at the end of a session causing a lot of nibbling overnight to the casing and wiring. This machine is normally only run during the traditional harvest season, but this year it's had a late supply of linseed and now combined maize to contend with...so the hot generator gets left in a 0-10C store, so I suspect it has become a magnet for the mice; the first time it has been damaged like this in all the years I've been here. Put simply, rodents need food, water and a place to nest - remove any one of those and it's game over. Rats will even eat through concrete if determined/interested, so remove the food/water from close proximity (give that drainage/water storage plenty of thought in/around the new shed) and that will help. You seem to run a very tidy operation, so with good pest control, I am sure the machines will be fine in the shed of dreams. Great content - keep it up.

[@davidnorris6262]

Another interesting video James, thank you for all the updates cheers.

[@peterclarke3300]

Great catch up video James I did see on one of Olly’s videos a bloke put made a wall around his combine with flat steel plate about 18 inch’s high to stop the furry creatures getting to his combine and nicely explained on CTF 👍👍

[@Easydrillman]

On the water harvesting. What I have done is put a tank under the down pipe and used submersible pumps on 32mm alcathene, running underground to fill the mother tank. These submersible pumps have float switches, so they switch on and off automatically. My collection shed shed is only 20m X 24m, with total storage of 46,000 litres. You would simply scale this up, to suit your "shed of dreams"

[@gavinhodgson1728]

The amount of overlap or under lap we used to have with a 30 foot bougalt was embarrassing, we would get lost in the dust or fog when sowing and the stress and fatigue just driving was huge not to mention the compaction,a game changer for agriculture world wide NSW Australia

[@paulbarnes3791]

Thank for a very well explained vidio, I've found grain lids up and gaurds off do help with rats for me, even with sieves out and vacum cleaner found minimal damage, all the best team px

[@mick6ful]

super video. Explanation of CTF

[@johnhouston4336]

Hi James! I have a feeling you're next investment will be something along the lines of a Nexat! CTF is the way forward James and you know it! Love your content and await your next episode, Kind regards John

[@HawkMillFarm]

When we started RTK Farming we measured markers vs auto-steer. Tramlines, so extra cost on all spray and fert applied, averaged 3% overlap, 7% was the worst we found! Easy figure to work out on annual total cost of those inputs. Cultivations mostly in the range 12-15% overlap. This before you consider reduced driver fatigue.

[@alandavis9905]

great video as usual James great insight into CTF

[@laytonphillips6667]

Great informative video James, surely there's a bit of grain hidden somewhere, good start up once a fortnight might help too. About time wardy was invited down for a double act video.

[@simonbaskett6992]

Really good update, CTF is very interesting need to know more, So frustrating about those furry things chewing, need to remove as many guards off as possible, they love dark places so make it as light as possible. Well done team PX

[@PeterIncley]

CTF makes perfect sense, the only drawback I see from a min till, direct drill perspective is that you are always travelling parallel with the drilling. Have you ever considered running angled CTF for cultivations/drilling in alternate years?

[@danielbradley8578]

Direct and informative as normal James 😊 well done team PX!! Also, what John doesn't know about engines or JCBs just isn't worth knowing at all. He helped me out no-end in years gone by at my time at Rand Brothers 🤙💪 Crack on' 😎

[@frankcannon966]

The CTF concept of axle width saves lives in war zones also. When a column of war fighting vehicles moves through a mine field, or along a dessert track littered with insurgent bombs, it’s good practice to remain in the same wheel tracks of the vehicle in front. Intense mine fields are cleared by engineers to allow safe passage of friendly vehicles. Military vehicles are designed with a standard axle width; the best example is the US HumVee.

[@leddielive]

Enemies have become smarter with weight measuring pressure plates which are designed to lure victims into a false sense of security & then of course you have manually controlled detonation that makes no difference to following in previous wheelings. However, militaries do try to standardise vehicle widths as it makes transportation by railway, aircraft & trailers much simpler. 🫡

[@andycotterill9551]

Hi James, for collecting all the roof water we can supply a small in ground pump chamber that could feed a big above ground store sited in a suitable remote location so that you are not restricted to having tanks stood under the downpipes. This big store can then gravity back to your sprayer fill area.

[@chrismarshall45]

Great video as always,reference the rat problem put a 1.2m tin guard around the outside of the combine effectively incasing the machine behind a tin wall that will stop the little blighters

[@tynewydd100]

CTF, brilliant introduction to it. Again it is data and details. Making small gains that add up over time and end getting rid of the devil (compaction) and increasing the bottom line. The rats are in your sights, tell us when you have the solution. I am sure a Claas salesman would tell you that a Jaguar in the shed would be a no show for the rats. Thanks again for a great video.

[@peterwilson2024]

Thanks for the video - I have a better understanding of CTF 😮

[@Agrifotodotnl]

Thank you for explaining the CTF system and the thoughts behind it and the journey you went through. Most interesting! Personally, I wouldn't have minded seeing the slides full screen and just hearing the audio. Would have helped to see the details a bit better. I am left with a few questions however that I hope you will find time to answer. You explain the CTF-system for root crops, but how was the main cultivation carried out? Was this a cultivator also running on fixed tracks or a plough still? And, was there also a way to 'CTF' the potato harvesting? The figures of extra yield and less chemicals sound impressive (I assume its cereals and OSR/beans you talk about). Are there still trials going on or comparisons being made with local farms? I do wonder if there have been any side effects from upgrading to wider and thus heavier machinery? Was/is there no problem with deeper ruts and a wider compacted area than just the wheel mark. What I have seen from CTF systems so far in wetter climates the wheel tracks over time tend to get wider and wider (and deeper). With a min-till approach it seems difficult to correct any wheelings as you can't run at an angle, or is there a reset once in a while? Thanks for the interesting videos and keep up the good work!

[@dorsetfarmer]

Good evening. Very interesting video as always, good to get an insight into the transition from conventional to CTF. Particularly interested in what you had on the front of your challenger to remove the greasy sugar beet tops and help it grip, very interesting idea, I wondered if you would have any closer up images of it that you coukd share. I can see it could be beneficial.

[@treve2627]

Regarding your rat and mouse problem we always put waste oil on the inside of our vintage. Clayson combine by pouring some into the header with it running and some in to the cleaning fan which then covers the inside . Keep going until oil comes out in the grain tank. The rats don’t like it.

[@richardbaker22]

Great video James very interesting to learn about ctf

[@raywalter48]

We used to put moth balls all over the combine, it seemed to keep the vermin away but there is a bit of a smell for a couple of days when one starts in the new season

[@svenpiek724]

We found that leaving a purple fabric softener in the cab of the combine helps to deter the rodents. also letting as much light in to the combine as possible by removing gaurds etc.

[@grahamkelland]

As seen on another farm video,farmer parked the combine in the shed with a metre high tin barrier around the machine. And it works to keep the rats out.

[@33211joeman]

Remove panel for access to top of the rotor cages and clean the dust in there

[@thomasharris8017]

it's the pipe and cabling coverings the rats like the taste of them, we've experienced the same on newer minibuses at work the manufacturers have recently changed the plastics and rubber they use the rats love it all you can do is get bate boxes fitted in the area

[@PX_Farms]

Seems to be a common thread today

[@trucker9462]

To keep mice/rats out of the combine. Park combine in its winter parking place. Surround combine with 4 lengths of 2" angle iron placed on floor with flat side facing combine. Weld the angle together and clip onto the angle electric sheep fence. Also been told by a pest controller but as yet haven't tried it. Use sweet potatoe as bait, rats eat the sweet potato and have trouble digesting them. The sweet potato swells up inside the rat and ultimately kills it.

[@MarkJones-y5i]

2 questions, What is black grass, and do you ever use your truck washing unit to wash tractors and impliemets? Sent from Australia

[@chrislee2221]

I think the wiring manufacturers have played with the ingredients used in plastic sheathing and contain cooking oil type products 😢. I previously knew a little about CTF but now have a much better understanding thanks to your presentation. Ps ferrets are good ref rats.

[@stakman78]

Yup our Jaguar got dealt to one year. Had to lift cab. Air con, oil lines, wiring. A vibrating noise of some sort, like phone ringing through chassis,, otherwise bait bait bait.

[@markyoull6744]

great video james

[@TonyBesent]

Spay the area’s with jays fluid, they hate the smell , we use it around doors to sheds

[@GRASSorMUCK]

Did you ever see a nutrient wave pattern across the field after a few years ctf and combines not being able to spread material evenly 12m? Remember being a casual on a farm and they stayed at a narrower system for the above reason.

[@graemelaing1354]

Great video on CTF - do you know how many other farmers have looked at it and are following it now??

[@gavinhodgson1728]

Interesting about Mr Rat I have heard that soy oil is used in many plastic moulding products one of my neighbours had a golf ball size hole in his case header diesel tank

[@BillyTheKid689]

James, you're underestimating the amount of rain, which given your drilling challenges is funny. Average rainfall 1,300mm? That would give 3.5m litres rainfall from the shed of dreams.

[@adrianhutchin4925]

great video but now knowing the reasons and fact behind ctf is very clever

[@robhardingham6770]

Another very good clip. Like the explanation in relation to CTF. The graph gives good illustration to the concept. I suspect this is personal preference over the way forward as people will have their own ways of dealing, and any possible adjustments over machinery inputs et. There was something attracting the birds to your combine when you were talking to the lad from Claas.They were flying in and out of the lifted panels. Any rodent fumigation that is allowed nowadays? Have a good Chrimbo break.

[@Barney1975-fh2zs]

Our pest control man suggested electric tape round the combine create a ring round the floor and the electric shock keeps them away

[@EddieWatts-j9i]

With the greater use of tracks, variable tyre pressures and the advances in tyre technology (Except Bridgestone perhaps) has that negated some of the benefits of CTF as compaction is much reduced compared to the machines and tyres we had 20 years ago. I see more damage from bale handling and muck heaps than cultivation where you pull the compaction out as you go, conditions permitting.

[@merv690]

James it makes me wonder if there is something being used in the production of the new Class combines that is attracting rats, as you said there never seemed that many problems with the older models, just my thoughts

[@chrislee2221]

A good point as a friend of mine who runs a micro brewery he has had no end of problems with his Citroen van with mice chewing wires , 3 times in 18 months it has had to go back to have part of the wiring loom replaced. Yet other vehicles parked in same place have never been affected.

[@kevinharker1840]

I heard they're using cheese to make hydraulic pipes.

[@farmernige]

Something in the plastic I had Rats chewing through rubbish bin lids to get to the bags. Had a bin by hen house to keep feed in and they chewed through that in weeks.

[@timstead1652]

I had heard the wire insulation has soy protein to reduce plastic use

[@dogmangreengrass736]

i be looking at solar panels on there . shed + other buildings be self sufficient plus export some back to grid. maybe 9-12 years pay back . 4 tesla powerwalls + extension packs =216 Kw storage . maybe bigger systems available. some near me designs solar farms etc.

[@JamesHaigh-Austin-fy1tn]

James I have seen two foot flat tin high rapped around the tracks and wheels not touching when you park the machines for winter

[@frankcannon966]

Thanks for highlighting the reason why you concrete the sides of the shed of dreams, you “don’t want people lifting the tin to pop in. “ Crime reduction measures should be designed-in. Incidentally, I noticed your dog was lifting his back right leg when out in the yard - is he OK?

[@OutbackCottageOz]

Yes! Time for a Cat Army in the Shed! 😺🐈🪖! Little bit of food, water & place to Sleep 💤

[@darrenlindup3086]

Diesel soaked rags will help with you mice/rat issues on the combines plus all guards off Great info on the CTF James

[@Rob-zx8lm]

What are the later drilled cereals looking like? Are you satisfied with vigour, giving the amount of moisture?

[@samfordham684]

How about get some cats and then feed the cats on the combine's?

[@Colleenlivinginwales]

We have 8 farm cats on our little farm seems to sort the rat and mouse problem

[@AndrewFraser-b5v]

Good explanation of CTF.. If you went to 48m tramlines would that mean the drills and Combines need to do half widths to get onto the right lines? Or am i being thick!😂

[@themunter4488]

I guess if you had all that land in nice big plots close together you could use the Nexat as a way to go pure ctf ??

[@rupertm2542]

If compaction has become such an important consideration again, why are tractors not on twins or balloon tires? They seem to run them a lot in the US and they’re generally far drier than we are. Is it the road transport issue stopping you going wider? I remember in my farm days running duals was very common to see for cultivation and kit weighed far less.

[@frankcannon966]

Did you see that Caleb and Jeremy dried a hovercraft in the last series? It didn’t work! Back in the 80s in Lincolnshire, we used a single tire but bolted on a cage wheel on the outside of each wheel to disperse the weight.

[@PX_Farms]

Road movement limitations

[@andrewmaccall5871]

Never act with children - they'll always upstage you !! Great explanation of CT farming. Rats or Mice in the combines - you'd have thought that would be a solvable issue today (manufacturer wise). Perhaps as well as a stone trap they need rodent traps !!

[@jackbroughton9803]

we have a guard around are combine that is metal thats angled they cant clumb up.

[@PX_Farms]

Can you send a picture please

[@jackbroughton9803]

@PX_Farms will do in the morning

[@pseggons9512]

Your rat control operative came hopping through the frame at 24.18 minutes........ Has it already been a challenging day, may need a productivity bonus scheme.

[@ian130262]

Maybe get some cats based in the implement shed to control rodents. Cats which are fed will catch more because they then hunt for fun rather than necessity.

[@DarrenPhillips001]

I feared you were going to get rats & mice in those combines. I’ve started to use traps in my workshop with good success. Big Cheese make a really good rat trap based on the ‘little nipper’ mouse traps but bigger. It wouldn’t hurt to put a few strategically placed in the combine.

[@leddielive]

If you can see a rat 🐀 or mouse 🐁 running around, I guarantee there's another half a dozen buggers hiding in close proximity. They are vermin, they carry diseases & are not solitary creatures. You must control them before they control you & affect your stored crops & equipment which soon damages your bottom line. 😏

[@norbertjohn]

Not sure what costs more. The damage or the cost of bait! Honestly. The vermin problem just seems to get worse.

[@garethrowley6601]

Wurth Rodent spray

[@JackEsdaile]

i've enterned on social media for the give away i really hope i win

[@EdwardMoore-so6zp]

Spray the combines with Hydrolic oil and Diesel it won't hurt the Belts or electrics .

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

Cheeky question, sort of traffic related (?) Which brand/model of wellie boots do working farmers prefer - durable, comfortable and reasonably priced. Fundamentally, not the type which Labour Ministers wear on farm visits. The question is Xmas related; thanks.

[@PX_Farms]

I only wear R M Williams, not a wellie man.

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

​@@PX_Farms Fair enough - I used to buy quite a bot of their gear when I was in Perth, W.A. Nb. I am learning an amazing amount from watching your channel - agricultural, business, human nature and psychology. Snippets of what you cover, keep popping back into my head as I go about my day. Keep going !

[@dennisdennis5921]

Hi, for the problem with rodents , when parked in the shed, lay down an electric wire copper exposed, mounted on wouden planksvia isolators,,round the combine and in the electric socket. Wait until dead mice or rats show 👆

[@thomasforbes8904]

You need a family of well fed cats and you will have no more rats or mice. Keep them innthe shed of dreams and leave a large litter tray there too and there will be no dirt

[@OscarStern-ui6wq]

Hello I was just wondering if you saw the poem I rot for the commitishon the name is Oscar stern

[@PX_Farms]

Just checked, Tom said no, [e-mail]

[@Pesmog]

Is it possible to buy a clear 'paint-on' rodent repellant? No doubt somebody in the food industry will have thought of such a thing.

[@craigwatters127]

That grey car is very sexy. If it was auto I'd have it!

[@jamesforknall1251]

Moth balls in and around the combines stops rats and mice.

[@oliverelliott4453]

When it comes to rats, you are probably better leaving the combines outside with no gards on, but it doesn't do the combine any good. More cold air around the combines the less the rats and others will want to live in them

[@mblandservices]

need a bunch of cats to get the rats and mice out 🙂

[@georgechilcott859]

370mm of rain should give you 1000000lts of water i think the maths is correct

[@Gazdavies48]

Anything like peppermint oil or olbas oil. Puts rodents off

[@jimgolton9402]

Rats don't like Jay's fluid. I spary my combine with it and the problem stoped

[@andrewwoodhead8305]

Employ some cats 🐈 to eat rats 🐀 😮

[@video4sissies]

par har hahaha

[@mungogerryjnr]

The tyre issue What was the manufacturing date?

[@PX_Farms]

2021

[@mungogerryjnr]

@@PX_Farms I only ask as I made a horrible mistake regarding age,therefore the tyres degrading and then warranty That’s appalling and the concrete excuse is unbelievable they would even try it🤷‍♂️ Your only option is stick to the best of the lot,Vredestrien. They took over from Trelleborg. They are super expensive but the wear is unbeatable

[@mungogerryjnr]

I noticed in earlier posts that you are only running the subsoiler over trams,if I’m not wrong. I couldn’t understand why not do the entire paddock? Subsoiling isn’t just about compaction,there’s several benefits which are proven to increase production. Did you compare values of just subsoiling everything over entire paddock every other year versus tramlines It seems a lot of effort/cost/hassle for x amount of value minus not worrying about compaction and value from subsoiling🤷‍♂️

[@PX_Farms]

We subsoil about every 3rd year depending on the break crop. Bad tramlines last year.

[@mungogerryjnr]

@ I believe you’re not putting any value on sub soiling and all on trams. What’s your understanding of the sub soilers value