Comment – losing an hour

As we have lurched into British Summer Time I became curious regarding whether we were the only country worldwide who are frantically reseting the kitchen microwave, car dashboard and all the clocks this morning? It turns out its a global thing.

I, for one, could have done without it, as there as a particularly difficult lambing late last night, with a reluctant lamb, which finally arrived minutes before Mothers Day, appropriately enough. Today, my body clock says a) I’m knackered, b) what time is it? c) Is it too early for yet more bacon sandwiches, crumpets and jam, or any other carb based fuel source?

Speaking of which I decided to jump over the fence into construction machinery this week and have a look at some of the big launches at BAUMA, the international construction plant machinery event in Munich which opens a week tomorrow. Much is being made of alternative fuel drive trains and Hyundai are launching their hydrogen fuel cell excavator concept.

In my desperate search for relevant material to share this week, firmly in the ‘interesting’ category was the news of a propane fuelled steam fumigator for strawberry fields in California. I don’t think gas powered field fumigation is such a new idea (correct me if I’m wrong) but wasn’t there a thing called a ‘Dragon’ for terminating potatoes without acid in the 1990’s or is my memory deceiving me. I guess the chemical free bit is the big change.

I also noticed that Professor Francesca Protano, head of R&D technology strategy and competence centres, CNH Industrial had gone on the record regarding the challenges of finding fresh blood to come into the industry, worth a read if you have a moment.

I’m deliberately waiting to see with regard to tariffs, interest rates and all that fascinating and frustrating stuff this week, before going on the record (and being wrong!)..

Have a good week, it’s a great forecast, and I’m looking forward to seeing the back of lambing time anytime soon!

Andy